OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)

Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the Church’s ancient process by which adults are formed and prepared to enter fully into the life of the Catholic Church. Rooted in the practice of the early Church, OCIA is not simply an instructional class, but an intellectual and prayerful journey of conversion, catechesis, and incorporation into the Body of Christ.

OCIA is intended for those who

1. Have never been baptized

2. Were baptized in another Christian tradition and seek full communion with the Catholic Church

3. Baptized Catholics who have not yet received the Sacraments of Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist

4. Those who are baptized and confirmed members of the Catholic Church that wish to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the Faith

Through systematic instruction in Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, doctrine, moral theology, prayer, and the sacramental life, participants are guided toward a mature and informed assent of faith.

This process respects the Church’s longstanding conviction that faith is not imposed, improvised, or rushed, but carefully cultivated through truth, grace, and discipline. As the Church teaches:

“The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to Himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for”
( CCC 27)

OCIA is therefore ordered not merely toward external reception of the Sacraments, but toward genuine interior conversion, so that those entering the Church may do so knowingly, freely, and reverently.

The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults in the Jersey County Catholic Parishes is a cooperative effort of all 4 parishes, reflecting the unity of the Catholic Church and the shared responsibility of the local faithful in welcoming new members into ecclesial life. Clergy, catechists, and parish personnel work together to ensure that instruction is faithful to the Church’s teaching and attentive to the spiritual formation of each participant.

Participation in OCIA is an invitation to encounter the fullness of the Catholic faith as it has been believed, taught, and lived throughout the centuries. It is a time for serious inquiry, disciplined learning, and deepening commitment, directed toward full sacramental initiation and lifelong fidelity to Christ and His Church.

OCIA classes begin each year in September and conclude the week prior to Easter Sunday. Sessions are held every Thursday evening at 6:30 PM.

For additional information or questions regarding enrollment and participation, please contact the Office for Religious Education. 618-498-3518

Keaten Mansfield
Director of Religious Education
Jersey County Catholic Parishes