OCIA Session 28: Ongoing Formation – Study, Prayer, and Catholic Learning Resources

Welcome back, friends! Last time, we talked about Life of Service - discovering your gifts and joining parish ministries. Today we focus on something equally important: Ongoing Formation. Why? Because entering the Catholic Church at Easter wasn’t graduation. It was initiation. The Catholic faith is deep, rich, and endless. You could study it your whole life and still learn something new every day. That’s the beauty of it. Today we’ll talk about how to keep learning, keep praying, and keep growing in your Catholic life.

Why Ongoing Formation Matters

Imagine if a married couple stopped talking after their wedding day. Their relationship would collapse. The same is true for your relationship with Christ and His Church. Easter Vigil was your wedding day with the Church. Now you must keep deepening that relationship.

Ongoing formation means:

Continuing to learn the faith.
Deepening your prayer life.
Growing in community.
Living your vocation in the world.

Humor Break

You don’t have to become a theologian with a 20-pound catechism on your nightstand. (Though if you want to, go for it!) God just asks you to keep learning a little at a time.

Study Resources

The Church has so many resources to help you keep growing:

The Bible – Read a little each day. Start with the Gospels.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church – A summary of what we believe.
Catholic books – Lives of the saints, theology, spiritual classics.
Podcasts, websites, and apps – Many parishes recommend free online tools.
Parish classes or Bible studies – Stay connected to others learning with you.

The key: don’t stop after OCIA. Keep feeding your faith.

Prayer as Ongoing Formation

Study is important, but prayer is essential. Prayer is how knowledge becomes relationship. Try new forms of prayer:

Lectio Divina (prayerful Scripture reading).
Rosary (meditation on Christ’s life).
Divine Mercy Chaplet (trust in God’s mercy).
Eucharistic Adoration (resting in Christ’s presence).

Each practice helps you grow in different ways.

Interactive Reflection

Take two minutes. Write down one area of the faith you want to learn more about. It could be Mary, the saints, Church history, Scripture, or prayer. That’s your next step for growth.

Community as Ongoing Formation

Don’t try to do this alone. Faith grows in community. Join a small group, Bible study, or parish ministry where you can ask questions and share experiences. The best Catholics are those who keep learning with others.

Humor Break #2

Some people say, “I’m spiritual but not religious.” That usually means, “I don’t want meetings.” But here’s the thing: Catholicism is about family. Families gather, eat together, learn together. You can’t be Catholic alone.

Parish Connection

Your parish is the best resource. Many parishes offer ongoing adult faith formation, book studies, retreats, or guest speakers. Even if you can’t attend every event, choose one thing to commit to each year. Over time, you’ll grow more than you think.

Interactive Activity

Pair up (or reflect quietly). Share one concrete way you will keep learning this year - maybe reading a Catholic book, joining a parish study, or attending Adoration regularly.

Action Step

This week:

Pick one Catholic book, podcast, or resource to explore.
Schedule 10–15 minutes daily for study or prayer.
Ask your parish leaders what ongoing formation opportunities are available.

Closing

Becoming Catholic is not the end - it’s the beginning. Ongoing formation means continuing to learn, pray, and grow in Christ for the rest of your life.

Next time, we’ll talk about Evangelization & Community - inviting others and sharing your faith. Because as you grow, you’re also called to help others take the same journey. Until then, remember: faith is like a muscle. The more you exercise it - through study, prayer, and community - the stronger it becomes.

next class:
OCIA Session 29: Evangelization & Community – Inviting Others, Sharing Faith