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RCIA
(Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
RCIA sessions are being held on
Mondays at 7:30PM in the Upper Room of the parish office building. All who may be interested in joining the Catholic Church or adults needing Confirmation are welcome to attend. If you have an interest, please call Sr. Joyce at 847-256-4250. The RCIA team invites you to consider joining us this fall for what could be a journey of a lifetime!
What is RCIA?
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the process that welcomes adults into the Catholic Church. The process begins with a period of inquiry when people considering membership in the Church have an opportunity to ask questions and share information. RCIA meetings take place in an informal setting, with sessions tailored to the needs of the people participating.
Who is a potential RCIA candidate?
RCIA is for adults who may be seeking membership in the Catholic Church. They do not have to be positive from the start that they want to join—they just must be open to the possibility. Some candidates are Catholics who never were instructed or confirmed in their faith. Others have been baptized in another faith tradition or not baptized at all. Some people have never been in a Catholic Church before, while others attend Mass every week with their families.
Is attending RCIA sessions like taking a course?
Yes and no. First and foremost, RCIA is a process to help a person through a spiritual journey. The emphasis is on personal reflection and prayer. Some sessions of involve formal presentations from experts on subjects such as Church history, the Sacraments and the Church’s social teachings. There are no quizzes or exams. Some reading is required and always encouraged.
Who attends RCIA sessions?
In addition to candidates considering membership in the Church, spouses and friends of inquirers often attend. Other regular participants include members of the RCIA team and invited speakers.
Who makes up the RCIA team and what role do they play?
Sr. Joyce Shanabarger, Pastoral Associate, heads up the team, which consists of fellow parishioners. Some have been raised in the Catholic faith tradition. Others have themselves gone through the RCIA process. They share their own faith experiences with RCIA participants and are available to answer questions, provide insights and present information.
Once persons begin RCIA, are they required to complete it?
No. When people are on a spiritual journey, God sets the schedule. Sometimes people begin the RCIA process and after several sessions realize they are not yet ready to proceed to the final step. There is no pressure to complete the process.
How strict are the rules on attendance and participation?
RCIA is a conversion process, and that process differs from one individual to the next. Attendance is not taken, but participants are urged to attend weekly meetings as often as possible. Regular attendance is one sign that conversion is taking place. In the latter part of the process, there are certain rites, such as the Rite of Welcoming and the Rite of Sending, which participants must attend. Our experience has been that as the RCIA process moves forward, participants look forward to the weekly sessions and tend to miss very few of them.
Where are RCIA sessions held?
Sessions are held in the Upper Room of the parish office building at 524
Ninth St.
If you are interested, please contact Sr. Joyce. You may e-mail Sr. Joyce by
clicking here, call her at (847) 256-4250 or simply show up! Information is available in print at the parish office. The RCIA team is willing to send information or have a conversation with any interested persons you may know. Your invitation may open the door, and we are here to welcome and journey with all. Please keep the inviters, the seekers, and the RCIA team in prayer as a new journey begins!
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