R.C.I.A... O.C.I.A. Part I

It is convenient to abbreviate words that are widely known or used frequently in a text.

But spelling out common words can help the audience or readership to appreciate their beautiful or powerful meanings.


As an example, RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) refers to a process to welcome people into the Catholic Church. It is much more than a course of instruction. It is a journey of faith, supported by a community of Christians through the rites and other ways.
 Beginning in the new liturgical year 2025, we will be using a slightly new title for this process: OCIA.

OCIA stands for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, a literal English translation of “Ordo initiationis christianæ adultorum,” the official name of the process in Latin. When it was translated into English decades ago, the word “Ordo” was dynamically translated as “Rite.” 


The words “order” and “ordered” in church language is not what we may think or expect. The OCIA is not a program but an ordered, orderly process in which various people (candidates, sponsors, community) have different roles to assume. (Continues next week)