Evansville Catholic Diocese
  • Home
  • Departments
    • Bishop's Office
    • Vicar General
    • Activities & Facilities >
      • Catholic Center Meeting Rooms
      • Sarto Retreat Center
    • Catechesis
    • Catholic Charities
    • Chancellor
    • Communications >
      • The Message Website
    • Finance Office >
      • Forms & Documents
    • Marriage Family and Life >
      • Capital Punishment
      • Courage
      • Divorce Prevention and Support
      • Environmental Stewardship
      • Infertility Resources
      • Faithful Citizenship
      • Healthcare
      • Marriage Preparation
      • Miscarriage Resources
      • Natural Family Planning
      • Over 55
      • Project Rachel
      • Respect Life
      • The Rosary
      • Walking with Moms in Need
    • Ministerio Hispano/ Hispanic Ministry >
      • Noticias y Eventos / News and Events
      • Nuestra Mision y Peronal/ Our Mission and Staff
      • Ministerios/Ministries
      • Ambiente Seguro/Safe Environment
      • Servicios/Services
      • Nuestra Fe/Our Faith
      • Tradiciones Hispanas/Hispanic Traditions
    • Permanent Diaconate >
      • Role & Function of the Deacon
      • Want to Become a Deacon?
      • Formation Program & Schedule
    • Stewardship >
      • Catholic Ministries Appeal
      • The Bruté Society
    • Tribunal
    • Vocations
    • Worship >
      • Jubilee 2025
      • Newsletter
      • Policies & Guidelines
      • Liturgical Calendar
      • Mass
      • Sacraments
      • RCIA
      • Liturgical Music
      • Events
      • Contact
    • Youth & Young Adult >
      • Young Adult Ministry
      • OYAYA Calendar & News
      • Diocesan Forms for OYAYA
      • Saint Maria Goretti Youth Distinction
      • National Catholic Youth Conference
      • March for Life
      • Diocesan Youth Day
      • World Youth Day
      • Scouts BSA and Girl Scouts
      • TEC
      • Source + Summit
      • Scholarship Information
  • Directories
  • Safe Environment
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Links & Resources
  • About Us
    • Previous Bishops
    • History of the Diocese
    • Old Cathedral Library & Museum
  • Contact Us
  • Media
    • News
    • Media Inquiries
  • Mass Times Map
  • Parishes Map
  • Schools Map
  • Catholic Schools
    • Information for Prospective Families
    • Accreditation
    • Exceptional Children Programs
    • Marketing & Development
    • Mission & Vision
    • Professional Development
    • School Council/President's Council
    • School Employment Opportunities
    • Schools Information
    • Standards
    • Tuition Assistance
    • Wellness
    • Contact Us
  • 3-D Communications
  • DONATE NOW
  • Pastoral Priorities 2025-2030
  • MyDio
  • Eucharistic Renewal
Picture
Picture
​In the sacraments of Christian initiation we are freed from the power of darkness and joined to Christ's death, burial and resurrection. We receive the Spirit of filial adoption and are part of the entire people of God in the celebration of the memorial of the Lord's death and resurrection.                    - Christian Initiation, General Introduction, 1

How does one become Catholic?

There are two pathways of initiation into joining the Catholic Faith:
  # 1 – As an infant / child (Ages newborn – 6 years old)
  # 2 – As a child of catechetical age (Ages 7 – 13) and as an adult (Ages 14 +)

For the first group, parents would request baptism on the child's behalf and when the child reaches catechetical age, they would receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist, and then Confirmation after further formation and spiritual maturation.

The second will receive the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) through their local church community, or parish. OCIA consists stages and various major and minor Rites that are celebrated during the Catechumenate process to assist in spiritual formation.
Those who wish enter to into full initiation and communion with the Catholic Church are identified as Catechumens ("katēkhoumenos" - one being instructed) or Candidates out of respect for the different needs and circumstances of these two groups. Both Catechumens and Candidates will be assigned a sponsor to accompany them as a guide and mentor on this journey. 

Catechumens

Candidates

Those who are not baptized are considered catechumens and will receive all three sacraments of initiation, Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist upon entering into the Church on Easter Vigil. ​This process is meant to form them into the fullness of the Christian  life and to become disciples of Jesus, their teacher. This includes an  initiation into the mystery of salvation, the practice of faith, hope,  and love, and other virtues in a succession of liturgical rites.
Candidates are baptized Christians of other traditions or baptized Christians of the Catholic tradition who have yet to receive full initiation are also welcomed to participate  along with catechumens in the RCIA process of learning about and being formed in the Catholic faith. For a baptized Christian, reception into full communion with the Catholic Church involves reception of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation and then a Profession of Faith followed by the celebration of  Confirmation and the Eucharist.
Picture
If you have additional questions on the Catechumenate (OCIA), please contact your local Catholic parish or the Office of Catechesis or call (812) 424-5536
© Copyright 2025  |  Catholic Diocese of Evansville  |  4200 N. Kentucky Avenue  |  Evansville, IN 47711  |  (812) 424-5536
  • Home
  • Departments
    • Bishop's Office
    • Vicar General
    • Activities & Facilities >
      • Catholic Center Meeting Rooms
      • Sarto Retreat Center
    • Catechesis
    • Catholic Charities
    • Chancellor
    • Communications >
      • The Message Website
    • Finance Office >
      • Forms & Documents
    • Marriage Family and Life >
      • Capital Punishment
      • Courage
      • Divorce Prevention and Support
      • Environmental Stewardship
      • Infertility Resources
      • Faithful Citizenship
      • Healthcare
      • Marriage Preparation
      • Miscarriage Resources
      • Natural Family Planning
      • Over 55
      • Project Rachel
      • Respect Life
      • The Rosary
      • Walking with Moms in Need
    • Ministerio Hispano/ Hispanic Ministry >
      • Noticias y Eventos / News and Events
      • Nuestra Mision y Peronal/ Our Mission and Staff
      • Ministerios/Ministries
      • Ambiente Seguro/Safe Environment
      • Servicios/Services
      • Nuestra Fe/Our Faith
      • Tradiciones Hispanas/Hispanic Traditions
    • Permanent Diaconate >
      • Role & Function of the Deacon
      • Want to Become a Deacon?
      • Formation Program & Schedule
    • Stewardship >
      • Catholic Ministries Appeal
      • The Bruté Society
    • Tribunal
    • Vocations
    • Worship >
      • Jubilee 2025
      • Newsletter
      • Policies & Guidelines
      • Liturgical Calendar
      • Mass
      • Sacraments
      • RCIA
      • Liturgical Music
      • Events
      • Contact
    • Youth & Young Adult >
      • Young Adult Ministry
      • OYAYA Calendar & News
      • Diocesan Forms for OYAYA
      • Saint Maria Goretti Youth Distinction
      • National Catholic Youth Conference
      • March for Life
      • Diocesan Youth Day
      • World Youth Day
      • Scouts BSA and Girl Scouts
      • TEC
      • Source + Summit
      • Scholarship Information
  • Directories
  • Safe Environment
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Links & Resources
  • About Us
    • Previous Bishops
    • History of the Diocese
    • Old Cathedral Library & Museum
  • Contact Us
  • Media
    • News
    • Media Inquiries
  • Mass Times Map
  • Parishes Map
  • Schools Map
  • Catholic Schools
    • Information for Prospective Families
    • Accreditation
    • Exceptional Children Programs
    • Marketing & Development
    • Mission & Vision
    • Professional Development
    • School Council/President's Council
    • School Employment Opportunities
    • Schools Information
    • Standards
    • Tuition Assistance
    • Wellness
    • Contact Us
  • 3-D Communications
  • DONATE NOW
  • Pastoral Priorities 2025-2030
  • MyDio
  • Eucharistic Renewal