OCIA and Catholicism 101
Who is OCIA for?
OCIA is the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, it has been a process for people to become disciples of Jesus and members of the Church since the 300’s A.D.!
- Un-baptized adults
- Adults baptized in other Christian Denominations
- Adults baptized as Catholic, but have been away from Catholicism, never celebrated Confirmation and / or have never received Holy Communion
St. John’s Approach to OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) is not just a class or program. It is a process of conversion, turning our life toward Jesus and the Catholic Church. It is the process of making disciples (followers, students) of Jesus and prepares a person for a lifelong commitment as a Catholic. The initiation of new members is celebrated each year, typically at the Easter Vigil, the night before Easter. At St. John we do have other points of entry on the Calendar: the Feast of Christ the King (in late November) and the Feast of Pentecost (50 days after Easter).
Who is OCIA for?
Adults who have never been baptized and want to become Roman Catholic; or adults who HAVE been baptized in other Christian denominations but are not yet Catholic; or adults baptized as Catholic, but have been away from Catholicism, maybe they never celebrated Confirmation or have never received Holy Communion. For children and teenagers, they may be a great fit for OCIA; we will meet with you and decide what works best for your family.
Everyone’s journey of faith is unique.
Some people have done many years of extensive study on their own, they may have been attending other denominations or even the Catholic Mass for years; others may enter the OCIA who have never set foot inside a church. Some folks missed Confirmation when they were younger; some are married to a Catholic and decide it’s time for them to be Catholic too; others are engaged to be married and want to explore Catholicism. Every story is different, and inquirers do not all show up with questions in September, neatly fitting into a school-year program. So, we do not think of OCIA as a “calendar call”: instead we offer a Year Round OCIA. We will work with your time and calendar, and do our best to meet your needs wherever you are in your faith walk. While there are expectations and minimum requirements, more than anything, we want you to experience a real sense of community while you make your way to Jesus in the Sacraments of the Church.
Contact
Have questions? Interested in learning more or joining the church? Contact Todd Gale.