How do I become Catholic? 

We are often approached by someone asking how they themselves, or someone they know, can become Catholic.  The person might already be of the Christian faith, or, the person has no real faith background, having never grown up in the practice of a belief experience.  For these individuals we offer an adult faith formation experience known as the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (or OCIA for short).

The OCIA is a transformational experience where, through dialogue, experience and prayer, a person is given the opportunity to investigate, explore and if they feel called, experience the Sacraments of the Church.  In and through the sacraments of Christian initiation, we profess and believe that we are freed from the power of darkness and are joined to redemption of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. We become, through the spirit of filial adoption, a part of the entire people of God.

This OCIA is a moment of both evangelization and conversion. Through the stirring of the Holy Spirit, the participants hear the Gospel proclaimed in word and deed, and come to the Christian community as a result of this stirring in faith. The process in which adults both hear and respond to this gospel in the Catholic community, and have the opportunity to discover their own calling in faith is the Order of Christian of Adults.

Conversion “is first of all, a work of the grace of God who makes our hearts return to him.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1432) It is an on-going process that never ends. It involves various stages of change. Conversion is a turning from something coupled with a turning towards something else. Christian faith is conversion to Jesus Christ.

The participants of OCIA are invited to journy through four stages of this conversion:  

Precatechumenate:
This is a time, of no fixed duration or structure, for inquiry and introduction to Gospel values, an opportunity for the beginning of faith and a time to recognize Jesus Christ’s personal invitation.

Catechumenate:
This is the time for the nurturing and growth of the catechumen’s faith and conversion to God.

Purification and Enlightenment:
This is the time immediately preceding the elects’ initiation, usually the Lenten season preceding the celebration of this initiation at the Easter Vigil; it is a time of reflection, intensely centered on conversion, marked by the celebration of the scrutinies and presentations and of the preparation rites on Holy Saturday in which, those who are ready, participate in the Sacraments of Baptism (if not already Baptised), Confirmation, and Eucharist.

Mystagogy:
This is the time, usually the Easter season, following the celebration of initiation, during which the newly initiated experience being fully a part of the Christian community by means of pertinent catechesis and particularly with all the faithful in the Sunday Eucharistic celebration.

Together we journey with you through this evangelization and conversion process, and together we begin the life long experience of growing in an ever deeper relationship with Christ.

If the OCIA is something you feel, even now, the stirring of the Holy Spirit to investigate even further, please contact us at the parish office and speak with either Fr. Marc or Deacon Bill.  You can reach us by phone at 603-329-5886, or you can email Fr Marc at [email protected] or Deacon Bill directly at [email protected].

Join us.  Becoming Catholic is life changing, and life giving in Christ.

Want more information?  Fill out the online information request at the bottom of the page.

We invite you to learn more through this YouTube presentation below: