B.TRE wrote:

It's been a while since I've posted on this forum, but since then, I firmly believe that Catholicism is the right path for myself. As such, I'd like to know more about the Catholic church and how one joins it. I've read materials on it before, but it didn't seem to get through to me as a comforting media. Perhaps someone here could explain to me what is all apart of the Catholic religion, as I find the people here are much less stoic and formal than anything else (i.e Wikipedia etc. etc.) on the internet?

-Becky

Hi Becky,

Welcome to the Forum!  It certainly sounds as though you're being strongly called by God to Catholicism.
To become a Catholic, one must take the RCIA Course (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults), where you'll learn everything about the faith.  It generally run's from the Fall until shortly before Easter, you and others in the Class would be 'officially' welcomed into the Church at the Easter Tridum.  During this time you'll receive the necessary Sacraments as well,  the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Confession), the Eucharist  (Communion) and Confirmation.  If you've already been Baptized in another Christian faith by the Trinitarian method ("In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit") then you wouldn't need to be re-Baptized, the Church recognize's those Baptisms as valid.
It would probably be a good idea to phone the Church now and tell them you'd like to sign up for the RCIA Program. 
Some very good reading material that I'd highly recommend:  Catholicism for Dummies (bad title, good book!) it contains all the teachings of the Church, was written by 2 Catholic Priests and has some humor thrown in for good measure.  "Why do Catholics Do That?", just enter it into the search engine of Amazon or B & N to find out more about it, then there's also the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it contains all teachings, Doctrines, Dogmas, from a-z.  You can always borrow these from the Library, there is an online Catechism, but I can't recall the link at the moment. 

All the best to you in your Journey to Catholicism and don't hesitate to post here again if you have more questions!

Peace,
Sandy

Shaner wrote:

there is an online Catechism, but I can't recall the link at the moment.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/

There are a number of good resources on the Bishops' website.