Interested in becoming Catholic?

(OCIA)

Just looking to find out more?

Welcome!

Congratulations on having the courage to take the first steps in finding out more about what the Catholic Church teaches about God, Jesus Christ, ourselves and the meaning of our lives.  Perhaps you have been thinking about the deeper questions of life and faith for many years, perhaps you have a Catholic friend or relative which sparked interest in you, perhaps you went to Catholic school or were baptised as a child but never made your first holy communion.  Perhaps you grew up in a different Christian tradition or different religion and would like to get baptised.  Maybe you’re still deciding whether or not you are ready to become Catholic, maybe you’re already 100% sure.  But wherever you are on your faith journey, please know that you are very welcome to take the next steps and join the OCIA process! 

Becoming Catholic

OCIA stand for the “Order of Christian Initiation for Adults” is is the ordinary pathway by which adults (over 16) become members of the Catholic Church.  You can think of OCIA as a combination of a training plan, a time of discernment and a time of deepening in faith and deepening in your relationship with God.  There are three main components of the RCIA process: (1) Catechetical or intellectual, which is studying what Catholics believe and why, (2) Spiritual, about growing in your relationship with God and sharing in the fellowship of the Christian Community and (3) Liturgical, which is about participating in Sunday Mass (the high point of our week) and the ceremonies which mark the journey towards becoming Catholic.  All of these preparations culminate in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and holy communion, typically received at Easter,  which are the means by which a person enters into the Catholic Church and becomes an adopted son or daughter of God, a member of the mystical body of Christ.

Length and Commitment

Depending where you are in your faith journey, you may spend 8 months in the OCIA process, or perhaps more. There is no pressure to become Catholic, and no rush, we want you to come to know and love Jesus Christ and His Church in your own time, and to be welcomed into the Church through baptism, confirmation and holy communion when you are ready.

At Saints Agatha and James Catholic Church, the intellectual formation takes place on Tuesdays from 6.00pm-7.30pm by participation in the Catholic Studies course (which is open to Catholics, non-Catholics, believers and non-believers).  Spiritual formation takes place on Thursday nights 7.00pm-8.00pm in the small faith sharing Credo group.  The Credo group is only open to those who are in the OCIA program, or to others who would benefit, by special invitation.  Credo means “I believe” and it is a special place deepen in your relationship with God, to learn about prayer, to share your faith experiences, to hear about the faith journeys of others and to learn what it means to be part of the  Christian community which is the Church.  The liturgical dimension take place through participation in the Sunday 11.30am Mass.  

Schedule for 2024-25:

TUESDAYS beginning in September 10th (6.00pm-7:30pm): Catholic Studies class (intellectual formation requirement for OCIA)

THURSDAYS beginning in September 12th (7.00pm-8.00pm):  Credo Meeting

Saturday April 19th, 2025: Baptism for adults at the Easter Vigil Mass

Commitments (all in person):

(1) Attend Catholic Studies classes, Tuesdays 6.00pm-7:30pm from Sept 2024 - April 2025.  

(2) Attend Credo small group, Thursdays 7-8pm beginning in September 2024.

(3) Attend weekly Sunday Mass in a time and place of your own choice.

SUGGESTED OFFERING: $100 per Semester

(scholarships are available)

  For more details contact Lisa Eshleman at lisae1888@gmail.com

Sign up!

For more information contact Lisa Eshleman at lisae1888@gmail.com. If you are thinking about becoming Catholic and would like to join the OCIA program, please fill out this form. Thank you!