St. Columba ParishEvery year a dozen or so adults are baptized, received into the Church or confirmed at St. Columba's Easter Vigil. Some married a Catholic and grew curious; some were baptized as babies and never went further; some walked in off Pape Avenue one Sunday and kept coming back. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, or OCIA (formerly RCIA), is the path the Church offers. It is unhurried, free, and begins with a conversation.
Who OCIA is for
Adults seeking baptism
If you have never been baptized in any Christian church, OCIA prepares you to receive Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion together at the Easter Vigil. You are called a catechumen once you formally enter the process.
Christians becoming Catholic
If you were baptized Anglican, United, Baptist, Orthodox or in another Christian tradition, the Church recognizes your baptism. You prepare to make a profession of faith and receive Confirmation and Communion. You are called a candidate.
Catholics completing their sacraments
If you were baptized Catholic but never made your First Communion or were never confirmed, OCIA is for you too. Many in the group each year are in exactly this situation, often in their twenties, thirties or forties.
The stages
The process follows four stages with a liturgical rite marking the passage from each to the next. Most people move through it in one year, but nobody is held to a calendar; if you need longer, you take longer.
Inquiry (September to November)
Come and ask questions. The first weeks are open conversations about God, Jesus, prayer and the Church. Nothing is signed; if this is not for you, you leave with our thanks.
Catechumenate (December to February)
At the Rite of Acceptance, celebrated at a Sunday Mass in late November, you are welcomed by the parish and begin structured teaching on the Creed, the sacraments, the moral life and prayer. You attend Sunday Mass and are dismissed after the homily to reflect on the readings with your catechist.
Purification and enlightenment (Lent)
On the first Sunday of Lent, the Archbishop of Toronto or his delegate celebrates the Rite of Election at the cathedral for all the catechumens of the Archdiocese, and your name is written in the Book of the Elect. Lent is a retreat: fewer lessons, more prayer, three "scrutinies" at Sunday Mass, and a day of reflection in March.
Sacraments at the Easter Vigil, then mystagogy
On Holy Saturday night you are baptized and confirmed and receive Communion for the first time, in a church full of candles and parishioners who have been praying for you. The weeks of Easter that follow, called mystagogy, are for unpacking what happened and finding your place in the parish.
When and where we meet
Tuesdays, 7:00–8:30 PM, in the rectory meeting room, from the second Tuesday of September until the Easter Vigil. Sessions are led by Sr. Agnes Ibeh with a team of four parish catechists and Fr. Nguyen, who joins most weeks. Coffee and tea are on; some people come straight from work. There are no sessions during Christmas week or March Break. Reading material is provided, and there is no charge of any kind.
You may join at any point during the inquiry stage. If you find us in February, come anyway; we will talk about the best way forward for you.
Sponsors
Every catechumen and candidate has a sponsor: a practising Catholic who walks beside you, sits with you at Mass, answers the questions you are embarrassed to ask in the group, and stands with you at the Vigil. A spouse cannot serve as a sponsor for baptism, but a friend or in-law can. If you do not know anyone, the parish will match you with a trained sponsor from the OCIA team.
Children and teenagers
OCIC: initiation for children of school age
Children aged seven to sixteen who have not been baptized, or who were baptized but have missed First Communion or Confirmation, are prepared through a parallel process on Sunday mornings during the school year, in age-appropriate groups. Parents attend several sessions with them. Younger children are baptized through the ordinary infant baptism preparation. Contact Sr. Agnes to discuss which path fits your child.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to decide to become Catholic before I start?
No. The inquiry stage exists precisely so that you can look before you commit. Some people take two years; some decide the Catholic Church is not for them, and part as friends.
I was married outside the Church, or I am divorced. Is that a problem?
It is a common situation and usually workable, but it needs to be looked at early. Please mention it in your first conversation with Sr. Agnes or Fr. Nguyen so that any steps, such as having a marriage blessed or seeking an annulment, can start in good time.
Do I need to attend Mass during OCIA?
Yes, from the Rite of Acceptance onward. Sunday Mass is where the parish meets Christ, and it is the best classroom there is. Most people find the 11:00 AM Mass works well because the group is dismissed together after the homily.
What documents will I need?
If you were baptized in another church, a copy of your baptismal certificate or a letter from that church. If you are unbaptized, nothing. Catholics completing their sacraments need a recent baptismal certificate from the parish of baptism; we can help you request it.
Take the first step
Contact Sr. Agnes Ibeh, SSND, Pastoral Associate and Catechetical Coordinator, at faith@stcolumbatoronto.ca or 416-555-0142 ext. 25. She will suggest a half-hour meeting, in person or by phone, to hear your story. That conversation commits you to nothing.