OCIA Part 1: What is the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults?
As three adults embark on their OCIA journey at St. Peter’s, we’ll be sharing each step along the way—inviting the whole parish to walk alongside them in faith and support.
What is the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults?
OCIA is a spiritual process through which non-baptized adults, known as catechumens, “consciously and freely seek the living God and undertake the journey of faith and conversion.” (OCIA #1)
✝ The Initiation of Catechumens takes place in the midst of the community of the faithful, who renew their own faith and support the catechumens by their presence and through their prayers.
✝ This faith journey includes several stages, marked by study, prayer, and the rites celebrated at Mass.
Rite of Entrance into the Catechumenate: approaching initial conversion, the person desires to become a Christian and is accepted by the Church as a catechumen. This Rite includes the Blessing of the Senses, which prepares the catechumen to encounter Christ, body and soul.
Ears: May hear the voice of the Lord.
Eyes: May they see the glory of God
Lips: May they respond to the word of God
Heart: May Christ dwell there by faith
Shoulders: May they bear the gentle yoke of Christ
Hands: May they be known in the work which they do
Feet: May they walk in the way of Christ
Rite of Election (first Sunday of Lent): having advanced in faith and nearly completed the catechumenate, the person is received to a more intense preparation for reception of the Sacraments.
Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil): after the spiritual preparation has been completed, the Elect receive the Sacraments by which a Christian is initiated. (OCIA #6)