Column: OCIA and Becoming Catholic

Greetings to all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time. In our first reading from 1 Kings, we hear about a woman in dire circumstances who trusts the word of the prophet Elijah for God's deliverance in her life. In our Gospel from St. Mark, we find Jesus teaching the disciples through the witness of a poor widow who gave two small coins as an offering to God. She gave not from her surplus but from all that she had as she demonstrated complete confidence that God would provide for her needs. Much could be said about these readings, but I would like to highlight the faith that each woman exercised by hearing the word of the Lord and acting up on it. 

One of the joys and great privileges of my work here at St. Michael is coordinating OCIA 
(formally RCIA). OCIA, or the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, is the formational pathway by which a person comes into full communion with the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. The wonderful people that I work with each year are not unlike the women in our readings today in that they too hear the voice of God calling them to walk by faith and to trust in his direction for their lives.
 
Today I would like to make our parish community aware of the thirty or so adults that we are currently walking beside through their OCIAjourney. It is a journey that will hopefully lead to the Easter Vigil Mass on April 19. It is at this Mass that our Catechumens will receive the three sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist), and our Candidates will be received into full communion with the Catholic Church by making a profession of faith, being confirmed, and receiving the Holy Eucharist for the first time. Candidates will also go to the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time on that morning as well. Without a doubt, it will be a glorious day, and I hope everyone reading this article plans to be there to witness this incredible outpouring of God's grace. 

As a parish community what are practical things that we can do between now and Easter Vigil to support our Candidates and Catechumens? I would like to propose three things: 

• Offer Prayer: Next time you are at Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, or at home during your personal prayer time please remember to offer a prayer for everyone in OCIA. Pray for conversion of heart, for the illumination of the Holy Spirit, and for perseverance to stay the course. 
• Show Hospitality: As always, we should greet strangers and welcome those who are new among us. This requires us to become aware of those outside our circle of family and friends and take the risk of reaching out. On the morning of December 8, at the 9:00 AM Mass, we will have the Rite of Welcome for our OCIA class. This is your opportunity to see the faces of those in OCIA this year and to be intentional about welcoming them to St. Michael.
• Become a Sponsor: We have a large OCIA class this year, praise be to God! Because of that, we are definitely in need of Sponors for our Candidates and Catechumens. If you are free on Thursday evenings between now and Easter and desire to be a living witness of Christ and the Catholic Faith, I would love to speak with you about being a sponsor this year. Please send me an email if you are interested.

Twenty-three years ago, my wife and I were sitting in a small RCIA class in a small west metro parish. We were so excited about the beautiful treasure of the Catholic Faith that we were discovering. However, it was also a time of uncertainty as we were learning about a new way of life and wondering if this was the right path for us. Lifelong Catholics may not fully appreciate the challenges that Candidates and Catechumens often experience during and even after the OCIA journey. May we offer the spiritual formation and the relational support that they need. 

Let us pray: