When you’ve explored what it means to be Catholic, both in your relationship with God and in your life, we are with you as you take the next step in the OCIA process.

The rites mark significant steps along this OCIA journey.  Your OCIA team and sponsor with be by your side guiding you.  Members of the parish will support you through their encouragement and example.  And you’ll continue to make connections with others who are also traveling this path toward initiation into the Catholic Church.

Periods and Rites

While each person’s journey of faith is unique, the Church has established some standard steps marked by rites.  Each time is preceded by a period or stage during which participants receive the formation needed to fully celebrate the coming rite.

The OCIA rites take place at the beginning of Mass or after the homily.  You’ll stand near the Altar with your sponsor and respond to the priest’s questions.  You may be nervous, so please listen to the words of the prayers as the community prays for you

• You are on the path of conversion. How have you grown since the beginning of the OCIA process?

Time for Inquiry

As you moved through the inquiry period, you began to follow Jesus more earnestly, came to know his teachings and love more fully, and shared them with others.

Rite:  Acceptance

Then rite of acceptance brings those desiring baptism into the order of catechumens.  The rite introduces you to the parish community as Members welcome you to the parish and pledge their prayers and support.  You express your intention to follow the way of Christ, and your sponsor affirms your sincerity and ongoing conversion. As a catechumen you will continue to grow in faith through study, reflection on the work of God, and prayer.

1. As the rite begins, you may stand at the church doors to symbolize your desire to enter the community.
2. The priest introduces you by name to those gathered and asks, “What do you ask of the Church?” You answer, “Faith,” indicating your intention to live, learn, and love according to Christ’s call and example.
3. The priest asks your sponsor to accept his or her role and then marks the sign of the cross on your forehead, symbolizing the love and strength of Christ that accompanies you. (An optional signing of other senses includes ears, eyes, lips, heart, shoulders, hands, and feet.)
4. The priest formally invites you to enter the church and participate in the Liturgy of the Word. (After the petitions, the OCIA group may be dismissed to reflect more deeply on the word of God.)

Rite: Welcoming

If you’re already baptized, you may enter the catechumenate period as a candidate through the rite of welcoming.  This rite may be celebrated separately or may be combined with the rite of acceptance.

• Who or what is helping you as you make this journey?
• In what specific ways are you growing in your relationship with Christ?

Catechumenate

The Catechumenate period is a time of focused learning on topics related to Catholic belief and practice, training you in the Christian life.  It is a time of “more intense preparation for the sacraments of initiation”

Rite: Election

Your parish may have a rite of sending to offer their prayers and support as you prepare to travel to your diocesan cathedral for the rite of election.  During the rite of election, you’ll be presented to the bishop or his delegate.

The rite of election, usually celebrated on the first Sunday of Lent, affirms your readiness for the sacraments of initiation You become a member of the elect, indicating you have the chosen-elected-by God and the Church.  During the rite of elections:

1. Your godparent(s) affirm your readiness, and the worshipping community voices its approval.
2. The celebrant asks if you wish to enter the Church. With the other catechumens, you answer, “We do.”
3. At either to rite of sending or the rite of election, you sign your name in the Book of the Elect, expressing your “wish to enter fully into the life of the Church through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist at Easter.
4. The community prays for the elect, and the bishop offers a special blessing.

If you are already baptized you will celebrate a rite named the call to continuing conversion.

Purification and Enlightenment

Usually coinciding with the season of Lent, this period is a time of reflection that focuses on your conversion as one of the elect, preparing to celebrate the Easter sacraments. Minor rites-such as the scrutinizes, presentation of the Creed, presentation of the Lord’s Prayer-occur during this time, often at the Sunday Mass.

Rites:  Sacraments of Initiation

The Easter Vigil Mass is the “holy night,” the “truly blessed night,” the “night of peace,” the “night of grace”  

The elect are fully initiated into the Catholic Church at eh Easter Vigil Mass through reception of the sacraments of initiation.  You will be baptized, sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit in confirmation, and receive Eucharist for the first time.  From this point if you are newly baptized, you will be called a neophyte (Greek for “newly planted”).  If you have already been baptized, you will make a profession of faith and celebration confirmation and Eucharist.

During the Easter season, you will experience being a full member of the Catholic Chrisitan community.  You will participate in the Sunday Eucharist and reflect on the meaning of the Easter sacraments.