OCIA-Adapted for Children

OCIA Adapted for Children (which we nickname OCIC) is for children and youth who are at least 7-years-old and need to receive the Sacrament of Baptism. 

Age 7 is considered the "age of reason" - the age when kids can understand Christian beliefs and Christian living. So, their track is different than those kids who are baptized as infants. Here are the the program details:

OCIC is a two year program. Kids in the program will receive Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion at the same time. They will receive all three at the Easter Vigil during their second year.

During the First Year:

• Kids will attend the appropriate faith formation program for their grade. Elementary-age kids will attend Elementary CCE, middle school kids will attend Middle School Ministry, and high school kids will attend year 1 of the high school Confirmation program.
• We will place OCIC kids together in the same classrooms and small groups as best we can. That way, they can be with other kids who are also preparing for Baptism and the other Sacraments.
• We will have some take-home work related to Sacrament prep for parents to do with their kids.

During the Second Year:

• Kids will still attend the appropriate faith formation program for their grade, and we will do our best to keep them with the same classmates or small group members as the first year.
• At the beginning of the year, the kids will participate in the Rite of Entrance into the Catechumenate. After this, they will officially be "catechumens," the title for those who are awaiting and preparing for Baptism.
• We will have additional OCIC classes, which will be our final preparation for receiving the Sacraments.
• At the Easter Vigil, the kids will receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion.

Registration for all of our faith formation programs will open in July. We will also have an early registration period beginning in April. The programs themselves coincide with the school year, beginning in September and ending in May.

Questions? Please contact Tom Kasza at [email protected]