Becoming Catholic typically involves four steps, from initial inquiry to receiving the sacraments of initiation:

The process of entering the Catholic Church through OCIA generally follows four steps:

Step 1: Initial Inquiry: This is where your personal journey begins with an encounter at your local parish. You'll connect with a priest or the OCIA coordinator (find them in the parish directory) for an initial conversation. You might then join others to explore your questions and discover the Catholic faith, a process that can take varying amounts of time.

Step 2: Becoming a Catechumen: If you feel called to continue your journey, you'll participate in the Rite of Acceptance. In this meaningful step, you are welcomed by the parish community as a "catechumen," embarking on a period of active learning about the teachings of the Church with the support of a sponsor.

Step 3: Being Chosen (the Election): When you, your sponsor, and the OCIA team discern that you are ready for the sacraments of initiation, the catechumenate ends with the Rite of Election. During Lent, those to be baptized at Easter are formally presented to the bishop and recognized as "the elect," entering a time of focused spiritual preparation.

Step 4: Receiving the Sacraments and Reflecting (Mystagogia): At the Easter Vigil, the elect are baptized (if needed), confirmed, and receive their first Holy Eucharist, becoming "neophytes." The period following Easter until Pentecost, called "mystagogia," is a time to reflect on these sacraments and deepen your understanding of the faith as you become more integrated into your parish. This marks the beginning of your lifelong Catholic faith journey.

 
 Please complete the form on this page to be contacted by Cheryl James, Director of OCIA or you may call her directly at (201) 659-1114 ext. 102