Catholicism is a way of life, and becoming Catholic is a journey in faith. OCIA is a formation process, rooted in Church history, designed to form adults in the Catholic faith and prepare adults to receive the sacraments of the Church. This process is so much more than just learning about God. It is about getting to know God on a personal level.

Becoming Catholic involves entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ and His community of God’s people.

Our belief is that you will enjoy a deeper relationship with God as you become acquainted with members of St. Francis and the Church throughout the world. Your OCIA journey will be a unique time for you. You will no doubt notice how your own life experiences and beliefs have brought you to this point as you listen to God’s invitation to explore the Catholic faith. At the same time, members of the parish are praying for you, attending sessions with you, and sharing their own life stories as followers of Christ in His Church.

OCIA is for:

• Adults never baptized who desire to become a Christian in the Catholic Church.
• Adults baptized in another Christian church who desire to join in membership in the  Catholic Church.
• Adults baptized in the Catholic Church who have not completed their full initiation into the church through the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation.

OCIA-Adapted for CHILDREN and teens (OCIA-AC/at)

The Order of Christian Initiation for Children and Teens (OCIA-AC/AT), is the process adapted for those unbaptized, ages 7 to 17, who desire to become a Christian in the Catholic Church. The format follows that of the adult OCIA program, but in a manner adapted for the understanding and maturation of children and teens.

The Order of Christian Initiation is not a time-defined process. It is the process of a spiritual journey that may take a short period of time or a number of years. For those unbaptized seekers, we offer the Catechumenate process that begins in September and continues through the spring with the possibility of the Sacraments of Initiation, Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, being received at Easter Vigil Liturgy, determined by the readiness of the person and their desire to continue. Following their initiation, the new church members (Neophytes) begin an additional period of deepening instruction and experiential engagement in the mission of the Church for the next several months. Throughout this journey, the individual is accompanied by a Sponsor who stays with them through the entire process and beyond.

For those who have been baptized in another Christian church with the Trinitarian formula ("In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit"), we offer the Candidate process in the Fall and Spring with other potential opportunities to receive full initiation into the Catholic Church:

• On the Sunday celebrating Christ the King, just before the Advent season begins.
• Around late May/early June on Pentecost Sunday.

All initiations are followed by a period of deepening instruction and experiential engagement in the mission of the Church. Each Candidate also has the support and accompaniment of a Sponsor throughout the entire process and beyond.

If your Baptism was performed in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (the Trinitarian blessing) and is verified, you will not be baptized again. In the Candidate cycle, those who have previously been validly baptized will receive the sacrament of Reconciliation by making their first confession, and then, to complete their initiation into full communion with the Church, will make a profession of faith in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and will receive the sacraments of Confirmation and the Eucharist.

If you are seriously considering becoming a Catholic or would simply like more information about the Catholic faith, please click the “OCIA Inquiry Form” button above. This will give us the necessary information to better serve you and help you continue this amazing journey.

The Order of Christian Initiation (OCIA), a spiritual journey, is a gradual process within the community of the faithful by which an interested person becomes an initiated member of the Catholic Church. OCIA marks the various steps on the way to full initiation within the Catholic Church in four (4) specific periods. While there are time frames set forth for each period, the actual time required is determined more by the development of each person and their discernment with the assistance of the Coordinator:

• The Period of Inquiry/Evangelization: This initial period allows the “Inquirer” to become acquainted with the Catholic Church, to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, and to reflect on one’s own life and the stirrings of the heart. The conclusion of this period is marked by the Rite of Welcome and Entrance into the Order of the Catechumenate.
• The Period of Catechumenate: Following the Rite of Entrance (first stage of commitment) the “Catechumen” instruction deepens individual conversion and provides for a more in-depth focus on the doctrines of the Catholic faith. The conclusion of this period is marked by the Rite of Election.
• The Period of Purification and Enlightenment: The Rite of Election (second stage of commitment) marks a period of more intense spiritual preparation intended to purify the mind and heart of the “Elect” and deepen their knowledge of and relationship with Christ.  The conclusion of this period is marked by the Rite of Initiation at the Easter Vigil liturgy.  Joining with the Church community in the celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ in the Paschal Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil), the “Elect” are fully initiated into the Church through the reception of the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist, at the Easter Vigil liturgy (third stage of commitment).
• The Period of Mystagogy: After the completion of their Christian initiation, the “Neophyte” enters a period of deepening their understanding of and experiences in, their new faith. Their focus during this period is the development of their personal spiritual life and introduction into full involvement in the Mission of the Church through ministries and outreach (final stage of commitment).

Sponsors:
Each Inquirer shares your journey with a Catholic “sponsor.” The sponsor is a baptized and confirmed Catholic who is at least 16 years old, and is actively celebrating the sacraments. Sponsors attend meetings with you and may attend Mass with you to help acquaint you with the St. Francis Catholic community. If you know of a Catholic with whom you would like to share this experience, please mention this to the OCIA Director. There are parish volunteers waiting to serve in this capacity. If you don’t know a Catholic to choose to sponsor you, we will match you with a member of our parish family.

Attendance:
Sessions are led by trained catechetical teams. Each year many lifelong friendships develop in the sessions as we gather to learn and pray together. While we recognize that “life happens” and you may have to miss an occasional session, regular attendance is vital to the orderly progressive nature of instruction and enlightenment. Missed sessions will need to be ‘made up,’ but the greatest impact of the sessions is in the presentation, discussions, and worship done with the group. Ultimately the complete preparation process is an individual one and its conclusion is not necessarily marked by the number of sessions attended, but rather by the periodic discernment interviews conducted with the Coordinator throughout the process.