Are you interested in learning more about the Catholic faith? Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), formerly called Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), is the process for adults who desire to join the Catholic faith and for those seeking more information on the Catholic Church.
OCIA can also be a method for Catholics to complete their reception of the initiation sacraments of Confirmation and/or Holy Communion. It is intended for those who have heard the calling of the Holy Spirit and who want to dive into a deeper understanding of who God is and how to cultivate an authentic relationship with Him.
Who is OCIA for?
- Those who want to join the Catholic Church through Baptism, or Profession of Faith.
- Those who were baptized Catholic as infants but never received religious education, Confirmation, or First Eucharist.
- Those who are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith.
Since this is a process and not a program, we initially meet one on one with interested parties to discuss their faith journey thus far, and go over the components of this process. After the meeting, a group is formed, which will journey together through the process of learning about the faith, reflecting on Scripture, and discerning the call that has been placed into their hearts.
Those who have not been baptized or are making a profession of faith, will experience special liturgical rites throughout the year as they progress to being received into the Catholic Church. Most will enter during the Spring Easter Vigil (The night before Easter.)
To read more about it, visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) site "Christian Initiation of Adults."
To set up an initial inquiry session, please contact Nanci Lukasik-Smith, Director of Catechesis, at (623) 344-7294 or via email at nanci@popscw.org.
