You are invited to find out more about the Roman Catholic Church by participating in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). The OCIA provides doctrinal and spiritual formation for those desiring to enter the Catholic Church. Through prayer, study, and discipleship, it allows each person to learn more about their journey of faith and leads to full participation in the Roman Catholic Church through the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation at Easter. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming Catholic, please read the information below or kindly contact the Faith Formation office.
El programa OCIA es para adultos que desean convertirse en católicos, o para adultos que fueron bautizados católicos y desean completar sus sacramentos y participar en la vida de la Iglesia. Para clases en español por favor comuníquese con la oficina de la Formación de Fe.
2026-2027 Registration
Registration for the 2026-2027 OCIA year and Adult Confirmation Fall 2026 is now open!
OCIA for Adults in English
Thursdays, 6:00-7:00PM in Faith Formation Center (15 Eld St, New Haven)
Beginning September 17, 2026
OCIA for Adults in Spanish | OCIA en Español
Sundays, 9:00-10:30AM at St. Francis (397 Ferry St, New Haven)
Domingos, de 9:00 a 10:30AM, en la Iglesia de San Francisco
Beginning September 13, 2026 | A partir del 13 de septiembre de 2026
Adult Confirmation in English
Thursdays, 6:00-7:00PM in Faith Formation Center (15 Eld St, New Haven)
FALL Classes Begin September 17, 2026, with Confirmation on October 27th
Adult Confirmation in Spanish | Confirmación de Adultos en Español
Sundays, 9:00-10:30AM at St. Francis (397 Ferry St, New Haven)
Domingos, de 9:00 a 10:30AM, en la Iglesia de San Francisco
Las clases de otoño comienzan el 17 de septiembre de 2026, con la Confirmación el 27 de octubre.
Please fill out both the parish registration form and the Faith Formation registration form below, choosing “OCIA” or “Adult Confirmation” as the formation class.
Por favor, complete tanto el formulario de inscripción parroquial como el formulario de inscripción para la formación en la fe que aparecen a continuación, seleccionando “OCIA” o “Confirmación de adultos” como la clase de formación.
Who can join OCIA?
OCIA is for anyone who is not Catholic but is interested in becoming Catholic or in simply learning more about the Catholic faith. It is also for those who were baptized Catholic but were not raised Catholic, and/or did not receive First Communion or Confirmation, and would now like to participate in the life of the Church and complete their sacraments.
If you were raised Catholic and already received Catholic Baptism and First Communion, but simply need to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, please read more about our Adult Confirmation program below.
What is involved in OCIA?
OCIA participants are asked to:
- Attend weekly meetings to explore Catholic beliefs and practices, reviewing relevant material beforehand in preparation.
- Begin attending Mass and developing a life of prayer.
- Get to know the parish community by participating in the groups, activities, and events that interest them.
- Meet individually with one of the priests several times during the course of the year to update him on their experience of OCIA and their thoughts about joining the Catholic Church.
- Participate in the various rituals that mark the stages of the OCIA journey, as they become sure of their desire to enter the Church.
- If already baptized, provide record of such.
- Choose a Sponsor to accompany and assist you on your journey into the Church.
- Choose a patron saint.
What is a Sponsor?
A Sponsor is a Catholic that supports and mentors an OCIA candidate during the course of OCIA. Sponsors therefore should be faithful Catholics who live out the Gospel in their daily lives. Each OCIA candidate chooses his or her sponsor. If a candidate does not know other Catholics, the parish is happy to provide a sponsor. Further guidance about choosing a sponsor will be given at the beginning of OCIA.
When do OCIA classes begin?
A big part of OCIA is a weekly meeting, which begin each September and continue through the reception of the sacraments at the Easter Vigil in the spring. Special accommodations can be made for those who cannot meet the regular schedule.
OCIA for Adults in English
Thursdays, 6:00-7:00PM in Faith Formation Center (15 Eld St, New Haven)
Beginning September 17, 2026
OCIA for Adults in Spanish | OCIA en Español
Sundays, 9:00-10:30AM at St. Francis (397 Ferry St, New Haven)
Domingos, de 9:00 a 10:30AM, en la Iglesia de San Francisco
Beginning September 13, 2026 | A partir del 13 de septiembre de 2026
Adult Confirmation Classes
Adult Confirmation Classes are for those adults who are already Catholic and already received the Catholic Sacraments of Baptism and First Communion, but simply still need to receive their Confirmation.
There are two 6-week class sessions, one in the Fall and one in the Spring, leading up to the Adult Confirmation Ceremony at the Archdiocese of Hartford twice a year.
Adult Confirmation in English
Thursdays, 6:00-7:00PM in Faith Formation Center (15 Eld St, New Haven)
FALL Classes Begin September 17, 2026, with Confirmation on October 27th
Adult Confirmation in Spanish | Confirmación de Adultos en Español
Sundays, 9:00-10:30AM at St. Francis (397 Ferry St, New Haven)
Domingos, de 9:00 a 10:30AM, en la Iglesia de San Francisco
Las clases de otoño comienzan el 17 de septiembre de 2026, con la Confirmación el 27 de octubre.
Questions?
For more information or questions, please contact the Faith Formation office at gtorres@newhavencatholic.org or speak with any of our parish priests.
Testimonials
“Joining the church has been the best part of my life during the past year and OCIA at St. Mary’s was a great piece of that experience. Very welcoming and educational!”
-Nick
“It was truly a journey of faith for me converting from Buddhism to the Catholic faith. My wife who is Catholic inspired me to become Catholic also. There is so much to learn about the Catholic faith, the Catholic Church, and its teachings. Knowing that if I make mistakes in life, the Church will forgive me, and it gives me hope for the future. It’s a most comforting feeling to know and to have. I learned something new at each of the weekly meetings. Have to thank Father Kenney and Father Leo for their time, efforts, teaching and comments to help me understand and learn about our Catholic faith and finally to become a member of the Church.”
-Shunichi
“OCIA is the rite I didn’t know I needed but am ever grateful that I experienced, as it afforded me not only a spiritual but intellectual introduction–or rather re-introduction–to a faith I wouldn’t otherwise have had the discipline to cultivate. That I was able to explore doctrine and theology in the company of others who were seeking God in a seemingly secular world made this past year all the more meaningful.”
-Caitlin