Several reports from various national media outlets have indicated that many people have joined the Catholic Church this past Easter. Such reports suggest that the recent election of Pope Leo may have generated great interest in the Catholic faith from Catholics and non -Catholics alike. There is a renewed sense of appreciation for the faith.
Our faith community at Saint Brigid has vibrant programs for those adults and children interested in becoming Catholic, and for those baptized Catholics who have not yet received the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation. The programs are the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), and the Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIC).
As explained in the publication, Our Sunday Visitor (OSV), “Catholic parishes offer inquiry sessions that allow seekers to examine the Catholic faith more closely. During these sessions, participants ask questions, explore Catholic teachings, and discover what it means to be a Catholic Christian. These sessions are designed to offer accurate information about the Catholic Church – with no strings attached. If participants feel the desire to become Catholic, they may move into a deeper level of faith formation that focuses on prayer, sharing, community and reflection, called the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults.”
The publication also states that OCIA is “a series of steps (formal rites) conducted in the context of learning about the faith and spiritual formation, through which a person is fully incorporated in the body of Christ, the Church.” People are invited to learn about the Catholic Church, and they make the free choice to embrace Catholic teaching and become members of the Church.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has recently updated the program. The first step or stage is Evangelization and the Precatechumenate in which newcomers are drawn to the Catholic faith and enter into a period of inquiry, and are welcomed to ask questions as they begin to learn more about the Catholic Church.
The additional steps in the OCIA process, as explained in OSV are as follows:
- The Catechumenate is a time of serious formation, often with others who are inquiring about the faith.
- The Period of Purification and Enlightenment, “which coincides with Lent, is a period of continued instruction coupled with more intensive preparation and prayer. This period culminates with the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist), bringing the candidates and catechumens into the full communion of the Catholic Church, usually at the Easter Vigil. (A candidate is a baptized Christian; a catechumen is an unbaptized candidate.)”
- Mystagogy is the time “after the newly initiated have been fully received into the Church; it lasts from Easter to Pentecost. All of these stages are marked by distinct liturgical rites.”
The process is similar, but more simplified, for children participating in the OCIC program.
Our parish OCIA and OCIC programs will soon be beginning for the year, and enrollment is currently in progress. We expect that many in the programs will receive the appropriate sacraments at the Easter Vigil next year. If you know of someone who may be interested in the programs, please contact our parish office or any of our clergy