Welcome to RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, at the Newman Catholic Student Center. RCIA is the process of becoming a Catholic, a restoration of the ancient process by which adults entered into full communion with the Catholic Church. We believe that your decision to look into RCIA is your response to an invitation from Jesus. If your heart and mind are open, the Lord will help you to know Him better and to grow in knowledge of His Church. Our prayer is that you will find in the Church a spiritual home, a place to grow in God’s grace.

The community of Christ the Teacher parish is thankful for your presence among us. You bear witness to our own faith journeys, and we are walking with you. Your presence among us at the Rites reminds us (from the cradle Catholic to the newly initiated) of our own identity and why we are Catholic.

Sponsors: Your sponsor’s role is to support you in your formation and to help welcome you into the Church. S/he should be someone with whom you feel comfortable praying and sharing your faith life. Sponsors also must be practicing Catholics in canonically valid marriages and receiving Communion licitly. If you don’t have a sponsor, don’t worry -- there are volunteers at the Newman Center who love to serve as sponsors in RCIA!

Gatherings: We will meet each Sunday from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Sponsors are welcome and encouraged to attend each RCIA meeting. Sponsors must attend on the following days: Sunday October 23 (Rite of Acceptance), Sunday February 26 (Rite of Election in Rockford), Sunday March 25 (Reconciliation Service), and of course Holy Saturday April 6 (the Easter Vigil Mass).

Documents: For those baptized in the Catholic Church or in another Christian faith tradition, we will need a copy of your baptism certificate. Write or call the church at which you were baptized and ask them to send you a copy.

Cost: There is a $25 charge to cover the purchase of the 26 Exploring our Faith handouts and other materials. This is the only fee that will be asked of you during the entire RCIA process.

Please feel free to contact Maria Alderson or Fr. del Toro with questions or concerns at any time in the RCIA process. Office phone: 1-815-787-7770
Fr. del Toro – frdeltoro@newmanniu.org (x28 at Newman)
Maria Alderson – mariaalderson@comcast.net (x23 at Newman)

RCIA Schedule