Go and Make Disciples: Order of Christian Initiation of Adults

Welcome to our new weekly podcast, Go and Make Disciples: Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. The title is from Mathew 28:19, the Great Commission, to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. That is what OCIA is all about.

OCIA draws us away from a program mindset of initiation toward an approach that embraces a sacramental life of discipleship. This new way of seeing Initiation is about accompaniment on our journeys of faith, walking in the Gospel with others toward a life of worship and service.

This first episode will introduce the podcast, explain why the process has shifted and how we envision the parishes embracing OCIA.

In the upcoming episodes experts will join us to talk about the history of Initiation in the Church; the kerygma, the proclamation; conversion; OCIA with children and teens, among many other elements that order our hearts, souls, and might toward Christ. 

Please join Fr. Juan Ochoa, Director of the Office for Divine Worship at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and your host, Barbara Murphy, Coordinator of the Catholic Bible Institute for Go and Make Disciples: Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.

Episode 1: Introduction - Go and Make Disciples: OCIA

The National Statutes guide pastors and teams through the OCIA process so that they might better guide the lives of Inquirers and Catechumens toward community worship and a habit of prayer, in Church teachings and living a moral life, and participation in works of charity and service. In other words - to a life configured to Christ.

In this podcast Fr. Juan Ochoa and Barbara Murphy talk about the norms provided by the US Church and our role as ministers of the OCIA process.

Episode 2: National Statutes

The change in the name from Rite to Order of Christian Initiation of Adults orients our hearts toward the process of becoming Catholic. The changes articulate that journey and clarifies steps and terms. What has not changed is the vision:

“The Order of Christian Initiation…is designed for adults who, upon hearing the proclamation of the mystery of Christ as the Holy Spirit opens their hearts, consciously and freely seek the living God and undertake the journey of faith and conversion.” OCIA 1

Please join us for this podcast to help clergy and ministers find their way through the renewed process and book.

Episode 3: Go and Make Disciples - What Changed and What Remains the Same

This podcast begins with the parable of Good Samaritan in which the Church Fathers saw the foundation of our Sacraments. Fr. Juan Ochoa beautifully describes the life of the Church in her experiences of Grace. He show us how we are called to approach the sacraments with faith like the woman who touched the tassel of Jesus's cloak and was healed. Please join us for this excellent teaching about Faith and Sacraments.

Episode 4: Go and Make Disciples  - Faith and Sacraments

Fr. Pedro Lopez walks us through the history of what we know today as Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. He shows us the development of the process from our Jewish roots, through times of growth, waning, and revival. Please join us for this fascinating podcast that helps us to understand that OCIA did not start in 1972. It began with the birth of the Church herself. The same truth brought to a new generation.

Episode 5: Go and Make Disciples - History of Christian Initiation

The Rite of Election at the Cathedral brings together literally thousands of people who desire to be part of the Sacramental life of the Catholic Church. To see them gathered together gives all of us hope that the Church is alive and well and ready to enter the world to love God with all our hearts, souls and might and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We see our mother Church reflected in those who come to the table of the Lord with open hearts, praise and thanksgiving.

Episode 6: Go and Make Disciples- Right of Election

The Rite of Calling to Continuing Conversion is for Catholics who were baptized as infants, but have not been catechized or fully initiated, and for those who were baptized into other Christian traditions. They are already part of the Christian community and in this rite are called to ongoing conversion that will last their lifetime. Please join us as we share the importance of this rite for those who wish to participate fully in the Sacramental life of the Catholic Church.

Episode 7: Go and Make Disciples- Right of Calling

The minor rites of the catechumenate are beautiful prayers that help to free the minds of the catechumens and all who participate from the wiles of sin and temptation. Simple yet beautiful in the love for God and God's love for us. Please join Fr. Juan Ochoa, Fr. Chris Bazyouros, Adrian Aralar, and Leticia Perez who share their experience of OCIA and the rite's power to transform lives and hearts.

Episode 8: Go and Make Disciples-Exorcisms and Blessings - The Minor Rites

The OCIA Rite adapts for Children ages 7-12 who have not been baptized. Often their parents are not Catholic or the child desires to enter into full sacramental participation with the Church. In this podcast with Deacon Douglas Zuniga, Coordinator of Elementary Catechesis for the Archdiocese of Los Angles and Fr. Juan Ochoa share their wisdom and insights about how we walk with children and parents towards full communion and formation as disciples of Jesus. Please join us!

Episode 9: Go and Make Disciples - OCIA with Children

The OCIA Rite offers rites for adults and children, but what about our teenagers? Those ages 13-17 have different needs and questions. This podcast featuring Dayrin Perez, Lead Coordinator of Youth Ministry for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and Fr. Juan Ochoa, Director of the Office of Divine Worship offers great wisdom from experience as a parent and as ministers to help catechists find practical ways of evangelizing our young people and their parents. Please join this important conversation so we can guide our youth toward becoming missionary disciples of Jesus.

Episode 10: Go and Make Disciples - OCIA with Teenagers

Please join Erick Rubalcava, Chief of Mission and Catholic Identity, Department of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles with Fr. Juan Ochoa of the Office for Divine Worship as they share their experience and vision for OCIA and Sacramental formation for our parish children and families. Often the church and school are separate communities and in this conversation Erick and Fr. Juan offer practical ideas and resources to help pastors, principals, teachers and families be unified in the Body of Christ.

Episode 11: Go and Make Disciples - OCIA in Catholic Schools

Mystagogy takes place after Easter Vigil and is a time for neophytes to reflect on what God has done for them in the Sacraments. It is a time often misunderstood or even ignored. In this podcast Fr. Juan Ochoa, Leticia Perez, and Adrian Aralar articulate what mystagogy is and its importance to those newly received into communion with the Church, and for the whole community. Please do not miss this podcast, or mystagogy for your OCIA minsters and your entire parish!

Episode 12: Go and Make Disciples - Mystagogy

Catholic Social Teaching is the guide of our Christian life. We are called as missionary disciples to works of charity for our neighbor based on the story of the Good Samaritan. The Letter of James tells us that underpinning all our work is faith in Jesus Christ. Paragraph 75 of the OCIA Rite instructs all of us to reach out anyone in need, no matter who they are, what they believe, or their status in life. Michael Donaldson, Director for the Office of Life, Justice, and Peace along with Fr. Juan Ochoa share beautiful insights and offer practical ways to ground our works in Christ so that all we do reveals God to the people we encounter. We are all made in the image of God and to see each other through the eyes of Jesus will transform the world. Join us.

Episode 13: Go and Make Disciples - Living the Christian Life: Works of Charity

In this podcast Fr. Juan Ochoa and Adrian Aralar walk us through the beauty and mystery of the Easter Vigil, from darkness into light. From the lighting of the fire and Paschal candle through the sacraments of Initiation of our elect. The Elect have prepared for many months and this is the night on which they now share at the table of the Lord. 

Wishing each one of you many blessings this Easter as we all renew our faith through the waters of baptism and are once again called to serve.

Easter Blessings!

Episode 14 : Go and Make Disciples - Easter Vigil Sacraments

Please join Terri Palmer and Adrian Aralar for our conversation about discernment in OCIA. Discerning Christ in our lives is not limited to our catechumens and candidates but part of the life of the OCIA team and the entire community of faithful. Listen to stories of the faithful who seek to become part of the Church and those who have dedicated their gifts to guiding others to Jesus. Through each other we discern our faith and hope is renewed.

Episode 15: Go and Make Disciples - Discernment

In this podcast Bobby Vidal and Anitra Gil of the Office for New Evangelization and Parish Life in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles share their experience of proclaiming Christ who suffered, died and rose for the sake of world. This is the beginning of faith for all and is necessary to proclaim throughout the OCIA process and the life of the Church. A relationship with Jesus is the starting point of a life of repentance and renewal. Join us!

Episode 16: Go and Make Disciples - Proclaiming Christ - the Kerygma

Interior conversion of the heart to Christ is at the foundation of missionary discipleship. Join Fr. Juan Ochoa and Bobby Vidal as they share with us the thresholds of conversion to life as saint as St. Paul describes. Whether we are well off the path that does not stray or firmly embedded in our parish community our hearts, minds, and souls are always turning toward the way Jesus gave us. Open up to the love of God and be transformed!

Episode 17: Go and Make Disciples - Conversion to Christ

St. Augustine said "he who sings, prays twice". Music is an integral and Scriptural part of worship. The hymns we choose express the readings and parts of the Mass. Music reinforces the rites of OCIA and helps to articulate them to the catechumens and the assembly. Please join Victor Wheeler, Coordinator of Sacred Music in the Office for Divine Worship and Fr. Juan Ochoa in this important conversation about the beauty and power of music in the OCIA rites.

Episode 18: Go and Make Disciples - Pray Twice: Music and OCIA

Many people come to OCIA who were baptized Catholic when they were infants or baptized in another Christian tradition and wish to complete and become part of the Church community. OCIA provides formation and rites for these people who already know Jesus and are part of the Christian life. Terri Palmer, Regional Coordinator for the San Pedro Region and Adrian Aralar, Coordinator of Liturgical Minister Training, share their many years of experience helping our Christian brothers and sisters enter more deeply into the Catholic life and community. Please join us for this very special and important conversation.

Episode 19: Go and Make Disciples-OCIA for the Baptized

The final episode in our OCIA series helps teams understand the Lectionary as "the book" for OCIA and the Gospels as the foundation for topics that form us all in the kerygma. This conversation with Leticia Perez and Adrian Aralar is informative and insightful and provides guidance for OCIA directors, coordinators, and team members to present the Good News in a transformative way. It also provides resources and creative ideas to help catechumens and candidates take the Word into their hearts and convert their lives to Christ. Go to lacatholics.org/OCIA-Resources and lacatholics.org/faith-at-home for ideas and handouts. There are many formation events offered as well. Go to events.lacatholics.org and sign up for the Office for Divine Worship newsletter. You can contact Leticia, the OCIA coordinator at Lperez@la-archdiocese.org. And check out all the offerings from the Catholic Bible Institute at lacatholics.org/cbi.

Episode 20 - Go and Make Disciples - The  Lectionary and Resources

If you would like to donate to our ministry please follow this link, 

http://store.la-archdiocese.org/catholic-bible-institute

and thank you for your generosity and being part of our mission to share the Word of God.

Connecting Scripture and Life podcast explores the way God speaks in different times and places with the same wisdom that lead to a happy life. Scripture teaches us how to live. Through conversations with people who love, teach, and live it we will explore our own lives in the pages of the sacred.

Connecting Scripture and Life is a ministry of the Catholic Bible Institute, Office of Religious Education, Archdiocese of Los Angeles.