OCIA & Adult Formation

As the title suggests, OCIA is the process by which an adult is “initiated” into the Catholic Church's “sacraments” (ultimately derived from the Greek word mysterion, meaning “mystery”). There are five steps to this initiation: the Precatechumenate, the Catechumenate, Purification, Enlightenment, and Mystagogy.

•  The Precatechumenate: If you are reading this, chances are very good that you are already in this stage, which is a time of inquiry into the Catholic Faith.  This stage can take a short or long time, depending on the nature of the search and what led one to consider Catholicism in the first place.

• The Catechumenate: This is the stage when you have officially joined the Church as someone who is seeking a deeper understanding of her divine mysteries.  This stage formally begins with the Rite of Acceptance.  Once you have completed this rite, you are joined to the Church as one of her catechumens.  The next step is the request for Baptism and the celebration of the Rite of Election.

• Purification: This season takes place during the days of Lent leading up to the Easter Vigil.  These are marked by prayer, study, and spiritual direction for the Elect, and prayers for them by the parish communities.

• Enlightenment: This season is the penultimate stage of the OCIA journey and takes place during the Easter Vigil Liturgy on Holy Saturday with the reception of the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. Now the person is fully initiated into the Catholic Church.

• Mystagogy: As a newly initiated Catholic, the catechumen continues his/her formation, at least until Pentecost.  This is a time when the newly baptized members reflect on their experiences at the Easter Vigil and continue to learn more about the Scriptures, the Sacraments, and the teachings of the Catholic Church.

What is meant by Full Communion with the Church?

Coming into full communion with the Catholic Church describes the process for entrance into the Catholic Church for already baptized Christians. In most cases, these individuals make a profession of faith but are not baptized again. To prepare for this reception, the people, who are called Candidates, usually participate in a formation program (usually combined with OCIA) to help them understand and experience the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church. The Candidates are typically received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil along with the OCIA candidates.

What is the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday like?

The Easter Vigil takes place on Holy Saturday, the evening before Easter Sunday. This is the night that “shall be as bright as day” as proclaimed by the Exsultet, an ancient hymn of the Catholic Church (circa 400 A.D.) which is sung at the Vigil.  The Liturgy of the Vigil begins with the Service of Light, which includes the blessing of the new fire and the Paschal candle, a symbol of Jesus, the Light of the World. The second part consists of the Liturgy of the Word after which the Catechumens are presented to the parish community, who pray for them during the Litany of the Saints. Next, the priest blesses the water, placing the Easter or Paschal candle into the baptismal water. Those seeking Baptism then renounce sin and profess their faith after which they are baptized with the priest pronouncing the words, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

After the Baptism the newly baptized are presented with a candle lighted from the Paschal Candle. They are then Confirmed by the priest or bishop who lays hands on their heads and invokes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. He then anoints them with the oil called Sacred Chrism. The Mass continues with the newly baptized participating in the general intercessions and in bringing gifts to the altar. At Communion, the newly baptized receive the Eucharist—Christ’s Body and Blood—for the first time.

What is the role of a godparent for an adult being baptized?

Prior to the Rite of Election, the Catechumen may choose one or two godparents, who will accompany the Catechumen on the day of Election, at the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation, and during the Period of Mystagogy. They are called to show the Catechumens good example of the Christian life, sustain them in moments of hesitancy and anxiety, bear witness, and guide their progress in the baptismal life.

General Information

The Program

General Requirements

• Sponsorship of a practicing member of the Catholic faith.
  • If you do not have an individual who can sponsor you, we will provide one for you to the best of our ability. 
• Weekly class attendance.
• Eventual attendance at Holy Mass as formation progresses
• Complete freedom of the will to receive baptism and initiation into the sacraments of the Church.
• A discerning heart and receptiveness to learning about the faith.  
• The intention is to practice the Catholic faith after sacramental initiation.

• Sponsorship of a practicing member of the Catholic faith for the Sacrament of Confirmation
• Weekly class attendance
• Weekly attendance at Holy Mass
• Intention to sincerely practice the faith following the reception of the sacraments.  

Please use the link below to complete the registration form. If you have any questions, please contact the Parish Office (630.627.0687).

Click here to register

High schoolers and adults who are baptized Catholics but have not received any or all of the following sacraments:

• Penance
• First Holy Communion
• Confirmation

are strongly encouraged to complete their sacramental initiation in order to participate fully in the life of the Church and take advantage of the sanctifying grace necessary for eternal salvation.  

The method of formation for these sacraments may be determined on a case-by-case basis, but it is typically accomplished by attending the RCIA program at Sacred Heart. The liturgical calendar does not bind penance and First Holy Communion; however, the Diocese of Joliet provides confirmation of baptized Catholics in the weeks following Easter Sunday. The Bishop is the ordinary minister of Confirmation, and reception of the sacrament is therefore limited to the Diocesan calendar.  
 

Why DO I Need to Complete These Sacraments?

Penance

Baptized Catholics past the age of reason (seven years old) have accountability to God for their sins.  Confession of sins to a priest is the method by which Jesus Christ arranged for His grace to absolve, purify, and strengthen the soul on the journey to its final end -- eternal life with God.  The Church infallibly teaches that an individual who dies in a state of unrepentant mortal sin is not able to receive eternal life in heaven due to the absence of sanctifying grace.  The sacrament of Penance restores sanctifying grace to the soul and re-establishes friendship with God.  

Holy Communion

The Eucharist is "the source and summit" of the Catholic faith, through which an individual receives the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ, along with all the graces and merits of that action.  Jesus speaks to our hearts clearly in the Gospel of John when He states: 

“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you."  (John 6:53)

Opting not to participate in Christ's unparalleled gift of Self is a danger to one's own salvation.  The Church requires that Catholics receive Holy Communion at least once a year, at Easter; however, the Church makes Communion accessible on a daily basis.  

Confirmation

Confirmation is the sacrament by which the soul anointed by the Holy Spirit at baptism enters spiritual "adulthood".  Traditionally, Confirmation makes an individual a "soldier of Christ", reflecting the reality that the road to salvation involves conflict with and interference from the "murderer from the beginning," Satan.  Through the strengthening of particular gifts that the Holy Spirit wills for an individual's role in the Body of Christ, that person is better prepared to fulfill the will of God, which leads to authentic happiness in this life and eternal bliss to come.  Although it is not a sacrament necessary for salvation, opting not to receive deprives the soul of the help of grace, which is necessary to evade the snare of evil and every man's inclination to sin.