Have you ever thought about becoming a Catholic?
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (or OCIA) is the way that the Catholic church initiates new members into the Christian way of life, specifically in the Roman Catholic tradition. OCIA is a reestablishment of the ancient catechumenate, which existed in the early church (second to fifth centuries).
In the second half of the twentieth century, the Catholic Church developed a set of documents that defined the rites that local churches should use in the restored catechumenate. The OCIA process we use at St Patrick’s is based on these Orders of Initiation.
Are You a Catechumen or candidate?
- The OCIA process makes a distinction between a catechumen (an unbaptized person) and a candidate (a person who is already baptized in another Christian faith). The RCIA process is designed primarily for unbaptized people, but the Rite has been adapted for people baptized in other Christian traditions.
- Catholic preparing for Confirmation and Eucharist: What about baptized Catholic adults who haven’t received the sacraments of Confirmation or Eucharist? In recent years, the Diocese of Manchester recognized the needs of this group by including them in the OCIA process. Baptized Catholics preparing for these sacraments follow the candidate process.
- Confirmation of Baptized Adult: Attend 4-6 week Catechetical preparation at the Diocese of Manchester. Adult Confirmations are celebrated at St. Joseph’s Cathedral by the Bishop in the Spring & Fall of each year.
Summary of the OCIA process
- The Rite includes four phases:
- Evangelization and Precatechumenate (or Inquiry) phase
- Catechumenate or catechesis (learning) phase
- Purification and enlightenment or preparation phase
- Mystagogy or reflective phase
Please email our OCIA Co-coordinator Susan Pasquale at sue.pasquale55@gmail.com
