Any Catholic can become a registered parishioner of Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. However, there is a distinction between becoming a parishioner of this local parish and joining the worldwide Catholic Church through the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist).  Persons from other faith traditions or who have no religious formation become members of the Church through the OCIA (see below).

OCIA is an acronym which stands for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.  It is the process used by the Catholic Church throughout the world by which someone who is not baptized or someone who is baptized in another Christian faith tradition learns about and may come to decide to become a member of the Catholic Church.

OCIA is a continuing process of faith formation through instruction and experience in order to form life-long Catholics who are able to profess all that the Catholic Church believes, teaches, and confesses to be true. This formation is generally unique to the individual. While there are ongoing year round “classes” (in addition to a commitment to attend Mass regularly, even if new to it) the readiness of the individual to be fully received into the Church varies with each individual.

You too will receive important and necessary formation through the OCIA process.

At Saint Paul the Apostle OCIA begins with at least one Inquiry session. Whether you have roots in Christianity or if this is all new to you, Inquiry is your opportunity to hear a bit of our story as Catholics and, if you desire, to ask any questions whatsoever. Please contact Jeanne Gearon at [email protected] or 864.882-8551 for information on Inquiry and she will happily make any necessary arrangements to assist you in your process.

Come and find out!

Yes, absolutely, however, the details to this answer are specific to the individual circumstances.  Please make an appointment as soon as possible with Jeanne Gearon or Father William Hearne.

Yes, absolutely, however, the details to this answer are specific to the individual circumstances.  Please make an appointment as soon as possible with Jeanne Gearon or Father William Hearne.

There are several reasons that non-Catholics cannot receive Communion in the Catholic Church, but this teaching isn’t a judgment about anyone’s salvation nor a question about how deep and sincere one’s faith is in Jesus Christ.

In John 6:53-56, Jesus clearly states that the Eucharist is not just a symbol of his Body and Blood, but truly becomes His Body and Blood: “So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.”

The Catholic Church has consistently taught, since the time of Jesus Christ, that Christ is truly present – Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity – in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.  Therefore, to receive Him in Communion in the Catholic Church is an outward statement of unity of faith with the Catholic Church.  This participation professes, in the action of the congregation, that we are united (communing together) with one another in all the Catholic Church believes, teaches, and confesses.  Those who have not yet been received into the Catholic Church are not yet able to make such a statement. 

Below is the US Bishops statement on the reception of Communion:

For Catholics

As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (canon 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.

For our fellow Christians

We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions which separate us. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ’s prayer for us “that they may all be one” (Jn 17:21).

Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law (canon 844 § 4). Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the discipline of their own Churches. According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of communion by Christians of these Churches (canon 844 § 3).

For those not receiving Holy Communion

All who are not receiving Holy Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another.

For non-Christians

We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. While we cannot admit them to Holy Communion, we ask them to offer their prayers for the peace and the unity of the human family.