Order of Christian Initiation of Adults

If you are an adult, 18 years of age or older and need any of the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Communion, we can assist you with this process. This process is called the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) and is designed to help you discern whether or not you are ready to receive the Sacraments of Initiation. This process is patterned after the ancient practice of the Early Christian Church of the Fourth Century when Catechumens (those desiring to be baptized) journeyed through the process that would lead them to receive all three Sacraments together at the end of their journey.

The OCIA distinguishes between several groups:

• A Catechumen
  A person desiring all three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
• A Candidate for Confirmation and Eucharist
  A person already baptized either in the Catholic Church or a Christian denomination whose baptism is valid and desires to either receive Confirmation and Eucharist or wishes to be received into the Catholic Church and receive Confirmation and Eucharist.
• A Candidate for Confirmation only
  A person already baptized and have received Eucharist but needs to complete the Sacrament of Confirmation to complete his/her Initiation.
• A Candidate for Communion only
  A person already baptized and has received Confirmation but never completed the process to receive Holy Communion.

While the process is designed primarily for the Catechumens and Candidates for Confirmation and Eucharist, we welcome all these groups. However, Candidates for Communion only or Confirmation Only do not qualify to participate in the rituals of the OCIA but certainly can support those who are on the journey.

Auditors are those who have received all the Sacraments of Initiation and just want to deeper their knowledge of the faith are also most welcome!