Oldest Catholic Parish in North Alabama
Established 1861
Becoming Catholic
OCIA registration for this year is now closed. No more registration forms will be accepted.
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.
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.
For more information, please contact Deacon Jeff and Liz Montgomery at smvparish.ocia@gmail.com.
