What is OCIA?
Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) is a catechetical program for adults who intend to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church through the reception of the sacraments of initiation: baptism, confirmation, and eucharist.
Who is this course for?
The course is intendend for two type of audiences: 1) those who want to join the Catholic Church, that is, become Catholic, and 2) those Catholics who are still lacking any of the sacraments of initiation. The target audience is English speaking adults in Finland.
The course begins on Saturday August 29th at 15-17 PM in the parish hall of at St James the Apostole’s Church in Lauttasaari (Myllykallionrinne 1, 00200 Helsinki). Prior registration is recommended, but not mandatory.
Programme structure
- The course will consist of weekly online sessions, which are one hour long. Every month there is one live session at St James the Apostole’s Church. The exact course schedule (dates and times) will be decided after the first meeting on 29th August.
- For those people attending the course far away from Helsinki, we will work out a solution for remote participation in cooperation with the nearest parish.
- This formation programme follows the four periods of OCIA: Inquiry, Catechumenate, Purification and Enlightenment, and Mystagogy.
- The curriculum integrates Catholic doctrine, Scripture, liturgy, prayer, moral formation, sacramental preparation, parish belonging, and missionary discipleship.
Course staff
The course is organised jointly by St Henry’s cathedral parish and St Mary’s parish.
- Fr Thomas Otieno, course director and lecturer
- Fr Amando Dee Di, lecturer
- Fr Jigger Ganados SCJ, lecturer
- Fr Johannes Dinh SCJ, lecturer
- Job Vorster, assistant
Registration
Registration to the course happens through this online form (Vieraile ulkoisella sivustolla. Linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen.) (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.). For more information, please contact Fr Thomas Otieno, 041 329 6926, thomas.otieno@katolinen.fi