Below is the outline for our OCIA program. While it is not possible to cover every aspect of the Catholic faith in depth (that is a lifelong journey) this does provide a broad outline of what the Catholic Church teaches.
We use the United Staes Catholic Catechism for Adults, produced by the United States Conference of Catholic bishops (USCCB). You will be given this book at the beginning of formation. This book can also be accessed online as well. The link is: https://usccb.cld.bz/United-States-Catholic-Catechism-for-Adults/4/
For specific classes, you can look at this page. It will be updated throughout the preparation program.
Archdiocese of Denver Outline for OCIA
Table of Contents
OCIA Intellectual Formation
The Creed
- Creation
- God’s Pursuit of Humanity
- The Trinity
- The Father
- Who is Jesus Christ
- The Paschal Mystery
- The Holy Spirit
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- The Church
- The Final Judgment
- The Saints & Angels
- Spiritual Formation
The Sacraments
- What is Grace?
- What is a Sacrament?
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- What is the Mass?
- Marriage
- Holy Orders
- Penance/Reconciliation
- Anointing of the Sick
Moral Teaching and Addressing Secular World View
- The Ten Commandments & The
- Beatitudes
- Personal Conscience
- Human Freedom
- Dignity of the Human Person
- Human Sexuality
- Navigating Spiritual Realities
- Catholic Social Teaching
OCIA Spiritual Formation
- What is Prayer and How to Pray
- How to Pray with the Bible
- How to Hear God’s Voice
- What is Faith?
- Rote Prayers Every Catholic Should Know
- Discernment
- The Holy Spirit
- Communal Prayer
- Basic Instruction on the Intercession of the Saints
- The Universal Call to Holiness
- Overcoming Difficulties/The Battle of Prayer
- How to “Pray the Mass”
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Introduction to Popular Devotions
- Introduction to Fasting
- Introduction to Forgiveness
- Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
OCIA Liturgical Formation
- Church Tour and Explanation
- Explanation and experience of the Church’s liturgical seasons
- Celebrations of the Word
- Suitable liturgical rites
- Exposure to the Liturgy of the Word within the
- context of the Sunday Mass
- Liturgical Anthropology
- Explanation of the meaning, structure, and script of the Rite of Election
OCIA Apostolic Formation
- The Universal Call to Mission
- Witnessing to the Faith in Words
- Witnessing to the Faith in Deeds
- How to Respond to Opposition & Persecution
- Joint Partnership in the Kingdom (“Stewardship”)
