If you have not been baptized or have not received all your sacraments (such as First Communion or Confirmation), you're welcome to join the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) Classes.
OCIA classes start every fall semester in September, accommodating the university academic schedule, and continue until the Easter Vigil.
They are held on Thursday nights from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel and Newman Center.
Classes begin on September 26th, 2024.
For more information, please contact the St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel and Newman Center.
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the process through which adults enter the Catholic Church. However, OCIA is more than just a process; it is a journey of faith involving the pursuit of Truth, namely, Jesus Christ, and a conversion of heart. The primary sources of study include Sacred Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the texts/prayers of the Church's liturgy. OCIA is comprised of four periods:
1. The Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate (also known as Inquiry)
2. The Period of Catechumenate
3. The Period of Purification and Enlightenment
4. The Period of Postbaptismal Catechesis (also known as Mystagogy).
All are welcome to participate in the weekly classes. Each person progresses through the different periods at their own pace, and no one is required or expected to receive initiation into the Catholic Church. For more information about OCIA, please contact the St. Thomas Aquinas Staff at 361-221-8759.