Most Catholics never knew what the old acronym, RCIA, meant. They knew RCIA was “where they were supposed to send” friends who wanted to learn about the Catholic Church. 

RCIA stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. It became the mandatory way to bring people into the Catholic Church in 1988, although the RCIA initiation process was used as early as 1966. Before RCIA, a person became Catholic by being born into a Catholic family and baptized as a baby. Sometimes, someone who married a Catholic might want to join the Catholic Church. They would have several sessions with Father and that was that.  

All that changed with the discovery, at the turn of the 20th century, of a document, the Didiche, that described how the early Christian Church brought people into the faith.  The discovery and its translation made the Catholic Church realize, “Oh, we don’t do that, but we want to do that!” This ancient, beautiful process, once translated and adapted for our time, became the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) that you know.  

Fifty years later, it is time for the Church to revisit, revise, and implement what it has learned about the implementation of RCIA. The result is OCIA, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.  

So, what will change? Well, the Church realizes that RCIA is not just one rite but an “ordo” (many) of rites, therefore the change from RCIA to OCIA. Along with that, there will be changes in some words used in the rites, but the big change will be that OCIA will be year-round. An inquirer can enter the process any time during the year and then receive Sacraments when they, and we, the team, think they are ready.  The unbaptized will still be baptized at the Easter Vigil but those coming from other Christian denominations will be able to join us on a regular Sunday.  So, don’t be surprised by a Profession of Faith on a Sunday, followed by a Confirmation and then a new adult Catholic joining us for the Eucharist. Be ready to clap loudly when Father introduces them and please linger after Mass to welcome the new Catholic to our community.  They are your new brother or sister in Christ in the Catholic Church.  

OCIA will still be the place to send your friends who want to learn about the Catholic faith and the place to send baptized Catholics who want to complete their Sacraments.  

At Holy Family, we are choosing to call our OCIA process “Adult Journey to the Sacraments.” Fifty years of confusion with acronyms are enough. “Adult Journey to the Sacraments” is a ministry title that anyone can understand.