The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the process whereby adults enter the Catholic Church. OCIA classes are held weekly and over the course of several months those who attend the OCIA classes are educated on what the Catholic Church believes and are given the opportunity to ask question about those beliefs.
Just because you start OCIA, doesn't mean you are committed to finish. If you are merely curious about what Catholicism is, please feel free to come. All are welcome!
What are the steps of OCIA?
Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate
The Period of the Catechumenate can last for as long as several years or for a shorter time. It depends on how the person is growing in faith, what questions they encounter along the way, and how God leads them on this journey. During this time, the Catechumens consider what God is saying to them in the Scriptures, what changes in their life they need to make to respond to God's inspiration, and what Baptism in the Catholic Church means. When a Catechumen and the priest and the parish team working with him or her believes the person is ready to make a faith commitment to Jesus in the Catholic Church, the next step is the request for baptism and the celebration of the Rite of Election.
The Rite of Election includes the enrollment of names of all the Catechumens seeking baptism at the coming Easter Vigil. Typically, on the first Sunday of Lent, the Catechumens, their sponsors and families gather at the cathedral church. The Catechumens publicly express their desire for baptism to the diocesan bishop. Their names are recorded in a book and they are called the Elect.
The days of Lent are the final Period of Purification and Enlightenment leading up to the Easter Vigil. Lent is a period of preparation marked by prayer, study, and spiritual direction for the Elect, and prayers for them by the parish communities. The Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation takes place during the Easter Vigil Liturgy on Holy Saturday when the Elect receives the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. Now the person is fully initiated into the Catholic Church.
http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-a
Deacon Greg McAvoy-Jensen