In the Empire

   As Christianity spread through the Roman Empire, being a Christian could be cause for execution.  The Christian communities therefore were suspicious of Roman spies among them; equally, they were aware of the pagans among them.  A long process of catechesis (teaching/instruction) was necessary to root out the former and aid catechumens (those being instructed) in becoming disciples of Jesus Christ. 

     This catechesis in some parts of the empire could be three years!  At the end of this process, the catechumens would receive baptism, confirmation and access to the Eucharist, hence, joining the Christian community. 

   To be a Christian in the world has always been a challenge from the Lord Jesus, Who said to “take up your cross and follow me” (Matthew 16.24) and whoever commits to following Jesus but “looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9.62).

In the Modern Era

     In the wake of the so-called "Reformation," following the Council of Trent (1545-1563), the priests of the Fathers of Christian Doctrine and the laity of Confraternity of Christian Doctrine began a campaign of catechesis with the support of Pope St. Pius V and was officially moved to Rome by Pope Paul V in 1607.

     From Rome it spread rapidly over Italy, France and Germany. It found advocates in Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, Fr. Francis de Sales, and Cardinal Charles Borromeo who established it in every parish of his diocese.  As Christendom was fracturing into various splinters, CCD was buttressing the Protestant movement by insulating God's Vineyard through catechesis in the teaching of Holy Mother Church..

The Catechumenate

     While the Popes of the Modern era, Leo XIII, Pius XI,  St. Pius X, et al, fought the influence of the Enlightenment, Christendom was dying in the West.  At the Second Vatican Council (1962 - 1965), the Fathers re-instituted the catechumenate, the ancient order for introduction and instruction (catechesis) in the Catholic Faith. This is the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults.  Who is it for?

• Adults who are not baptized but sense God's call in their lives to become Christians (Catechumens)
• Adults who were baptized in other Christian traditions and sense God's call to come home to the Catholic Church (Candidates)
• Baptized Catholics who are coming back to the church and want to update their knowledge of the Catholic faith or to complete the Sacraments of Initiaition (Confirmation and Holy Communion).