RCIA or OCIA?

[GoLatin]

I know that RCIA(Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is a programme that the Catholic Church has for receiving unbaptised adult converts. I assume that OCIA(Order of Christian Initiation of Adults?) is the same thing.

I am wondering, why are there two different names for the same thing?

I have never personally encountered an OCIA programme. I have, however, seen OCIA items in catalogues.

Any insight?

 

[Tedster]

I may be wrong, but I seem to remember a controversy on this. Some folks tried to describe the Rite as an Order. The OCIA is just a different name for the same process.

The name OCIA was never accepted by the Church, however. So the correct term is still RCIA.

But as I said, I may be wrong!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

GoLatin:

I know that RCIA(Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is a programme that the Catholic Church has for receiving unbaptised adult converts. I assume that OCIA(Order of Christian Initiation of Adults?) is the same thing.

I am wondering, why are there two different names for the same thing?

I have never personally encountered an OCIA programme. I have, however, seen OCIA items in catalogues.

Any insight?

Rite is used in some english speaking areas for the word Order,. They essentially mean the same thing. The Mass is of the Roman Rite or the “New Order” of the Mass.