After significant planning and consultation, the National Centre for Evangelisation (NCE) has launched a new website and book to assist adults who are discerning becoming Catholic, and for those wanting to learn more about their faith. These resources are offered on behalf of the Catholic Enquiry Centre, a work of the NCE.
Through a national consultation with people who have a passion for evangelisation, outreach and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process, it was strongly recommended the new resources have a focus on the kerygma[1] in the hope this would lead enquirers to develop a relationship with Jesus. The resources also needed to encourage enquirers to connect with their local faith communities so they could find accompaniment for their journey.
The NCE team acknowledges the professional and pastoral support of this project provided by Lisa McKerr (Evangelisation Brisbane) and Fr Paul Roberts (Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Greystanes, Sydney).
Becoming Catholic website (becoming.catholic.au)
The new website offers theologically sound, yet simple, explanations for the non-churched about God and what it means to be Catholic. It also provides links to extra material for those who want to dive deeper into the faith. The website has been designed to provide a friendly and welcoming space where seekers can find answers to the most frequently asked questions received by the Catholic Enquiry Centre in recent years.
Becoming.catholic.au also includes a growing library of short testimonies by Australian Catholics, speaking on various aspects of the faith.
The website, which can be viewed as a standalone site, is also part of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference website offerings (www.catholic.au). This will allow website visitors to explore beyond becoming.catholic.au to see what is on offer from other teams in the Conference. For example, visitors can find research about the Catholic Church in Australia and the many social justice offerings for groups such as migrants and refugees, those living with a disability and the marginalised, as well as care for the environment.
Discovering God and what it means to be Catholic
This book includes introductory material found on becoming.catholic.au. It complements the NCE’s 2017 publication, Discovering Prayer. The pair of books will be offered free to those who are enquiring about the Catholic faith. Both books can be purchased for a minimal cost (a bundle of five copies of either book for $22 including GST) via the ACBC online shop.
How to use these resources in your parish or faith community
1. Getting to know the resources: The first step in using these resources effectively is to get to know them yourself. By knowing what content is available in each resource, and how it is presented, you will be better able to guide those you are accompanying in the right direction.
2. Initial enquiries about the faith: So often we miss the opportunity to respond to questions or enquiries because we don’t feel we are equipped or have the confidence to converse on questions about God and the Catholic faith. Every baptised Catholic in your parish or faith community, including teachers in your parish schools and staff at Catholic nursing homes, should know how to point enquirers to the local person responsible for the RCIA or adult formation. And if local resources are limited, then they can be confident in recommending the enquirer go to www.becoming.catholic.au and/or be able to provide them with a copy of Discovering God and Discovering Prayer.
3. Evangelisation and the RCIA: Parish staff will be aware that people interested in becoming a Catholic will often make contact outside the scheduled RCIA process. It can be off-putting to tell the enquirer they will have to wait until the next RCIA process is offered to begin their journey. Parish staff can now recommend these new resources and arrange for a local parishioner to accompany the enquirer until the process begins again. This allows the RCIA process to operate all year round.
4. Small groups – mothers, youth, retirees, gatherings after weekday Masses, in nursing homes etc: Are your small groups looking for formation material? Do you have a limited budget? For less than $5 per person, Discovering God or Discovering Prayer provides the basics for small group gatherings. The material in these books is suitable for long-time Catholics as well as those who are un-churched or on the periphery.
5. Sacramental preparation: Parishes are often looking for resources to give to parents and carers who are presenting their children for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Penance/Reconciliation and First Eucharist. Parents and carers can be introduced to the website and encouraged to explore the topics in their own time. If the parish budget allows, copies of Discovering God and Discovering Prayer can be added to the information packs, along with the practical information about the relevant sacrament(s). Facilitators of these sessions could consider including details of local people who can be contacted to provide further information or accompaniment.
6. Families starting at your parish schools: A plethora of practical information is often supplied to parents who have enrolled their children in Catholic schools. School communities could consider including the link to www.becoming.catholic.au in their online information, and/or include a copy of Discovering God and Discovering Prayer in the pack of information. Be sure to include the business card of the best person in your school who could accompany any parents who would like to have a conversation about the faith.
7. Gifts for school/university leavers: Several schools in Australia are already presenting their graduates with a copy of Discovering Prayer as a way of encouraging the prayer life of young people beyond the boundaries of school and tertiary education life. Promoting the website to tertiary students will allow them to explore in greater depth the richness of our faith.
8. In your parish bulletin and website: Provide the link to www.becoming.catholic.au to readers of your bulletin and website. For those who are shy or too busy to stop and ask questions, the website might just fill in the gaps and increase their knowledge of the faith at a time that is convenient to them.
As you can see, there are many ways these resources can assist you in your evangelising efforts. Parishes and Catholic agencies may request a single copy of Discovering God and Discovering Prayer for review purposes by contacting us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Words: Sharon Brewer
[1] The kerygma can be summarised as: “Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you: and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you” (Evangelii Gaudium 164).