No. You may make that decision, you may decide you are not interested in joining, or you may need more time. There is no obligation, inquiring minds and hearts are always welcome and our masses are always open to your active participation.

Some, not a lot. There is none during Alpha, almost all the "homework" during Catholicism 101 is videos, there is an entire book with 6 mini-series broken into 5 (15 minute) modules each during our seven week Mystagogy time. There is further recommended reading throughout depending on how much time someone wants to spend. 

No! OCIA is an experience that will certainly teach you lots of “facts” but it’s also meant to help you experience what life is like as a Catholic—the Catholic faith is more than a way of thinking or worshiping, it’s a way of living. The OCIA experience is designed to introduce you to all aspects of Catholic living, first as a community and in an encounter with Jesus, then the nuts and bolts of our faith, then being rooted in the mystery embraced at the Easter Vigil. 

No.  OCIA is an individual journey, though some couples take it together. A decision whether to join the Church is yours and yours alone. But spouses are always welcome during any part of the process.

Of course. If you join while Alpha is already happening we can do The Rescue Project as a smaller, more intimate group and then get you plugged into Catholicism 101 in January. If you inquire in the winter it might be trickier to get you caught up in time for the process to be helpful for your discernment. Our team will help you get caught up on the material that has already been covered. It is never too late to begin the process, though it might not conclude in entering the Church in this immediate Easter Vigil. It really depends on each person's circumstances and how late into the process someone joins. We will work our hardest to get you what you need, but that won't always result in joining the Church in the upcoming Easter Vigil.

Except for Christmas time, we try to meet every week. If you miss class, contact the Evangelization and Catechesis Coordinator and they'll catch you up on anything you miss. Class attendance is important, this is about becoming a part of a Catholic community and you can’t do that without being involved. But sometimes you just can’t be there and we understand. If the class time is inconvenient for you because of work or other commitments that cannot be rearranged, please contact the Evangelization and Catechesis Coordinator to discuss alternative arrangements. OCIA is here for you!

There is a lot to learn. Catholics have a lot in common with their Protestant brothers and sisters, but there is a lot that is different. Catholics have a lot in common with those in other religious traditions, but what we believe is unique. Catholics have a lot of concerns and interests aligned with caring neighbors and citizens, but why and what we do in the world is rooted deeply in our faith. Coming into the Church is a serious step and for many, a big change. If you take that step, you’ll be asked to profess before God and the congregation that you accept all that the God has revealed and all that the Church teaches so that you may live the Catholic life to the fullest. OCIA is meant to help you understand those teachings, and that takes time.

People approaching full communion with the Catholic Church are in various situations of marriage that need to be addressed differently. Find out about the various marriage situations and how the irregular ones can be regularized by speaking with one of our parishes marriage tribunal advocates by calling the parish officer for their respective contact information.

As per the official policy of the Archdiocese of Omaha: While any person can attend the sessions as a guest, a person is not to be formally admitted to OCIA if any tribunal process (e.g., formal case, lack of form case, favor of the faith case, etc.) is underway. That process should be completed prior to admitting a person to OCIA. If you need to begin a tribunal process our parish has tribunal advocates who want to help you in this process. 

Unjust discrimination against people struggling with same-sex attraction or gender identity is not part of the Catholic faith. Individuals who experience same-sex attractions are called to chastity in their respective state of life, as are all human beings. For married people, this means an exclusive, faithful relationship which is open to the possibility of having children. For single people, this means abstaining from sexual intimacy and fostering authentic friendships.There are Catholic apostolates that help men and women who experience same-sex attraction, gender dysphoria, or are wrestling with their identity which strive for chastity. Please reach out to our Evangelization and Catechesis Coordinator for more information on these. 

In several Christian denominations, Baptism is performed using water (full immersion or pouring over the head) and the Trinitarian formula (in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit), and is a valid Baptism according to the Catholic Church. In this case one would not need to be baptized. If you were baptized in a tradition that does not baptize by water and the Trinitarian formula, you may still need to be baptized conditionally, before making your profession of Catholic faith. 

You will need to present evidence of your Baptism, either a certificate or letter from the church where you were baptized, or an affidavit filled out by yourself (if you were old enough to remember) or someone who witnessed your Baptism.

If you are interested in being a guest at the class simply call the parish office to learn when and where the classes are. If you are interested in joining, register below by filling out our OCIA form. It will take a few minutes, but will help us in providing any pastoral needs as quickly as possible to prevent any hiccups in the process. 

Things happen, so if, by chance, you do not hear in a week, send an email to our Evangelization and Catechesis Coordinator. Our Evangelization and Catechesis Coordinator will set up an initial meeting so that we can personally welcome you, get to know you a bit, and answer any particular questions you might have.