Steps to Baptism

Contact any Roman Catholic Church and ask to speak to the person in charge of those who wish to become Catholic. Either you will be given a name and phone number and asked to call the person, or your name and phone number will be taken and someone will call you. During the phone call with the OCIA Coordinator (the person in charge of those who wish to become Catholic) your questions will be answered and an appointment time will be set up for you to meet face-to-face with the coordinator. Also you will be given the times and dates for the OCIA sessions.

Inquiry

This is also called pre-catechumenate, and is a time for questions and instruction to the gospel values and an opportunity for the beginnings of faith. The goal of this period is awakening faith.

This period continues until the person has decided they want to seriously begin to be formed in the Catholic faith.

The Catechumenate

The Catechumenate is a period of nurturing and continued growth of faith. The goal of this period is deepening initial conversion and passing on the Catholic tradition.

This period, which is usually the longest, is a time of learning the Catholic faith, way of life, and testing, in which people come to decide whether or not they wish to become Catholic.

Purification and Enlightenment

Once someone is ready to fully commit to becoming Catholic, they begin this step, which ordinarily takes place during the season of Lent. It is a period of intense reflection on our lives and our conversion.  A time of intense prayer and final preparation for the celebration of the sacraments. The goal of this period is to eliminate what is weak and affirm what is good in the person in preparation to encounter God in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion.

This period generally consists of the 6 weeks of Lent, but may be changed to accommodate individual needs.

Mystagogy

This period follows full initiation into the church and is marked by full participation in the life of the church. It lasts until the end of life. We must continue to learn and to grow in our faith, and we must continue to be active.The goal of this period is deeper understanding of the paschal mystery through Eucharist, Gospel, ministry and mission.

Although this period lasts until the end of one’s life, it officially lasts one year from the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation.