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Questions / The Church and the Pope

What is OCIA?

Church teaching

Answered on video by Fr. Mike Schmitz

Video: All About RCIA/OCIA — Catechism Answers w/ Dr. Scott Sollom (June 19, 2023), The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz), published Jun 19, 2023. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

In short: The path for adults becoming Catholic: a formation the Church restored, walked alongside a parish. CCC 1232 CCC 1247

The answer, in writing

Church teaching

The Second Vatican Council restored for the Latin Church the adult catechumenate, in several distinct steps. CCC 1232

This preparation is meant to dispose the catechumen to receive God’s gift in Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist. CCC 1247

Our words

OCIA (it used to be called RCIA) is a group at your parish that walks with you, usually over months. No pressure, lots of questions welcome.

Next step: Start Becoming Catholic

Honestly? The best answers come from people, not websites. Take the next step: find a parish near you

Related questions

Why does the Church have a Pope? Ascension Presents · 13 minDoes the Church say people outside it cannot be saved? Catholic Answers · 3 minI was baptized in another church. Will I be baptized again? Catholic Answers · 3 minWhat should priests be like? Fr. Mike Schmitz · 9 min

Sources on this page

How we know · 2 Catechism paragraphs
  1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1232, 1247 (official text on vatican.va).

Stone & Incense restates Church teaching in plain words and cites every teaching claim. Our own wording is not an official Church text. Found a mistake? Report an errorCorrections.