OCIA & RCIC

The Journey to Becoming Catholic

Are you looking to become Catholic? Maybe you have never been baptized or were baptized in a different Christian tradition, or perhaps you received Baptism as a child in the Catholic Church but never received your First Communion or Confirmation. If any of these strike a chord with you, then OCIA is the place for you!

The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) is a process by which parishes welcome new members of the Catholic Church through education, faith sharing, and liturgical rituals.   This process includes several stages marked by prayer, study, discussion, and community building.  Included in the process are several Rites, which take place within the context of the Mass.  The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) describes OCIA as a process in which participants "undergo . . . conversion as they study the Gospel, profess faith in Jesus and the Catholic Church, and receive the sacraments."   

OCIA is tailored to the needs of each individual and one may take as much time as he or she needs in the initiation process before becoming ready for full initiation through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.  It is a process rather than an educational program and this process takes place within the community of the faithful, the local Church.  All that is truly required is a sincere desire to learn, grow, and develop one’s relationship with God.

Who is OCIA for? 

• The Unbaptized ("Catechumens"): Those not baptized who are seeking to grow in awareness of God’s call to conversion as well as ways to respond to that call
• The Baptized ("Candidates")...
  • Anyone baptized into a non-Catholic Christian communion who wishes to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church
  • Anyone baptized into the Catholic Church who did not complete the Sacraments of Initiation (e.g. Confirmation)

What to expect? 

Sessions meet weekly from September until after Easter on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8 pm. If you are a Spanish speaker, we also offer OCIA in Spanish on Sunday mornings from 11:15 am-12:45 pm. The OCIA team leads the group in catechetical instruction using the Symbolon resource, large/small group discussions, and prayer.  

By late October, Catechumens and Candidates will have chosen sponsors to accompany them on this journey of faith.  During Lent, there are a series of blessings during the Mass to prepare those seeking Baptism to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.  At the Easter Vigil (the night before Easter), those who desire to become members of the Catholic Church are brought into full communion with the Church.   See the schedule below for full details.

How to sign up? 

1. Use the OCIA Inquiry Form to contact the ministers and set up an initial meeting. 
2. Once you have had your initial meeting with the ministers, use the OCIA Registration Form for us to gather important information so that we can best serve your needs.
3. The ministers will add you to the OCIA newsletter which gives updates on important OCIA events, classes, and important upcoming information.

OCIA Inquiry Form  | OCIA Registration Form  | 2023-2024 Calendar

* More properly referred to as "Order" rather than "Rite," as will be reflected in new liturgical texts coming out soon.

Are you seeking baptism for your child who is 7 years of age or older? Are you looking for your child to receive First Communion, but they have not yet been baptized?  Then RCIC is the place for you!  

What is OCIC? 

OCIC refers to the "Rite of Christian Initiation for Children"  and is the process by which unbaptized children 7+ years of age prepare for and receive the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, First Eucharist, and Confirmation.

What does the OCIC Program look like at St.Odilia? 

1. If your chid is not enrolled in St. Odilia school, then register for Family Faith Instruction or the Confirmation Program: Click HERE to Enroll in Family Faith or Click HERE to Enroll in Confirmation

Children in grades 2-6 are to be enrolled in the Wednesday evening Family Faith Formation Program.  This is a monthly program (Sept - May) in which parents are formed and equipped to bring faith into the home through weekly home lessons, while the students receive instruction by a Catechist in a group with other RCIC students.  Honoring parents as the primary educators of their children, the program engages parents with materials to instruct their children.  There are lessons to prepare for First Reconciliation (celebrated after Baptism) and First Eucharist.  

Students in grades 7-12 will enroll in the Confirmation program and may have some adaptations.   Students in grades 7-12 will follow the confirmation preparation components of the program including the Parent/Youth Meetings, retreat, service projects, etc.

2. Register for OCIC and take a Baptism Preparation Class: Click HERE to register 

The Baptism Preparation Class is offered once a month on Saturday morning from 10:00 am until noon. We offer two classes during this time, one in English and one in Spanish.  The class is required for parents/guardians, and sponsors are warmly invited.  In this class, we will review the theology of the Sacrament of Baptism, look deeper at the Rite of Baptism and the sacramentals celebrated, give orientation on the celebration options, discuss the role of parents, godparents and the church community, and finally give clarity on any forms and fees needed.   

3. Participate in special OCIC Liturgies and Rites:

The church offers Rites to mark the progress of the catechumen and implores the prayers and support of the church community.  Ideally, the sponsor of the child is presenting them to the community but a parent can fill in this role if needed, except for the Vigil.  These include the Rite of Sending, the Rite of Election, and 3 Scrutiny Masses during Lent.  

Rite of Sending and Rite of Election: Feb 18, 11:00 AM Mass, followed by 2:00 PM Service at the Cathedral of St. Paul  

Scrutiny Mass: TBD 
 

4. Reception of the Sacraments at the Easter Vigil: 

This is the highest liturgical celebration of the church and this will be the night that the children are fully initiated with the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. The Easter Vigil is Saturday, April 8th, at 8:00 pm in the church.  Pictures are at 7:15 pm.  Invite family and friends! Sponsors must be present. It is a longer ceremony so plan for 2-3 hours (get a good nap in beforehand!).  The children will make their First Reconciliation at a later time but will be prepared beforehand. 

Easter Vigil: March 30th, 8:00PM 2024 

Click here for our curriculum for OCIC

OCIC Parent Checklist 
 

Questions? Contact Isabel Sutter 651-415-3349 or sutter@stodilia.org