OCIA PARISH SPONSORS
Accompany. Listen. Welcome.
"Know that the greatest service that man can offer to God is to help convert souls."
-St. Rose of Lima
Become an OCIA Parish Sponsor
Are you looking for a deeply rewarding way to live out your Catholic faith and serve our parish family? We are inviting faithful, dedicated parishioners to step forward and serve as OCIA Sponsors (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults).
What is an OCIA Sponsor?
Many people assume a sponsor needs to be a theologian or a teacher. That is not the case! Catechesis and doctrine are handled by our parish OCIA team.
As a sponsor, your role is simply to journey alongside a candidate or catechumen as a supportive friend and fellow traveler in the faith. You are a bridge between the seeker and our broader parish community.
What Sponsor Do:
- Accompany: Attend weekly OCIA sessions to offer encouragement and presence.
- Connect: Touch base regularly throughout the week with a quick call, text, or coffee.
- Welcome: Offer to sit with them at Sunday Mass if they’d like a familiar face beside them.
- Listen & Share: Listen well to their questions and gently share your own faith story.
- Persist: Continue walking with them through their initial months of mystagogy (post-Easter reflection) as they adjust to full communion in the Church.
Personal Reflection Questions
- Time: Do I have the room in my schedule to commit to weekly meetings and regular check-ins through Easter and the spring?
- Listening: Am I comfortable listening generously without feeling the need to "fix" people or have all the answers?
- Sharing: Am I willing to humbly share my own life experiences—including my faith struggles and growth?
- Hospitality: Am I ready to warmly welcome someone whose background or life path might look very different from my own?
Is This Ministry Right for You?
Before filling out an interest form, take a few moments in prayer to review the basic requirements and reflect on your current season of life.
Basic Canon & Spiritual Requirements:
- Fully initiated Catholic (has received Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion).
- Fulfills Sunday Mass and Holy Day obligations faithfully.
- Frequents the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
- In good standing with the Church (if married, marriage is recognized as valid by the Catholic Church).
- Maintains a consistent, personal, and fruitful prayer life.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you feel God nudging your heart to explore this ministry, we would love to connect with you!
Setup a Time to Meet: Use the link below to schedule a time to meet with Chris Fortin, the Director of Faith Formation, for a conversation to explore more your desire to serve in this ministry.
Training: Accepted sponsors will attend a preparation workshop before being paired with a participant.