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2025-2026 Registration Now Open!
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Sessions are for unbaptized adults and baptized non-Catholics who wish to inquire about certain aspects of the faith, learn more about the Catholic Church, her practices and history and/or seek full membership. Active Catholics who wish to renew, to deepen, or to share their faith are cordially invited as well.
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News
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"That night...I stood lost in thought, waiting patiently along with my OCIA classmates, resolute and relaxed as we were initiated into the Catholic Church by receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, Communion and Confirmation. It was a solemn occasion of introspection reverence and silent celebration which I had never before experienced in my life."Read More -
"As I continued researching, contemplating and wrestling with which church to join, the issue that largely helped lead me toward choosing the Catholic Church was the office of the papacy."Read More
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Details about the 2025-2026 Class!
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The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (O.C.I.A.) is open for your questions, reflection, and searching!
Classes will take place IN PERSON!
LOCATION:
Church Address: 4001 Yuma St NW Washington, DC 20016
Directions: Enter at the door one door to the right of the rectory (numbered door with stairs) on Yuma Street, one door to the left of the handicapped ramp entrance.
Classes are on Mondays at 6:30pm,
Additional Date: OCIA members and sponsors invited to attend the 11am Mass the First Sunday of Advent. No assigned seating.
September 29-April 13*
*You receive your sacraments at the Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 4 at 7:00pm. The Monday, April 13 meeting is a final "debrief" for the class.
Dates OFF - No Class:
Columbus Day, October 13
Veterans Day, November 10
Thanksgiving Monday, November 24
Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, December 8 (Holy Day of Obligation Masses at 7:30am, noon and 7:00pm)
Christmas Break, December 15-January 5
MLK Day, January 19
Presidents' Day, February 16
Spring Break, March 16
Easter Monday, April 6
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Please contact Natalie to schedule an initial intro meeting with the Pastor!
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directorstanndc.orgDirector of Communications and Youth Ministry -
watkinsstanndc.orgPastor
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What Happens During Classes?
The OCIA program meetings are held on a weekly basis beginning on Monday, September 29 at 6:30pm, and ending no later than 8:00pm. The program will culminate with the Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at St. Ann Catholic Church.
This program is an introduction to the Catholic faith and we will use a fundamental approach to faith formation. Our focus will be on the Creed (i.e. the central doctrine of the Catholic Church) and preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation). Meetings will be facilitated by pastor Msgr. Watkins, other priests and seminarians from the St. John Society.
Catechumens (unbaptized adults) and candidates (baptized non-Catholics or Catholics seeking full initiation through receiving the sacraments of Confirmation or Eucharist) participating in the OCIA program are to identify a sponsor (an adult Catholic in good standing) to accompany them on the journey of faith formation. Sponsors are encouraged to attend the OCIA meetings.
Materials we will be using in the program are the following: Bishop Robert Barron's video series entitled Catholicism and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (available at any Catholic bookstore).We will provide for you, as a part of class, the below-linked Supplemental Resource (here is the free digital download of this book for reference!):
Meetings will include lecture, video presentation and discussion. Please ask any question you have; this is a safe space.
There is no commitment to complete the OCIA program.
Class absences at times are expected and do not need to be reported to the teachers. We simply ask that you are actively engaged and attend most of the sessions.
That said, if we do not see you for a couple of weeks, expect us to reach out! We don't want you to miss too much formational information! We hope to see all of you continue through the class until the Easter Vigil, but if you decide to not continue with the class, please tell us so that we can remove you from class emails and take the other necessary steps.
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REGISTRATION: Please Schedule Your Meeting with the Pastor First! 2026 Class Registration NOW OPEN!
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Calendar
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Sunday, March 1, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PMWe will host a candidate signing of the Book of the Elect at St. Ann's during our regular Sunday 11:00am Mass. Watch the Mass live at stanndc.org/liveRead More
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