Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (O.C.I.A.)

 

Our parish welcomes new members into the Catholic Church through a process of education, faith sharing and rituals known as the  Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.  It is a process rather than an educational program.  One may take as much as time as he or she needs in the initiation process before becoming ready for full initiation through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.  The process is open to all people who are discerning their personal experience of faith and to learning more about the Catholic Church.  The process can be applied to the following three groups:

  • Unbaptized persons (catechumens), who are looking to grow in awareness of God’s call to conversion, as well as ways to respond to that call.
  • Persons baptized in another Christian Church (candidates) wishing to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.
  • Baptized Catholics who are uncatechized (not given religious instruction in the Catholic faith), who wish to prepare to celebrate the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation, and Eucharist.

The goal of the RCIA process is “Full communion,” which means complete and active participation in the Eucharist and in the life of the Catholic faith community.

Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (O.C.I.A.)

Interior of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church with no people