OCIA Team Member Information
If you have found this page, then you have been invited to be on a Member Team!
Thank you for prayerfully considering helping with one of the most important missions of the Church. We have been called to go out to all the nations, baptizing and proclaiming the good news of the Gospels. Lucky for us we don't have to go far! Below is an overview of how we are setting up the program this year. Please fill out the form at the bottom of the page if you have any questions. Thank you again for prayerfully considering being part of this year's OCIA team!
Thank you for prayerfully considering helping with one of the most important missions of the Church. We have been called to go out to all the nations, baptizing and proclaiming the good news of the Gospels. Lucky for us we don't have to go far! Below is an overview of how we are setting up the program this year. Please fill out the form at the bottom of the page if you have any questions. Thank you again for prayerfully considering being part of this year's OCIA team!
Why OCIA instead of RCIA?
RCIA stands for Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.
OCIA stands for Order of Christian Initiation for Adults.
A "rite" is a single liturgical celebration. This doesn't accurately describe the process that catechumenates go through. An "order" is a collection of rites. It is within the Order of Christian Initiation that we have all the different rites of celebrations that will welcome new members into our church family.
OCIA stands for Order of Christian Initiation for Adults.
A "rite" is a single liturgical celebration. This doesn't accurately describe the process that catechumenates go through. An "order" is a collection of rites. It is within the Order of Christian Initiation that we have all the different rites of celebrations that will welcome new members into our church family.
OUR OCIA PROGRAM:
This year we are breaking our program into four different parts:
1) INQUIRY PHASE: This phase begins in September and will end just before Thanksgiving. There is no commitment to become Catholic at this phase. It is a short period of time to discuss what Catholics believe. Meetings will be held in McMullan Hall on Wednesday nights after the daily Mass 6:30 pm until approximately 8:00 pm.
2) CATECHUMEN PHASE: Around Thanksgiving all inquirers will be asked if they want to continue their education to become a Catholic. This is where a commitment is made. There is a separate application for this phase that requests more in depth information for legal purposes (baptismal, communion, confirmation, marriage certificates). Attendance either in person or online will be mandatory. Classes will be moved to the Holy Spirit building on a mutually agreed upon day and time (most likely Wednesday nights), and sponsors will be sought. This phase will end with the RITE OF SENDING (right around Ash Wednesday) in which the candidates will enter into the next phase.
3) PURIFICATION AND ENLIGHTENMENT PHASE: Lent begins this action-packed phase of rites and scrutinizes. This is the phase where their faith lives should have increased. It is time to integrate them into the community of faith by making them visible and involving the parish in their formation. This phase will end with the Easter Initiation Rites.
4) MYSTAGOGY PHASE: This phase begins immediately after initiation and will be guided through Pentecost. This phase will include pilgrimages to other churches and retreats to help implement the faith they just received. Afterwards the neophytes (new church members) will be encouraged to get involved in church activities and continue their spiritual growth.
1) INQUIRY PHASE: This phase begins in September and will end just before Thanksgiving. There is no commitment to become Catholic at this phase. It is a short period of time to discuss what Catholics believe. Meetings will be held in McMullan Hall on Wednesday nights after the daily Mass 6:30 pm until approximately 8:00 pm.
2) CATECHUMEN PHASE: Around Thanksgiving all inquirers will be asked if they want to continue their education to become a Catholic. This is where a commitment is made. There is a separate application for this phase that requests more in depth information for legal purposes (baptismal, communion, confirmation, marriage certificates). Attendance either in person or online will be mandatory. Classes will be moved to the Holy Spirit building on a mutually agreed upon day and time (most likely Wednesday nights), and sponsors will be sought. This phase will end with the RITE OF SENDING (right around Ash Wednesday) in which the candidates will enter into the next phase.
3) PURIFICATION AND ENLIGHTENMENT PHASE: Lent begins this action-packed phase of rites and scrutinizes. This is the phase where their faith lives should have increased. It is time to integrate them into the community of faith by making them visible and involving the parish in their formation. This phase will end with the Easter Initiation Rites.
4) MYSTAGOGY PHASE: This phase begins immediately after initiation and will be guided through Pentecost. This phase will include pilgrimages to other churches and retreats to help implement the faith they just received. Afterwards the neophytes (new church members) will be encouraged to get involved in church activities and continue their spiritual growth.
CURRICULUM:
We will be teaching basic information about what Catholic believe and why. Our greatest tools will be the Gospels, liturgical celebrations, daily saints, and our Q&A technique. We have volunteer teachers who will use a variety of approved resources. We will have some guest speakers who are experts in their fields to give testimony. We have Symbollon videos we will be using as needed. We will also mirror our online class to reflect what was done in person so that members who could not attend will not be left unprepared.
TWO PARTS/FOUR TEAMS:
OCIA will require two different parts: one visible, and one invisible.
The VISIBLE teams will be the members whom the inquirers and candidates see and interact with the most:
HOSPITALITY: This team is the most important team (besides prayer support). These members are the ones who represent all of us at Saint Malachy's and make the inquirers and candidates feel welcome. They will greet the newcomers, tend to any needs; and manage the Information Table, the Faith Well, and the Refreshment Table. They will not have to provide the information or the refreshments themselves, though they can bring food and drinks if they want to. The leader of this team will acquire the refreshments needed for the night.
The VISIBLE teams will be the members whom the inquirers and candidates see and interact with the most:
HOSPITALITY: This team is the most important team (besides prayer support). These members are the ones who represent all of us at Saint Malachy's and make the inquirers and candidates feel welcome. They will greet the newcomers, tend to any needs; and manage the Information Table, the Faith Well, and the Refreshment Table. They will not have to provide the information or the refreshments themselves, though they can bring food and drinks if they want to. The leader of this team will acquire the refreshments needed for the night.
EVANGELIZATION: This team is comprised of CATHOLICS IN GOOD STANDING who can volunteer one (or more) classes as needed. Topics will be as scheduled, and material should be approved. Back up evangelizers would be a great support in case of emergencies. It is not required (but preferred) for evangelizers to be fingerprinted and have gone through the safe environment classes.
The INVISIBLE teams will be the members who do most of their work without much interaction with inquirers and candidates.
FACILITATING: This is the work behind the scenes. This team will be involved with organization, applications, certificates, booking events, building schedules, preparing the rites, etc. This team will have to work closely with all of the choirs, the liturgical committee, Father Greg, and anyone else in charge to ensure a smooth (PLEASE GOD) process of initiation and everything it entails. This team will greatly depend upon the prayers of the next team!
FACILITATING: This is the work behind the scenes. This team will be involved with organization, applications, certificates, booking events, building schedules, preparing the rites, etc. This team will have to work closely with all of the choirs, the liturgical committee, Father Greg, and anyone else in charge to ensure a smooth (PLEASE GOD) process of initiation and everything it entails. This team will greatly depend upon the prayers of the next team!
PRAYER WARRIORS: This team is comprised of souls who feel the Lord calling them to help OCIA but are not sure how. They may not have the time or capability to support any of the other teams. We know that prayer, fasting, and suffering are important tools that our Lord promoted as ways to help with conversions, especially difficult ones. We do not take this lightly. Weekly prayer requests will be given to this team to support the OCIA mission in whatever way they can, either by daily Mass, rosary, mercy chaplet, or any other way our Lord calls them to.
Meetings will be short and only when needed. Most communication will be through this website or by text. Once approved as a team member, you will be invited to log in to our OCIA Team Member pages where you will find all the information you need to help make this a great program. Thank you so much for hearing God's call.