OCIA - Order of Christian Initiation for Adults
All people who are open to discerning their personal experience of faith and to learning more about the Catholic Church are welcome to begin the OCIA process.  Many people come to an awareness of their desire to learn about membership in the Catholic Church in various and different ways.  Often it may be a personal faith experience, overcoming personal difficulty and tragedy, or a relationship or discussion with a person of faith which leads one to begin this exciting journey.  All that is truly required is a sincere desire to learn, to grow, and to develop one’s relationship with God.

The OCIA process can be applied to the following 3 groups:

• Unbaptized: persons (age of discretion: 7+ years) who have never been baptized and who need a process to help them grow in awareness to God's call to conversion as well as ways to respond to that call.  They are considered catechumens.
• Baptized in Another Christian Church: Those who were baptized into another Christian denomination and wish to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.  They are considered candidates. For baptized Christians interested in possibly joining the Catholic Church, the process will vary depending upon the depth on one's religious and spiritual readiness. 
• Baptized but uncatechized Catholic Adults: persons who were baptized as infants and not given any religious instruction in the Catholic faith. These adults will be prepared to celebrate the sacraments of penance, confirmation and Eucharist. They are also considered candidates.

It is important to note that “candidates” do not always need to take part in the full process. If they have been actively living the Christian life in another denomination, they are likely to need very little catechesis and may be welcomed into the Church on any Sunday after a short period of preparation.