The OCIA presumes... a community which thrives on hearing the Word of God, nourished by good preaching, an evangelizing parish.
(Fr. Michael Connors, CSC)

The OCIA presumes... a community in which the bonds of brother/sisterhood are carefully nurtured, all are welocme, all participate. 
​​​​​​​(Fr. Michael Connors, CSC)

The OCIA presumes... a community in which worship of the Living God is central, carefully planned, beautifully executed. 
​​​​​​​(Fr. Michael Connors, CSC)

The OCIA presumes... a community marked by a devotion to service, especially to the least, the last, and the lost.
(Fr. Michael Connors, CSC)

What's in a name...?

Welcome to Diocese of Davenport's OCIA page! Why not "RCIA"? Well... that's a bit of a story....

In 1972, the Church promulgated the 1st Latin edition of the Ordo initiationis christianae adultorum (OICA); the first English translation came out in 1974. In 1986, the US Bishops gave us the National Statutes for the Catechumenate. The 1974 texts were retranslated and reorganized, and rites were added for baptized candidates. This gave us the 1988 text that we are using today: The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).

This text and the National Statutes are in the process of being revised and retranslated. When the new ritual book becomes available, the title (translated from the Latin) will be Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)... more closely matching the Latin original, and better reflecting that an "Order" is a collection of "Rites."

When referring specifically to the 1988 ritual book, we will retain the use of "RCIA." 

RCIA Glossary (from TeamRCIA)

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults works, but only if we change (from TeamRCIA)

That the Christian initiation of adults (especially the Catechumenate) is intended to be a process, an apprenticeship, and not simply a program of study, is brought out in RCIA #75: 

"The catechumenate is an extended period during which the candidates are given suitable
pastoral formation and guidance, aimed at training them in the Christian life. In this way,
the dispositions manifested at their acceptance into the catechumenate are brought to
maturity. This is achieved in four ways."

1. By a "suitable catechesis, gradual and complete in its coverage, accommodated to the liturgical year, and solidly supported by celebrations of the word...."
 
2. By being "helped by the example and support of sponsors, godparents, and the entire Christian community...."

3. By "suitable liturgical rites, which purify the catechumens little by little and strengthen them with God’s blessing...." 

4. By learning "to work actively with others to spread the Gospel and build up the Church by the witness of their lives and by professing their faith."

Resources

Please click here for the full text of paragraph 75 (1988 RCIA).

Check this out from TeamRCIA...

Catechesis / Community / Witness
-Please see our OCIA Formation page

Liturgical Rites
-Please see our OCIA Liturgy page

Preaching and the RCIA
-Here's a video of Fr. Michael Connor's presentation at the 2019 Marten Conference at Notre Dame.

FDLC Webinars (free)

Liturgical Book Series: The RCIA

OCIA: What’s New? What’s Not? What’s Next?

Series on the OCIA (en Español)

LTP: Begin Anew (free)

LTP is offering a seven-part series on the RCIA. New videos and discussion guides will be posted weekly. Please visit their website.

Connecting to Vision 2020

1-page handouts explaining how RCIA 75 and Vision 2020 are connected... including recommended resources...

Introduction: What does RCIA 75 have to do with Vision 2020?

Vision 2020 and... Catechesis

Vision 2020 and... Community Life

Vision 2020 and... Liturgy

Vision 2020 and... Witness

All 5 handouts in one document

The OCIA/RCIA is a process; it is not a program into which generic individuals are simply inserted. Knowing how to journey with someone interested in becoming Catholic is a matter of discernment. 

Who's an "Adult" in the OCIA/RCIA?
In the OCIA (RCIA), an "adult" is someone who has reached the "age of discretion" or has the "use of reason." There is no magic number, but that's typically around the age of 7. However, the number is not the point. Is the individual able to personally grow in faith and recognize moral choices? If so, they are to be fully initiated. The OCIA/RCIA process may be adapted for children of "catechetical age" - but not omitted. See this blog post from TeamRCIA.

Resources for forming children of catechetical age will be found on our OCIA Formation page; liturgical adaptations are covered on our OCIA Liturgy page. Adaptations are discussed in RCIA 1988 Part II Chapter 1. 

Is the person baptized?
That is the key question. One of the most important principles in the OCIA/RCIA is keeping a deep respect for the baptism of another Christian. We cannot treat baptized Christians seeking to come into full communion with the Catholic Church as of they were not baptized.

Click here for a summary flowchart (made to print on 11x17 paper, but can be printed on letter size). Of course, no summary can address every possible situation. If you are unsure where someone might fall in the OCIA process, please contact one of us. Further details are found on the OCIA Liturgy page.

Possibility #1: The person is NOT baptized.

The person celebrates the full complement of rites as laid out in the OCIA (RCIA).
In RCIA 1988, see Part I: Christian Initiation of Adults. 

Click here for a schema of the periods and steps involved; details of each period and step are presented on our OCIA Liturgy page.

Possibility #2: The person IS baptized, but not in the Catholic Church.

Assuming that their baptism is considered valid by the Catholic Church, this person is a candidate for reception into full communion. In RCIA 1988, see Part II: Rites for Particular Circumstances (Chapters 4 and 5).

The next question is: are they catechized or uncatechized? Typically, someone is considered catechized if they have received communion and been confirmed (or the equivalent) in their tradition.

In order to be recognized as valid, baptisms in other Christian communities must be done with water (according to the practice of that community: sprinkled, poured, immersion, submersion) and in the name of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) as understood by the Catholic Church. As a guide to assist in decision-making, this document lists communities whose baptism is not recognized by the Catholic Church (and those which are). The document may not be exhaustive, so questions about individual cases should be referred to the Office of Liturgy or the Tribunal (permissions or dispensations for marriage and related matters).

Possibility #3: The person was baptized a Catholic, but never received First Communion and Confirmation (is uncatechized).

This person is an uncatechized Catholic, and a candidate for both first communion and confirmation. See RCIA 1988, Part II, Chapter 4.

Possibility #4: The person was baptized a Catholic, received first Communion, but missed Confirmation at the usual time.

The person is to be catechized for Confirmation; they are not part of the OCIA/RCIA process.