What is OCIA?
OCIA stands for “Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.” It is the process by which adults and older children are introduced to beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church. It is an ancient rite of the Church and the manner in which individuals are initiated into the Church.
Who should attend OCIA?
OCIA is for anyone who is interested in learning more about the Catholic faith, regardless of whether or not they are certain they would like to join the Church. It is not a commitment to join the Church.
OCIA is for those who: 1) have no religious background at all; 2) have been a part of a different faith background (Protestant is just one example) or 3) were baptized Catholic as infants but never practiced nor learned about the faith and are now wish to come back to the Church. These are just a few examples. OCIA is for anyone who wishes to learn more about the Catholic faith and possibly join our Church family. OCIA includes people from all walks of life – young and old with different backgrounds and jobs.
How does OCIA work at St. Peter Cathedral?
For 2025-2026, the first session begins on Thursday, October 16, 2025. We meet on Thursday evenings in the Media Room (in the basement of the Cathedral) at 7pm, taking breaks for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We plan for 20 sessions. Each session lasts 1 hr – 1.5 hrs. For those preparing for full initiation–Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist–the ceremony will be at the Easter Vigil at 9 pm on April 4, 2026. For baptized Christians seeking full Communion with the Catholic Church, that ceremony will take place at a Sunday Mass, which will be announced at a later date.
Sessions are led by our parish priest, deacons, and lay leaders. (“Lay” means someone who is not a priest, deacon, or a religious sister/nun.) Each session will focus on a particular topic which is followed by a time for questions and discussion regarding how to apply this to our lives. As followers of Christ, we are a prayerful people and thus, will also pray together.
Can I attend Mass if I am not Catholic?
Everyone can attend Mass. OCIA students are required to attend Sunday Mass (Saturday 4pm Mass counts for this obligation). The Mass is the center of Catholic life and as such, weekly Sunday Mass attendance is prescribed for all Catholics.
May I receive communion if I am not yet Catholic?
Unfortunately, no. An unbaptized person needs to be baptized before he or she can receive the Eucharist. For baptized persons who are not yet Catholic, they cannot receive due to the historical divisions which have separated Christians for many centuries. Since the founding of the Church by Christ, Catholics have always believed that the Eucharist is Jesus truly present in the Eucharist- Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. It is NOT “just a symbol.” Because of the centrality of the belief of the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of unity of faith, life, and worship, non-Catholics are not admitted to Communion.
Ready to get started? Please contact the parish office at (906) 226-6548.
