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OCIA

Venite et videte

Come and See.

Explore the Catholic faith, encounter Christ, and discover what it means to enter into the life of the Church.

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An invitation

What is OCIA?

OCIA — the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — is the Church's way of walking with adults who wish to explore the Catholic faith and discern a deeper relationship with Christ and His Church.

It is not a lecture series to complete, nor a test to pass. It is a season of encounter: of questions asked in good faith, of prayer learned slowly, of a community that makes room for those who are still finding their way.

Some who come are unbaptized. Some were baptized in another Christian tradition. Some are Catholic already and wish to complete the sacraments, or simply to understand the faith more deeply. All are welcome to begin. At St. Mary, classes are weekly and begin in the Fall.

Learn more about OCIA
St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Astoria, Oregon
St. Mary, Star of the Sea — 1465 Grand Avenue, Astoria.

The path

Enter more deeply into the mystery.

Four movements of formation — not a curriculum to consume, but a way of approaching God.

01

Encounter Christ

OCIA is not merely a class. It is an invitation to meet Jesus Christ — in Scripture, in prayer, in the sacraments, and in the life of the Church.

02

Discover the Faith

Walk through the heart of Catholic belief: the Creed, the sacraments, the moral life, and the prayer of the Church — with time to listen and learn.

03

Ask Questions

Curiosity is welcome here. Bring your doubts, your history, and the questions you have never had a place to ask. There is no exam at the door.

04

Enter Into the Life of the Church

Those who discern to continue are prepared to enter more fully into the sacramental life of the Church — not as spectators, but as members of the Body of Christ.

Class schedule

A place at the table, week by week.

Registration begins in August. Weekly OCIA classes begin in the Fall. Call the parish office for the current meeting day and time.

Next gathering

Upcoming

First Class

Sunday · September 13

Weekly

Faith & the Holy Trinity

Location
St. Mary, Star of the Sea, 1465 Grand Avenue
Instructor
Religious Education Office

  1. September 16

    Wednesday

    OCIA

    OCIA

    Weekly

  2. September 17

    Thursday

    OCIC

    OCIC

    Weekly

  3. September 20

    Sunday

    All Classes

    All Classes

    Weekly

View full schedule

What we'll explore

The faith, unfolded with care.

Themes Catholics ordinarily study in OCIA. Weekly class topics are set with the Religious Education office.

  • Who is God?

    An introduction to the God who reveals Himself — not as an idea, but as a living mystery who seeks communion with us.

  • Who is Jesus Christ?

    The Incarnation, the Cross, and the Resurrection: why the Church proclaims Jesus as Lord.

  • The Trinity

    Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — one God in three Persons, the central mystery of Christian faith.

  • The Holy Spirit

    The Spirit who gives life, dwells in the Church, and leads each person into truth.

  • The Bible

    What the Scriptures are, how they came to us, and why Catholics call them the Word of God.

  • Old and New Testament

    The one story of salvation — promise, fulfillment, and the covenant that holds them together.

  • How Catholics interpret Scripture

    Reading with the Church: tradition, context, and the living voice of the Magisterium.

  • What is the Church?

    More than a building or a gathering — the Church as mystery, communion, and sacrament of salvation.

  • The Apostolic Tradition

    What has been handed down from the apostles, and why it still lives in the Church today.

  • The Magisterium

    How the Church teaches with authority — and why that authority is meant to serve the truth.

  • The Sacraments

    Visible signs of invisible grace: an overview of the sacramental economy.

  • Baptism

    New birth in Christ, the doorway of the Christian life, and the forgiveness of sin.

  • Confirmation

    Strengthened by the Holy Spirit for witness, mission, and a mature Christian life.

  • Eucharist

    The Real Presence, the sacrifice of the Mass, and holy communion with Christ and His Church.

  • Reconciliation

    Confession as healing, mercy, and the restoration of baptismal grace.

  • Anointing of the Sick

    Christ's tenderness toward the suffering, and the sacrament of strength in illness.

  • Holy Orders

    The priesthood, diaconate, and episcopacy as a gift for the Church's life.

  • Marriage

    The covenant of man and woman as a living sign of Christ's love for the Church.

Explore all topics

Your journey

A path walked with the Church.

The Church's path of initiation — inquiry, catechumenate, purification, and the sacraments — walked with a parish that makes room for questions.

  1. 01

    Inquiry

    Precatechumenate

    A season of questions. You are invited to come, listen, and explore the Catholic faith without pressure or expectation. This is a time to be known, to wonder, and to see whether this path is for you.

  2. 02

    Catechumenate

    Catechumenate

    A longer season of formation. Those who wish to continue are accompanied more deeply into Scripture, the Creed, the sacraments, and the life of the parish — learning not only what the Church believes, but how she lives.

  3. 03

    Purification & Enlightenment

    Illuminatio

    Typically unfolding in Lent, this is a time of more intense prayer, examination of heart, and preparation for the sacraments of initiation. The Church walks with you toward Easter.

  4. 04

    Sacraments of Initiation

    Initiatio

    At the Easter Vigil, those who are ready may receive Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist — entering fully into the life of the Catholic Church. The night is ancient, luminous, and unlike any other.

  5. 05

    Mystagogy

    Mystagogia

    The journey does not end at the font. Mystagogy is the unfolding of the mysteries you have received — learning to live as a Catholic among the people who have become your parish family.

Walk the full journey

Is OCIA for me?

Come as you are.

The most honest questions are often the ones people are afraid to ask. They are welcome here.

There is no such thing as being 'Catholic enough' to begin. OCIA is for those who are curious, returning, searching, or standing at the threshold. You do not need a polished faith to walk through the door. You only need a willingness to come and see.

No. Some people arrive having grown up around the Church. Others have never opened a Bible or stepped into a Catholic Mass. Both are welcome. Formation is meant to meet you where you are — and to move at a human pace.

Curiosity is a good beginning. Many saints started there. You are not required to decide anything in advance, join anything, or promise a destination. Inquiry is precisely for those who want to look more closely before they know what they will do.

You are warmly welcome. The Church recognizes Christian baptism when it has been conferred with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Your path may look different from that of an unbaptized person, and that is a gift — not a problem. We will walk with you according to your own history.

Then you are in the right place. Discernment is not a failure of faith; it is a form of it. OCIA gives you time, teaching, prayer, and community so that any decision — if one comes — can be honest, unhurried, and free.

Read all questions

Quaerite et invenietis

You need not arrive certain.

Begin a conversation. Bring the questions you actually have.

Begin Your Journey

Or write to us on the contact page.