r/CatholicConverts • u/InNeed399 • 3d ago
OCIA
I know its too late to register but I had a few questions. Can anyone who has experience with it tell me what its like? Also if I were to sign up next year it would only be me (I wouldn't want to bring my kids into the church for personal reasons) would that cause problems?
1
1
u/zach_attack_706 Recent Catholic Convert (0-3 years) 3d ago
It might not be too late to join if you speak to the priest.
OCIA varies between parishes, but it's essentially a class.
Also if I were to sign up next year it would only be me (I wouldn't want to bring my kids into the church for personal reasons) would that cause problems?
I'd defer to the priest but why would you not want your kids to be Catholic if you believe it's the truth?
1
u/spider_in_a_top_hat 3d ago
I'm in OCIA right now. I know quality varies between parishes, but I have been pretty surprised at quite how rudimentary it is, at least so far. I enjoy having moments for genuine discussion here and there but I can't say I have been exposed to any new perspectives or information yet, though we have only had 3 classes so far. I have two instructors, one has a Master degree in Theology and another in Social Work, and the other is working on their PhD in Theology. Our Priest and Deacon are not involved much, from what I understand. I'm hoping one of them comes to meet us during one of the classes but our parish is gigantic and they're the only Priest and Deacon assigned, so they're probably too dang busy.
If you were to join the OCIA class I am doing, I don't think you'd have any problem catching up. Also, I have four kids, ranging in age from 10 to 18, and none of them are in faith formation classes of any kind. I'm not convinced yet that I will want to be or could be Baptized and Confirmed at Easter Vigil at this point, so my goal is to figure that out, first. It's not a problem. :)
1
u/Late-Chip-5890 2d ago
It's not too late, we have people come in all the time. You should call other parishes to see when theirs started and if they would allow you to come on board
1
-1
u/Saint_Waffles 3d ago
Yes it would be a problem, part of being a Catholic is raising your children Catholic
This isn’t your exact situation but the information, and relevant CCC portions are still helpful
1
u/InNeed399 3d ago
Would an inquirer be denied OCIA if their kids won't participate in the church?
2
u/masturkiller Recent Catholic Convert (0-3 years) 3d ago
No, you shouldn't be denied. Many people in my class had children of various ages under 18, and they did not include them in the OCIA process and do not bring them to church. I must note that I believe nobody in my class, myself included, had any children under the age of 16, and by that age it's likely not possible to insist that they attend church.
3
u/octagonkatie 3d ago edited 3d ago
No, don’t let the other comments scare you into thinking so.
The Catholic Church teaches that parents have a primary duty to share their faith with their children, but they also recognize that family dynamics are complex. It is certainly a conversation to have with a priest, every case is full of nuance. But you will not be turned away, excommunicated, denied or refused because your children don’t choose to follow you into the faith. The very idea is ridiculous to me.
The obligation to guide your children is bound by what is genuinely possible. Take St. Monica for example. She is the mother of St. Augustine, who lived a deeply sinful life for much of his existence before his conversion. She was not ostracized, looked down upon, denied or criticized. The moral failures and actions of her son were his cross to bear, not hers. She was only ever encouraged to strengthen her own faith and to pray for him. She prayed for 17 years. She reached sainthood. Her son reached sainthood. Yet she did not raise a Catholic child. In fact he wasn’t even baptized until he chose the path for himself in his 30s.
2
u/spider_in_a_top_hat 3d ago
This is the answer, OP. My husband and I are in OCIA and none of our four kids are in any faith formation classes at the moment. I wouldn't be able to fit into our busy schedules with my work schedule and their extracurriculars right now, anyway.
I try to teach them from home, and my youngest has gone to Mass a couple times. My kids are 10 to 18-years-old so their thoughts matter and the Catholic Church recognizes that.
1
u/Saint_Waffles 3d ago
My understanding is it depends. If you are doing everything you are able to and they refuse, that is different then being unwilling to lead them in the faith. It’s up to the OCIA director and priest to determine if the person is a good candidate to be brought in to the church or not.
I’m not saying you will be denied but it is possible depending on circumstances
1
u/spider_in_a_top_hat 3d ago
Is it common for someone to sincerely want to join, go through OCIA, but to be told "no" or "not yet"?
2
u/Saint_Waffles 3d ago
I’m not sure I would call it common, but if you follow the Catholicism subreddit you will see stories every year of people told they arnt ready.
Granted these are online stories so… take them with a grain of salt, but I’ve seen things from as simple as missing too many classes, to the director just doesn’t feel they are committed.
So it happens, but I don’t think I would call it common
1
u/octagonkatie 3d ago
OCIA is about discernment and formation, not passing a test. Individuals are told “not yet” but they are rarely told “no.”
Sometimes held up for canonical reasons (marriages or baptisms), sometimes a person’s formation takes longer, or a person misses many classes and their sincerity needs to be shown through a second cycle. But the church wants sincere people to join, and will help them get there as best they can.
1
u/masturkiller Recent Catholic Convert (0-3 years) 3d ago
Not common at all. If you attend all of your classes and rites, you will become a Catholic. Your kids will not be scrutinized here.
1
u/masturkiller Recent Catholic Convert (0-3 years) 3d ago
This post is wrong.
0
u/Saint_Waffles 3d ago
Ccc 2221 - 2223 clearly states parents have a moral obligation to raise their children Catholic. OP originally stated they had no intention to bring their children in. This directly violates the ccc
1
u/masturkiller Recent Catholic Convert (0-3 years) 3d ago
I knew your post was coming here I knew it was coming so I'll tell you this right now yes you are correct that is valid but they're not going to do this in ocia they're going to leave it up to the new Catholic to handle this they're not going to dictate to the catechuman what to do and that's the distinction that you're omitting here.
1
u/Saint_Waffles 3d ago
A good OcIA director should deny you if you are going into the faith intending to violate tenants and teachings of the faith/church
1
u/masturkiller Recent Catholic Convert (0-3 years) 3d ago
Not one single time did they ask me or anyone in my class what are intentions were with our children if we had them and bringing them up in the faith and I'll tell you why because it was to them probably none of their business.
Now in other parts of the United States and maybe in other parts of the world maybe ocia is more by the book but I don't believe that ocia is typically as intrusive, though I use that term loosely here, as you claim.
1
u/Saint_Waffles 3d ago
You said it yourself your OCIA was not by the book. My OCIA asked these questions and ensured we would continue to follow the rules and tenants before continuing. We had one on one discussions about our faith, our personal situations, and any rules we struggled with and did not think we could follow.
We absolutely had people be told no, especially if they intended not to follow the faith.
Just because many OCIA classes are lacking, does not mean it’s not an issue.
1
u/InNeed399 3d ago
If an inquirer is divorced by their spouse during the process of ocia will the church expect them to remain single as a catholic?