Interested in Becoming Catholic?
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA formerly known as RCIA) is a process during which the participants experience a shared spiritual journey as they discern their call to become Catholic or become fully initiated in the Catholic faith. We will learn about, discuss, and pray with various aspects of the Catholic faith: its doctrines, history, sacraments, prayers, practices, and rituals. Sessions begin after Labor Day (mid-September, exact date TBA) and weekly meeting time will be announced. Join us when you are ready to learn more about the Church and the possibility of becoming Catholic.
Those who have been baptized Catholic but have yet to receive First Holy Communion and/or Confirmation are invited to begin sacramental preparation appropriate to their level of spiritual formation. There are two paths for baptized Catholics continuing their Christian initiation: preparation for Confirmation and First Communion through attending OCIA from September–April. Alternatively, Adult Confirmation sessions will be offered (time to be announced) for Catholics who only need to be confirmed.
For more information, please contact Suzie Blaydes at sacraments@ccatuga.org.
The Steps of OCIA
OCIA is not just a “convert class,” but a process of formation in the faith. Special rites are celebrated at various times throughout the year. OCIA involves the whole community — in prayer as the rites are celebrated, in hospitality as new members are welcomed, and in ministries like sponsor or team member.
OCIA helps adults to grow in their relationship with God, become familiar with Catholic teachings and practices, get acquainted with people in the community, and get involved in service within the community.
Many persons who want to join the Catholic Church have already been baptized in another Christian community. They will not be re-baptized if already validly baptized. They will follow a similar faith formation process adapted to their particular needs. They are not required to participate in all of the rites of OCIA, but will be invited to participate in the Rite of Welcome and will be referred to as candidates instead of catechumens.
How someone comes to consider joining the Catholic Church is unique to each individual. Years of marriage to a Catholic spouse, conversations with a Catholic friend or co-worker, or even something written or viewed in the media can move an adult toward membership in the Catholic Church. Informally, this can go on for years!
At some point, the person may contact a Catholic parish or community and begin to meet with other adults who are also inquiring about the Catholic faith. While gathering together for faith formation sessions and other community events, these adults will receive sacramental formation and catechesis with the help of priests, the OCIA coordinator, their sponsors, and members of the community. Although everyone’s background in faith and culture can vary significantly, all who come to OCIA share a common desire to know and grow closer to God, and the hope is they will do this with the support of the faith community and as they are invited into a deeper life with Christ through the His Church.
Some of the inquirers become firm in their desire for initiation and decide that they would like to begin more formal study of the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church. The unbaptized are admitted into the next step through a special ceremony called the Rite for Entrance into the Catechumenate. For the baptized, this step is called the Rite of Welcome, but is unlike the Rite for Entrance, it is optional. In this ritual, the Church symbolically claims those preparing for baptism for Christ by signing them with the cross.
This is the first time that the inquirers publicly declare their intention before the community. Because no one likes to do something like that on his/her own, each inquirer is accompanied by a sponsor. Sponsors may be chosen by the individual or provided by the community. Sponsors provide support and companionship for the rest of the OCIA process.
After this rite, those preparing for Baptism are called catechumens. This name indicates that they are learning the teachings of the Church and beginning to accept Catholic tradition and practices. Those who have already been baptized continue as candidates.
Even though they are not yet initiated into full participation in the sacraments, catechumens do enjoy other important sources of help and grace through prayers and support of the community and the rites of OCIA. They are assisted as they grow in faith by learning about the teachings of the Church and participating in works of service in the community.
The time spent as a catechumen will vary from person to person, but ideally, this catechumenate period is to last for at least one year (minimally an academic year).
The period of the catechumenate ends when the catechumens discern, with the help of their sponsors and the parish OCIA team, that God is calling them to receive the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist) at the next Easter Vigil. Before they can be initiated, they must be officially called to the sacraments by the bishop or someone designated by him. This Rite of Election is usually celebrated on the first Saturday of Lent at the Holy Vietnamese Martyrs Church in Norcross with other catechumens from across the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
The catechumens are now called the elect. The weeks of Lent are a time of intense prayer as the elect prepare themselves to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord at Easter and to receive the sacraments of initiation.
Baptized candidates share this more intense preparation for reception of the sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist and full reception into the Catholic Church.
On Sundays of Lent, the elect are prayed for in a special way in preparation rites called the Scrutinies to help them prepare more fully for the sacraments. The sponsors continue to accompany the elect in church and support them in their Lenten preparations.
On Holy Saturday evening, the community assembles for the Easter Vigil. The Church has always recognized that in Baptism, we die to sin in Christ’s death so that we may rise to new life with Him. The Easter Vigil is the primary celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection and is, therefore, the most appropriate occasion for the elect to celebrate their Baptism, Confirmation, and first Eucharist.
For the newly initiated, now called neophytes, the time between Easter and Pentecost is a special opportunity to reflect on the commitment which they have made to the Lord, to the Church, and to the local Catholic community. This time of unfolding the meaning of the initiation sacraments is called mystagogy. The Sunday Scripture readings, which explain the meaning of the Resurrection and of Baptism, have special meaning for these new Catholics. During this season, the bishop may gather the neophytes for a special Eucharistic celebration called the Mass of the Neophytes.
The journey of faith lasts a lifetime. The weeks after Easter are a time for new Catholics to seek out their place in the community. Other community members can reach out to welcome them, helping them to get involved and feel at home.
If you know someone who might like to begin journeying with us in faith, please invite them to contact Suzie Blaydes at sacraments@ccatuga.org or call the front office at 706-543-2293.