2025 - 2026
OCIA Schedule
September - May | Thursday Evenings
6:45 - 8:15 PM
St. Vincent Lower Church
869 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY
OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is a nine-month course for those who want to become Catholic or for adult Catholics who have not yet received the Sacrament of Confirmation. For the first few weeks, no commitment is required (other than attendance) in order to give prospective Catholics the space and freedom to decide if they really want to become Catholic. The goal of the course is to prepare people to be received into the Catholic Church through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion at either the Easter Vigil or the Pentecost Vigil Mass. The class runs from September through May. We can accommodate those beginning the course late (up to 6 months before receiving the sacraments) so long as they commit to catching up on missed material.
Why Catholicism?
In a world where countless philosophies and religions contend to define truth, one question arises: why embrace Catholicism above all others? Quite simply - because it is true. The Catholic Church is born of God Himself, through whom He continues to guide, nurture, and care for His people. Through the Church, millions are educated, the hungry are fed, the thirsty are given drink, and the homeless are sheltered. She offers friendship, meaning, joy in what is good, and consolation in times of sorrow. The Church walks beside us at life’s most profound moments: birth and death, weddings and funerals, and the rhythm of our daily life. She has inspired the world’s greatest works of beauty, from the Pietà to Notre Dame, leaving a legacy of wisdom, art, and support. Yet above all, the Church gives us not only these treasures, but the greatest gift of all: God Himself.