OCIA, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (previously known as RCIA), is a spiritual journey, a faith formation process geared to helping pre-teens, teenagers, and adults who wish to become Catholic. OCIA guides you through the teachings of Jesus Christ as preserved and handed down over the last two millennia by the Catholic Church. It combines group-based lessons with individualized attention to help you develop in the faith, no matter what your background is or what your current life situation may be.
The goal of OCIA is to ensure that you receive the best guidance and support possible for understanding Catholic beliefs and what it means to be a disciple of Christ. It is not a Bible study or a deep dive into the Church's theological teachings. Rather, it focuses on developing and maturing in your relationship with God while building and nourishing relationships within the parish and universal Church communities.
The OCIA process is structured through four general phases: Inquiry, Catechumenate, Purification and Enlightenment, and Mystagogy. Each phase takes as much time as is necessary for the spiritual development to occur.
Also called the "precatechumenate" phase, the Inquiry period of the faith journey provides a casual and informal setting for understanding the basics of the Catholic faith. Questions such as the following are addressed:
Who is God, and why does God care about me?
What is the Church's role in preserving the deposit of faith?
What are the roles of Mary, the saints, and the pope?
Why are there stained glass windows, statues, and other religious images in Catholic churches?
The inquirer will examine the Church, understand the ways in which its members worship together, and observe how they live out the Christian faith. The Inquiry period can last as long as the inquirer needs to decide to begin formal preparation for entrance into full communion with the Catholic Church.
The Catechumenate period is a time of formal study and meditation on the Catholic faith and the Church's tenets. The primary goal of the Catechumenate period is to gain a more in-depth understanding of the Church's teachings and to begin integrating oneself into the parish community.
Unbaptized individuals are referred to as catechumens, whereas individuals who were previously baptized validly in another Christian denomination are called candidates. At the Rite of Acceptance of catechumens and Rite of Welcoming of candidates, the individuals publicly declare their intention to continue formation, and the community offers their personal and spiritual support to them.
learn the Catholic beliefs in more detail, including liturgy and the sacraments
are exposed to various forms of prayer and devotions
join the community in public worship, social events, and other parish activities
Catechesis, or religious instruction, usually takes place weekly. Each person should name a sponsor who will join them in their spiritual journey, assisting them in their faith formation, and offer reflections on lessons or the Scripture passages. Again, as with the Inquiry period, the length of the Catechumenate varies based on the needs and background of each participant.
When catechumens and candidates are ready to request initiation or reception within the Catholic Church, their catechists (instructors) and sponsors present them to the parish community (the Rite of Sending) and to the bishop (the Rite of Election) for full membership in the Church. The Rite of Election is usually held on the first Sunday of Lent, and the Rite of Sending is usually the week before. Following these rites, the catechumens and candidates are now referred to as the elect.
Just as Jesus fasted for forty days in the desert before beginning his public ministry, the elect spend the forty days of Lent preparing for initiation or full reception into the Catholic Church at the upcoming Easter Vigil. With prayerful support from the parish community, the elect reflect on the mysteries to be celebrated through the sacraments at Easter, emphasizing prayer and one's interior life. Prayers of healing are offered to the elect and the faithful to remind us that everyone needs continued healing, conversion, and reconciliation.
The period of Enlightenment culminates, with the witness of the sponsor and in the presence of the faith community, in the reception of the sacrament of Baptism for those who are not yet baptized, a profession of faith for those who were validly baptized in another Christian faith community, the sacrament of Confirmation, and reception of the Holy Eucharist ("First Holy Communion"). The elect are now initiated or received as full members in the Catholic Church.
The faith formation journey doesn't end at the Easter Vigil. The neophytes, or those who newly received the Sacraments of Initiation, begin their lifelong journey of ongoing discovery and living out the Catholic Christian tradition as disciples of Christ. The fifty days following Easter through Pentecost Sunday are called the period of Mystagogy, a Greek word meaning "entering into the mysteries." This period allows the neophyte to:
continue gathering, praying, and nourishing their faith
deepen their first-hand understanding of God's word and the sacraments
center more on the apostolic and social aspects of Catholic Christianity
participate actively in the life of the parish, including worship, acts of mercy, and fellowship
You have come to the right place! The Roman Catholic Church and the members of Immaculate Conception Parish welcome you and are pleased to help you in your faith journey. If you, or someone you know, are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith and what it means to be a Catholic, then contact us using one of the following methods:
Telephone: (978) 365-6582
Email: [email protected]
Speak with a priest or deacon after one of the weekend Masses.
We look forward to hearing from you!