R.C.I.A.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults/Adult Confirmation
R.C.I.A. (short form for Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is an official Church program that helps individuals become a full member of the Catholic Church by receiving the three Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
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If you have any questions, please contact Donna Kothera, Parish Secretary, at 815-455-5400, ext. 400.

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is the formal process by which an adult becomes a member of the Roman Catholic Church.  RCIA is for adults who (1)  have been baptized into another Christian denomination and who now want to be received into the Catholic Church; (2) were baptized into the Catholic faith but who have not completed their initiation into the Catholic Church because they have not received either their first Holy Communion or the Sacrament of Confirmation, or (3) have not been baptized  and would like to join the Catholic Church.

The RCIA process starts in October and runs through Pentecost which occurs in late Spring or early Summer.  There are distinct periods and steps  on the journey to full initiation with one step being the reception of the sacraments of Holy Communion, Confirmation and if necessary Baptism at the Easter Vigil. Individuals begin on the journey to joining the Catholic Church from many different starting points. The RCIA process takes each candidate's religious background into account and seeks to attend to individual needs while forming a sense of community and common journey.