OCIA: Order of Christian Initiation for Adults

Seeking the truth? Looking for meaning in life?

Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and the fullness of truth is found in the Church that He founded–that’s the Catholic Church

The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (formerly called RCIA) is for those curious about the Catholic Church, those seeking to enter the Church from other faiths, or those baptized Catholics seeking to return to the Faith and/or complete their Sacraments of Initiation (Confirmation or First Holy Communion). 

Please read FAQs then contact Valerie Izzo at val@sdcathedral.org to register.

FAQs:

  • Does OCIA cost anything? No, it is completely free. 
  • How long does it take? The timeline can vary depending on your ability to attend classes weekly and readiness to proceed, but typically candidates beginning in September can receive the Sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion and/or Confirmation by the following Easter.
  • When does OCIA meet? We hold classes on Sunday mornings and also attend mass as a group. The total time frame every Sunday is 2.5 hours including mass.
  • Do I have to attend every week? Occasional absences due to other obligations or illness are understandable, but otherwise please plan around the OCIA calendar (we have most holiday weekends off). More than occasional absences may result in a longer process.
  • I am already Catholic and only need to be confirmed, is there a separate process for that? Some parishes do have a separate process, but at the Cathedral, you need to join the OCIA process.
  • Can I receive the Sacraments in time for my wedding? If you haven’t started by September or your wedding is before next Easter, probably not at the Cathedral (other parish policies may vary).
  • Do I need to complete my Sacraments in order to marry in the Catholic Church? No. If you are marrying a Catholic, you can be a non-Catholic, a still-in-process Catholic, or a partial Catholic, and still have a valid wedding performed in a Catholic Church. You are strongly encouraged to meet with a priest or deacon about your particular situation– the rules are often not what you think they are.
  •  My prior marriages weren’t in the Catholic Church, so I don’t need to worry about annulments, right? You absolutely do need to worry about that if you wish to marry in the Church. The Catholic Church assumes marriages were valid, whether secular or religious, Catholic or Protestant, until shown otherwise. You should meet with a priest or deacon as early as possible in the process to have any prior marriages declared null if you are remarried or wish to marry in the Church.
  • I’m not interested in OCIA because I’m getting married, I just want to be Catholic, is that ok? Yes! We are excited to have you join our class and to welcome you as a future member of the Catholic Church.

For adults seeking the Sacrament of Confirmation, please see the page on the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults

For information about faith formation, contact Valerie Izzo at val@sdcathedral.org

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