by Therese Horvat
Special to The Leaven
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Archbishop Shawn McKnight has issued a decree (see below) that gives parishes, missions and other Catholic communities additional time for prayerful discernment and planning to bridge toward implementation of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) process in alignment with updated statutes and norms provided by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Specifically, the decree offers temporary dispensation from the obligation to observe USCCB Norm 4 that addresses a yearlong period of the catechumenate. The decree further obliges faith communities to observe the essential components of the updated OCIA norms listed in the appendix to the decree. Archbishop McKnight’s decree is in effect until Sept. 30, 2026, or the issuance of a new decree.
Affirming the spirit behind the decree, Archbishop McKnight said, “OCIA lives at the heart of our Catholic identity because evangelization is at the heart of our mission. It is how we walk with those seeking Christ, helping them encounter his love and find their place at the Lord’s table. This time of dispensation gives our parishes the opportunity to prepare, but by 2026, I hope that each will embrace these norms fully, as a living witness to the Gospel.”
Responding to pastoral need
Emily Lopez, lead consultant in the archdiocesan office of adult evangelization, explained that the USCCB promulgated the revised statutes on April 25, 2024. In initially discerning the best ways to implement these new norms, adult evangelization staff engaged in dialogue with priests, deacons and parish OCIA coordinators. Feedback reflected both enthusiasm for the renewed vision and concern about the practical timeline for immediate adoption.
“This consultation, together with recognition of the pastoral need for sufficient time to train catechists, accompany catechumens well and share clear archdiocesan directives led to issuance of the decree,” Lopez said. “The essential elements shared for OCIA reflect not only the national shift in language but also the desire of the archdiocese to support fruitful accompaniment and faithful formation during this period of transition.”
Michael Podrebarac, archdiocesan consultant for liturgy and sacramental life, said that most parishes within the archdiocese are accustomed to beginning the OCIA just after Labor Day and concluding with the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. Lopez observed that extending the period of the catechumenate to a year will allow unbaptized persons to experience the fullness of a complete liturgical cycle. This will also provide additional opportunities for integrated formation and engagement with the parish community.
While the yearlong catechumenate will not be required immediately in the archdiocese, parishes are encouraged to begin discerning how their current OCIA ministry can move toward fulfilling the updated norms for both catechumens and candidates. (Catechumens are unbaptized individuals preparing to receive the sacraments, while candidates are already baptized into another Christian tradition, but now preparing to enter into full communion in the Catholic Church.)
Lopez suggested the OCIA handbook published by the USCCB in 2024 as a helpful resource for the current year and going forward.
Father Anthony Saiki, vice chancellor and director of canonical services and rector of the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas, views this year as a time to prepare for the yearlong catechumenate.
“It is not a ‘rest year’ nor an opportunity to delay,” he said. “Everyone should be ready by next year.”
“We are all still learning,” added Father Mark Mertes, moderator of pastoral life and pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kansas. “The goal of OCIA is to create evangelized disciples who stay close to the church and draw others to the life of faith.”
Directives, guidance forthcoming
Lopez said that the archdiocese is creating directives to provide guidance for pastors and initiation ministers in further developing the OCIA process. These directives will ensure both fidelity to the essential elements of the OCIA process and a consistent experience for catechumens and candidates.
Father Saiki encouraged parish leaders to participate in opportunities offered by the archdiocesan office of adult evangelization and the liturgy office. Between now and the expiration of the decree’s dispensation on Sept. 30, 2026, the archdiocesan office of adult evangelization will support parish and other OCIA ministries through accompaniment formation, director support, regional meetings, individual and parish consultations, and retreat offerings.
“This approach will help ensure that through OCIA, all individuals will experience a coherent, welcoming and spiritually rich journey into full communion with the church,” Lopez concluded.
Podrebarac agreed.
“Under the archbishop’s leadership, and assisted by the offices of evangelization and liturgy, the archdiocesan resources provided to our pastors and parish OCIA teams will provide the foundation and motivation for an experience of the OCIA which is committed to excellence in catechesis and formation and rooted in a common desire to serve.”
Appendix
Essential Components of OCIA
Liturgical
Celebration of Key Rites (non-negotiable milestones):
– Rite for Entrance
– Rite of Election
– Scrutinies (three)
– Presentations of the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer
– Initiation rites at the Easter Vigil
Evangelization
Comprehensive Formation:
– Doctrinal — What we believe
– Liturgical & Spiritual — How we pray and encounter Christ
– Moral — How we live as disciples
– Communal — Integration into parish life and service
Accompaniment and Relationships:
– Sponsors and godparents
– Consistent accompaniment by a trained OCIA team
Norms from the National Statutes
Terminology and Distinctions:
– Catechumens: Unbaptized persons who have ritually entered the catechumenate through the
Rite for Entrance (Norm 3).
– Candidates: Already baptized persons preparing for reception into full communion and/or completion of the sacraments of initiation (new exclusive definition in revised norms).
– Convert: Term now reserved for those embracing Christian belief from a non-Christian background; not to be used for baptized Christians entering into full communion (Norm 18).
– Neophyte: Restricted to the newly baptized.
– Baptized Catholics who complete initiation are called newly confirmed.
– Baptized non-Catholics entering full communion are called newly received.
Specific Norms for Catechumens:
– Obligated to attend the Liturgy of the Word on Sundays and other holy days of obligation (Norm 8).
– May not celebrate the Rite of Election if in an irregular marriage until free to enter a canonical marriage (Norm 7).
– May not proclaim the Word of God or serve at the altar during the liturgy (Norm 11).
Record-Keeping Requirements:
– Catechumen Register – Parish Archive (Norm 16, OCIA 486):
o Name of catechumen
o Date and place of birth
o Names of sponsors
o Name of minister
o Date and place of Rite for Entrance
– Full Communion Register – Parish Archive (Norm 16, OCIA 486):
o Name of person received
o Date and place of baptism
o Date and place of birth
o Minister, parents, and sponsors
o Notation of spouse if married, with date and place of marriage
