Welcome to Order of Christian Initiation for Adults or O.C.I.A.  for St Joseph Parish in Vacaville, CA.

Should you either want to learn more about the Catholic Faith or you are considering joining the Catholic Faith.  Whatever your reasons for being here – you are welcome!

Considering OCIA? Maybe you are a Catholic who has never been confirmed… OCIA is for you.  Perhaps you are a non-Catholic Christian coming to Mass with family and you are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith… OCIA is for you.  For some unknown reason, you wandered through the front door, you are not baptized, and maybe not even a Christian, but is definitely for you!  Please contact the -Parish office at:  707-447-2354 or email OCIA@stjoseph-Vacaville.org or the Faith Formation Coordinator.

Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)

What are the steps of Christian Initiation?

After a period, you will be asked if you wish to continue OCIA and receive the Sacraments of Initiation and full communion with the Catholic

Church. Those who do will be officially welcomed into the Church through a ceremony at a Mass called the Rite of Welcome, a significant moment where the inquirer stands amidst the parish community, expressing their desire to receive the Sacraments of the Catholic Church.

Lessons continue during this Period.

Period of Purification:

Prior to the end of the earlier Period, the OCIA team members will discern how you are growing in faith, what questions you’ve met along the way, and how God led you on this journey. Their support is crucial during this time, as the Catechumens/Candidates consider what God is saying to them in the Scriptures, what changes in their life they need to make to respond to God inspiration, and what Baptism/Confirmation in the Catholic Church means to them. Following your affirmation to make a faith commitment to Jesus in the Catholic Church, the next step is the Rite of Election.  Catechumens sign the Book of the Elect, which expresses their desire to seek Baptism.  The Parish will have another public Ceremony at a Mass called the Rite of Sending. This

is usually the week before the Rite of Election. During the Rite of Election, all Catechumens and Candidates will join with those from other Parishes in the Diocese. The Bishop, as a representative of the wider Catholic community, will hear your names announced. You will be enrolled in the Order of the Elect. The Elect are those who engage in immediate preparation for initiation at the upcoming Easter Vigil. Those seeking Baptism will be referred to as the Elect of God. Baptized will continue to be called Candidates.

The days of Lent are the final Period of Purification and Enlightenment leading up to the Easter Vigil, a significant event. Lent is a period of preparation marked by increased prayer, continued study, and spiritual direction for the Elect, and prayers for them by the parish communities. The

Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation takes place during the Easter Vigil, a momentous occasion in the OCIA process.  Period of Mystagogy: The Neophytes (newly initiated Catholics) will continue their formation and education in the Period of post-baptismal catechesis, also known as Mystagogy. During this period, the Neophytes will learn how to apply what they have learned in their everyday life.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT OCIA/RCIA

OCIA new name from old name RCIA 

Order of Christian Initiation of Adult/Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

The Catechism of the Catholic Church http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/ccc.html

 A significant feature of the process is participation at Liturgy of the Word each Sunday

To prepare for the Liturgy, familiarity with the Readings is helpful

The following website is useful in this regard http://liturgy.slu.edu/

DOWNLOAD PDF REGISTRATION FORM HERE

“Go therefore and make disciples for all nations….teaching them to observe all I have commanded you”.

(Matthew 28:19fl)