OCIA is an acronym for Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (Formerly RCIA). OCIA has been at the forefront in recent decades as a way to educate adults who are interested in becoming a Christian in the Catholic Church. However, this rite originally goes back to the early centuries of the Catholic Church. It was re-introduced after Vatican II.

The OCIA is a sacramental formation process that prepares the participant to experience the encounter with God and presenting as a way of life.  It is primarily for those seeking entrance (Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion) into the Catholic Church. The New Testament of the Bible and the teachings provided by bishops and early Church fathers of the church indicate this as a practice of the early Church. When the person was ready, they entered into the Church through baptism.

The OCIA process today is a little more formalized. A mentor or team is involved in helping those in OCIA to learn about what Catholicism teaches about the sacraments through a process called catechesis. The OCIA is very much a faith formation process that allows the interested person to inquire and have their questions concerning the faith answered.

Those who attend OCIA can be anywhere on their personal walk seeking God and God’s Truth. The age is any age of adulthood. They can range from the unbaptized to those who were baptized but still need to complete the other two sacraments of initiation which are Confirmation and Holy Communion.

There are terms used to identify the stages where someone is at in the journey in OCIA.

Inquirer – is someone who may not be Catholic, usually it refers to someone who is un-baptized and who has not gone through the Rite of Acceptance. The Rite of Acceptance is a Rite where the individual publicly acknowledges to continue to learn more about the faith.

Catechumen – Once someone goes through the Rite of Acceptance, they become a Catechumen which means they are or currently learning from a catechetical instruction. They have demonstrated they intend to pursue the study. As a first initial step, the Church claims them from the point of view of acknowledging them as potential new members into the Body of Christ but also the Church prays for them.

Candidate – Someone who has been baptized as a youth or in another denomination. This person is seeking full communion with the church by preparing to receive the other two sacraments of initiation which are First Holy Communion and Confirmation. They too are learning from a catechetical instruction

The Elect – the term given to those who have progressed in their catechetical faith formation. They have been formally acknowledged by their RCIA mentor or team as being ready for full initiation into the Catholic Church and have thus met with the Bishop of the Diocese. 

Neophyte – This is someone who has received the Sacraments of initiation during the Easter vigil. Someone new to the faith. It can refer to a novice or beginner.  In referring to religion it is someone who is newly converted. It can also refer to someone who is newly ordained.  It comes from the Greek – neosphytos (or neophytus) which means ‘recently planted.’ Neos (New or newly) and phutos coming from Phuton which means planted. 

The OCIA process goes from a pre-inquiry stage, an inquiry stage, and the catechetical stages. Through all this, the individual can remain in the process and learn about Catholicism. There are anointings and rites that offer prayers for those in the OCIA process in order to protect them from being deterred from continuing the OCIA journey.

In all of this, there are no binding contracts for anyone following this process. The person is simply asked for the sake of consistency to commit to the times, process, and Rites. The individual can bow out even at the very end.

The OCIA process continues up to the Easter Vigil which is the Saturday evening before Easter. It is at this point that those in the OCIA process make their final commitment to join the Church.

When the OCIA attendee has received the initiating sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion, and Confirmation they become neophytes “New Catholics.”  After this, the OCIA instructions continue for a few more weeks.