• Non-Catholics who want to find out more about the Catholic Faith
• Those who want to join the Catholic Church through Baptism, or Profession of Faith
• Those who were baptized Catholic as infants but never received religious education, Confirmation, or First Eucharist.

Within the 22 sessions, the OCIA team will cover:

• the nature of God/Trinity
• salvation history
• christian anthropology/virtues
• who is Jesus Christ
• church: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic
• history of the church/reformation
• heaven, Hell, and purgatory
• the sacraments (marriage, holy orders/the papacy, Confession/Reconciliation, anointing of the sick/suffering, Eucharist/Mass)
• Christian morals and ethics
• how to pray
• justice lived
• Catholic culture

Eventually, maybe. We realize that many people are searching and need to know more about the Church before they make such a commitment. We also realize that Catholicism is not for everyone. We ask no firm commitment until the beginning of Lent.

By joining the OCIA process, we ask that you would make a two-fold commitment -- to the process itself and to having an open heart and mind.  Throughout the process, there are weekly classes, various rites (Church services/celebrations), and Mass attendance.  As such, we are asking you to commit to these regular meetings, which may mean giving up something for a time that may be in conflict with our meetings. Know that the sacrifice would be for a limited time and that it will be worth the effort.

Click here to learn specifics about the Five Stages of OCIA.

No! There is only one Baptism. Candidates seeking full Communion within the Catholic Church will not be baptized again. They will simply make a Profession of Faith and receive the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation.

Please call the church where you were baptized, as nearly all churches archive their baptismal records. If the church does not exist anymore, or the record/certificate is irretrievable, then a copy of some kind of documentation of your baptism (i.e., a program from the baptism, pictures, a page from a family bible that shows the date and church of the baptism) will suffice. If truly nothing exists, then a letter from a witness detailing the event will normally be accepted.

While we know that life circumstances can intrude during this process, it is absolutely essential that you make every attempt to be present for all classes and all scheduled activities. If for some reason, you cannot be present, please contact us prior to the class or activity. We will make available material you miss.

St. Michael Parish and her staff is here to help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ, and the whole OCIA process is about growing in union with God. To start the process, you should: (1) begin learning prayers and building a habit of daily prayer; (2) be open to the fullness of Catholic teaching and life; and (3) begin to live according to the fullness of Catholic life even now (e.g., regarding doctrine and living the moral life).

Each participant will have a sponsor to walk with him or her through each step of the process. You may choose your sponsor with our approval, or we will provide you with a community sponsor. The sponsor must be at least 16 years of age, a confirmed, practicing Catholic, and not a parent.