Becoming a Fully Initiated Catholic (OCIA)
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We're here to help you DiscernDo you want to know more about the Catholic Faith?
Do you want to be baptized Catholic Christian?
Are you an adult who was baptized in another faith, or baptized Catholic
and now want to receive your other Catholic sacraments?
Were you raised Catholic, and feeling pulled to come back to your Faith ,
but don’t know how to do it? -
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OCIA Class
2024-2025
Important Dates
Class Meets on Wednesdays 6:30-7:30pm- Matthew Module = Adults 18+ - OCIA
- Mark Module = Children 8-17 - OCIC
Saturday, February 2, 2025:
Rite of Welcome - 5pm Mass @ Shepherd of the Valley Catholic Church with Fr. Silverino
Saturday, March 1, 2025:
Rite of Sending - 5pm Mass @ Shepherd of the Valley Catholic Church with Fr. Silverino
Saturday, March 8, 2025:
Rite of Election and Continuing Conversion - 2:30pm @ Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Medford with Archbishop Sample.
Saturday, March 23, 2025:
1st Scrutiny, 3rd Sunday of Lent - 5pm Mass @ Shepherd of the Valley Catholic Church with Fr. Silverino.
Saturday, March 30, 2025:
2nd Scrutiny, 4th Sunday of Lent - 5pm Mass @ Shepherd of the Valley Catholic Church with Fr. Silverino .
Saturday, April 6 2025:
3rd Scrutiny, 5th Sunday of Lent - 5pm Mass @ Shepherd of the Valley Catholic Church with Fr. Silverino
Saturday, April 19, 2025:
Rite of Initiation - Easter Vigil Mass - 8pm @ Shepherd of the Valley Catholic Church with Fr. Silverino.
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OCIA Class
2025-2026
Important DatesOrientation on Monday March 3, 2025, 6:30 - 8:30pm
Adults 18+ - OCIA English
Adults 18+ - OCIA Spanish
- Children 8-17 - OCIC
Contact Joyce Marks 541-664-1050 x102 joyce@shepherdcatholic.com with questions.
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rite of initiation
Order for Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA)-
What is OCIA (formerly RCIA)?
If you feel that the Lord may be calling you to look further into the Catholic Church, the first thing to do is to pray.
If in your prayer and discernment you believe that you are being called to look deeper, this class is the thing for you.Through the classes, you will learn about Christian message of the Good News, encounter the risen Jesus Christ, Catechism and doctrines of our Catholic faith. Then, if there are no impediments, you are invited to complete your sacraments of initiation.
This is a discerning process and journey, and begins usually with consulting the Coordinator of Ministries Joyce Marks, or our Pastor to make sure we find the right place for you and answer any questions or concerns you may have.
In the OCIA classes, they are simply information sessions that help the student encounter Christ and explain the teachings of the Catholic Church.The process invites people to a prayerful experience of God.
There is no “hard sell” or pressure. People are free to simply seek information and they are free to ask any questions that they might have.
The Church is an open book and there will be no hidden agendas or manipulation in the process. All are welcome to come even for those who are just coming to learn.
ADULTS (ages 18+):
For questions regarding Adults desiring to become fully initiated Catholics,
please contact Joyce Marks 541-664-1050 x102
CHILDREN (ages 8-17):
For questions regarding Children desiring to become fully Initiated Catholics,
please contact Joyce Marks 541-664-1050 x102
note: Parents or Godparents are expected to attend with their child(ren)
The Rite of Christian Initiation
An adult, who has not been baptized into a Christian faith community and wishing to learn about becoming a Catholic, may participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. This is a process which restores the ancient practice of initiation into the Church. Focusing on conversion, it is a formation process and at various points of the journey the entire church community celebrates the conversion through prayerful rites. The process leads to celebration of the sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.
An adult who has been baptized into another Christian faith community and wishes to join the Catholic Church, will follow a similar process. This person’s journey depends on their spiritual readiness and religious formation. The previously baptized person will be received into full communion with the Church and join fully in the celebration the Eucharist.
Catechumens and Candidates are on a journey of faith, each drawn to the Church by different experiences and circumstances. A Catechumen is an unbaptized person. A Candidate for full communion is a person who was baptized in another Christian church but who is uncatechized in the Catholic faith. All are seeking to learn more about becoming Catholic through a gradual process of faith formation.
The initiation of catechumens is a gradual process. The structure of the process includes four time periods and three stages of the Rite of Christian Initiation of adults.
The first period is called the time of evangelization or the precatechumenate period. Participants are called “inquirers.” It is a time of investigation during which individuals respond to “something moving within them,” and seek to discover what life with Christ is like within Catholic Church communities. The local parish community welcomes the inquirers and pledges to pray for them and to assist in their religious formation. The length of this period varies with each individual and culminates with the “Rite of Becoming Catechumens.” (This is our First Year)
(Our First Year continues....)The “Rite of Becoming Catechumens” is the first formal stage or gateway of the Initiation process. It marks the end of the precatechumenate period and the beginning of the second period for catechesis. The At this point the non-baptized person is called a “catechumen”, while those previously baptized in another Christian faith are known as “candidates.” (We move into year two)
During the catechumenate period, the conversion process continues - individuals gradually learn more about how God is present in their lives, and are encouraged to explore their response to God’s call. It is a time to learn more about the Catholic Church – the history, the doctrine, the rituals and theology of this centuries-old faith community. Rooted in Scripture, candidates and catechumens learn about Jesus, what it means to be a Catholic Christian, and how they are called to service. Assisting in this process are the parish priest, catechists, liturgists, sponsors and/or godparents.
The second stage of the Initiation process occurs during Lent, that is, the 40 days just before Easter. The “Rite of Election” marks the beginning of this third period, known as the “Period of Purification and Enlightenment.” The Rite of Election is celebrated in the cathedral with the bishop of the diocese presiding. (This is a sign of the unity of the universal Church they are joining). Passing into this period indicates that the candidates and catechumens (now called the “elect”) are firmly resolved and committed to embrace the teachings of Christ and join the Catholic Church. This is a time of intense spiritual preparation, deep reflection and prayer. Prior to the rite with the bishop, each parish celebrates a “Rite of Sending,” again pledging the prayers and support of the entire parish community.
Three “scrutinies” are celebrated on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent, during regular Sunday liturgies. These rites are intended to purify the elect, removing the “barriers” of sin and evil that could prevent the elect from experiencing the fullness of God’s transforming love.
The Easter Vigil is the “high point” of the Initiation process. It is during this great celebration that the elect are baptized, and both the elect and the candidates receive Eucharist for the first time and are confirmed. This is the third stage of the Initiation process.
The six weeks following Easter are know as “mystagogia” – the fourth time period of the Initiation process. It is a time for deepening knowledge about the faith and for reflection upon the sacred mysteries they have celebrated -a time of looking back at what has happened, reflecting on what it was like to enter the waters of baptism, to eat and drink the body and blood of Christ for the first time, and to be sealed with the sacred oil of Confirmation. Mystagogia is also a time for exploring and discovering what this new life as a disciple of Jesus is like.
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OCIA Resources
There are many resources available to catechists, sponsors, and the entire assembly to support the ministry to the catechumens and candidates.
Online Resources- How Do I Become Catholic? (Video) from Liturgy Training Publications
- Christian Initiation of Adults: Questions/Answers from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops
- United States Catholic Catechism for Adults - from the USCCB
- Symbolon: The Catholic Faith Explained - from FORMED online - Type in "Shepherd of the Valley Catholic Church, Central Point, Oregon" for free access)
- Catechism of the Catholic Church
- Girardian Lectionary - comments and exegesis on the Sunday Scriptures
- Books of the Bible - from the USCCB
- Calendar of Daily Mass Bible Readings - from the USCCB
- Opening the Word from FORMED online - Type in "Shepherd of the Valley Catholic Church, Central Point, Oregon" for free access)
- Sunday Preparation resources
- The Association for Catechumenal Ministry
- Team RCIA
Booklist- The Catholic Source Book by Rev. Peter Klein
- Why Not Consider Becoming Catholic? by Frank P. DeSiano, CSP
- The Catechumenal Process from Liturgy Training Publications
- The Heart of Faith by Nick Wagner
- Cycle A, B and C Resources - from Loyola Press
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