OCIA and Adult Confirmation

"And Peter said to them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
     - Acts of the Apostles 2:38

"To believe that the Church is "holy" and "catholic," and that she is "one" and "apostolic" (as the Nicene Creed adds), is inseparable from belief in God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

OCIA - Order of Christian Initiation of Adults

Unbaptized adults (and children over the age of reason) who come to faith in Jesus Christ are received into His Church in a process called the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults -- usually at the Easter Vigil (the night before Easter Sunday) by receving Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion in the same liturgy. After candidates have discerned that the Catholic Church's claims about herself are true, they are received by the parish as Catechumens, usually in the autumn before Easter. Regular classes are offered for Catechumens to learn the Faith and to grow in communion with eachother on the path to full initiation into the Church at Easter. 

Adult Christians (and children over the age of reason) who wish to convert into the Catholic Church are formally called Candidates for Reception into Full Communion. These candidates are also normally received into the Church through the OCIA at the Easter Vigil along with any Catechumens. These Candidates make a Profession of Faith, are received by the Pastor into the Church, and then receive Confirmation and First Holy Communion. Their first Confession is made before the Easter Vigil so as to prepare for proper reception of Confirmation and Holy Communion.

Our parish offers an adapted program of formation for "adult" candidates for baptism or conversion below the age of 18. You may contact the OCIA director below, or the Children's Faith Formation Director to discuss the particular candidate's unique situation.

Those who are still in the discernment phase about becoming Catholic may also reach out for help with finding resources to learn more about the Church. This can come in the form of books, podcasts, a personal meeting with a priest, or getting connected to parish groups. Start with checking out Fr. Paul's notes page.

Adult Confirmation