How do I become Catholic?Please click here fo information about the Finnish-language introductory course about the Catholic faith (in Finnish only).
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If a baptised Christian from another Church of their own free will wants to become a member of the Catholic Church, they are to get in touch with the parish priest of the Catholic parish in which they live. If, on the basis of that conversation, there is reason to continue the conversion process, a roughly year-long period of getting acquainted with the Catholic Church usually follows.
The point of the trial period is to give the person who is considering conversion a chance to get to know the Church, in particular their own parish as well as the Diocese, through taking part in parish life, all the while learning about the Church and a life of faith. At St. Henry's Cathedral Parish this process is aided through an Introductory Course (or Johdantokurssi in Finnish) that runs from autumn through spring. You can also attend the course simply out of curiosity about the Catholic Church, with no intention of joining. After this year of acquainting themselves with the Church, the person who is drawn to the Church can decide if they wish to be a full member of the Church. If so, the parish priest puts the case before the Bishop, who receives the person into the Church, usually also administering the Sacrament of Confirmation at the same time. |
If an adult or young adult who is not baptised wants to become Christian and a member of the Catholic Church, they can get in touch with the parish priest of the Catholic parish in which they live. Depending on which parish this is, the priest will give advice on how the classes of the catechumenate will be organised. In Helsinki, this again involves attending the Introductory Course, provided the catechumen in question can attend the course in Finnish. If possible, adults are baptised at the Easter Vigil Mass. They also receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and receive First Communion at the same time.
Sunday Mass at St. Henry's Cathedral.
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