About Becoming Catholic
While the Catholic Church is the largest religion in the world, it is sometimes also the most misunderstood.
The beliefs of the Catholic Church and her beautiful teachings are consistent through the ages.
- We believe that human beings were created by God in love and that everything God creates is good and created out of love. While we have the capacity for sin, the Church believes in the dignity of the human person above all else.
- We also believe that goodness infuses all of God’s wondrous creation. All creation, made by God, reflects that goodness. Catholics see the world and its beauty, renewed by the Incarnation, as sacramental – speaking of God’s goodness and love.
- We believe in stewardship. Everything is given to us by God and our Catholic responsibility is to share our time, talent and treasure with those around us.
- We believe in the Holy Trinity, that God has revealed himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit – a communion of knowledge and love – has created us to share in that life.
- We believe in community and a living Church – believers are a part of the living Body of Christ and, as such, we are a reflection of the communal nature of the Trinity.
- We believe that God loved his creation so much that he became human in the person of Jesus to walk among us.
- We believe in the communion of the saints – models of faith who help us and guide us in our daily lives.
- We believe in Jesus’ crucifixion, death and resurrection, and we hope that one day we will rise to new life with him.
Becoming Catholic today means joining an ancient faith, deeply rooted in the teachings and traditions of Christ, that is filled with hope and vibrancy as we continue to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to all the ends of the earth.
What is OCIA?
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, or OCIA, is a communal process for formal initiation of new members into the Catholic Church. This process is a return to the formation of the earliest members of the Church in the first and second centuries.OCIA is a process meant to form adults and children of catechetical age seeking baptism into the fullness of the Christian life and to become disciples of Jesus, their teacher. This includes an initiation into the mystery of salvation, the practice of faith, hope, and love, and other virtues in a succession of liturgical rites. Persons baptized into another Christian church and now seeking full communion with the Catholic Church are also welcome to participate in the OCIA process of learning about the Catholic faith and being formed in that faith. For a baptized Christian, reception into full communion with the Catholic Church involves reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and then a Profession of Faith followed by the celebration of Confirmation and the Eucharist. The Catholic Church welcomes you! We are eager to help you and your family walk in the process of Christian Initiation.
OCIA formation at Blessed Sacrament is not only for adults but has been adapted for Teens and Children ages 7-17 years old as well.
To learn more about this process at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, contact our Coordinator of Religious Education at faithformation@blessedsacrament.church or call 210-824-7231 ext 107 or click here to set up an appointment with our Director of Pastoral Ministries to inquire if this should be your next step in your faith journey.
