OCIA Coordinators’ Update: 08/24/2025
OCIA Scrutinies, Apostolic Service and Presentations
(Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
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The Second Scrutiny will take place this Sunday, August 24, at the 4:30 pm Mass. Our members preparing for full initiation attend Mass at various weekend liturgies for two reasons. By attending various Masses, they experience the variety of our community, expressed especially through the musical styles supporting our worship. Additionally, the wider community comes to see and know them.
The Order for Christian Adult Initiation (OCIA) describes the disciplines which form and “bring to maturity” the “spiritual frame of mind” of our elect. In addition to catechesis, familiarity with the practice of Christian life is also significant and one of these practices is apostolic service.
Saint Clement offers many opportunities for service but one of our team members, Liz Yablonicky, partnered with Christa Kingsley, Manager of Social Justice and Outreach, to arrange several mornings of service just for our OCIA members. Members contributed ingredients and brought family members on two Saturday mornings to help prepare egg breakfast casseroles which they then delivered to the Lincoln Park Community shelter for baking and serving the next day.
Some rites of the Order are celebrated at the beginning of our weekly sessions. Fr. Radley celebrated the Rite of Anointing (strengthening) catechumens in preparation for initiation, prior to their Rite of Election celebrated by Cardinal Cupich. Following the Scrutinies, he presided over the Rites of Handing on of the Creed and of the Lord’s prayer. These rites include celebrations of the word of God, which is another essential component of their formation, in addition to catechesis. These rites are offered by the Church and “by them they are cleansed and sustained with divine blessing.”
Please continue to pray for our elect and candidates and encourage them with your friendship.
Our fall cohort of those wishing to be baptized, baptized Christians seeking to join the Catholic Church and baptized Catholics seeking Confirmation and/or Communion will begin on Monday, November 17, 2025. You are encouraged to sign up for Alpha which begins in September and/or take part in our various Beta and spirituality courses.
Fr. Radley Alcantara and Ed Harasim, OCIA Coordinator, eharasim@clement.org
Learn more about OCIA