Order of Christian Initiation (OCIA)

OCIA stands for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults and is the process through which one can, inquire/ learn about the Catholic Faith and then join the Church, or complete their Sacraments of Christian Initiation.

OCIA is for four groups of people

• Those who are not baptized.

• Those who were baptized into another Christian denomination and wish to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.

• Baptized Catholics who were never formed in the Catholic faith and have not completed their initiation; that is, who have received neither of the sacraments of Confirmation and/or Eucharist.

• Those who are Catholic and want to know more about their faith.

Four stages of OCIA:

• The Inquiry or Precatechumenate

• The Catechumenate

• The Lenten period of Purification and Enlightenment

• Mystagogy or a time of deeper understanding of the "mysteries"