OCIA - Adults

The OCIA process is for you if…

1. You are not baptized but are interested in learning more about becoming a Catholic Christian; or

2. You have been baptized in a non-Catholic ecclesial community (e.g. Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Evangelical, Non-Denominational, etc.) but are interested in joining the Catholic Church; or

3. You have been baptized as a Catholic, but you never received the sacrament of Confirmation.

The following information is for RCIA for adults, but if you wish to find out about the program for children aged 7 to 17, click here: RCIA for Children and Youth.

Sign up for the OCIA Flocknote Group:

What’s the first step?

Contact John Kovacs in the parish office, [email protected], to set up an initial interview.  After that, you will begin the first stage of OCIA, the Inquiry.

Should I bring anything to the initial interview?

If you're already baptized, then please bring a copy of some kind of baptismal certificate or letter from the church where you were baptized.  This is important because, for most mainline Christian denominations, the Catholic Church recognizes the validity of your baptism.  If you don't have a certificate or letter handy, and it would be some trouble to get a copy, then don't worry about it for now.  You can bring it later in the process.

If you're not already baptized, a copy of your birth certificate will eventually be needed.   This is because baptismal records in the Catholic Church are considered legal documents--which can be used by secular authorities to prove your place of birth, for example--and so if you eventually decide to get baptized, we will record your baptism based on the information in your birth certificate.

What exactly is Inquiry?

Inquiry is a period of initial exploring of what the Catholic Church teaches.  It is a time to ask questions and discuss anything that may be troubling you.  There is no commitment required. Inquirers can come and go as they please.  At the end of the Inquiry, at a second interview, inquirers decide if they want to continue to the second stage, which is the Catechumenate.

How does Inquiry work?

After your initial interview, the OCIA Director will work with you individually to determine what your needs are, how best to get your questions answered, and in what way you can get a broad overview of what the Catholic Church teaches.  This may include reading books or articles, exploring websites, watching videos, or listening to talks.  There is a vast amount of resources at your disposal, so this time of the OCIA process can be as intense as you have time and energy for!

In addition, we will offer formal Inquiry sessions during the summer, immediately prior to the Catechumenate.

Inquirers are free to attend these sessions or not, but they are a great opportunity to get one's feet wet in a group setting.

What is the cut-off date for beginning?

You can begin the Inquiry any time of the year. However, in order to enter the second stage of the RCIA, the Catechumenate, the cut-off date is at the Rite of Acceptance and Welcome. (See the schedule below.) This cut-off date is necessary to ensure that you receive an appropriate acquaintance with the full gamut of Catholic doctrines.  At the end of the process, an informed decision about becoming Catholic should be based on having gone through all of the classes, without significant gaps or holes in one's understanding–and, in addition to that, having had enough time to process and assimilate these doctrines, so that they become alive in your heart and the basis for your life.  There should be no rush to become Catholic–the Church will still be here!  If there is any urgency, let it be that of the disciple who hungers to be finally united with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist!

If you miss the cut-off date, then, John Kovacs will work with you individually and accompany you until the Catechumenate begins the following year.  So, don’t give up!  Nothing happens by accident, but all is part of God’s plan.  Don’t think of it as a loss, but as an opportunity.

Do I need a sponsor?

Who can be a sponsor?

• have received the three sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, & Confirmation)
• be at least 16 years of age
• participate regularly in Sunday Mass and give witness to their faith in Christ Jesus
• believe all that the Catholic Church professes and teaches and truly make an effort to incorporate these teachings into their daily lives
• willing assume responsibility to be a good role model for the person they are sponsoring by their life of prayer and by their Catholic example
• IF MARRIED: be validly married according to the laws of the Catholic Church:
  • married by a priest or deacon; or
  • married by a minister with proper dispensation from the Bishop; or
  • their marriage was convalidated (blessed) by the Catholic Church
• IF SINGLE: be living a Christian life in accordance with the laws of the Catholic Church (e.g. not cohabitating)
• not be the mother or father of the one to be baptized
   

• Godparent or sponsor information form
• Certificate to serve as a godparent or sponsor
• Sample job description for a godparent or sponsor

What exactly are the stages of the RCIA?

There are four periods in the RCIA process:  Inquiry, Catechumenate, Purification and Enlightenment, and Mystagogy.

Period 1:  Inquiry

The Inquiry, as mentioned above, is the initial time of exploring the Catholic faith.  At the end of the Inquiry, during the second interview, a decision is made whether to continue on to the second period, the Catechumenate.

We will offer Inquiry sessions on Thursday evenings in the summer, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.  Please contact John Kovacs in the parish office for the dates and location.

The Rite of Acceptance and Welcoming, which officially moves the participant from the Inquiry into the Catechumenate, normally takes place at the 9:00 a.m. Mass on the first day of the Catechumenate.

 At this Rite, inquirers will become candidates, if they are already baptized, or they will become catechumens, if they are not yet baptized.  Candidates and catechumens participate in this Rite with their sponsor or godparent.

Transition to Period 2: The Rite of Acceptance & Welcoming

Period 2: Catechumenate

The Catechumenate is a time of pastoral formation and guidance.  It is a time of “formation of mind and heart” that is gradual and complete, following the rhythm of the liturgical year and supported by celebrations of the Word.  It is a time when the candidate becomes appropriately acquainted with Church dogmas and doctrines, through a systematic catechesis, but also a time for a profound appreciation of the mystery of salvation in which they desire to participate.

During the Catechumenate, there is no commitment yet to become Catholic.  At this point, we only ask you to attend the weekly sessions on Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings, as well as a couple of Saturday workshops (see the schedule below).  In addition, we ask participants to read and answer questions each week, to prepare for the upcoming class (held on Thursdays). This home preparation greatly enhances the discussion, and it facilitates getting the material first into the head, so that it can then make its home in the heart.

Sunday Mornings:
Those in the Catechumenate stage participate in “Breaking Open the Word,” (BOW) which takes place during the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass.  Participants are dismissed from the Mass after the homily (the sermon), led by a pair of RCIA catechists, where they continue, in a different room, with a discussion of the readings of the Mass, especially the Gospel.  It is a kind of spiritual (i.e. not academic) Bible Study.  The BOW ends when Mass ends, around 10:15 a.m., and then we're done for the day.

Thursday Evenings:
The systematic catechesis takes place on Thursday evenings, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., led by the RCIA director and his team of catechists.  Prior to each class, the participants should have completed their Study Guides, which is the home preparation that walks them through certain passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is the one-volumne compendium, published in 1992, of what Catholics believe and how they live.

What do I do if I miss a class?

We know that "life happens" and participants can end up missing classes because of sickness, work, travel, or other serious reasons.  In order to find a balance between a strict, "no tolerance" policy, on the one hand, and letting participants miss without any consequences, we ask that candidates and catechumens "make up" a missed class by:

1. watching the appropriate video on their own, and
2. answering and turning in the discussion questions for the video, and
3. turning in their answers to the Study Guide (i.e. the "home preparation" mentioned above).

Only three classes that are not "made up" will be permitted.  If a participant finds that he has missed more than three--without making them up--all is not lost.  It may be possible to figure out a solution in consultation with the RCIA director.

Finally, if a participant consistently misses class--even if he or she is making them up--this would also be outside of the norm, since the RCIA is not designed to be "distance education," but essentially requires a person's physical presence week after week.  In this case, some prayerful consideration and a discussion with the RCIA director would also be necessary.

Transition to Period 3:  The Rite of Sending and the Rite of Election

Period 3:  Purification and Enlightenment

The catechumens, after the Rite of Election, are now called The Elect.  This is the Church's recognition that God has elected these persons for initiation into His Family, the Church, through Baptism.  The candidates participate in the Rite of the Call to Continuing Conversion, reaffirming their intention to continue their formation and renewing their commitment to the lifelong process of conversion of mind and heart.

This stage of the process, called Purification and Enlightenment, coincides with the liturgical season of Lent.  It is a time of spiritual preparation through prayer and interior reflection that focuses on conversion of mind and heart.  Those in the process, along with the entire community, are called to move away from sin and be drawn into the mystery of God’s love.

We continue to meet Sunday mornings at the 9:00 a.m. Mass with Breaking Open the Word.  The systematic topics continue as usual on Thursday evenings.

At the end of Lent, the catechumens and candidates will receive the Sacraments of Initiation, that is, Baptism, First Eucharist, and Confirmation, at the Easter Vigil.  The Easter Vigil takes place the Saturday evening before Easter.

Transition to Period 4:  Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil

Period 4:  Mystagogy

Even though the participants are now Catholic, this is not the end of their formation, but just the beginning!  In fact, we will continue to meet for seven more weeks, coinciding with the liturgical season of Easter, up until the Feast of Pentecost.

This is a time to grow deeper in our understanding of the Paschal Mystery and to actively live it through meditation on the Gospel, sharing in the Eucharist, and doing works of charity.  The period of Mystagogy really lasts our entire life, as we continually embrace and celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in our own lives.

During the period of Mystagogy, we continue to meet on Thursday evenings for our weekly classes, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., continuing until Pentecost (which is 50 days after Easter).  We no longer meet on Sunday mornings because the new Catholics are no longer dismissed from Mass.  At long last, they are able to remain with their now-fellow Catholics for the whole Mass and partake of the Most Holy Eucharist!

Neophyte Year

This first year, from the time of one's entrance into the Catholic Church, up until the first anniversary of becoming Catholic, is called the Neophyte Year.  After the RCIA classes formally end on Pentecost, many of the new Catholics choose to continue to meet to learn and grow in their faith.  Often we continue over the summer, and sometimes meet as a group after that, at the church or in people's homes. 

What is the schedule for RCIA?

Schedule for the 2023-2024 year:

• Schedule of Topics
• Schedule of Study Guides

Updated 8-16-2023/jwk

The RCIA process is for you if…

1. You are not baptized but are interested in learning more about becoming a Catholic Christian; or

2. You have been baptized in a non-Catholic ecclesial community (e.g. Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Evangelical, Non-Denominational, etc.) but are interested in joining the Catholic Church; or

3. You have been baptized as a Catholic, but you never received the sacraments of First Eucharist and Confirmation.

The following information is for RCIA for adults, but if you wish to find out about the program for children aged 7 to 17, click here: RCIA for Children and Youth.

What’s the first step?

Contact John Kovacs in the parish office, [email protected], to set up an initial interview.  After that, you will begin the first stage of RCIA, the Inquiry.

Should I bring anything to the initial interview?

If you're already baptized, then please bring a copy of some kind of baptismal certificate or letter from the church where you were baptized.  This is important because, for most mainline Christian denominations, the Catholic Church recognizes the validity of your baptism.  If you don't have a certificate or letter handy, and it would be some trouble to get a copy, then don't worry about it for now.  You can bring it later in the process.

If you're not already baptized, a copy of your birth certificate will eventually be needed.   This is because baptismal records in the Catholic Church are considered legal documents--which can be used by secular authorities to prove your place of birth, for example--and so if you eventually decide to get baptized, we will record your baptism based on the information in your birth certificate.

What exactly is Inquiry?

Inquiry is a period of initial exploring of what the Catholic Church teaches.  It is a time to ask questions and discuss anything that may be troubling you.  There is no commitment required. Inquirers can come and go as they please.  At the end of the Inquiry, at a second interview, inquirers decide if they want to continue to the second stage, which is the Catechumenate.

How does Inquiry work?

After your initial interview, the RCIA Director will work with you individually to determine what your needs are, how best to get your questions answered, and in what way you can get a broad overview of what the Catholic Church teaches.  This may include reading books or articles, exploring websites, watching videos, or listening to talks.  There is a vast amount of resources at your disposal, so this time of the RCIA process can be as intense as you have time and energy for!

In addition, we will offer formal Inquiry sessions during the summer, immediately prior to the Catechumenate.

Inquirers are free to attend these sessions or not, but they are a great opportunity to get one's feet wet in a group setting.

What is the cut-off date for beginning?

You can begin the Inquiry any time of the year. However, in order to enter the second stage of the RCIA, the Catechumenate, the cut-off date is at the Rite of Acceptance and Welcome. (See the schedule below.) This cut-off date is necessary to ensure that you receive an appropriate acquaintance with the full gamut of Catholic doctrines.  At the end of the process, an informed decision about becoming Catholic should be based on having gone through all of the classes, without significant gaps or holes in one's understanding.  The goal is to enable you to give "informed consent," in good conscience, to the Profession of Faith that you will make at the Easter Vigil, which is the time when you will be welcomed into the Catholic Church:
 

"I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God."

And, in addition to that, we want you to have had enough time to process and assimilate these doctrines so that they become alive in your heart and the basis for your life.  There should be no rush to become Catholic–the Church will still be here!  If there is any urgency, let it be that of the disciple who hungers to be finally united with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist!

If you miss the cut-off date, then, John Kovacs will work with you individually and accompany you until the Catechumenate begins the following year.  So, don’t give up!  Nothing happens by accident, but all is part of God’s plan.  Don’t think of it as a loss, but as an opportunity.

Do I need a sponsor?

Yes.  A sponsor is a companion, a role-model, and a mentor for your journey in becoming Catholic.  They are also a personal link to the parish community.  A sponsor will accompany you through the various rites of the process, the weekly class sessions, and beyond.  For those not yet baptized, the sponsor is called a godparent.

Who can be a sponsor?

If you already have a relationship with someone in the Catholic Church who qualifies as a sponsor, you can ask him or her.  Otherwise, the director of RCIA will assign a sponsor to you.  You can discuss this in more detail when you meet with the RCIA director.

The qualifications of sponsors, according to Canon Law ( 892-893, 872-874), entail that sponsors:

• have received the three sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, & Confirmation)

• be at least 16 years of age

• participate regularly in Sunday Mass and give witness to their faith in Christ Jesus

• believe all that the Catholic Church professes and teaches and truly make an effort to incorporate these teachings into their daily lives

• willingly assume responsibility to be a good role model for the person they are sponsoring by their life of prayer and by their Catholic example

• IF MARRIED: be validly married according to the laws of the Catholic Church:

  • married by a priest or deacon; or

  • married by a minister with proper dispensation from the Bishop; or

  • their marriage was convalidated (blessed) by the Catholic Church

• IF SINGLE: be living a Christian life in accordance with the laws of the Catholic Church (e.g. not cohabitating)

• not be the mother or father of the one to be baptized

Potential sponsors should review and submit these documents:

• Godparent or sponsor information form

• Certificate to serve as a godparent or sponsor

• Sample job description for a godparent or sponsor

What exactly are the stages of the RCIA?

There are four stages, or periods, in the RCIA process:  Inquiry, Catechumenate, Purification and Enlightenment, and Mystagogy.

Period 1:  Inquiry

The Inquiry, as mentioned above, is the initial time of exploring the Catholic faith.  At the end of the Inquiry, during the second interview, a decision is made whether to continue on to the second period, the Catechumenate.

We will offer Inquiry sessions on Thursday evenings in the summer, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.  Please contact John Kovacs in the parish office for the dates and location.

The Rite of Acceptance and Welcoming, which officially moves the participant from the Inquiry into the Catechumenate, normally takes place at the 9:00 a.m. Mass on the first day of the Catechumenate.

At this Rite, inquirers will become candidates, if they are already baptized, or they will become catechumens, if they are not yet baptized.  Candidates and catechumens participate in this Rite with their sponsor or godparent.

Transition to Period 2: The Rite of Acceptance & Welcoming

Period 2: Catechumenate

The Catechumenate is a time of pastoral formation and guidance.  It is a time of “formation of mind and heart” that is gradual and complete, following the rhythm of the liturgical year and supported by celebrations of the Word.  It is a time when the candidate becomes appropriately acquainted with Church dogmas and doctrines, through a systematic catechesis, but also a time for a profound appreciation of the mystery of salvation in which they desire to participate.
During the Catechumenate, there is no commitment yet to become Catholic.  At this point, we only ask you to attend the weekly sessions on Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings, as well as a couple of Saturday workshops (see the schedule below).  In addition, we ask participants to read and answer questions each week, to prepare for the upcoming class (held on Thursdays). This home preparation greatly enhances the discussion, and it facilitates getting the material first into the head, so that it can then make its home in the heart.

Sunday Mornings:
Those in the Catechumenate stage participate in “Breaking Open the Word,” (BOW) which takes place during the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass.  Participants are dismissed from the Mass after the homily (the sermon), led by a pair of RCIA catechists, where they continue, in a different room, with a discussion of the readings of the Mass, especially the Gospel.  It is a kind of spiritual (i.e. not academic) Bible Study.  The BOW ends when Mass ends, around 10:15 a.m., and then we're done for the day.

Thursday Evenings:
The systematic catechesis takes place on Thursday evenings, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., led by the RCIA director and his team of catechists.  Prior to each class, the participants should have completed their Study Guides, which is the home preparation that walks them through certain passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is the one-volume compendium, published in 1992, of what Catholics believe and how they live.

What do I do if I miss a class?
We know that "life happens" and participants can end up missing classes because of sickness, work, travel, or other serious reasons.  In order to find a balance between a strict, "no tolerance" policy, on the one hand, and letting participants miss without any consequences, we ask that candidates and catechumens "make up" a missed class by doing the following:

How to Make-Up a Missed Class:

1. watching the appropriate video on their own (if there is a video), and

2. answering and turning in the discussion questions for the video, and

3. turning in their answers to the Study Guide (i.e. the "home preparation" mentioned above).

You can turn in the above simply by scanning/taking a photo of the work and emailing it to the RCIA director.

Making up classes in this manner, then, should take care of it (unless missing class has become a habit—see the next paragraph, below.)  It may still happen that making up the class is impossible, or extremely difficult, for one reason or another.  For that reason, it is permitted to not make up the class up to three times.  If a participant finds that he has missed more than three, however--without making them up--all is not lost.  It may be possible to figure out a solution in consultation with the RCIA director.

Finally, if a participant consistently misses class--even if he or she is making them up--this would also be outside of the norm, since the RCIA is not designed to be "distance education," but essentially requires a person's physical presence week after week.  In this case, some prayerful consideration and a discussion with the RCIA director would also be necessary.

Transition to Period 3:  The Rite of Sending and the Rite of Election

Period 3:  Purification and Enlightenment

The catechumens, after the Rite of Election, are now called The Elect.  This is the Church's recognition that God has elected these persons for initiation into His Family, the Church, through Baptism.  The candidates participate in the Rite of the Call to Continuing Conversion, reaffirming their intention to continue their formation and renewing their commitment to the lifelong process of conversion of mind and heart.

This stage of the process, called Purification and Enlightenment, coincides with the liturgical season of Lent.  It is a time of spiritual preparation through prayer and interior reflection that focuses on conversion of mind and heart.  Those in the process, along with the entire community, are called to move away from sin and be drawn into the mystery of God’s love.
We continue to meet Sunday mornings at the 9:00 a.m. Mass with Breaking Open the Word.  The systematic topics continue as usual on Thursday evenings.

At the end of Lent, the Elect will receive the Sacraments of Initiation, that is, Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist, at the Easter Vigil.  The candidates will make a Profession of Faith (see above), and receive Confirmation and First Eucharist. The Easter Vigil takes place the Saturday evening before Easter.

Transition to Period 4:  Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil

Period 4:  Mystagogy

Even though the participants are now Catholic, this is not the end of their formation, but just the beginning!  In fact, we will continue to meet for seven more weeks, coinciding with the liturgical season of Easter, up until the Feast of Pentecost.

This is a time to grow deeper in our understanding of the Paschal Mystery and to actively live it through meditation on the Gospel, sharing in the Eucharist, and doing works of charity.  The period of Mystagogy really lasts our entire life, as we continually embrace and celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in our own lives.

During the period of Mystagogy, we continue to meet on Thursday evenings for our weekly classes, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., continuing until Pentecost (which is 50 days after Easter).  We no longer meet on Sunday mornings because the new Catholics are no longer dismissed from Mass.  At long last, they are able to remain with their now-fellow Catholics for the whole Mass and partake of the Most Holy Eucharist!

Neophyte Year

This first year, from the time of one's entrance into the Catholic Church, up until the first anniversary of becoming Catholic, is called the Neophyte Year.  After the RCIA classes formally end on Pentecost, many of the new Catholics choose to continue to meet to learn and grow in their faith.  Often we continue over the summer, and sometimes meet as a group after that, at the church or in people's homes. 

What is the schedule for RCIA?
Schedule for the 2023-2024 year:

• Schedule of Topics

• Schedule of Study Guides