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FAITH LIFE AND SERVICES

Become a Catholic

The Catholic Church is open to all who seek the truth and wish to become members of a living community of faith. Whether you are unbaptized, from another denomination, young or old—there are many paths, but the beginning is always the same: the first step toward God.<\/p>

Topics

Topic I · How to become a Catholic?

How to become a Catholic?

1. Awakening of faith and desire

A person who wishes to become a Catholic must know and profess the Catholic faith—everything that the Catholic Church teaches and proclaims as the Truth revealed by God. If a person has found in their heart the desire to become a Catholic, they must receive Baptism if they have not previously been baptized in another church. If a person has already been baptized, then through the profession of faith they enter the Church, bearing witness to their faith and receiving the Sacrament of the Eucharist, in which bread and wine, through consecration, become the Body and Blood of Christ.<\/p>

2. Contact a local priest

Whether an adult wishes to become a Catholic or a child is to be baptized, the first step is to contact a local parish priest, who helps people become members of the Church. You can find the list of parishes here.<\/p>

3. Participate in catechesis

Usually, one must attend a catechesis course – this is a structured course of study that introduces the Catholic faith, liturgy, Sacred Scripture, and the sacraments. For young people, Sunday school is предусмотрено. Catechesis prepares for receiving the sacraments of initiation – Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. Without Confirmation and the Eucharist, the sacrament of Baptism is valid and effective, but Christian initiation is not yet complete.

4. Receive the sacraments of initiation

The Christian journey of an adult culminates in receiving Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion – this usually takes place at the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday). These three sacraments together constitute Christian initiation – a full entry into the life of the Church. Anyone who has already been baptized but wishes to join the Catholic Church receives Confirmation and the Eucharist.

Topic II · Catechesis

Catechesis

What is catechesis?

Catechesis is instruction in the faith carried out through catechetical teaching, which prepares a person to receive the sacraments and to live in the faith. The Church emphasizes that catechesis should cover an appropriate period of time, during which a person receives thorough instruction in the faith in order to receive the sacraments consciously and deeply (CIC 777).

Catechesis for adults

Adults who wish to receive baptism in the Catholic Church, or who have been previously baptized and wish to enter the Catholic Church, can participate in the adult catechesis course. The courses begin each year in September and take place on Wednesdays at 18:30 in the auditorium of the Old Town Education College (Vene 22, Tallinn). The catechesis is led by Bishop Philippe Jourdan. All interested are welcome!

Registration

Those interested can sign up at the office of St. Peter and St. Paul’s Cathedral of Tallinn (Vene 18, Mon/Wed/Fri 9–15:30) or register via the contact form on this page. Additional information about the catechesis: kantselei.ppk@gmail.com.

Topic III · Sacraments of Initiation

Sacraments of Initiation

The three sacraments of Christian initiation together form a unity that leads a person into full communion with Christ and the Church.

The Sacrament of Baptism

Baptism is birth into new life in Christ. Through the sacrament of Baptism, original sin, all personal sins, and the punishments for sin are removed, and the baptized person is given a share in the divine life of the Trinity. This takes place through sanctifying and justifying grace, by which one becomes a member of Christ and the Church and shares in Christ’s priesthood. Baptism establishes the foundation for communion with all Christians, bestows the theological virtues and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The baptized belongs forever to Christ and bears the indelible mark of Christ — the sacramental seal (cf. CCC 1277–1279).

The Sacrament of Confirmation

Confirmation makes one more deeply a child of God, unites one more firmly with Christ and the Church, and enlivens the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the soul. Through this sacrament, the grace of Baptism is confirmed and increased, the bond with Christ is strengthened, and one is more closely united with the Church and her mission. Confirmation gives a special strength of the Holy Spirit to be a true follower of Christ in word and deed, to spread and defend the faith, and to bear courageous witness to the name of Christ. As with Baptism, an indelible spiritual mark is imprinted – the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. This sacrament can be received only once (cf. CCC 1303–1316).

The Sacrament of the Eucharist

In the sacrament of the Eucharist, under the appearances of bread and wine, Christ Himself is truly, really, and substantially present with His Body, His Blood, His soul, and His divinity. The Eucharist strengthens our union with Christ, removes venial sins, and preserves us from mortal sin. Love for Christ is strengthened and the unity of the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ is reinforced. The Eucharist is also a sacrifice – the sacrifice of the Holy Mass, in which Christ unites the Church and her members with the sacrifice of the Cross (cf. CCC 1407, 1413, 1416).

Topic IV · Children and Youth

Children and Youth

Baptism of Infants (up to 7 years of age)

In the case of infants (up to 7 years of age), parents request baptism for the child from the Church. Parents are the first who have the duty to raise their children in the faith and in Christian life by word and example. Godparents are bound by the same duty (CIC 774 §2). To arrange a child’s baptism, contact the parish office of St. Peter and St. Paul.

Catechesis for Children and Youth – Sunday School

For school-age children and youth there is Sunday school designed to prepare them for First Holy Communion and the sacrament of Confirmation. Sunday school takes place every Sunday after the Estonian-language Mass at the pastoral center. The sacraments – special channels of God’s grace and presence – are central in the life of a Catholic. Sunday school introduces children step by step into the life of the sacraments.