OCIA

Church of the Nativity > OCIA

Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)

OCIA – Order of Christian Initiation of Adult

2026-2027 Registration

Registration for the 2026-2027 OCIA year and

Adult Confirmation Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 will now open!

OCIA for Adults in English: Coming Soon

Adult Confirmation in English: Coming Soon

Please fill out both the parish registration form and the Faith Formation registration form below, choosing “OCIA” or “Adult Confirmation” as the formation class.

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 either 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: Coming Soon

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.

Adult Confirmation in English: Coming Soon

Questions?

​For more information or questions, please contact the Parish office at (201) 444-6362 or at office@nativitynj.org or speak with any of our parish priests.