What is OCIA?
OCIA is a process through which a person who is a Catholic wants to know more about the faith and chooses this vehicle to achieve that. S/he has been baptized; probably has made First Communion and been Confirmed but feels unsure of some things about the faith and wants answers in a process which allows that with no commitment to anything more than learning. Then there is the person who is not a Catholic; has not been baptized or is baptized in another faith tradition and is wondering if the Catholic Church is where s/he wants to be. One thing both have in common is a thirst to have answers; to know more; to explore; to perhaps make a decision that is life changing.
If you are one of those who are seeking a closer relationship with the Lord and wonder how that might come about, consider OCIA. If you know someone who became a Catholic later in life, ask the person why s/he did that? If you are seeking something more from your spiritual life and want to know what is out there for you, give some thought to RCIA. If you are Catholic and know someone who is not but who wonders about what we believe, invite him/her to give us a look. Offer to come along as a support, at least to get started. If your kids ask questions about the faith which you cannot answer, maybe you could get answers from joining an OCIA group. OCIA is all about INQUIRY. It is not all about making a commitment to join us. It is not about numbers. It is about helping inquirers find what they seek in their relationship with God. If you came to the Church through OCIA yourself, share that experience with someone who is not quite sure. It’s part of our baptismal promise to live the faith to “teach others all that I have commanded you.”
If you would like to learn more about the OCIA Program, please call the OCIA Coordinator: Cliff Kozminski at the Parish Office.
