Are you searching for deeper meaning, truth, and belonging? Do you desire a living relationship with Jesus Christ and a community rooted in His love?

Ascension Parish’s Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA - formerly RCIA) and Order of Christian Initiation for Teens (OCIT - formerly RCIT) invite you to explore the mystery and joy of the Catholic Faith — a faith that is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic, handed down through the ages from Christ and His Apostles.

Whether you are unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or simply searching for where God is calling you, this journey welcomes you into a community of faith, prayer, and discovery.

OCIA and OCIT are not just an introduction to Catholic teaching — it’s an encounter with the living Christ, who continues to reveal Himself through His Church, His Word, and His Sacraments.



Together we will explore:

• The unity and truth of the One Church founded by Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit
• The call to holiness through grace, prayer, and the sacraments
• The universality of the Catholic Faith, embracing people of every nation and culture
• The unbroken Apostolic Tradition handed on from the first disciples to our day
• The beauty of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition
• The Eucharist, where Christ is truly present — Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity
• The meaning of forgiveness, reconciliation, and divine mercy
• The hope of resurrection and eternal life

Why be Catholic?

The Catholic Church is the Church that Jesus Christ founded (Mt 16:18-19) as Fr. Mike Schmitz explains below.

This Church has a visible structure that started with the Apostles (Eph 2:20) who then were succeeded by the bishops (Acts 1:20, 25-26). 

The Church of the New Testament is hierarchical (Eph 4:11) and has bishops, priests, and deacons (1 Tim 3:1, 8; 5:17; and Acts14:23), who were entrusted with the teaching of Jesus Christ (2 Tim 2:2).

The Church has the authority to teach on behalf of Christ (Lk 10:16) because Jesus delegated this power to His Church (Mt 28:18-20), which also has the authority to legislate and discipline the faithful followers of Christ (Mt 18:17-18).

The Church is necessary to settle disagreements about what Jesus taught in order to preserve Christian Unity (Eph 4:3-6; 1 Cor 1:10; Jn 17:17-23; and Rom 12:5) and the truths that were revealed to us by Jesus Christ (1 Tim 3:15), which affects our salvation.

One of our parishioners, Don Sinak, answers a similar question, using his own life experience, scripture, and reasoning.

Watch him explain why he is Catholic in the video below.