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OCIA - Order of Christian Initiation for Adults |
What is OCIA?
OCIA stands for the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults. It is a four-step process by which a soul is brought into the fullness of the Catholic Sacramental Faith by means of celebration of the Liturgical Year; studying Holy Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and church documents; and participating in service and charity.
The first process is the INQUIRY PHASE in which there is no commitment to become Catholic. This is the question-and-answer phase where we present what it means to be a Catholic and help you to determine how you are being called to join us. The process will involve an in-person interview and filling out an information form. Then we will help you pick which path best fits your sacramental needs.
The second phase is the CATECHUMENATE. This is when a commitment is made, and classes are tailored more for the candidate to learn how to participate in the liturgies of the Catholic Church within the parish community. Attendance of Holy Mass is recommended on Saturday nights or Sundays.
The third phase is ENLIGHTENMENT AND PURIFICATION. This is when most of the ceremonies take place that prepare the soul to receive the sanctifying graces it will receive at Easter. Attendance at Holy Mass is required.
The fourth and final phase is CHRISTIAN MYSTAGOGY where the newly confirmed souls are encouraged to put their newfound faith into action through service and charity.
If you are interested in joining the Catholic church or want to take your faith life a little deeper than please join us! Our in-person sessions are every Wednesday, in McMullan Hall at 6:30 pm and will last approximately 90 minutes. We are excited to meet with you!
The first process is the INQUIRY PHASE in which there is no commitment to become Catholic. This is the question-and-answer phase where we present what it means to be a Catholic and help you to determine how you are being called to join us. The process will involve an in-person interview and filling out an information form. Then we will help you pick which path best fits your sacramental needs.
The second phase is the CATECHUMENATE. This is when a commitment is made, and classes are tailored more for the candidate to learn how to participate in the liturgies of the Catholic Church within the parish community. Attendance of Holy Mass is recommended on Saturday nights or Sundays.
The third phase is ENLIGHTENMENT AND PURIFICATION. This is when most of the ceremonies take place that prepare the soul to receive the sanctifying graces it will receive at Easter. Attendance at Holy Mass is required.
The fourth and final phase is CHRISTIAN MYSTAGOGY where the newly confirmed souls are encouraged to put their newfound faith into action through service and charity.
If you are interested in joining the Catholic church or want to take your faith life a little deeper than please join us! Our in-person sessions are every Wednesday, in McMullan Hall at 6:30 pm and will last approximately 90 minutes. We are excited to meet with you!
What You Will Need:
Our OCIA program is free; there is never a cost to you. However, this means you may need to purchase certain items for yourself. If this is a hardship, please let us know. Donations from generous parishioners have been made for this purpose.These books can be found either at our Catholic Daughter's Religious Store or on an online shop such as Amazon or Thrift Books
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BIBLE Which Catholic bibles are approved for Catholics? Catholic Bibles must include the full canon of 73 books (46 in the Old Testament, including the seven deuterocanonical books—Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and 1–2 Maccabees—plus additions to Esther and Daniel; and 27 in the New Testament). Protestant Bibles lack the deuterocanonical books and are not considered complete Catholic Bibles, though they can supplement study with caution. Key Approved Translations:
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PRAYER JOURNAL with pen or pencil (any notebook will do; you can be as fancy or simple as you want)
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CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
We will be referring to this book during every session as CCC followed by a number that will reference what we are learning. Having your own copy (or a digital copy) will help you gain more insight on each topic. |
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UNITED STATES CATHOLIC CATECHISM for ADULTS by USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
We will use this book as our homework, especially if sessions are cancelled due to weather. . |
How to Begin the Process:
You will need to do a couple things to begin the OCIA program:
- Submit an OCIA INQUIRY APPLICATION. This can be done in the church office or online.
- Schedule for a meeting with the OCIA Director.
- Bring the following items:
- Valid Identification
- Birth Certificate
- Any Sacramental certificates such as Baptismal, 1st Communion, or Marriage license.
