Oldest Catholic Parish in North Alabama
Established 1861
Becoming Catholic
General Information
Welcome to the Catholic Church!
Thank you for your interest in becoming more acquainted with the Catholic Church, its traditions and services. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the traditional path to becoming Catholic and extends over a nine-month period of formation of being born into the family of God. Click here for more information regarding this path.
OCIA — the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults — is a journey of faith, learning, prayer, and community for adults who are exploring a deeper relationship with Christ and the Catholic Church. Our OCIA program is from August 2026 - March 2027.
OCIA is designed for different groups of people.
1. If you were baptized Catholic but never completed your sacraments of initiation, such as receiving First Communion or Confirmation, then OCIA is for you.
2. If you were baptized in another Christian faith recognized by the Catholic Church, and you feel called to learn more about becoming Catholic, then OCIA is for you.
3. If you have never been baptized in any Christian faith, please know that you are especially welcome. We would be honored to walk with you as you begin your faith journey.
What makes OCIA so special is that it is not simply a class. It is an opportunity to ask questions, grow spiritually, and discover more deeply who God is calling you to be. No matter where you are in your faith journey — whether you have been thinking about this for years or you have recently discovered the Catholic faith — there is a place for you in the OCIA program.
Registration is currently being accepted for the 2026 - 2027 year. Please click on the registration form below.
Click here to download the registration form to fill out and return to the office.
There will be a Meet & Greet on Sunday, August 16, 2026, 9:30 am in Fr. Trecy Hall
This year, we will have a Sunday session and a Wednesday session. Classes will begin:
Sunday, August 23 at 9:30 am
Wednesday, August 26 at 6:00 pm
For more information, please contact Deacon Jeff and Liz Montgomery at smvparish.ocia@gmail.com.
