If you are exploring the possibility of becoming a Roman Catholic, the Sheil Catholic Center can help your discernment with several options.

RCIA, or the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, is designed for those who have not been baptized; those who have been baptized in another faith tradition; and Catholics who were baptized but never received Holy Communion or Confirmation. 

RCIA meets weekly beginning in mid-October, and is divided into several stages:

• Inquiry. This initial stage gives you a chance to explore the Catholic Christian faith with others.
  
  Inquiry sessions for those who want to know more about the Roman Catholic Church will be held at the Evanston Campus on the below dates. Each session will last from 7 -8:30pm.
  
  October 12, 2011
  October 19, 2011
  October 26, 2011
  November 2, 2011
  November 9, 2011
  November 16, 2011
  November 30, 2011
  January 4, 2012
  January 11, 2012
  January 18, 2012
  
  
• Rite of Election. If you choose to go on toward baptism and/or confirmation, you will then participate in the Rite of Election and continue your study as a catechumen (a person who has never been baptized) or a candidate (a person who has already been baptized).
  
  
• Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation Your study prepares you to receive the Sacraments on the Saturday before Easter at Sheil’s Easter Vigil Mass.
  
  
• Mystagogy. This short, post-sacramental period of mystagogy continued study) in the Catholic Faith follows the celebration of Easter.

If you have been baptized, confirmed and catechized in another Christian denomination, you may speak to a Sheil staff member about being received into the Church after a period of private instruction or after the inquiry period of RCIA. Normally, those who are received into the Church at a time other than Easter will participate in Sheil’s Adult Confirmation classes in the spring.

For more information, please contact Beth Knobbe or call(847) 328-4648.