OCIA Resources

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.

Connecting Scripture and Life Podcast

Please join Fr. Juan Ochoa, Director of the Office for Divine Worship at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and your host, Barbara Murphy, Coordinator of the Catholic Bible Institute for Go and Make Disciples: Order of Christian Initiation of Adults—a new podcast series!

In the coming episodes experts will join us to talk about the history of Initiation in the Church; the kerygma, the proclamation; conversion; OCIA with children and teens, among many topics related to the new OCIA.

• Soundcloud
• Spotify

Contact Barbara Murphy for more information: bmurphy@la-archdiocese.org

Important Documents

National Statutes & Archdiocesan Guidelines (Official documents establishing the norms and guidelines for Christian Initiation)

The National Statutes of the Catechumenate (English) || (Spanish)
Guide for the Implementation of the National Statues for the Christian Initiation of Adults in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles (English) || (Spanish – Rev. Jan 2025)

Sacramental & Canonical Guidelines (Guidance on sacramental validity, canonical considerations, and the reception of sacraments)

Valid and Invalid Baptisms (English – Rev. Sep 2026)
Guide to the Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation (English) || (Spanish)
OCIA Baptized Catholics Receiving Communion and First Communion (English)
OCIA Reception of Full Communion (English)
Cuestiones Canónicas y Pastorales del RICA (Spanish)

Liturgical Rites & Celebrations (Resources for preparing and celebrating the liturgical rites of Christian Initiation) 

OCIA Scrutinies (English) || (Spanish)
OCIA Music Suggestions (English)

Parish OCIA Formation & Planning (Practical tools for organizing parish OCIA programs and accompanying participants throughout their formation)

Recommended OCIA Topics (English) || (Spanish)
Sample Parish OCIA Schedule (English) || (Spanish)
Integration into Parish Life (English) || (Spanish)

Prayer & Spiritual Formation (Resources supporting the spiritual growth, prayer life, and ongoing conversion of these preparing for Christian Initiation)

Prayer in the OCIA Process (English) || (Spanish)

Sacramental Records & Documentation (Administrative resources for maintaining sacramental records and verifying sacramental information)

Handbook for Sacramental Records (English)
Memo – OCIA Sacramental Records Updates (English)
Infant Baptism Witness – Affidavit Form (English)

For further information on the Order for Christian Initiation of Adults program, please contact Leticia S. Perez by calling (213) 637-7595 or writing an email to lperez@la-archdiocese.org.