Boom in growth at Risen Christ leads to year-round OCIA program

Father Ben Uhlenkott, pastor at Risen Christ Parish in Boise, anoints Ted Walker during the Rite of Confirmation on Dec. 22. (ICR Photos/Emily Woodham)

By Emily Woodham

Staff Writer

BOISE—Ted Walker wanted to become Catholic for several years. “My biggest difficulty was just taking the first step in joining the program to become Catholic,” Walker said. “Once in, I was committed.”

Nearly 10 years ago, Walker married a cradle Catholic. He attended Mass with her when they were dating, went through the marriage preparation program and continued to attend Mass with her after their church wedding. All three of their young children, ages 1 to 6, were baptized. However, he couldn’t find the right opportunity to become Catholic, until last summer, after he and his family joined Risen Christ Parish in Boise. 

“After attending Mass at Risen Christ for some time, I had the opportunity to speak with Father Ben and expressed my interest in becoming Catholic. He made me feel very welcomed,” Walker said. Father Ben Uhlenkott, pastor at Risen Christ, connected Walker with Deacon Ted and Ludee Vermaas who lead the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) program at Risen Christ. 

When Walker was ready to join, the Vermaases were beginning a new year-round OCIA program at Risen Christ. The first group was for Candidates who were already baptized Christians. The formation began in July, with the Sacrament of Confirmation scheduled for Dec. 22. 

Deacon Ted and Ludee Vermaas organized the new program because of the tremendous growth at Risen Christ. “Only a few years ago, it seemed no one was interested in becoming Catholic,” Ludee Vermaas said. “Then, in 2023, we had about 18 adults and 17 children enter the Church. It was such a big jump in numbers for us.”

Since 2022, when Father Uhlenkott was assigned to Risen Christ, the parish has grown from about 230 families to 775. “We found that people were coming at different parts of the year and from different backgrounds, wanting to know more about becoming Catholic. So we took our inspiration from Holy Apostles in Meridian and started our own year-round program,” Ludee Vermaas said.

Walker, baptized in the Methodist Church, joined the July class with six others, including his brother-in-law, Austin Manning, who was baptized in a Congregational church. Candidates Deb Doyle and Amber Elliott were baptized and raised Lutheran. Three Candidates, Brady King, Amellaly Medina and Andres Aguirre, were baptized and raised Catholic but never received Confirmation. 

Walker said that Risen Christ made OCIA visible and made the process accessible.

“Prior to Risen Christ, we had attended other parishes where I looked into the OCIA process, but it didn’t seem as inviting for whatever reason. It seemed easier to get information about the OCIA program at Risen Christ. Father Ben, Deacon Ted and Ludee have all been great and made joining and sticking with the OCIA program very fulfilling.”

The first part of the process is an inquiry phase, during which a person learns more about Catholicism in general. “That phase includes several sessions, so it goes into enough depth and lasts long enough for you to make a very well-informed decision about whether you would like to continue into the Catechumenate/Candidate phase,” Walker explained. (Catechumens need to be baptized, while Candidates are baptized Christians seeking full communion with the Catholic Church.)

Walker found the experience of OCIA to be well worth the time. “I enjoyed learning more about the Catholic church, its teachings and positions. It sparked an interest in me to continue learning more about the Church, scripture, my faith, and prayer,” he said. “I feel like I learned so much from the course. I would discuss the materials with my wife, and she would learn things she didn’t know about the Church.” He most appreciated the discussions in the weekly classes.

“I would say, if you think you might be interested, go attend a few sessions of the inquiry phase to learn more about it and see if that is really what you want. It’s very informative, and you will learn something new, even if you decide not to continue with the whole program.” 

The second OCIA track at Risen Christ began in the fall with 22 participants. That track is for Catechumens. Another track for Candidates began this January.

Each track will have its own retreat and classes that take place after receiving the Sacraments of Initiation during the phase of OCIA known as “Mystagogy,” which means “being guided through the mysteries.”

Father Ben conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on the July group members during the Dec. 22 vigil Mass on Saturday evening. 

“I’m so glad I became Catholic,” Walker said. Before receiving Confirmation, he felt he couldn’t participate fully in the Mass. “Now I’m fully in.” He is thankful that he became Catholic while his children are still young so that he can set an example for them as they grow and begin sacramental preparation.

Ludee Vermaas admitted that it was a lot of work to change the OCIA program from one track to separate tracks for Catechumens and Candidates, but the effort provides opportunities year-round.

“It takes a lot of time, but it’s exciting,” she said. “It’s a great problem to have when a lot of people want to become Catholic!”

For more information about becoming Catholic at Risen Christ, contact the parish office at office@risenchristboise.org or (208) 362-6584.

Risen Christ instituted a year-round OCIA process. It’s latest Confirmandi are (from the left), Andres Aguirre, Deb Doyle, Amber Elliott, Ludee Vermaas, Father Ben Uhlenkott, Deacon Ted Vermaas, Brady King, Austin Manning, Ted Walker, and Amellaly Medina.