
- home - Feature Webcasts: Weekly Sunday Mass webcast from St Monica's Cathedral Cairns Sisters of Mercy celebrate 120 year Anniversary serving Diocese of Cairns Australia – special Sunday Mass webcast from St Monica's Cathedral 21/09/08 - Cairns Priest & Religious Memorials & Anniversary Calendar Monsignor John Lennon Memorial - Requiem Mass Fr John Flynn 26/3/2008 Aussie Catholic Prayer Prolife – prayer & hymn mp3s to assist all paltalk.com Catholic room admins l Suicide Prevention Sponsors 2008 petrol l gifts l mulching l law college l barrister l l family memorial l To become an mp3pray.com supporter / sponsor, please use this link.	RCIA is how adults become Catholics Jesus invites you now Please say yes to Jesus Info for non-Catholics interested in becoming Catholics - from a layperson's perspective
Getting started! Making that life-changing decision! There is something really wonderful and special about Catholics. What is it really like being a Catholic? But but but – there are so many rules? No! It's all about love! Where can I learn about what Catholics believe – Church teachings? What do I do now? Catholic teachings links Catholic Prayer CDs Getting started! Making that life-changing decision! Becoming a Catholic is a life-changing decision. Or else why would anyone bother becoming a Catholic at all? Thankfully, the fist step is generally the most daunting one. Telling someone you are interested in learning about the Catholic Church. As a layperson, probably one of the best ideas in starting your journey to become a Catholic is to talk to a practicing Catholic you have known for a long time, and whom you respect and trust and ask them why they became Catholics and why they have continued to be a practicing Catholic. It you don't know anyone, then contact the Parish Priest in the area where you live (who would become your Parish Priest), and ask them to give you the contact details of lay Catholics who can explain why they are practicing Catholics. It really is that simple to get started. There is something really wonderful and special about Catholics. Yes that is true! As a lay person, I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he established His Catholic Church. I believe that Jesus instituted the Sacraments. I believe that Jesus created the hieracial structure of the Catholic Church. I believe that Jesus died on the cross as as My Redeemer, and that He rose from the dead. And I believe that Jesus ascended into Heaven amongst other things. I do believe that Jesus Christ has empowered His Catholic Church with the authority to teach and guide me which I really like. Because I don't know it all. And when I go to to the Sacrament of Confession or Reconciliation, that Jesus forgives me of my sins. And when I go to Mass, I do truly believe that I am receiving the Body & Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist. So yes – there really is something very special about Catholics, and the way that Jesus cares for me as a Catholic. What is it really like being a Catholic? Being a Catholic is so wonderful. I love being a Catholic. Words cannot describe how much I feel loved by Jesus, and how close I personally feel to Jesus after receiving the sacraments – especially Confession or Reconciliation, and the Eucharist or Communion. But but but – there are so many rules? No! It's all about love! The best way to look at any rules is that they are there to serve us all. And by obeying rules, we are free to focus on achieving whatever we have set out to achieve in life. It's a bit like having road rules. Is having a rule that everyone drieves on the same side of the street a good rule? Does it unreasonably impose on us and restrict our freedom? No it frees us to use and enjoy driving safely on roads. It helps facilitate driving safely. No one would want to drive on the road without this rule. In the same way - yes the Catholic Church does have rules. But the rules are for our own good. As a layperson, the way I like to think about the rules of the Catholic Church is that these are the rules given to all Catholics by Jesus through His Catholic Church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. From personal experience, when I obey the rules of the Catholic Church, life is good. Like road rules above. When I disobey or ignore the rules of the Catholic Church, life quickly becomes complicated, stressful and unenjoyable - not good at all. Like disobeying road rules above and causing an accident, horrific injuries or even death. I hope that puts the reason the Catholic Church has rules into context. So if you are interested in becoming a Catholic, don't worry about whether or not you can learn, remember and obey the rules of the Catholic Church. Contact your local Catholic Church and enquire about enrolling in their RCIA program, and give it a go. And if during RCIA you decide that you cannot believe, are not interested, or are definitely not ready, then don't take it any further. That simple. By taking that first step and enrolling in RCIA and giving it a go, don't be surprised at how quickly you start feeing at home as you learn more and more about what Catholics believe. Where can I learn about what Catholics believe – Church teachings? I have assembled some user-friendly links on what Catholics believe below based on many of the questions non-Catholics have asked me over the last 20+ years. Why these links are so good is that they are sorted into question topics. And then these links take you directly into what I believe is the best sections of official Catholic Church websites. This is an online Index for the Catechism from Section B below. As you read down the index, your reaction will probably be “Wow! These are exactly the things I have always wanted to know about the Catholic Church. “ Simply point, click – and the information is there at your fingertips. Below that, from experience in taking to non-Catholics, I have started to create a list of common topics for discussion. For example, many non-Catholics are curious about the Catholic Church teachings on Chastity & Homosexuality. <<< by using this link (which is below in the Catechism section, it opens a new browser and takes you direct into the section of the online Catholic Catechism which I believe is best reference to start looking at on this subject. When you click on this link, this is part of what it says in the first paragraph. “Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,¹⁴¹ ..." <<< where you see reference numbers eg 141 – go to the bottom of the page and you will find “141 Cf. Gen 191-29; Rom 124-27; 1 Cor 6:10; 1 Tim 1:10.” <<<these are the Biblical references plus other Church documents relied upon by the Catholic Church in it's teachings. So if you want to you can click on Catholic Bible in section A below, and up comes an index to an online Catholic Bible to assist you to find all the references quoted. I have also created “Topic-Related Links” in Section C which links straight into an online Catholic Encyclopedia. So easy to use. There are a good selection of other links. For Section G, you will find online streaming Catholic Prayers including Scripture Rosaries, Stations of the Cross etc. So Easy to use. What do I do now? This website is not a substitute for contacting your local Catholic parish. But hopefully, it will help you to realise that it is possible for almost anyone to learn about the Catholic Church and become one. And I pray this webpage may help some to make the final decision to enroll in RCIA at their local Catholic Parish Church. May God Bless You and your family. Catholic Teaching Links Main Catholic Links l Catechism l Encyclopedia l Worship l Australian RCIA l Re Catholic Prayers l Prayer Sound Files l Catholic Media l Free Catholic Audio l Please read before using RCIA resources for first time! A. Selection of main Catholic links The Vatican l Catholic Bible l Catechism l Code of Canon Law l Papal Encyclicals l Vatican ll Documents l The Social Agenda l Catholic Encyclopedia l B. Selection of RCIA Catechism topics Index l Jesus Head of Church Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life I believe – We believe 7 Sacraments 1. Baptism 2. Confirmation 3. Eucharist 4. Penance & Reconciliation 5. Anointing of Sick 6. Holy Orders 7. Matrimony Ten Commandments 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Invincible Knowledge Immutable Knowledge Scandal – inciting evil Avoiding war Holy Orders Abortion Suicide Chastity & Homosexuality Purgatory Indulgence C. Selection of Catholic Encyclopedia topics Who is Jesus? The Humanity & Divinity of Jesus l The Blessed Virgin Mary – Mother of God l Assumption of Mary Into Heaven l Popes of The Church l Apostolic Succession l The Fathers of the Church Doctors of The Church l Corporal & Spiritual Works of Mercy How The Church Canonises Saints l Sacraments l Abortion l Reformation l Martin Luther l D. How Catholics gather & worship God Daily Mass Online (USA time) Daily Mass Readings l Basic Mass Prayers l Lectionary For Mass l Mass Vestments l Blessed Sacrament Adoration Online E. Selection of Australian Catholic RCIA resources Diocese of Townsville RCIA PDFs* RCIA Parish Starter Kit (977k) RCIA Brochure (594k) l Completion of Initiation of Children (153k) l Celebration of Infant Baptism (124k) l Gathering for Mass (147k) l The Eucharist (202k) l Go! (203k) l The Mass - Choice or Chore (171k) l The Word of God (191k) l Seasons of the Liturgy (927k) l Note: Townsville Diocese links selected because of quality and variety of online RCIA resources available. F. Selection of Catholic Prayer topics What is prayer? l Contemplation l Praying for the dead l Purgatory l Should we call apon the saints to pray for us? l Are our prayers to the saints always answered? l What is the Rosary? l The Lord's Prayer l 7 Petitions of The Lord's Prayer l The Hail Mary l G. Selection of Scripture Rosaries & Prayers l Joyful l Luminous l Sorrowful l Glorious Divine Mercy l Stations of Cross l St Bridget Prayers l 150+ mp3pray.com prayers l Words to popular Catholic Litanies l Words to popular Catholic Novenas & Devotions l What is a Litany? l What is a Liturgy? l Liturgical Books l Liturgy of the Mass l H. Selection of Catholic Media “Zenit” – the official Vatican newsagency - a free subscriber daily email (in 5 languages) direct from Vatican; “Church Resources” - is a free subscriber daily e-newsletter of what's happening in the church in Australia; “The Catholic Weekly” - is a weekly newspaper Australia-wide – which also has an on-line edition; “The Catholic Leader” - is a weekly newspaper Qld-wide – which also has an on-line edition; “Pauline Books & Media” - (also in Brisbane – next to St Stephen's Cathedral) – for ordering church documents I. Selection of easy to listen to free Catholic faith audios Archbishop Fulton Sheen “Life Is Worth Living” 50 MP3s l Fr Philip Bochanski' “The 7 Deadly Sins” 18 MP3s l EWTN Multimedia l EWTN Audio Library – awesome selection of free for private use programs – hundreds of topics – thousands of half hr sound files – generally need Real Player which is a free download. Use this link. l Becoming A Catholic – Fr. Ed Krause - 13 half hr EWTN radio program - Fr. Ed instructs, encourages, and inspires listeners with the wisdom and strength of the Catholic creed, moral tradition, and sacramental life. He demonstrates that becoming a Catholic is a lifelong struggle, beginning with Baptism and ending in Heaven. 4 Scripture Rosaries & Daily Catholic Prayers CDs Please read before using resources for first time! This is not an official Catholic Church webpage! mp3pray.com founder and webmaster has no formal Catholic teaching qualifications. However, St Peter urges and challenges me and all Catholics to always be ready to explain our Catholic faith. This page and mp3pray.com is my lay-person's way of explaining my Catholic Faith to all who may be interested in becoming Catholics, or who are enrolled in RCIA. As a member of the Mystical Body of Christ, Jesus requires me to use my time, resources, music, singing, computer, video and mp3 talents to create evangelising resources for the benefit of all. The selection of topics are my own composition of topics in relation to questions non-Catholics have asked me for 20 - 35 years. From first-hand evangelising experience, give most busy people a list of page links and most don't follow through. However, take the time to create lists of topics of what most people are probably interested in knowing, and direct links to these topics online, and even busy people find the time to click and read. In addition, create mp3s and videos on these topics, and you always penetrate the maximum number of people – some preferring to read, others preferring to listen on ipods, mp3s, webcasts etc.

- home -

Feature Webcasts:

Weekly Sunday Mass webcast from St Monica's Cathedral Cairns
Sisters of Mercy celebrate 120 year Anniversary serving Diocese of Cairns Australia – special Sunday Mass webcast from St Monica's Cathedral 21/09/08 -
Cairns Priest & Religious
Memorials & Anniversary Calendar
Monsignor John Lennon Memorial -
Requiem Mass Fr John Flynn 26/3/2008
Aussie Catholic Prayer Prolife –
prayer & hymn mp3s to assist all paltalk.com Catholic room admins l

Suicide Prevention
Sponsors 2008
petrol l gifts l mulching l
law college l barrister l
l family memorial l

To become an mp3pray.com
supporter / sponsor,
please use this link.

RCIA is how adults become Catholics
Jesus invites you now
Please say yes to Jesus

Info for non-Catholics interested in becoming
Catholics - from a layperson's perspective

Getting started! Making that life-changing decision!
There is something really wonderful and special about Catholics.
What is it really like being a Catholic?
But but but – there are so many rules? No! It's all about love!
Where can I learn about what Catholics believe – Church teachings?
What do I do now?
Catholic teachings links
Catholic Prayer CDs

Getting started! Making that life-changing decision!

Becoming a Catholic is a life-changing decision. Or else why would anyone bother becoming a Catholic at all? Thankfully, the fist step is generally the most daunting one. Telling someone you are interested in learning about the Catholic Church.

As a layperson, probably one of the best ideas in starting your journey to become a Catholic is to talk to a practicing Catholic you have known for a long time, and whom you respect and trust and ask them why they became Catholics and why they have continued to be a practicing Catholic.

It you don't know anyone, then contact the Parish Priest in the area where you live (who would become your Parish Priest), and ask them to give you the contact details of lay Catholics who can explain why they are practicing Catholics.

It really is that simple to get started.

There is something really wonderful and special about Catholics.

Yes that is true! As a lay person, I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he established His Catholic Church. I believe that Jesus instituted the Sacraments. I believe that Jesus created the hieracial structure of the Catholic Church. I believe that Jesus died on the cross as as My Redeemer, and that He rose from the dead. And I believe that Jesus ascended into Heaven amongst other things.

I do believe that Jesus Christ has empowered His Catholic Church with the authority to teach and guide me which I really like. Because I don't know it all.

And when I go to to the Sacrament of Confession or Reconciliation, that Jesus forgives me of my sins.

And when I go to Mass, I do truly believe that I am receiving the Body & Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist.

So yes – there really is something very special about Catholics, and the way that Jesus cares for me as a Catholic.

What is it really like being a Catholic?

Being a Catholic is so wonderful. I love being a Catholic. Words cannot describe how much I feel loved by Jesus, and how close I personally feel to Jesus after receiving the sacraments – especially Confession or Reconciliation, and the Eucharist or Communion.

But but but – there are so many rules? No! It's all about love!

The best way to look at any rules is that they are there to serve us all. And by obeying rules, we are free to focus on achieving whatever we have set out to achieve in life.

It's a bit like having road rules. Is having a rule that everyone drieves on the same side of the street a good rule? Does it unreasonably impose on us and restrict our freedom? No it frees us to use and enjoy driving safely on roads. It helps facilitate driving safely. No one would want to drive on the road without this rule.

In the same way - yes the Catholic Church does have rules. But the rules are for our own good. As a layperson, the way I like to think about the rules of the Catholic Church is that these are the rules given to all Catholics by Jesus through His Catholic Church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

From personal experience, when I obey the rules of the Catholic Church, life is good. Like road rules above. When I disobey or ignore the rules of the Catholic Church, life quickly becomes complicated, stressful and unenjoyable - not good at all. Like disobeying road rules above and causing an accident, horrific injuries or even death.

I hope that puts the reason the Catholic Church has rules into context.

So if you are interested in becoming a Catholic, don't worry about whether or not you can learn, remember and obey the rules of the Catholic Church. Contact your local Catholic Church and enquire about enrolling in their RCIA program, and give it a go. And if during RCIA you decide that you cannot believe, are not interested, or are definitely not ready, then don't take it any further. That simple.

By taking that first step and enrolling in RCIA and giving it a go, don't be surprised at how quickly you start feeing at home as you learn more and more about what Catholics believe.

Where can I learn about what Catholics believe – Church teachings?

I have assembled some user-friendly links on what Catholics believe below based on many of the questions non-Catholics have asked me over the last 20+ years. Why these links are so good is that they are sorted into question topics. And then these links take you directly into what I believe is the best sections of official Catholic Church websites.

This is an online Index for the Catechism from Section B below. As you read down the index, your reaction will probably be “Wow! These are exactly the things I have always wanted to know about the Catholic Church. “ Simply point, click – and the information is there at your fingertips.

Below that, from experience in taking to non-Catholics, I have started to create a list of common topics for discussion.

For example, many non-Catholics are curious about the Catholic Church teachings on Chastity & Homosexuality. <<< by using this link (which is below in the Catechism section, it opens a new browser and takes you direct into the section of the online Catholic Catechism which I believe is best reference to start looking at on this subject.

When you click on this link, this is part of what it says in the first paragraph.

“Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,¹⁴¹ ..." <<< where you see reference numbers eg 141 – go to the bottom of the page and you will find “141 Cf. Gen 191-29; Rom 124-27; 1 Cor 6:10; 1 Tim 1:10.” <<<these are the Biblical references plus other Church documents relied upon by the Catholic Church in it's teachings.
So if you want to you can click on Catholic Bible in section A below, and up comes an index to an online Catholic Bible to assist you to find all the references quoted.

I have also created “Topic-Related Links” in Section C which links straight into an online Catholic Encyclopedia. So easy to use.

There are a good selection of other links.

For Section G, you will find online streaming Catholic Prayers including Scripture Rosaries, Stations of the Cross etc. So Easy to use.

What do I do now?

This website is not a substitute for contacting your local Catholic parish. But hopefully, it will help you to realise that it is possible for almost anyone to learn about the Catholic Church and become one. And I pray this webpage may help some to make the final decision to enroll in RCIA at their local Catholic Parish Church.

May God Bless You and your family.

Catholic Teaching Links

Main Catholic Links l Catechism l Encyclopedia l Worship l Australian RCIA l
Re Catholic Prayers l Prayer Sound Files l Catholic Media l Free Catholic Audio l

Please read before using RCIA resources for first time!

A. Selection of main Catholic links

B. Selection of RCIA Catechism topics

Index l
Jesus Head of Church
Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life
I believe – We believe
7 Sacraments
1. Baptism
2. Confirmation
3. Eucharist
4. Penance & Reconciliation
5. Anointing of Sick
6. Holy Orders
7. Matrimony
Ten Commandments
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Invincible Knowledge
Immutable Knowledge
Scandal – inciting evil
Avoiding war
Holy Orders
Abortion
Suicide
Chastity & Homosexuality
Purgatory
Indulgence

C. Selection of Catholic Encyclopedia topics

D. How Catholics gather & worship God

E. Selection of Australian Catholic RCIA resources

Diocese of Townsville RCIA PDFs*
RCIA Parish Starter Kit (977k)
RCIA Brochure (594k) l
Completion of Initiation of Children (153k) l
Celebration of Infant Baptism (124k) l
Gathering for Mass (147k) l
The Eucharist (202k) l
Go! (203k) l
The Mass - Choice or Chore (171k) l
The Word of God (191k) l
Seasons of the Liturgy (927k) l

Note: Townsville Diocese links selected because of quality and variety of online RCIA resources available.
F. Selection of Catholic Prayer topics

G. Selection of Scripture Rosaries & Prayers l

Joyful l
Luminous l
Sorrowful l
Glorious
Divine Mercy l
Stations of Cross l
St Bridget Prayers l
150+ mp3pray.com prayers l
Words to popular Catholic Litanies l
Words to popular Catholic Novenas & Devotions l
What is a Litany? l
What is a Liturgy? l
Liturgical Books l
Liturgy of the Mass l

H. Selection of Catholic Media

“Zenit” – the official Vatican newsagency - a free subscriber daily email (in 5 languages) direct from Vatican;
“Church Resources” - is a free subscriber daily e-newsletter of what's happening in the church in Australia;
“The Catholic Weekly” - is a weekly newspaper Australia-wide – which also has an on-line edition;
“The Catholic Leader” - is a weekly newspaper Qld-wide – which also has an on-line edition;
“Pauline Books & Media” - (also in Brisbane – next to St Stephen's Cathedral) – for ordering church documents

I. Selection of easy to listen to free Catholic faith audios

Archbishop Fulton Sheen “Life Is Worth Living” 50 MP3s l
Fr Philip Bochanski' “The 7 Deadly Sins” 18 MP3s l
EWTN Multimedia l
EWTN Audio Library – awesome selection of free for private use programs – hundreds of topics – thousands of half hr sound files – generally need Real Player which is a free download. Use this link. l
Becoming A Catholic – Fr. Ed Krause - 13 half hr EWTN radio program - Fr. Ed instructs, encourages, and inspires listeners with the wisdom and strength of the Catholic creed, moral tradition, and sacramental life. He demonstrates that becoming a Catholic is a lifelong struggle, beginning with Baptism and ending in Heaven.

4 Scripture Rosaries & Daily Catholic Prayers CDs

Please read before using resources for first time!

This is not an official Catholic Church webpage! mp3pray.com founder and webmaster has no formal Catholic teaching qualifications. However, St Peter urges and challenges me and all Catholics to always be ready to explain our Catholic faith.

This page and mp3pray.com is my lay-person's way of explaining my Catholic Faith to all who may be interested in becoming Catholics, or who are enrolled in RCIA.

As a member of the Mystical Body of Christ, Jesus requires me to use my time, resources, music, singing, computer, video and mp3 talents to create evangelising resources for the benefit of all.

The selection of topics are my own composition of topics in relation to questions non-Catholics have asked me for 20 - 35 years. From first-hand evangelising experience, give most busy people a list of page links and most don't follow through. However, take the time to create lists of topics of what most people are probably interested in knowing, and direct links to these topics online, and even busy people find the time to click and read. In addition, create mp3s and videos on these topics, and you always penetrate the maximum number of people – some preferring to read, others preferring to listen on ipods, mp3s, webcasts etc.

RCIA is how adults become CatholicsJesus invites you nowPlease say yes to Jesus