OCIA - Becoming Catholic

The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) is the process through which interested adults and older children are gradually introduced to the Roman Catholic faith and way of life.

Some people become Catholic by being baptized as infants, growing up in Catholic homes, receiving formal catechesis and coming to share in the sacraments of the Church. Other Catholics come to the church as adults, already baptized, having received their religious formation in another faith. They may have been contacted by a Catholic, but they probably made the first move by talking to a priest or sister or someone else about the Church.

For those who think they might wish to become Catholic, the Church has the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), which is the formal title for the whole process of preparing adults for initiation into the Catholic Church.

What is the Process?

This is a time for hearing the and listening to the Gospel. The precatechumenate lasts until those involved in OCIA participate in the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens, when "Inquirers" who wish to become Catholic are accepted as "Catechumens" or "Candidates" by the Church through the liturgical rite.
This period begins with the Rite of Acceptance and includes learning about some of the key tenets of Catholicism. This period may last only a couple of months or for several years, but it concludes on the day of Election.
Election or Enrollment of Names:
In this liturgical rite, usually celebrated on the First Sunday of Lent, the Church formally ratifies the Catechumens' and Candidates' readiness for the sacraments of initiation (baptism, eucharist and confirmation). After the Rite of Election, candidates and catechumens are known as the elect.
Normally, this period coincides with the season of Lent. It concludes with the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist— at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday.
This is a period of fifty days from Easter to Pentecost that completes the initiation process. The Post-Baptism, period of Mystagogia, is meant to be a passage from preparation into the mission and ministries, rhythm and life of the Catholic Church.

OCIA FAQs

Respecting that each person is unique, the Christian Initiation Process does not have a timeline for an individual's conversion journey. For some this may be a matter of months; for others it may be over several years.
We have had inquirers over the years who knew almost nothing about the Church. We also have had participants who were raised Catholic. The only requirement is curiosity and a willingness to learn more.
Yes Indeed. No commitment is required. We like to compare the process to dating. When you meet someone who piques your interest, you tend to send a text message or meet for a cup of coffee before you ever go on a date. And you're likely to date for a while before becoming exclusive. You don't commit to marriage right from the start. It's the same with OCIA. People come. They ask questions. They learn a little about the Church. Only later on do they decide whether they want to commit to becoming Catholic. We've also had many Catholic people join us over the years to learn more about what the Church teaches. If you're curious about the Catholic faith, you're welcome to join us.
You can contact Jim Dryden if you have other questions or wish to join us!

Want To Be A Sponsor?

The primary job of a sponsor is to be a spiritual mentor. A sponsor…

needs to be able to share his or her own faith and be a person of prayer.
does not need to be theologian. The sponsor does not need to know everything about the faith.
makes a commitment for the period of the catechumenate.
must be a practicing Catholic, at least 16 years old, and confirmed.

Contact Jim Dryden for details.