Do you know anyone who would like to become Catholic?
A Catholic who needs Confirmation?
​Would you like to know more about the Catholic faith? ​
2025-26 OCIA sessions begin Thursday, September 4, at 6:00 PM. If you or someone you know is curious about the Catholic faith, feels called to join the Church, or just has questions, OCIA is for you. Contact Carl Natalizia for more information.
What is OCIA?  (Formally RCIA)
The OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) prepares candidates for the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation. Parishes welcome new members into the Catholic Church through a process of education, faith sharing, and rituals known as the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). This process includes several stages marked by prayer, study, and discussion. Included in the process are several Rites, which take place within the context of the Mass. The OCIA process follows the ancient practice of the Church and the normal way adults prepare for baptism. The OCIA is structured over a series of ceremonial steps and periods of learning. One may take as much time as he or she needs in the initiation process before becoming ready for full initiation through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. Initiation within the Church is a journey of conversion that is gradual and ongoing and suited to individual needs.
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How can I find out more?
1. Contact: Carl Natalizia at OCIA@stfrancisbend.org ​.
2. Inquiry Form: Please complete the OCIA inquiry form (English | Spanish) and email OCIA@stfrancisbend.org
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Classes meet every Thursday, starting September 4th, 2025.
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Current Students, click the button below to
​access your materials.

Adult OCIA class includes three distinct groups traveling
​this journey into the Catholic Church:
CATECHUMEN:  are non-baptized persons seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church. Catechumens will receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Communion on Easter Vigil. 
  • Before the Rite of Entrance, download the OCIA packet, complete the petition to Receive Sacraments, and turn in with a copy of your birth certificate. 
  • Catechumen, get on your calendar the "Additional Dates for those coming into the Catholic Church"


CANDIDATES for Full Communion: persons who are baptized into another Christian denomination and wish to enter into Full Communion with the Catholic Church. Candidates for Full Communion will profess the Faith and receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Communion on Easter Vigil. 
  • Before the Rite of Entrance, download the OCIA packet, complete the petition to Receive Sacraments, and turn in with a copy of your birth certificate and your baptism certificate.
  • Candidates for Full Communion, get on your calendar the "Additional Dates for those coming into the Catholic Church"


​CANDIDATES for Confirmation:  persons who are baptized Catholic as infants and not given any religious instruction in the Catholic faith. These adults will be prepared to celebrate the sacraments of Penance, Confirmation, and Communion. Candidates for Confirmation will receive the sacraments of Confirmation and 1st Communion at the Confirmation Mass with the Bishop. ​
  • After signing up for OCIA classes, download the Confirmation 2026  packet, complete the petition to be Confirmed, and turn in with a copy of your baptism certificate. ​
  • Candidates of Confirmation, get these dates on your calendars:
    • Confirmation Rehearsal is tbd 2026.
    • Confirmation Mass is tbd. Candidates arrive one hour before for instruction with Bishop and a group photo.
OCIA Sponsor
  • A sponsor is a member of the Catholic Church who agrees to walk alongside the catechumen/candidate on the journey to become Catholic. 
  • There is to be one sponsor for OCIA. The sponsor is a fully initiated practicing Catholic. If the sponsor is not living as single, then the sponsor is in a marriage recognized by the Catholic Church. The sponsor is actively living a sacramental life, that is, they attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation and receive Communion frequently.
  • Sponsor, please complete the "OCIA Sponsor Form " and return it with a copy of your Confirmation certificate and Marriage certificate (if you are not living single)
  • Sponsors complete the four "Sponsor/Candidate Discussions" with your catechumen/candidate. You do not need to write out the answers;  just let us know that you completed the discussions. Four discussions: one, two, three, four

What are the stages?

An inquirer is someone in the first stage of the OCIA process, known as the Period of Inquiry or the Precatechumenate.
A catechumen is a person in the second stage of the OCIA process, the Period of the Catechumenate.
A candidate is a person in the second stage of the OCIA process who is seeking full communion with the Catholic Church.

Contacts:

​Children (7 - 18): 
Children and youth (age 7-18)  who have not received baptism will register for weekly Faith Formation classes.  
​These classes meet every Wednesday afternoon (grades 2-12) and
​ Wednesday evening (grades 6-12) from September - May.
Carl Natalizia
[email protected] ​
​
Janet Deppmeier
[email protected]
(541) 382-3631 Ext 116
​St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
2450 NE 27th St.
Bend, Oregon 97701

Phone: (541) 382-3631
Fax: (541) 385-8879

Parish Office Hours
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Historic Church
599 NW Lava Rd.
Bend, Oregon 97703 (corner of Franklin & Lava in Downtown Bend)

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