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Navigating Faith: Lost in OCIA? You're Not Alone.

Have you ever prepared for a class — bringing your notebook, the required texts, and a hopeful attitude — only to find yourself completely lost, even though the teacher handed you a calendar?

Me too.

When I started OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), I genuinely thought I was ready. I had everything they said I needed. But as the classes unfolded, I found myself confused, overwhelmed, and unsure how each lesson fit into the bigger picture of the Catholic faith. It felt like trying to navigate a forest with a map missing half the landmarks.

So I did something about it.

During my time in OCIA, I wrote a notebook/workbook that set a clear standard for what we were taught and how it was taught. I created 29 chapters — following the flow of our OCIA course — and designed it to be flexible enough to be used in any OCIA program. It offers a high-level overview of Catholicism, especially from a Protestant perspective, helping bridge the gaps for those of us coming from other traditions.

But I didn’t stop there.

I also wrote a companion book called "They Believe...We Believe...What?"
This second resource dives deeper, comparing and contrasting key beliefs between Protestants and Catholics. It’s a conversation starter — not an argument starter — designed to help seekers understand where the differences are, and why they matter, with charity and clarity.

If you've ever felt like you were walking into faith formation blind, know this: you're not alone. And there are tools out there to help you find your way.

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