Becoming Catholic

(Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, OCIA) and

(Order of Christian Initiation of Children,OCIC)

Becoming Catholic, our shorthand for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults or OCIA, is the formal process for those who wish to consider becoming full members of the Roman Catholic Church. Adults interested in Becoming Catholic may or may not already be baptized in a different Christian faith tradition.

For those who are not yet baptized, this process is directed toward the possibility of baptism and full entrance into the Catholic Church, typically at the Easter Vigil service.

For those already baptized in a different Christian faith tradition using the trinitarian baptismal formula, this process is directed toward the possibility of entrance into full communion with the Catholic faith.

In either case, participants are introduced during step 1 to the Catholic faith and way of life. For children over 7 years of age and adolescents, Becoming Catholics for Children (OCIC) is an age appropriate, adapted process that is similar to the process of initiation for adults.  

In Becoming Catholic, adults and children will experience Catholic Christianity – who we are, what we believe, how we pray, and how we live our lives as a Catholic community of believers.

Becoming Catholic is a period of guided reflection, prayer, instruction, discernment, and formation, meant to deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ and the Church.   

Becoming Catholic is ongoing, offered year round.  This process, a journey of faith, begins when a person is ready to begin.  There is no set timetable and those on this journey are encouraged to take as much time as needed.

How does someone get started?

Each adult begins with an initial meeting with a member of our Becoming Catholics core team. OCIC begins with a meeting with the parent(s) and the child. There are typically four steps on this journey.   However, each person's journey of faith is different and unique to them and may not follow the timeline of steps listed below.  If you want to learn more about this process, contact the parish office, ext 107 or Deacon Ted Vermaas at vermaashr@gmail.com or Ludee Vermaas at lvvermaas@gmail.com.  

If you wish, you can complete this Registration Form and someone will respond to you.

Step one: Inquiry or “I’m just looking”

In this first stage, we welcome and encourage your curiosity in making inquiries into the Catholic faith. Participants are invited to ask questions in order to discern if God is calling them to Becoming a Catholic Christian.  Whatever a person's reason or interest level, ALL ARE WELCOME, ALL THE TIME. Inquiry sessions for 2024-25 are held most weeks on Wednesdays 6:00-7:30 pm at Risen Christ.

If you choose to continue to Step 2, a practicing Catholic will be identified to serve as your sponsor to accompany you on your journey.  This period concludes with the Rite of Acceptance/Rite of Welcome and participants are asked to consistently attend weekend Mass.

Step two: Catechumenate or “Learning about the Faith”

Step 2 is a period of exploring Jesus in the Gospels as well as our Catholic teaching about Christian life, prayer and practice.  Your sponsor is encouraged to attend sessions as well.

Those who are not yet baptized will be excused after the Sunday Mass readings and homily to discuss and further reflect on the readings and homily as a group. This is called “Breaking Open The Word”.

Those already baptized stay throughout Mass. All Becoming Catholic participants should expect to regularly attend our sessions.  

If those at Step 2 choose to move forward, they conclude Step 2 with the Rite of Election. Election comes from a word that means “choose.”  God has chosen and called us.  It is at this time, each catechumen states their desire to join the church. The godparents and catechists give testimony to the Church community how the catechumens responded to God’s call.  During this Rite, catechumens sign their names in the Book of the Elect as one of “the chosen.”  

The baptized christians celebrate the Rite of Continuing Conversion as they continue to see full communion with the Catholic Church.

Step Three: Purification and Enlightenment 

(Preparation for Sacraments/Easter Vigil), 

or “Getting ready for rebirth!”

Step 3 continues “Breaking Open The Word” sessions, regular attendance at Becoming Catholic sessions, all rites and retreats.

Step 3 typically coincides with the Lenten Season. For those who are already baptized, the time of year may vary.  Step 3 is a period of prayer and time for building Christian strengths and overcoming weaknesses.  

For those unbaptized, Step 3 culminates with the community celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. 

For those already baptized, Step 3 concludes with Confirmation and Eucharist. 

 Step Four Mystagogy (Deepening of Faith) - 

”Rooting deeply in our faith”

Step 4 of the process provides those newly baptized and received into the Catholic Church a deeper understanding of Jesus’ death and resurrection as part of the journey of living out this new faith. This formal time of gathering is a time of reflection on what you have experienced, a time of direction and how you can live out your faith.  All new Catholics are expected to attend weekly Mass and work towards increasing involvement in the activities of the parish community.