What is the OCIA Process?
The current OCIA process is similar in scope to the process that was used from the earliest times if the Church. Currently our OCIA process takes about a year: from mid-July to a week past Easter.
At the first class, each person will fill out an information sheet and receive materials needed for the classes. There is no pressure to join the Catholic Church. We want you to feel welcome at any stage of your faith journey. If you’re only interested in finding out more about Catholicism and have not made up your mind on whether or not to join, that is fine! wherever you find yourself in the the process, this is a personal faith journey that will lead you to a closer relationship with God and the Catholic Faith.
When are classes?
Our OCIA program is held in the Cathedral Parish Hall (Rita Reynolds room) on Sundays from 10:45-11:45am.
See the full OCIA 2025-2026 Schedule here.
What topics are covered?
Of course the entirety of the Catholic faith cannot be covered in this time frame, but we cover a wide range of topics about the Catholic Faith, including:
The Bible, the Mass, the seven sacraments, Mary and the Communion of Saints, prayer, and so much more.
When can someone become Catholic?
Candidates for reception into the church must participate to the fullest possible extent in the entire program in order that they may be fully aware of the life of the Church and the rights and responsibilities of their life as a Catholic Christian
The initiation of unbaptized adults into the Catholic Church is done at the Easter Vigil where all of the Sacraments of Initiation are administered together at that time (Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist).
https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/who-we-teach/christian-initiation-of-adults
What if I am already baptized?
For those that have been baptized in another Christian denomination according to the Trinitarian Formula (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), will receive only Confirmation and Holy Eucharist since the Catholic Church recognizes those baptisms.
resources
Formed.org is a digital Catholic platform, often called "Catholic Netflix," that provides a wide range of faith-based content including movies, audio talks, eBooks, video-based study programs, and children's content from trusted Catholic publishers and presenters.
To create a free Formed.org account:
Go to Formed.org:
Enter our parish zip code - 32503.
Select "Cathedral of the Sacred Heart" to sign up for free
The Search - About this series: What is this journey in between the event we call 'birth' and the one we call 'death'? Is the journey taking you somewhere, or are you leading yourself to some kind of destination – a destination that could extend beyond your last breath? What do you want from your life during the in between? The questions are there. And, the answers are too.
Symbolon - About this series: The Catholic Faith Explained is a systematic presentation of our Catholic Faith. It will lead you through the "big picture" of the Catholic Faith and our Creed is the guide. Symbolon brings together some of the most trusted Catholic teachers in the world to guide you through the breadth and richness of the Catholic faith. Use Symbolon in OCIA, for Catechist training, in Men's & Women's Groups, Bible Study Groups and more.
Elements of the Catholic Mass is designed to help the faithful better appreciate the beauty of the Mass. Featuring Fr. Douglas Martis, former director of the Liturgical Institute, the program consists of thirty-one beautifully produced short videos. Because each episode comes with a discussion guide with references, Elements of the Catholic Mass is ideal for personal faith formation or group discussion.