The Order of Christion Initiation of Adults
Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation
The OCIA is the preparation process set up by the Church to bring people into the Catholic faith. It includes prayer, study, and discussion; all of which are designed to bring one to the point of asking for the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation).
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) describes the OCIA as a process in which participants "undergo . . . conversion as they study the Gospel, profess faith in Jesus and the Catholic Church, and receive the sacraments . . . The OCIA process follows the ancient practice of the Church and was restored by the Second Vatican Council as the normal way adults prepare for baptism."
If you are interested in participating in the Christian Initiation Process or in setting up an appointment to find out more about the process, contact the OCIA Coordinator, Deacon John Dugan by clicking here to send an email.
Last year, I began to feel an evolution of that "tapping on the shoulder" with which many of us are familiar. I was not being called to accept the reality of Jesus Christ as the Son of God; I had accepted that truth many years ago. Rather, I was being called out of the wilderness to reject the vain presumption that I could practice my faith on my own; I felt called to join a community. I knew that my beliefs dictated that the Catholic Church was the only community that would (hopefully) fit my vision, but I was held back by fear, inertia, and all of the other things that we often use as crutches to deny ourselves what we so clearly need. As Bob Dylan sings in When He Returns, "how long can you falsify and deny what is real?". Well, I finally got tired of doing so.
After beginning the RCIA process, I have never looked back. I already had a blessed life, with an amazing family, an incredible wife, and 3 beautiful, healthy children. But now, somehow, I have the final piece that I never truly knew was missing. The Saint Mary's community has welcomed me with open arms. It is precisely the kind of community I was searching for: one which accepts everyone with love and grace while also refusing the seductive but futile pursuit of moral relativism in a misguided and ultimately destructive attempt to be all things to all people. The community at Saint Mary's recognizes that all of us are broken, but that we also must be clear-eyed about embracing what is true, virtuous, and beautiful, while casting aside the corrosive and corrupting influences that surround all of us in our day-to-day lives.
I am forever indebted to Father Nick, Deacon John, Brother Dwain, my RCIA classmates, and so many others. I hope and pray that others are open to following in my footsteps.
Conor