We understand and acknowledge that becoming Catholic isn't just a one-time event that happens at a person's Baptism. It is a whole lifetime of learning how to live in a way that reflects the message of Christ and the Scriptures and the teaching and tradition of the Catholic Church. In a sense, we are becoming Catholic every day because we are always striving to understand how Christ would have us respond to the daily events of our lives. Each day, through all the stages and circumstances of our lives, we try to deepen our faith and grow in our likeness of Christ.

The way we learn how to do this is through prayer: with other Catholics in a parish community, with our families at home, and by ourselves through daily practices of faith. Prayer teaches us our faith, strengthens our belief, and stirs us to live it in concrete ways every day. Prayer must always lead to action; the action we take—the way we live each day of our lives—is our spirituality. So whether you're 7, 17, 47, or 97, a brand new Catholic or a life-long believer, we are always trying to grow deeper in our Catholic faith.