Adults interested in joining the Catholic Church do so through a process called the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults).
Order of Christian Initiation for Adults
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) is a journey of faith which allows you to explore the Catholic Church, go deeper into understanding yourself and God, and be formed in faith by reflecting on God’s Word, and the Catholic community’s life, liturgy and beliefs. This formation process culminates in full membership in the Catholic Church through the Sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist.
The OCIA program
OCIA at Boston College is a joint program between the Office of Campus Ministry and St. Ignatius Parish, and meets every other Tuesday from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., along with some occasional Sundays from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.; the first meeting is on September 17, 2024. If you have questions about becoming Catholic or the OCIA program, please contact Ellen Modica.
There are generally three categories of people who participate in the OCIA process:
- Those who have never been baptized
- Those who have been baptized in another Christian Church (i.e. Lutheran, Methodist, Episcopalian, etc.)
- Those who have been baptized in the Catholic Church but never received Holy Eucharist and Confirmation.
Students who have been baptized and received communion in the Catholic Church but not confirmed are welcome to participate in our Confirmation program which begins in January. Please contact Fr. Tony Penna for more information on this program.
OCIA FAQ
At BC, anyone interested in participating in OCIA first meets with Ellen Modica, the director of the program, to learn more about it and to discuss their particular circumstances. The program itself consists of bi-weekly meetings throughout the school year where questions about the Catholic Church, relationship with Jesus, issues of faith, church practices, etc. are discussed. Participants are encouraged to pray daily and to attend Mass on a regular basis. Preparation for the various rites that are celebrated as part of the OCIA process is also part of the program.
Any student or employee of Boston College who is interested in joining or learning more about the Catholic Church is welcome at OCIA. This includes those who are unbaptized, baptized in another Christian Church, or baptized in the Catholic Church but have never received Eucharist or Confirmation.
The bi-weekly meetings will be held on Tuesday nights from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in the lower level of St. Ignatius Church (28 Commonwealth Ave).
The bi-weekly meetings will provide time for questions from participants, input on a specific topic, and discussion and preparation for the following Sunday's liturgy. These meetings also provide time for personal reflection, prayer and community-building with others who are on the faith journey.
If you were baptized, you should be able to get a copy of your baptismal record (either a certificate or a letter from the pastor) from your church or congregation. Locating records can sometimes be difficult or time-consuming, so you should try to obtain these records as early in the process as possible. We must see these records to confirm your baptismal status before you’re received into the Church. If your church or congregation did not keep records or no longer exists, we can make other arrangements. The specifics of what records you need will be discussed at your initial meeting with the director.
If you were baptized with water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, you will not be baptized again. If you are unsure of the form of your baptism, someone in the program can help you to figure this out and what your next steps should be.
A sponsor is someone who is on the journey with you and can help answer some of your questions. They will stand up with you during the various liturgical rites that are part of the program. They do need to be baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church. If possible, that person will attend the meetings with you, but that is not absolutely necessary. A sponsor can be a friend, a colleague, a mentor or a family member (but not a parent or spouse). We have people we can call on in the BC or St. Ignatius community who can serve as sponsors if you don’t have someone to fill that role for you.
Yes. While the best practice is to have your sponsor attend meetings with you, it is permissible to have a sponsor who is not able to do so.
Skipping OCIA entirely is never recommended. Part of the OCIA process includes participating in the various rites that happen over the course of the program. These rites are important milestones in the process and go a long way in helping a person feel connected to the Church. Another important aspect is the community-building and support that occurs by spending time with others in the program. Ultimately, every person’s situation is unique, and the knowledge and experience that someone comes in with is a factor in determining how much time is appropriate for them to spend in the program.
We are always happy to work with you in finding alternative ways to participate, including arranging catechesis in a private setting with a qualified member of the BC community. Please contact Ellen Modica at ellen.modica@bc.edu to discuss your specific circumstances.
You are never under any obligation to continue in the program if at any time you decide you do not want to join the Catholic Church. If, after making that decision you wanted to continue attending meetings for your own education, you would be more than welcome to do so.
We ask all participants to purchase the book, “A Well-Built Faith” by Joseph Paprocki, and strongly suggest they have a copy of a Catholic study bible, but otherwise there is no cost.