Every year, thousands of people are received into the Catholic Church. In years past, inquirers were normally prepared in individual or small group private sessions by a priest and were received at any time of the year.

In 1971, in response to the call of the Second Vatican Council, the Church dramatically revised the process of becoming Catholic. It promulgated what is called the "Order of Christian Initiation of Adults" or O.C.I.A.

The OCIA, while new in a sense, was not really new. It was an effort to restore the spirit of early Christianity by emphasizing conversion as a participation in the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ, as well as the role of the entire praying, witnessing, and teaching Body of Christ in giving support and shape to that journey.

Becoming a Catholic (a catechumen or a candidate)
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, or catechumenate, is the way the church helps an unbaptized person prepare for and reflect on baptism, confirmation and Eucharist. A person in the catechumenates is called a catechumen.
Others who are already baptized, but preparing for reception into full communion with the Roman tradition is not necessarily led through the full catechumenal process and we call him or her a candidate.

How does the Christian Initiation take place?
All parishes of a diocese are united through the ministry of the bishop, who as chief pastor, is responsible for the initiation of new Catholic Christians. The bishop's role is clearly seen when he meets the catechumens for the rite of election (at the beginning of Lent). This liturgy, celebrated at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa, beautifully demonstrates the diversity and unity of the church into which new members are initiated.

1. Period of Inquiry
   
2. Period of the Catechumenate
3. Period of Purification
4. Sacraments of Initiation
5. Period of Mystagogy