BECOMING CATHOLIC
“It is Jesus in fact that you seek when you dream of happiness; he is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you.” – St. John Paul II
What is OCIA?
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the process of preparing to enter the Catholic Church through intellectual, spiritual, and communal formation, culminating in sacramental initiation.
This journey is not only about learning what the Church teaches, but about discerning whether God may be inviting you into full communion with Him in the Church—ultimately, a path toward holiness and, Lord-willing, sainthood.
Because of that, it is a meaningful and serious step of discernment!
If exploring the faith is like dating, OCIA is more like engagement: a focused season of formation and prayerful discernment with the possibility of entering fully into the life of the Church.
That doesn’t mean you’re making final commitments immediately, but it does mean you’re ready to take the question of becoming Catholic seriously and intentionally!
If you’re still in the early stages of exploration, we recommend beginning with our Catholic Curious opportunities instead.
Who is OCIA for?
OCIA is for those who are ready to intentionally discern becoming Catholic:
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Adults who have never been baptized
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Christians baptized in another tradition
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Catholics who have not yet received Confirmation and/or the Eucharist
Not sure if you’re ready? That’s exactly what your first meeting with Rachel is for! You can also continue to plug into our discernment events.
How the journey works
Everyone’s path is unique, but most people move through three key movements of formation:
Spring / Summer — Exploration & Community
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Learn the basics of Christianity and Catholicism
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Begin building community
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Meet those who have walked the journey before you
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Ask questions and get oriented
(This phase is especially important for those who are not baptized!)
Fall / Winter — Intellectual Formation
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Learn what the Catholic Church teaches
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Understand Scripture, doctrine, and the life of the Church
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Grow in clarity and conviction
Winter / Spring — Spiritual Formation
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Deepen your prayer life
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Prepare spiritually for the sacraments
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Enter more intentionally into the life of the Church
Reception into the Church (Spring)
Those who are ready are received into the Church!
A note on timelines
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Those who are not baptized typically walk through all three phases before entering the Church—this takes approximately one full year.
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Those who are already baptized may move more flexibly, depending on their background and formation. A minimum of two semesters is still required in most cases.
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Some elements of formation are individualized and overall timeline is dependent on many factors!
This is not a one-size-fits-all process—we’ll walk with you to discern the right path forward!
What sacraments will I receive?
This depends on your background:
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Not baptized? You will receive Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist (Communion)
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Baptized in another Christian tradition? You will make a profession of faith and receive Confirmation and the Eucharist
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Baptized Catholic but not yet confirmed? You will receive Confirmation (and the Eucharist if you haven't yet had First Communion)
What to expect
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Weekly gatherings with teaching, discussion, and prayer
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A space to ask real questions
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Personal accompaniment and discernment
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Lots of prayer
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No cost
This is a serious step, but it is never forced or rushed! OCIA is meant to be a place where you can genuinely discern and grow at a steady, prayerful pace.
Because the formation is cumulative and builds week by week, regular attendance is very important for those who are seriously considering entering the Catholic Church, or who are already preparing for sacraments such as Confirmation. Missing sessions can make it difficult to receive the full formation needed for this lifelong commitment.
For that reason, we ask participants to prioritize weekly attendance as much as possible and to communicate with us if conflicts arise.
Your next step
→ Email Rachel and she will reach out to you to schedule a time to chat
That conversation is where everything begins—your story, your background, and the path forward.
frequently asked questions
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the process of preparing to enter the Catholic Church.
Though there is a class component, OCIA is much more than a class. It is a time of serious, intentional discernment and formation for those who are actively considering whether God may be calling them into the Catholic Church.
If exploring the faith is like dating, OCIA is more like engagement. It is a focused season of discernment and preparation toward a possible full “yes” to Jesus Christ and His Church. This includes learning what the Church believes, how she worships, and how Catholics live, while also growing in a real relationship with God through prayer and preparation for the sacraments.
The journey unfolds in stages and leads, for those who are ready, to being received into full communion with the Church in the Spring.
OCIA is for those who are seriously discerning the Catholic Church as a real possibility and who are ready to enter into a structured process of prayer, formation, and accompaniment.
OCIA is for those anyone ready to discern becoming Catholic.
This includes:
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Catechumens — those who have never been baptized
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Candidates — those baptized in another Christian tradition
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Baptized Catholics — those who have not yet received Confirmation and/or the Eucharist
If you’re unsure whether you’re ready for OCIA, your first step is to meet with Rachel and discern the right starting point!
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Most people experience OCIA over the course of either one full year, or two semesters. This journey includes:
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Weekly gatherings with teaching, discussion, and prayer (we do not meet during summer or holidays
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Occasional retreats and additional formation opportunities
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Participation in weekly Sunday Mass
That said, the timeline is not identical for everyone.
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Those who are not baptized typically walk through the full 1-year process before entering the Church
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Those who are already baptized may move at a different pace depending on their sacramental background and formation
The goal isn’t to “get through a program,” but to be genuinely prepared to say yes.
Your specific path will be discerned with Rachel.
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You can expect:
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Solid teaching on the Catholic faith
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A space for meaningful questions and discussion
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Personal accompaniment and discernment
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Growth in prayer and relationship with God
What’s expected:
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A sincere desire to seriously discern whether God is calling you into the Catholic Church
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Consistent participation, especially during the main formation phases
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Openness to prayer, learning, and conversion
There are no tests and no cost, but this is a committed process! The more you invest, the more you’ll receive.
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You are not obligated to become Catholic if you begin OCIA. However, OCIA is not meant to be a first step for general curiosity!
OCIA is designed for those who are already seriously discerning whether God is calling them to become Catholic—those who are ready to center their lives on Jesus Christ and are considering the Catholic Church as the place to do that. If you’re still exploring basic questions about Christianity or Catholicism, we strongly recommend starting with Catholic Curious.
OCIA will still include questions, discussion, and discernment, but it assumes you’ve already taken some initial steps and are ready to go deeper.
The best next step is simple:
→ Contact Rachel and schedule a time to meet!
She’ll help you discern whether OCIA or Catholic Curious is the right place to begin!