Long before the Church had classrooms or textbooks, it had a way of life—a path for welcoming seekers and forming them as disciples of Jesus. This course tells the story of that ancient path, now known as the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA).
From the earliest centuries of the Church, new believers were brought into the faith not just through teaching, but through a living experience of the Christian community. Writings like the Didache and the Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus show us how seriously the early Church took this process—walking with catechumens, preparing them for baptism, and helping them grow into a new way of life in Christ.
This course invites parish leaders, catechists, and volunteers to discover how the Church’s tradition of initiation is not just about information—but about transformation. By learning the history, you’ll better understand why OCIA matters today: it is the Church’s ancient, time-tested way of forming disciples for Jesus Christ.
- Teacher: Barry Schoedel
