St. Joseph Catholic Church

3425 Andersonville Highway
P.O. Box 387
Norris, TN 37828
865-494-7746

Every year, tens of thousands of people join the Catholic Church, usually on the Saturday night before Easter Sunday. On that night, the Church holds the most important celebration of the whole year: the Easter Vigil, on the day we call Holy Saturday. 

 

Catholic parishes welcome these new members through a process of education, faith sharing, and rituals known as the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), previously also known as Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).

 

Those who have already been baptized in a Christian church are called candidates; those who have not been baptized are known as catechumens. there are three sacraments of Christian initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist (Holy Communion).The U.S.

 

Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) describes OCIA as a process in which participants “undergo . . . conversion as they study the Gospel, profess faith in Jesus and the Catholic Church, and receive the sacraments . . . The process follows the ancient practice of the church and was restored by the Second Vatican Council as the normal way adults prepare for baptism.”

 

In many parishes, the program begins in the fall and includes a series of weekly meetings, often with members of the parish who are serving as sponsors (mentors for people who have already been baptized) or godparents (for those who have not been baptized).

 

Taking part in OCIA will give you an opportunity to learn more about the Catholic Church: there is no obligation.  For more information, email us at office@sjnorris.org.