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O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults)
"...like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house..."
— 1 Peter 2:5
What is OCIA?The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) is a period of intellectual, moral and spiritual formation that is both personal and communal, to prepare people to become members of the Catholic Church. For those who are already validly baptized in a Christian communion, it is a way of preparing to receive the other sacraments and so enter into full communion.
Who is it for?
- Those who have never been baptized.
- Those who have been baptized** in a Christian communion other than Catholicism but would now like to receive the other sacraments of initiation: Confirmation and the Eucharist.
- Those adults who were baptized Catholic, but have not yet received the other sacraments. These can be:
- Adults who have not made either their first confession or First Communion.
- Adults who have just not yet been confirmed.
**If the baptism was done with a Trinitarian formula
(in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) you are not rebaptized.**What do you need?
- Catechism of the Catholic Church. Available free here.
- Bible Translations:
- NABRE (New American Bible, Revised Edition) or RSVCE (Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.)
- Free apps, or, available free here.
- Textbook
- Use the OCIA lending library (you can borrow for free, but please return the books!)
- Appetite for learning (appetite for food will also come in useful) ;-)
Expectations- Attend the Wednesday classes, the Retreat and the non-Wednesday rites
- If you can’t make the classes, catch up on the Credo material here.
- Get in the habit of attending Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation (marked on the schedule). Don’t receive communion yet (unless you are Catholic and have already received the sacrament), but you may come up for a blessing. We’ll review how to do that
- Figure out your baptismal status.
Catholics: email/call/write for a fresh new certificate from the church of your baptism, ask them to “include all notations.”non-Catholics: find your certificate if you have one, or write the church where it took place to get a new copy/notice/letter of its occurrence.- Fill out an Inquirer’s Form and get it back to Deacon Tony (in class or at the individual meeting).
- Be thinking about someone to be your godparent/sponsor; and have him/her fill out the official form when we get to it.
- Be thinking about a saint who might make a good patron for you.
- You will memorize seven essential prayers, available here.
- Two brief (no more than five minutes) presentations in your small group on 2 books of your choosing.
- Two service projects.
- There is no fee and no obligation to join!
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To access the Credo video curriculum, use this parish access code: SB00536.
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Contact Us
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tditolvegmail.comPermanent Deacon
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OCIA CLASS DOCUMENTS
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