Baptizing children of catechetical age Unbaptized school aged children are eligible to participate in a special program which will prepare them to be baptized, confirmed, and admitted to Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil. They may celebrate these sacraments as long as they have attained the age of reason (around second grade). These children are prepared for their first confession in the year following their initiation. Please contact our Director of Christian Formation for details.
Adult Baptism: A Journey of Conversion
The process by which adults are baptized is best described as a Journey of Faith. Catholics believe that conversion to Jesus Christ is a lifelong and ongoing process. Participants in Journey of Faith are invited to become disciples of Jesus Christ through prayer and worship, the Word of God, and fellowship with members of our community. Through a gradual training in the Christian way of life, the unbaptized come to know Jesus Christ through the Catholic Christian community and they learn to live as Jesus’ disciples as participants in the mission of Jesus Christ in the world today.
A Step-by-Step Look
1: The Period of Inquiry
The JOF usually begins when someone contacts us to let us know that they have an interest in becoming a Catholic.o know more about the Catholic Church”. This first stage, called the period of evangelization and inquiry. In recent years this has involved a dynamic process known as ALPHA a video based series which leads participants through the sharing of a meal and small group conversations to the point where they can develop a personal connection with Christ and his Church that makes them ready to become disciples. During this first period of the process the parish helps the inquirer to discover just what it is he or she is seeking. The end of this period is marked by the Rite of Acceptance which ordinarily is conducted on or near the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in early January.
2: Catechumenate
A Catechumen is an inquirer who has advanced to the stage in which they are ready to receive more information about how Catholics follow the Christian way of life as found in the scripures and traditions of the Church. In addition to the study of the Scriptures, study sessions help them understand the doctrinal teachings of the Church. They experience the prayer and worship life of the Church. They learn how to live and serve others in apostolic witness. And they work on building relationships with other members of the Catholic community.
As their conversion to the Christian way of life becomes more evident, they are deemed ready to participate in the The Rite of Election which takes place on the First Sunday in Lent. In this Rite, participants are introduced to our chief shepherd, the Archbishop of Oklahoma City, who calls them to celebrate the Easter Sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and eucharist at the Easter Vigil.
3: Period of purification
This final period of preparation is one of intense, spiritual recollection that follows sacramental initiation. It is a time for reflection and prayer on the connection between sacramental life and daily living as worshipers in spirit and truth.
Sacraments of Initiation. At the Easter Vigil after sunset on Holy Saturday, the elect celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. The elect stand in a pool of water while fresh Easter Water is poured over them as they are baptized. They are then configured to be more like Christ through the sacred chrism of Confirmation. Finally, the culmination of their initiation happens when they taste the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist for the first time.
4: Period of mystagogy
The process of initiation continues even after the Easter celebration. The word, mystagogia, comes from an ancient Greek word meaning a deepening understanding of the mysteries of our faith. During the Easter season, the neophytes (newly initiated) gather each week to deepen their grasp of the great paschal mystery into which they have just been incorporated. The new Christians, now part of Christ’s body, must now go forth with us to continue the mission of Jesus Christ.