Jesus Christ invites each of us into a more perfect union with Him. All we must do is allow His grace to transform us.
The Becoming Catholic! program at St. Stephen the Martyr will help you deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ through a more intimate knowledge of His Church and Holy Scripture. The program will prepare you for full communion or initiation in His Church.
Sessions begin in September, but you can start any time!
Scroll to see our FAQs or request more information using the buttons below!
The Becoming Catholic! program at St. Stephen the Martyr will help you deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ through a more intimate knowledge of His Church and Holy Scripture. The program will prepare you for full communion or initiation in His Church. Through learning about the Faith, engaging with the parish community, participating in liturgies, and witnessing to the Faith, you will encounter Christ and grow in your love and relationship with Him. You will experience a growth in openness in your heart and mind so that you may become His lifelong disciple!
The program is designed for anybody seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ through His Church:
You will encounter Jesus Christ and learn the Faith in weekly sessions
Beyond the weekly sessions, you will explore the Faith with a variety of activities
You will also participate in several beautiful liturgies
What We Believe:
How We Celebrate:
How We Should Live:
We meet after 9 AM Mass on Sunday in the Gonderinger Parish Center (building South of the Church) for approximately two hours from September through Pentecost.
There is no cost to participate. St. Stephen the Martyr Church provides all materials. You may want to bring a notebook and pen to take notes.
Participants are expected to come to most sessions and activities. We know that we all have busy lives and you will probably miss occasionally. We just ask that you let us know.
We don’t currently offer childcare; however, if this is an issue for you please let us know and we’ll try to make arrangements.
Your children can participate as well. We will customize a program for each member of your family depending on their ages and what step in their faith journey.
Becoming Catholic! Order of Christian Initiation (OCIA) for Adults
If you are interested in learning more about the Becoming Catholic! OCIA for Adults program, please contact Dcn. Scott and Julie Tylski at tylskisj@outlook.com, 402-850-4501 (Julie), 402-689-3387 (Scott) or complete this form to request more information.
Becoming Catholic! Order of Christian Initiation (OCIA) Adapted for Children
If you are interested in learning more about the Becoming Catholic! OCIA Adapted for Children program, please contact Sandy Kimmey, Director of Religious Education, at 402-861-4510, s.kimmey@stephen.org, or complete this form to register your child.
"My journey through RCIA was a great experience. The presentations by our spiritual leaders and group discussions provided new perspectives on my daily spirituality. The Easter Vigil Mass was both an amazing and emotional experience. It truly marked the beginning of a new spiritual life for not only myself, but also my soon to be husband. I recommend the RCIA program to all of those who have been called to the Catholic faith."
— Mandy, OCIA Participant
"About five years ago, I made the best decision, I enrolled in RCIA at St. Stephen the Martyr and was confirmed Catholic. Prior to enrolling, I felt hopeless about a situation in my life. I decided I needed help from God to address those feelings, but I didn’t know how to do so. I had always wanted to be confirmed, but I never took the time to do it. I received Baptism, Reconciliation and the Eucharist as a child, but lacked the Sacrament of Confirmation. I believe God gave me the courage to enroll in the Fall session that year.
During RCIA, I began to understand the fullness of truth in the Catholic faith. The Holy Spirit worked in and through me and provided a whole new way of life - a life in Christ. I was gently encouraged to go to confession after about 40 years of not doing so. I will always treasure the beauty and the freedom I felt during and after that Confession.
Since being confirmed Catholic, I eagerly look forward to attending Mass every week and giving back to the Parish that gave me so much.
Becoming Catholic is one of God’s greatest gifts. If you’re contemplating doing so, give it a try, immerse yourself, learn all you can. It will be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made."
"My husband and I knew that we wanted to raise our kids with a religious foundation however we never felt like any church was the right fit until we were introduced to the Catholic Church. We joined RCIA in the fall of 2018 and didn’t really know what to expect. Within a few weeks of attending mass and RCIA classes we knew we had found our home. The understanding we gained by going through RCIA showed us the fullness of the faith and What we had been searching for."
— Janie, OCIA Participant
"One of my priorities when I moved to Omaha 10 years ago, was to find my church ‘home’. I had been baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church, but just hadn’t found my fit in Omaha. My daughter had converted to Catholicism several years ago while in college, and I attended mass with her and her family many times. I began to feel a real connection to the Catholic faith and decided I needed to explore this “calling” a little further, so I enrolled in the RCIA class at St. Stephens. It didn’t take long to realize that here is where I belong! The leaders, Scott and Julie, were amazing! The entire St. Stephen’s family, including priests and deacons, my sponsor and my RCIA classmates – were all so supportive. They were all right there with me on my journey. Each and every class was a great experience, and my first communion will be something I will always remember. I am so thankful that God has directed me down this path! "
— Joann, OCIA Participant
"KayCee and I realized we were missing something important in our lives. While we had each attended a church service here and there at a friend’s invitation, neither of us had ever truly been introduced to the Catholic Church as adults. After meeting some wonderful mentors and attending a Mass, we felt called to join OCIA to discern whether this was the path God was leading us toward. OCIA proved to be an incredible blessing in that discernment process. From the very beginning, we felt both welcomed and challenged—invited into a deeper faith we didn’t yet know how to begin. All the teachers, and our fellow students walked beside us in prayer and support every step of the way. It’s hard to fully express the subtle but profound changes that have taken place in our hearts, our marriage, and our outlook on the future since coming home to Christ's Church. We’ve found a peace beyond measure. We even laugh sometimes that our younger, more ‘punk rock’ selves would be baffled by this decision—yet we know now that this is where we’ve always belonged, and where we all belong."
-- Adam, OCIA Participant