Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)

“For I know the plans I have for you,”
declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
(Jeremiah 29:11)

God has a plan for you!

Welcome to St John’s Cathedral. This parish has been serving the people of Portsmouth since it was built in 1882. We hope that you will feel at peace in this Cathedral church and will discover the immense love that God has for you.

The Catholic Church was instituted by Jesus Christ when he sent the Holy Spirit upon his disciples. For the last 2000 years, the Church has been the body through which women and men have come to encounter Jesus Christ in a real and personal way through the sacraments. The sacraments are the tangible means through which we believe God comes close to us in our humanity. Let’s not forget that Jesus is the Son of God who became human, which was God’s way of coming close to us. So too today, God continues to be close to us in our humanity through the signs of water (in baptism), bread and wine (which become Jesus in the Eucharist), and through oil of anointing (in Confirmation).

To become a member of Christ’s body, the Church, you have to receive what are called the sacraments of initiation. There are seven sacraments in the Catholic Church, but the sacraments of initiation are specifically Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. To find out more about these individual sacraments, you can watch these short videos from Bishop Robert Barron.

 

 

 

Maybe something in your heart has been prodding you to find out more today, or maybe it’s just your curiosity. Whatever it is, God has a plan for you and desires to be close to you, especially in your moments of doubt, anxiety and during life’s difficulties. God loves you very much.

In order to help you in your journey of faith, here are some suggestions to point you in the right direction at St John’s Cathedral.

- Come along to Mass at the Cathedral. There is Mass Monday to Saturday at 12:15 and our Sunday Masses are held: Saturday 18:00 (Vigil Mass), 8:00 (in Latin), 10:00, 12:00, 18:00.

- Come along to coffee after the 10am Mass to meet the clergy and people at St John’s Cathedral.

Email our parish office to meet with one of our priests and find out more information: cathedral@portsmouth.diocese.org.uk