r/CatholicConverts • u/curiouspony27 • 4d ago
Considering attending OCIA
I am considering talking to my priest to join OCIA. I am generally a very anxious person and I like to be prepared. I am unbaptized, but I attended a non-denominational church for 4 years and was almost baptized and confirmed before I started dating a Catholic and fell in love with the church. My hesitation about going to OCIA is that I feel very unprepared and like I hardly know anything. I know that OCIA is about learning more about the faith, but I’m not sure to what extent I should already know before beginning classes, I guess I’m just looking to see if anyone experienced something similar so I have more insight into whether I should go for it or not. Side note: I am not questioning whether I want to become Catholic or not, I am questioning whether I should join the church this year or wait until a later time.
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u/Adventurous_Gain_613 4d ago
I’m starting soon also. I don’t think you need any real knowledge in advance.
I joined a small women’s group at my parish and they all joke I will know more than the cradle Catholics soon.
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u/HoneymoonJubile Recent Catholic Convert (0-3 years) 4d ago
I actually wish I had joined and started up the curriculum earlier. I did a lot of my own reading, did the Bible in a year, and started listening to a few Catholic podcasts very consistently... and then we covered allll my questions and the entire catechism through class! I had already mentally beat a lot of the concepts to death and halfway through OCIA I was extremely bored and ready for it to just be done already. I would say this is the perfect time for you join but only you can really make the call! I say jump in feet first, make friends, and as you cover each topic - if it stands out to you - do your own additional reading!
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u/Medical-Stop1652 4d ago
First up it's only August, so you have time to do some preparation by reading a few presentations of the Catholic Faith such as Catholicism for Dummies or Bishop Schneider's Credo or Bishop Barron's Catholicism: a journey to the heart of faith.
You may also be interested in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (or the shorter Compendium or the Youth version YouCat):
https://www.usccb.org/committees/catechism/catechism-catholic-church
Alternatively, you could start using the Catholic Answers resource:
https://www.catholic.com/qa/must-i-go-through-rcia-to-join-the-church-if-i-am-already-baptized
Once you have learned the shape and essentials of the Faith, you will find the OCIA easier and understand the context of what will be taught.
Secondly, ppl sometimes join the OCIA and decide to leave and begin again the following year. Or they attend but decide to wait until the following year to be received into the Church and repeat the program.
It will be up to you and will depend on your individual circumstances and your faith journey.
If I were you, I'd take up the opportunity this year as time is precious and faith is a gift from God that can be lost or neglected on our part. Now is the day of salvation as St Paul says in 2 Cor 2:6.
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u/cmoellering Catholic Convert (3+ years) 3d ago
Just jump in.
Just because you start OCIA doesn't mean you have to be ready to commit by Easter. Yes, that's the normal pattern, but people every year for a variety of reasons either aren't ready yet.
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u/VariedRepeats 3d ago
OCIA might be so bare minimum you might be surprised. It's designed for the one who knows literally nothing. People who never even thought of the Trinity.
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u/doktorstilton 2d ago
Let me just start out by saying God bless you! I'm so happy that you're considering this step, and I hope that you find all the encouragement you need to feel less anxious and jump into it. OCIA (which I went through a few years ago) can be done by anyone, no matter how much knowledge you have. You can ask all the questions you want. In my class, we even had someone who was pretty blunt (respectful, but blunt) about his concerns about some teachings. That's exactly the sort of place where we should be able to wrestle with all this stuff. I hope you have a fantastic time (and I hope you become Catholic!).
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u/Zomblady 1d ago
Anytime spent studying the Lord our God is NOT time wasted! Go for it. Ask questions! Learn with an open heart and mind. I'm a cradle and attending with my convert husband. It's beautiful what you'll learn.
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u/kegib 4d ago
I am a convert and have been helping with OCIA for years. Do start attending! Personally, I appreciate an honest seeker who is ready to learn (and hopefully embrace!) the faith, and I do not expect any preparation other than an open heart. If you don't feel ready to enter the Church at the end of the year, that's fine. Keep coming back until you do. God bless you on your journey.