Usually it is the Baptism of the Lord (in Europe.) Sometimes it is observed in this country on the Sunday following January 6th, other times it is moved to the Monday after January 6th because in this country Epiphany is observed on the Sunday after New Year’s Day.
The Baptism of the Lord marks Jesus manifestation before John as the Messiah. Jesus began his public ministry not too long afterwards. The theme of Mass durring ordianary times focuses on Jesus teachings durring his public ministry.
If you want to give your RCIA classmates a heads-up: In the USA each year there are 4 or 5 weeks in Ordinary Time which do not begin with a corresponding “*Nth *Sunday of Ordinary Time”:
The first week of OT, which is preceded by the Sunday celebrating either the Baptism of the Lord or Epiphany (depending on the vagaries of the translated feast)
After the Easter Season, OT resumes on the Monday following Pentecost Sunday
The Sunday following Pentecost is Trinity Sunday
(When Corpus Christi is translated to Sunday, it falls following Trinity Sunday)
The Thirty-fourth (last) week of OT is preceded by the feast of Christ the King
This may become even differenter when other solemnities or feasts of the Lord may fall on Sundays of OT and replace their celebration.
(Similarly, the first few days of Lent will not be in any numbered week of Lent, but are simply days “after Ash Wednesday”. The first “week” of Lent does not begin until the first Sunday of Lent)
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