This podcast begins with the parable of Good Samaritan in which the Church Fathers saw the foundation of our Sacraments. Fr. Juan Ochoa beautifully describes the life of the Church in her experiences of Grace. He show us how we are called to approach the sacraments with faith like the woman who touched the tassel of Jesus's cloak and was healed. Please join us for this excellent teaching about Faith and Sacraments.

The change in the name from Rite to Order of Christian Initiation of Adults orients our hearts toward the process of becoming Catholic. The changes articulate that journey and clarifies steps and terms. What has not changed is the vision:

“The Order of Christian Initiation…is designed for adults who, upon hearing the proclamation of the mystery of Christ as the Holy Spirit opens their hearts, consciously and freely seek the living God and undertake the journey of faith and conversion.” OCIA 1

Please join us for this podcast to help clergy and ministers find their way through the renewed process and book.

In this second part of our conversation about the story of the prophet Jonah we contemplate the sailors and their process of conversion from desperately calling on their own gods that do not answer to sacrificing and making vows to "the Lord". Through these men and Jonah we see that people of different faiths can guide us to the Truth. Cast into the deep Jonah calls out to God in a gathering of psalmic phrases brought together into the single prayer. How was he able to call upon these ancient words in such a way? Join us as we share impressions of this beautiful prayer that lifts us up out of the depths and, often without ceremony, sets our feet on solid ground. Dive in with us!

In part one of our dive into the Book of Jonah we talk a lot about the sailors who were thrust into the duel between Jonah and God. These were men of conviction and good will who came to understand what it truly means to fear God. What of Jonah? At this point in our story he has been tossed into the churning seas (SPLASH!). We wrestle with the motivation of Jonah. Did he ask to be thrown overboard as a sacrifice or to escape God once more? The Book of Jonah is deep. Jump in!

The National Statutes guide pastors and teams through the OCIA process so that they might better guide the lives of Inquirers and Catechumens toward community worship and a habit of prayer, in Church teachings and living a moral life, and participation in works of charity and service. In other words - to a life configured to Christ.

In this podcast Fr. Juan Ochoa and Barbara Murphy talk about the norms provided by the US Church and our role as ministers of the OCIA process.

Welcome to our new weekly podcast, Go and Make Disciples: Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. The title is from Mathew 28:19, the Great Commission, to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. That is what OCIA is all about.

OCIA draws us away from a program mindset of initiation toward an approach that embraces a sacramental life of discipleship. This new way of seeing Initiation is about accompaniment on our journeys of faith, walking in the Gospel with others toward a life of worship and service.

This first episode will introduce the podcast, explain why the process has shifted and how we envision the parishes embracing OCIA.

In the upcoming episodes experts will join us to talk about the history of Initiation in the Church; the kerygma, the proclamation; conversion; OCIA with children and teens, among many other elements that order our hearts, souls, and might toward Christ.

Please join Fr. Juan Ochoa, Director of the Office for Divine Worship at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and your host, Barbara Murphy, Coordinator of the Catholic Bible Institute for Go and Make Disciples: Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.

In this very special podcast we talk about God's promise to restore those who follow God's way and do not put other gods before HIm. These chapters are God's response to human lamentation at the destruction of the Temple and the misfortune that follows the loss of "pride". We hear God's lamentation for the loss of faith from his people. These chapters have much to say about us today, how the world seems to cling to apostasy rather than to listen to God and be "consecrated". The new heaven and new earth are for everyone who worships rightly. That is God's Promise.

The shepherds were the first to hear the word that the Messiah of God has been born into our world and in haste these humble laborers went to see the child in the manger. Then they went out to share what they experienced with others and were believed! Like those ministers of the word before us, we are shepherds of the message that a savior has been born, that light has come into the world. This year Chanukah begins at sundown on Christmas Day. The light that shines in the darkness will never be overcome and we, both Catholics and Jews, will know God is uniquely with us and with God on our side we shall have no fear. May God's favor rest on each and everyone of you this holy season and always. Shalom and peace be with your spirits.

“Another way to put it is ‘Blessed are you who allowed life to matter’…This whole story is a story of letting it be as beautiful as it is without any edge, without any masks, with just being present…especially if the point of Advent is to prepare ourselves for God…”

Rabbi Jason Fruithandler

Please join us for a deeply transforming homily from Rabbi Fruithandler and our reflections on Elizabeth, Mary, their children and our response to the call to blessedness.

Celebrate Mary's yes! This conversation ponders what sort of message Gabriel brought to Mary and her response. Reflections for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.