Interested in becoming Catholic?

(OCIA)

Just looking to find out more?

Welcome!

Congratulations on having the courage to take the first steps in finding out more about what the Catholic Church teaches about God, Jesus Christ, ourselves and the meaning of our lives.  Perhaps you have been thinking about the deeper questions of life and faith for many years, perhaps you have a Catholic friend or relative which sparked interest in you, perhaps you went to Catholic school or were baptised as a child but never made your first holy communion.  Perhaps you grew up in a different Christian tradition or different religion and would like to get baptised.  Maybe you’re still deciding whether or not you are ready to become Catholic, maybe you’re already 100% sure.  But wherever you are on your faith journey, please know that you are very welcome to take the next steps and join the OCIA process! 

Becoming Catholic

OCIA stand for the “Order of Christian Initiation for Adults” is is the ordinary pathway by which adults (over 16) become members of the Catholic Church.  You can think of OCIA as a combination of a training plan, a time of discernment and a time of deepening in faith and deepening in your relationship with God.  There are three main components of the OCIA process: (1) Catechetical or intellectual, which is studying what Catholics believe and why, (2) Spiritual, about growing in your relationship with God and sharing in the fellowship of the Christian Community and (3) Liturgical, which is about participating in Sunday Mass (the high point of our week) and the ceremonies which mark the journey towards becoming Catholic.  All of these preparations culminate in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and holy communion, typically received at Easter,  which are the means by which a person enters into the Catholic Church and becomes an adopted son or daughter of God, a member of the mystical body of Christ.

Length and Commitment

Depending where you are in your faith journey, you may spend 8 months in the OCIA process, or perhaps more. There is no pressure to become Catholic, and no rush, we want you to come to know and love Jesus Christ and His Church in your own time, and to be welcomed into the Church through baptism, confirmation and holy communion when you are ready.

At Saints Agatha and James Catholic Church, the intellectual formation takes place on Tuesdays from 6pm-8pm by participation in the Catholic Studies course (which is open to Catholics, non-Catholics, believers and non-believers).  The liturgical dimension takes place through participation in the Sunday 11.30am Mass.  

Schedule for 2025-26:

TUESDAYS beginning September 9th (6pm-8pm):

  • 6pm: Catholic Studies class (intellectual formation requirement for OCIA)

  • 7pm: Bible Study small group

Saturday, April 4th, 2026: Baptism for adults at the Easter Vigil Mass

Sunday, April 19th, 2026: Confirmations for adults

Commitments (all in person):

(1) Attend Catholic Studies class & Bible study, Tuesdays 6pm-8pm from Sept 2025 - April 2026.  

(2) Attend weekly Sunday Mass in a time and place of your own choice.

  For more details contact Michael Gokie at mgokie@saintsaj.org.

Sign up!

For more information contact Michael Gokie at mgokie@saintsaj.org. If you are thinking about becoming Catholic and would like to join the OCIA program, please fill out this form. Thank you!