Become Catholic
No matter where you are on your faith journey, we are here to offer spiritual guidance to you.
If you want to know more about joining the Catholic Church, we invite you to explore the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA).
For additional questions, email Fr. Joseph MacNeill, joseph.macneill@yale.edu.
OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is designed for individuals who want to explore the Catholic faith and learn more about the Catholic Church while discerning the possibility of becoming Catholic. OCIA begins during the fall and meets weekly at STM.
OCIA is a process of learning, deepening your relationship with God and His Church, and growing in community. It begins with a movement of the heart towards God. Perhaps it was a grand moment in your life when He revealed Himself in a particular way. Perhaps it was something simple that spoke to you of His goodness and love. Whatever that first call was, it was a moment for you, an invitation to go deeper.
To speak practically, your journey with OCIA at STM begins by meeting with a Chaplain or Assistant Chaplain. We want to know you! During that meeting, we'll share with you about the OCIA process and the steps along the way toward the Easter Vigil and full initiation into the Catholic Church. We meet weekly on Sunday afternoons and attend the 5pm Mass together, as well as attending a weekly Bible study.
There are generally three groups of people within OCIA: those who have never been Baptized; those Baptized in another Christian Tradition (Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc.); and those Baptized as Catholics but who have not received First Holy Communion or Confirmation.
We are here to accompany you on this journey. We won't pressure you to receive the Sacraments. Rather, we are helping you listen to God's call and to respond when you are ready. Whether you are sure about becoming a member of the Church or just beginning to ask the questions of faith and belonging, OCIA is a great place to start the journey!
Connect with us today!
"I joined OCIA as an experiment, with no clear expectation of the outcome. I anticipated rigidity, literalism, or evasion. What I found were people across multiple disciplines and life experiences, each bringing their own methods, inquiries, and doubts, along with a generosity of spirit. When I felt uncertain, they engaged me through dialogue and history, showing how they themselves wrestled with the same questions. Rather than a static system, I came to see
a long tradition of inquiry with Saints, theologians, and philosophers
working through these same tensions."
— Molly Watts, PhD ’27
FAQs
Joining the Catholic Church is a momentous step in your faith journey, and we are here to help.
How long does it take to become Catholic?
For many OCIA participants, the process is about one year. However, it is a process, and so the length can vary. We won't pressure you to become Catholic. We invite you to come learn and explore with us, and we'll accompany you when you are ready for the next step.
What does it mean to live as a Catholic Christian?
At the heart of the Catholic faith is an intimate relationship with God and a life centered on the Sacraments, most especially the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Confession. To be Catholic is to live the teachings of Christ, to love as He loved. We strive to be holy. Broadly speaking, this call to holiness is lived out in one of three Vocational states of life: lay faithful, consecrated religious, ministerial priesthood.
What if I have doubts or questions about Catholicism?
That is good news! It means you are actively seeking the Truth! Our suggestion: come and talk with us. Chaplains want to accompany you on your journey and help you foster a deeper faith life. We'll help you dig into the question, to look for answers together, and to pray with you.
Don't let the questions or doubts stop you from coming to OCIA. Everyone in the room is asking some sort of question, and yours is just as important as the others. Our shared conversation during the weekly sessions may help enlighten you, and your insights are valuable to others within the group.
How is the Catholic Church different from other Christian denominations?
Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, founded the Catholic Church while He lived on earth. Beginning with Peter and the Apostles, we have an unbroken line of Popes and Bishops who continue to administer the Sacraments as they were commanded to do by Jesus. The most central to these Sacraments is the Eucharist. During the consecration in the Mass, the bread and wine become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ. The Church, divinely instituted by Jesus, has preserved and safeguarded His teachings and the Sacraments for two millennia, bringing people into the family of God through Baptism, giving them hope, caring for them throughout their lives, and commending them to God upon their death. Jesus entrusted His very self to the Church. In her, we have access to the fullness Life, Truth, and the Way to eternal union with Him in Heaven.