St. Joseph Catholic Church

Sandpoint, Idaho

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St. Joseph - Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA)

The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, or OCIA, formerly known as the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, or RCIA, is a highly interactive class designed to explain the Catholic faith and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. The term RCIA is now reserved solely for the actual rite of entry into the Church, which includes the reception of Sacraments, usually done at Easter Vigil.

Every year, we spend 30 sessions exploring, enjoying, and rejoicing together in our faith. Those who want to join the Catholic Church are required to complete OCIA, but all are welcome.

Come and experience the genius of Catholicism, Christ's true Church on earth!

"There are not over a 100 people in the U.S. that hate the Catholic Church, there are millions however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church, which is, of course, quite a different thing." - Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Classes are held on Wednesdays, 6:30pm to 8:00pm, in the Library or O'Donovan Hall at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sandpoint, Idaho. Please see the schedule below for more specifics.

Class Syllabus & Schedule 2024-25
Session 1: Welcome/Overview/Introductions -- Sep. 4, 2024
Session 1/2: God's Loving Plan of Salvation -- Sept. 11, 2024
Session 2/3: The Incarnation and the Church -- Sept. 18, 2024
Session 3/4: Man's Response To God -- Sept. 25, 2023
Session 5: Communion of Saints/Divine Revelation -- Oct. 2, 2024
Session 6: The Sacraments and the Dignity of the Human Person -- Oct. 9, 2024
Session 7: Matrimony and Theology of the Body -- Oct. 16, 2024
Session 7/8: The Mass/Passover/Real Presence -- Oct. 23, 2024
NO CLASS -- Oct. 30, 2024
Session 8/9: Prayer/The Creed/Schismatic Sects -- Nov.6, 2024
Session 9/10: Biblical Geography and Advent -- Nov. 13, 2024
Session 10: Biblical Geography and Advent, Key Saints -- Nov. 20, 2024
NO CLASS -- Nov. 27, 2024
Session 11: Creation/Deadly Sins/Cardinal Virtues -- Dec. 4, 2024
Session 12: The Nativity and the Trinity -- Dec. 11, 2024
NO CLASS -- Dec. 18, 2024
NO CLASS -- Dec. 25, 2024
NO CLASS -- Jan. 1, 2025
Session 13: God's Kingdom/Grace/Justification -- Jan. 8, 2025
Session 14: Freedom/The Blessed Virgin Mary/The Paschal Mystery -- Jan. 15, 2025
Session 15: The Eucharist -- Jan. 22, 2025
Session 16: Reconciliation, Mercy and Justice -- Jan. 29, 2025
Session 17: The 2 Great Commandments/Liturgy -- Feb. 5, 2025
Session 18: The Parables -- Feb. 12, 2025
Session 19: Devotional Forms/Eucharistic Meditation -- Feb. 19, 2025
Session 20: Sacraments of Initiation -- Feb. 26, 2025
Ash Wednesday - NO CLASS -- Mar. 5, 2025
Session 21: Sacramental Living -- Mar. 12, 2025
Session 22: The Path to Sainthood/Purgatory -- Mar. 19, 2025
Session 23: The Way of the Cross/Holy Week -- Mar. 26, 2025
Session 24: Answering Objections/Easter Vigil Mass -- Apr. 2, 2025
NO CLASS -- Apr. 9, 2025
Last Supper Re-Enactment -- Apr. 16, 2025
Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil, Apr. 19, 2025
NO CLASS -- Apr. 23, 2025
Session 25: The Eucharist Experienced/Mass Review -- Apr. 30, 2025
Session 26: Secular Culture Movements: The Catholic Response -- May. 7, 2025
Session 27: Vatican II Impact & Catholic Calendar -- May. 14, 2025
Session 28: Judgment and Confession -- May 21, 2025
Session 29: Are we Apostles? What does that mean? -- May 28, 2025
Session 30+: Questions and topics as suggested by attendees -- June 4, 2025+
Resources (Provided)
Catholicism for Dummies, by Rev. John Trigilio Jr. and Rev. Kenneth Brighenti
Rediscover Jesus, by Matthew Kelly
What Catholics Really Believe - Setting the Record Straight by Karl Keating
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