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Order of Christian Initiation (formerly RCIA)
What is the O.C.I.A.?
The OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) is a process of initiation into the Catholic Community of Faith for persons who are experiencing a conversion in their lives and seeking either Christian baptism in the Catholic Church or full Communion with the Catholic tradition of Eucharist and Confirmation.
It is a process that enables the study of the Gospels, Catholic Christian teaching, the acceptance of Christian values and morality, and the development and deepening of a life of prayer and action with the support and involvement of the local Christian community. The OCIA is more than a course of instruction. It is a conversion process, designed to meet the unique and individual needs of the participants.
Who is OCIA for?
- Non-Catholics who want to find out more about the Catholic Faith
- Those who want to join the Catholic Church through Baptism, or the Profession of Faith
- Those who were baptized Catholic as infants but never received religious education, Confirmation, or First Eucharist.
O.C.I.A. for Children: Ages 7 and up: ~ This program prepares children (Aged 7+) for initiation into the Catholic Church. The format used depends on the number and ages of children participating.
The first step in the OCIA process, Inquiry, meets on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. in the Youth Room. Each week our inquiry leads, Barbara and Seth Wegher-Thompson, will explore a different topic of faith. Their goal is to provide a place for you to ask question, gain some clarity into your journey and explore topics such as God, faith, Mary and the Saints, Jesus and the Church. Below is a schedule of the dates of Inquiry (2025-26). Each theme repeats throughout the year, but the time is designed to cover different aspects of the topic. Join anytime! Contact Seth (805-657-7085) or Barbara 805-657-6480 if you have any questions or [email protected]
OCIA Registration Form Ministry Contact: [email protected]2025 INQUIRY SCHEDULE
July
6 Holiday weekend
13 Who is God?
20 What is Faith?
27 Who is Jesus?
August
3 Open Discussion
10 Prayer
17 What is the Church?
24 Saints and Mary
31 Holiday Weekend
September
7 Who is God?
14 What is Faith?
21 Who is Jesus?
28 Open Discussion
October
5 Prayer
12 What is the Church?
19 Saints and Mary
26 Open discussion
November
2 Who is God?
9 What is Faith?
16 Who is Jesus?
23 Open Discussion
30 Holiday (Thanksgiving weekend)
December
7 Prayer
14 What is the Church?
21 Saints and Mary
28 Holiday (Christmas week)
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How to Become CatholicThinking About Becoming Catholic or Know Someone Else Thinking About It? Here’s How to Join the Catholic Church!
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Helpful Links
- Busted Halo—online magazine for spiritual seekers: http://bustedhalo.com/
- Word of Fire—Fr. Robert Barron’s sermons and videos on matters of faith http://www.wordonfire.org
- Christian Initiation of Adults http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/who-we-teach/rite-of-christian-initiation-of-adults/index.cfm
- Catholic Basics CUDL - Eight Good Reasons for Being Catholic https://liguori.uberflip.com/i/525219-eight-good-reasons-for-being-catholic-c8808a/0
