From the Desk of Father Jason - September 20, 2026

Dear Saint Francis Xavier Parishioners,

Last year, Saint Francis Xavier Parish was blessed to have an adult become Catholic through Holy Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. We celebrated all three of the sacraments on the Vigil of Easter Saturday.

I want to write to you about OCIA, that is the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.

OCIA is the process by which adults become Catholic. This includes both non-Christians who are in need of Baptism and non-Catholic Christians who are in need of Confirmation and Eucharist and to come into union with the Catholic Church.

OCIA includes various rites that are celebrated at Sunday Mass in which the people are prepared through ceremony. It also includes formation sessions throughout the fall, winter, and spring.

For St. Francis Xavier Parish, the formation sessions are on Wednesdays at 6 pm at the parish. These sessions begin on September 23. Deacon Mark Mullins, of St. Mary in Ledgeview, facilitates the sessions for both parishes.

If you are not baptized, I ask you to consider going through OCIA and getting baptized. If you are a non-Catholic Christian, also please consider OCIA and coming into union with the Catholic Church.

If this is something you would like to do, go to our website, sfxdp.org, and look under the “I’m New” heading, there is a page “Become Catholic.” On that page there is a form for those wishing to consider becoming Catholic.

By going through OCIA, you are not committed to become Catholic, but only to learn about the Catholic faith. At the very least, it might give a person more insight into their Catholic relatives and friends.

Note, if you are a baptized Catholic but have not received Confirmation, this is a different situation. For people in these situations there is an abbreviated formation process with the Diocese every fall and spring.

If you have not been baptized or are a non-Catholic Christian or a Catholic who has not receive Confirmation and you have more questions, please contact me either at frjason@saintsdepere.org or 920-336-1813.

Sincerely through Jesus,

Fr. Jason