What is the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults?
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, or OCIA, is the process that takes place within the Catholic Church by which “adults who, after hearing the mystery of Christ proclaimed, consciously and freely seek the living God and enter the way of faith and conversion as the Holy Spirit opens their hearts.”  More simply, it is the process by which those persons who are unbaptized (or have been baptized in another faith tradition), discern if they are called to be baptized in (or received into) the Roman Catholic Church.  The process used today is very similar to the process used over the millennia to, with God’s help, spiritually strengthen and prepare the participants so that at the proper time they will receive the Sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion) fruitfully.

How long does OCIA take?
The OCIA process “takes as long as it takes” for each individual.  If a participant decides, after prayer and participation in the learning and other activities of the OCIA, that they do not feel the Catholic Church is the right place for them, that is fine.  Just because someone expresses an interest in the Catholic Church and attends a few OCIA meetings, does not mean they are on autopilot or somehow committed to becoming Catholic.
 
At St. Jude’s, the OCIA sessions and activities start in October and run on a weekly basis until the Easter Vigil when the Sacraments of Initiation are celebrated.  We are currently developing follow-up sessions that take place between Easter and Pentecost.  Generally, we meet on Wednesday nights from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, however; other arrangements may be possible for those who have work or other conflicts with that time.
 

Who can participate in OCIA?
OCIA is for adults who are unbaptized, or were baptized in faith traditions other than the Catholic Church, and seek Baptism or reception into the Roman Catholic Church.  OCIA is not for those who are already Catholic and are seeking a deeper understanding of their faith.  How you participate also depends on how old you are.  For those between the ages of 7 and 14, they are prepared by our Parish Religious Education (PRE) program or the Youth Minister.  For a child under the age of 7, Baptism preparation is done in conjunction with the pastor.
 

What if I don't know if I am validly Baptized or not?
No problem, the OCIA Coordinator can help you.  There are several ways this can be addressed, including a Conditional Baptism.  A Conditional Baptism happens when there is doubt if a person has been Baptized or whether Baptism was conferred validly and the doubt remains after a serious investigation.  So what does Cannon Law say?
 
 Cannon  869

§1. If there is a doubt whether a person has been baptized or whether baptism was conferred validly and the doubt remains after a serious investigation, baptism is to be conferred conditionally.

§2. Those baptized in a non-Catholic ecclesial community must not be baptized conditionally unless, after an examination of the matter and the form of the words used in the conferral of baptism and a consideration of the intention of the baptized adult and the minister of the baptism, a serious reason exists to doubt the validity of the baptism.

§3. If in the cases mentioned in §1 and §2 the conferral or validity of the baptism remains doubtful, baptism is not to be conferred until after the doctrine of the sacrament of baptism is explained to the person to be baptized, if an adult, and the reasons of the doubtful validity of the baptism are explained to the person or, in the case of an infant, to the parents.
 

What is a OCIA Sponsor or Godparent?
 A sponsor is a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church, who will walk with you on your journey through OCIA.  You, and your sponsor, will meet to pray with you, talk about how things are going, and answer any questions you may have.  A sponsor stands with you during the many OCIA Rites, and is with you at the Easter Vigil when you are received into the Church.  For those who are Catechumens, and will be baptized at the Easter Vigil, your Sponsor is called a Godparent.   If you do not know anyone who could be your sponsor, the OCIA Coordinator will help you find one.  Many of St. Jude’s prisoners are willing to serve as a Sponsor or Godparent.  If your sponsor lives far away, we will find someone locally to stand in for your sponsor.

What books and study materials are used for OCIA?
We use two books: the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, and the New American Bible, St. Joseph Edition.  Everyone who enters the program will receive a copy of these two books to keep as their own.  We also use a wide variety of handouts, videos, and classroom activities to bring the material we cover alive.

There are two other books that are highly recommended for both Catechumens and Candidates.  The first is Home Sweet Rome – Our Journey to Catholicism, by Scott and Kimberly Hahn, and Spiritual Journeys – Toward the Fullness of Faith, edited by Robert Baram.  Participants will receive a copy of Home Sweet Rome when they register, which will be theirs to keep.  The Spiritual Journeys book has been out of print for a while, but can occasionally be found online.
 

Who Coordinates and “teaches” OCIA?
 Deacon Butch Feldhaus is the Coordinator of the OCIA program and provides instruction on many of the topics that are covered.  Other topics are presented by our pastor, other deacons, as well as lay persons who are specialists on a particular topic.  All our sessions are conducted by someone who is a Catechist (a specially trained teacher of the principles of the Roman Catholic Faith), or under the supervision of a Catechist.  This requirement was put in place by our Bishop to make sure that the teachings of the presenter are authentic, compliant with the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and in accordance with the requirements of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
 

What topics do we cover in OCIA?
The topics we cover range from prayer, the Mass, the Sacraments, Church history, Catholic Culture, and Catholic teaching on important topics such sin and Grace.  We take also a detailed look at Mary, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, God the Father, and the Trinity.  It’s not all classroom instruction!  There are also a number of Rites that we participate in; they take place both here at St. Jude and at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Knoxville.  Then there is the Advent Celebration Dinner, and Movie Night.
 

What is the difference between a Catechumen and a Candidate?
The OCIA program breaks its participants into two groups so we can tailor the instructional materials and topics to their individual needs.  Participants are considered Catechumens if they have not yet been baptized, and participants are considered Candidates if they have been validly baptized in another denomination (the Catholic Church does not rebaptize people who are already baptized).  The OCIA Coordinator will help you determine if you are a Catechumen or Candidate.  At St. Jude’s, the Candidates and Catechumens journey through the OCIA program together.
 

Can divorced, or divorced and remarried, individuals participate in OCIA?
Persons who are divorced, or divorced and remarried, can participate in the OCIA program, but their previous marriages need to be addressed before they can be baptized or received into the church.  In some cases, an annulment may be necessary.  The OCIA Coordinator will collect some initial information during the registration process, which will be forwarded to the pastor.  After that, the pastor will meet with the individuals to determine the best path forward.
 

How much does OCIA cost?
There are no fees or payments for participation.  There is some travel involved as on two occasions we attend Rites in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart with the Bishop; but we usually try to car pool.  Your study materials, handouts, and books are provided for you free of charge.