Order of Christian Initiation: Rites and Resources

A training session will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Maryvale Retreat Center, Valley City, on the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. For more information or to register, visit the OCIA Workshop page.

How do I become a Catholic? The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the journey an unbaptized person follows to become a member of the Catholic Church. OCIA programs exist in parishes throughout the Diocese of Fargo. If you are interested in joining the Catholic Church, please speak with the pastor of your local Catholic parish. The OCIA is also the process for baptized non-Catholics to become Catholic, or a Catholic who has not received all the Sacraments of Christian Initiation.

In the Sacraments of Baptism, we become children of God and receive the Holy Spirit. A clear distinction is made for those people are seeking the sacrament of Baptism (called a “Catechumen”) and those who have already received the sacrament of Baptism, but are not fully initiated (a “Candidate”). As outlined below, the OCIA journey is slightly different between these two groups.

This journey is never in isolation. Every Catechumen and Candidate has a sponsor (requirements and catechesis, PDF). Additionally, every parish should have an OCIA team to accompany Catechumens and Candidates on their journey into the Church.

Note: All persons who have reached the "Age of Reason" (about 7 years old) must complete OCIA to be initiated into the Church. Please refer to the OCIA / Confirmation permission flowchart.

Stages in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults

The Journey of an Unbaptized Person

• Pre-catechumenate
  • Rite of Acceptance (can be a combined with the Rite of Welcome)
• Catechumenate
  • Rites, Minor
    • Minor Exorcisms
    • Blessing of the Catechumens
    • Anointing of the Catechumens
    • Presentations
  • Rite of Sending Catechumens for Election
  • Rite of Election
• Purification & Enlightenment (Lenten Preparation)
  • Scrutinies:
    • First Scrutiny
    • Second Scrutiny
    • Third Scrutiny
  • Preparation Rites
  • Sacraments of Initiation (Easter Vigil)
• Mystagogy and the Neophyte Year
  • Anniversary of Christian Initiation

The Journey of a Baptized Person

The names of each period are the same as for someone who is not baptized. However, the person is called a “Candidate.”

• Pre-catechumenate
  • Rite of Welcome
• Catechumenate
  • Rites, Minor
  • Rite of Sending Candidates for Election
  • Rite of the Call to Continuing Conversion
• Purification & Enlightenment (Lenten Preparation)
  • Preparation Rites
  • Sacraments of Initiation (Easter Vigil)
• Mystagogy and the Neophyte Year

The O.C.I.A. Team

Contact Mary Hanbury for information about or resources for OCIA teams.

Resources

Parish resources:

• OCIA / Confirmation permission flowchart
• Intake form for those entering the OCIA process (PDF) (also available as an MS-Word document, which can be filled in)
• Requirements for Godparents/sponsors;  Must be a practicing Catholic in good standing, confirmed and at least 16 years of age. 

The Association for Catechumenal Ministry website also has information about and resources for OCIA.