OCIT (Order of Christian Initiation for Teens)

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OCIT

OCIT is for students 6th-12th grade who are interested in becoming Catholic or are in need of baptism, confirmation, and/or first communion.

Registration for 2025-2026 is closed.
Click here to be notified when registration opens for Fall 2026
The OCIT Process
Step One: Schedule an Intake Meeting
- Step One: Schedule an Intake Meeting
  
  Before or during participation in Search Groups, please schedule an intake meeting with the Youth Director. In this meeting, we will get to know you and your family and go over the OCIT process and your teen's sacramental prep timeline. We will also give you information about registration.
  
  Student & parents/adult should attend these meetings.
  
  Please bring the following:
  A copy of your student's baptismal certificate to this meeting. If your teen is not baptized, please bring a copy of their birth certificate.
  The signed release form (we will also have hard copies available)
  
  Intake Meetings will open up Summer 2026.
Step Two: Join a Search Group
- Step Two: Join a Search Group
  
  Prior to beginning OCIT, students and parents must participate in an 8-week Search Group. These small groups are centered around the big questions of life and exploring the heart of our Catholic Faith. They are designed to present teens and families with a base to decide if they want to pursue their sacraments and a life in the church.
  
  Search Group Registration Will Open Summer 2026
Step Three: Registration & Rite of Entrance/Welcome
- Step Three: Registration and Rite of Entrance/Welcome
  
  Once you have completed your Search Group and had an intake meeting with the Youth Director, you will be given the link to register for OCIT.
  
  To kick off the OCIT process, your teen will participate in the Rite of Entrance/Welcome.
  The Rite of Entrance welcomes those who have not been baptized into what is called the catechumenate. You can think of it almost as Catholic apprenticeship. This marks the beginning of their journey to entering the Catholic church.
  The Rite of Welcome marks the official start of formation for those who have already been baptized and are preparing for confirmation and first Communion.
  
  Your teen will then begin OCIT classes at the start of the next module.
  
  The cost of the class is $100, which covers the costs of books and materials.
Step Four: Complete All Five Modules
- Step Four: Complete All Five Modules
  
  In order to make our program accesible to start at multiple points throughout the year, we have broken our program down to five modules that need to be completed prior to receiving sacraments. These modules must all be completed in person. We do not have an online option as Christian community is essential to living the faith.
  
  Modules:
  Salvation History (10 weeks): Students will survey the overarching narrative of the Bible and explore the relationship between God and his people through the course of history.
  The Creed (6 weeks): Students will learn about the core tenants of the Catholic faith that we profess in the Nicene and Apostles Creed.
  Sacraments & Liturgy (10 weeks): Students will learn about the seven sacraments, the Mass, and the liturgy of the church.
  The Moral Life (10 weeks): Students will learn about living the moral life through an understanding of freedom, conscience, sin, virtue,the ten commandments, and the beatitudes.
  Prayer (6 weeks): Students will learn to pray and focus on growing in relationship with God
Step Five: Receive your Sacraments
- Step Five: Receive your Sacraments
  
  Once all modules have been completed, students will receive their sacraments at the next available opportunity.
  
  Please note, those preparing for baptism will need to wait for the next Easter Vigil to receive sacraments.
  
  For those who are already baptized, there will likely be 2 opportunities per year for confirmation & first Communion.
FAQs
When are OCIT classes?
- Starting in Fall 2026, all OCIT classes will be on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:00pm. All classes are in-person.
  
  Registration is required to attend.
  
  If you completed Year One last year, Year Two will continue to meet on Tuesdays. Please contact [email protected] for the registration link for Year Two.
What does OCIT stand for?
- OCIT stands for the Order of Christian Initiation for Teens. It was formerly called RCIT.
  OCIT refers to the process by which teens are prepared to enter into full communion with the church through the sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist).
What is the timeline for sacramental preparation?
- The preparation process takes approximately two years to complete. Exact timelines will be dependent on when you begin the process.
  The sacraments are the most amazing gift we’ve been given, and they should transform us. They are meant to be received in the context of relationship, with God, and with his church. Relationships take time to build, to grow, and to bear fruit.
  Our program focuses on accompanying teens as they build a relationship with God and begin to understand our story and what Christ has done for us, as well as diving deeper into the beliefs of the church, the sacraments, and how to live as a Christian.
  Our hope is that in taking the time the teens need in order to truly come to know and love God, they might be transformed by the sacraments and live in faith the rest of their lives.
What sacraments will the teens receive?
- Becoming Catholic - Not Baptized
  If you are becoming Catholic and have never been baptized, you will be baptized, confirmed, and receive first Communion at the Easter vigil once your preparation is complete. You will also receive first reconciliation in the weeks following your initiation into the faith.
  Becoming Catholic - Baptized in Another Denomination
  If you are becoming Catholic but were validly baptized (in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) in another denomination, you will make a profession of faith in the Catholic church, and receive the sacrament of reconciliation during the preparation process. You will receive the sacraments of confirmation and first Communion together at a mass celebrated in the spring once preparation is complete.
  Baptized Catholic - Needing First Communion & Confirmation
  If you are a baptized Catholic who has not received any other sacraments, you will receive the sacrament of reconciliation during the preparation process. You will receive the sacraments of confirmation and first Communion together at a mass celebrated in the spring once preparation is complete.
  Baptized Catholic Who Has Already Received First Communion - Needing Confirmation
  If you are a baptized Catholic who has already received first Communion, you will receive the sacrament of confirmation at a mass celebrated in the spring, once your preparation is complete.
What if I am a senior in high school?
- Please contact the youth director at [email protected] to discuss what your preparation will look like.
What if my family is not Catholic?
- What if my family isn't Catholic?
  
  If you are a high school student and your parents are not Catholic, you are welcome to join us. Your parents are welcome to participate in the intake meeting and Search Groups, but the requirement will be waived for them.
  
  For middle school students, parents must still participate in the intake meeting.
  
  However, if you are under 18, you must have parental consent to participate in sacramental preparation and must turn in the signed release form prior to participating.
What is restored order?
- In May of 2015, Archbishop Samuel Aquila released a Pastoral Letter calling for the restoration of “the Sacraments of Initiation to their original order, that is, Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist” (this is also referred to as “The Restored Order”).
  All churches in the Archdiocese of Denver restored the order of the Sacraments of Initiation to their original order by Archbishop Aquila’s deadline of 2020. As a result, the standard age for receiving both the sacraments of confirmation and first Communion is now 8-9 years old/3rd grade. Preparation begins in 2nd grade.
  
  However, if you missed the restored order, moved from a different diocese, or are new to the faith, it is never too late to receive your sacraments. OCIT is here to help you receive full initiation in the Catholic Church.
  
  To watch a video about the Restored Order and to read the Pastoral Letter “Saints Among Us” from Archbishop Aquila please visit the link below.
  
  Restored Order
- Year 1 Student Portal
- Year 2 Student Portal
- Sponsor Info
- Contact Us
  
  Katelyn Swisher
  
  Director of Youth Ministry
  
  303.452.2041 x122
  katelynsihmco.org
  
  Dan Quintana
  
  Youth Ministry Assistant
  
  danqihmco.org