Searching for Belonging?
"Let the Church always be a place of mercy and hope,
where everyone is welcomed, loved, and forgiven."
-Pope Francis-
Adult Faith Initiation and Preparation
Join Us
Are you an adult who has been wondering (maybe hearing an inner voice?) whether a relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit is what is missing in your life?
Are you an adult who hasn’t been baptized but wonder if the Catholic faith could be your “faith home”?
Are you an adult who has been baptized in another faith tradition and wonders if the Catholic faith could be your “faith home”?
Are you a baptized Catholic, with limited knowledge about the faith, have not completed the Sacraments of Initiation, Confirmation and First Eucharist —yet want a deeper relationship with Jesus and God's Church?
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Are you a baptized, well catechized Catholic who has received First Eucharist and is seeking the Sacrament of Confirmation—to enter a deeper relationship with Jesus and God's Church?
OCIA FAQs
If you said yes to any of these questions, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the pathway for you—and has been the pathway for many since the beginning of the early Church. OCIA includes formation, prayer and liturgical rites and is a vital part of St. Mary’s parish and the universal Church. Participants typically come together in small groups to study, pray and reflect on the teachings
of the Catholic Church.
There are several stages in the process toward “coming into full communion with the Catholic Church”. Each phase recognizes that every life is a child of God. And that God is always calling his children to journey toward a relationship with him now in order to ultimately return to Him one day for eternity.
While there is a common pathway for those who are not validly baptized in a Christian tradition, the pathway for others can be different for each person, based on their current level of knowledge about the Christian faith. Sometimes the pathway will last a full year; sometimes the pathway can be a few months.
To explore how OCIA can support you in your faith journey, please contact Jean Paul, OCIA Coordinator
