O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)

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O.C.I.A. is intended for Adults (18+) who are seeking their Sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion, and/or Confirmation. This is an approximate 7-10 month program.

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Download the OCIA Registration Form:

• NEW OCIA Registration Form

REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED FOR 2025-2026! CLASSES HAVE ALREADY BEGUN.

Classes held at the Parish Center-upstairs, EVERY Monday evening from 7pm-9pm in-person, with additional activities that will be announced.

Learning More about Our Catholic Faith

St. Barnabas Catholic Community invites you to learn what it means to be Catholic and to delve deeper and understand the Catholic Faith through the Adult Initiation Process.

Interested in the Catholic faith and want to know more? Are you Catholic, but have never been confirmed? Are you from another denomination and what to explore and embrace the Catholic Faith? Fall classes begin in-person soon from 7pm-9pm. E-mail: StBarnabasRCIA@gmail.com to sign-up.

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What is O.C.I.A.? (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)

Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is a journey through different spiritual phases of increasing maturity by which one prepares to commit oneself to Jesus Christ and His Church through the search for the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist)

The OCIA is for:

Any unbaptized person who seeks to follow Christ in his Church as preparation for Christian discipleship through baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist. Such a person, after a period of research on faith and initial conversion to Christ is called: Catechumen.
Anyone baptized from another Christian community seeking to be Catholic through preparation for Confirmation and Communion. Such a person, after a period of research on faith, is called a Candidate.
Any baptized Catholic who seeks to increase his devotion as a disciple of Jesus Christ through the realization of the other sacraments of initiation such as Confirmation and Communion.

Is the Holy Spirit calling you to this most faith deepening ministry? Have you been wondering what you can volunteer for in our parish?  There are many different opportunities. If so, please call the Parish Office at (562) 424-8595.

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The catechumens and candidates are sent on scheduled Sundays to pray over and ponder the scriptures and to learn more deeply how to live as disciples of Jesus. This sending forth is a form of hospitality because they cannot join us yet at the table of the Eucharist.

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2024-2025 CANDIDATES & CATECHUMENS 

Let us pray for the elect whom the Church has confidently chosen. May they successfully complete their long preparation and at the paschal feast find Christ in His Sacraments. Let us keep them all in our prayers. They will be receiving their Sacraments in Spring 2025.

Presider: Your Excellency, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez / Sunday, May 18, 2025 / 4:00 pm

The Elect

• Terry Vargas***

Candidates

• Arturo Jordan-Gonzalez**
• Hercules Guzman**
• Susana Medina*
• Adrianna Saenz*
• Jessica Saenz*
• Joel Tabayoyoung*
• Yannel Valdez-Linares**

Lord, we pray for those in the OCIA process who journey to you. Strengthen their faith. Open their hearts to the fullness of your love. Deepen their understanding. Set their hearts on fire for the kingdom of God. We ask this through Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life for all. –Amen.

_{^{*Received Confirmation}} / _{^{**Received Holy Communion & Confirmation}} / _{^{***Received Baptism, Holy Communion & Confirmation on Easter Vigil}}

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OCIA Resources from ADLA:

OCIA Resources