There is room for your questions.

There is no such thing as being 'Catholic enough' to begin. OCIA is for those who are curious, returning, searching, or standing at the threshold. You do not need a polished faith to walk through the door. You only need a willingness to come and see.

No. Some people arrive having grown up around the Church. Others have never opened a Bible or stepped into a Catholic Mass. Both are welcome. Formation is meant to meet you where you are — and to move at a human pace.

Curiosity is a good beginning. Many saints started there. You are not required to decide anything in advance, join anything, or promise a destination. Inquiry is precisely for those who want to look more closely before they know what they will do.

You are warmly welcome. The Church recognizes Christian baptism when it has been conferred with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Your path may look different from that of an unbaptized person, and that is a gift — not a problem. We will walk with you according to your own history.

Then you are in the right place. Discernment is not a failure of faith; it is a form of it. OCIA gives you time, teaching, prayer, and community so that any decision — if one comes — can be honest, unhurried, and free.

The length of OCIA varies with each person. The parish describes it as a formation process focused on conversion, with the Church celebrating that conversion through prayerful rites. Classes are weekly and begin in the Fall. No one is rushed; the Religious Education office will talk with you about what makes sense for your life.

You will never be put on the spot. Conversation is invited, not demanded. Some people share freely; others listen for months before they say a word. Both ways of being present are honored.

The parish has not published a tuition for exploring the Catholic faith. If materials are ever needed, the office will make that clear. No one should stay away because of money — call (503) 325-3671 or write to marty@stmaryastoria.com.

Yes. Those who love you are welcome to accompany you. If you are unsure what would be helpful, reach out to the Religious Education office and we can talk through it together.

Call the parish office at (503) 325-3671, write to Marty Dursse at marty@stmaryastoria.com, or use the contact page. Someone from Religious Education will listen to your story and help you take a first step. The first move is simply human: a welcome.