What is OCIA (formerly RCIA)?
The short answer
OCIA — the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — is the Church's process for welcoming adults into the Catholic faith. It combines learning, prayer, community and liturgical rites over several months, leading to the sacraments of initiation, usually at Easter.
A new name for an ancient path
OCIA was known for decades as RCIA, the "Rite" of Christian Initiation of Adults. In 2023 the English-speaking Church adopted the translation "Order," which better reflects that this is a sequence of stages, not a single ceremony. The substance is the same.
The process restores the practice of the early Church, where adults preparing for Baptism — called catechumens — were formed over an extended time before being baptized at the Easter Vigil (CCC 1247).
What happens in OCIA
- Weekly sessions on the Creed, Scripture, the sacraments, prayer, and Christian living.
- Sunday Mass, often with a special dismissal after the homily so catechumens can reflect on the readings.
- A sponsor — a practising Catholic who accompanies you.
- Liturgical rites that mark each step: the Rite of Acceptance, the Rite of Election with the bishop at the start of Lent, and the Scrutinies on the Sundays of Lent.
How long does it take?
Typically from September to Easter, though the Church asks that the catechumenate last long enough for genuine conversion — sometimes a year or more. There is no rush; readiness matters more than the calendar.
Who is it for?
- Adults who have never been baptized.
- Baptized Christians from other traditions seeking full communion.
- Baptized Catholics who never received Confirmation or First Communion often join a related programme.
Children of catechetical age follow an adapted version, often called OCIC.