Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
Each year on Holy Saturday during the Easter Vigil, thousands are baptized into the Catholic Church in the United States. Parishes welcome these new Catholics through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.
The Journey
What are the stages of OCIA?
Evangelization and Precatechumenate
The inquirer learns of Christ and is drawn to the Catholic Church; he or she takes part in a period of searching and takes the first step toward becoming Catholic by conversing with a priest or parish director of Christian initiation to become a catechumen.
Catechumenate
Usually over the course of a year or less, a catechumen or candidate takes this time to learn more about the Catholic faith and what it means for his or her life. The Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens and the Rite of Election take place during this stage.
Purification and Enlightenment
During Lent, a catechumen anticipates his or her initiation into the Catholic Church through prayer and learning. Initiation commonly takes place on the Easter Vigil, which is the culmination of the process where catechumens and candidates receive the sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist).
Mystagogy
After being received into the Church, newly initiated Catholics continue to be formed in their faith during what the Church calls the “Period of Mystagogy.” This lasts until Pentecost, the feast 50 days after Easter in which the Church celebrates the birth of the Church, when the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples.
The Rite of Election
“Do you wish to enter fully into the life of the Church through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist?” — “We do.”
During the Rite of Election ceremony, the local bishop asks the catechumens this question. Catechumens write their names in the Book of the Elect, further confirming their desire to be baptized.
Through this rite, catechumens become known as “the elect.” Only the unbaptized partake in this rite, because those who are baptized are already known as God’s elect.
Begin your journey with Jesus Christ
Contact the Holy Cross Rectory or visit Director of Religious Education, Mrs. Wendy Rutherford at St. Mary Hall to begin OCIA.
.png){kind=small}
