RCIA to OCIA - Understanding the Change in Title

The journey of faith is a deeply personal and transformative experience, and the Church’s Sacraments of Initiation—Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist—play a vital role in this process. These sacred rituals serve as milestones, marking birth, growth, and nourishment in the Christian faith. Through these sacraments, the Church invites individuals into a life renewed by Christ’s death and resurrection, offering grace and holiness in abundance.

In response to the Second Vatican Council’s call to reform the rites of adult baptism, the Ordo initiationis christianorum adultorum was introduced in 1972. For decades, the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) refined these rites, culminating in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Since 1988, this rite has helped countless men and women journey deeper into their faith and embrace the Church’s teachings.

The recently updated English translation, approved by the bishops in 2021 and confirmed by the Holy See in 2024, marks a new chapter for the Church in the United States. Previously known as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is now better translated as Order of the Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). While preserving the structure of previous versions, this edition introduces key updates to reflect current pastoral practices. 

This new translation, rooted in the principles of Liturgiam authenticam, represents a renewed commitment to spiritual growth. It is the hope of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that this revision will inspire all Christians to live more deeply the promises of their Baptism and dedicate themselves to building God’s holy people.

As the Church continues to walk with individuals on their journey of faith, the OCIA remains a powerful expression of God’s grace and a source of renewal for the entire Christian community.