Frequently Asked Questions

Again, welcome to St. Gilbert! We are a local community of Catholics who are eager to show you our hospitality and our commitment to serving the needs of people in the Grayslake area and the world. We're happy that you're curious about Catholicism and we want to make your inquiry as natural and pressure-free as possible. Hopefully the Q&A below will answer many of your questions and will provide you the means to seek answers to many more.

How do I sign up for the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) process?
While the questions below may help you decide whether you want to explore the RCIA process, if you've already determined that you want to formally explore whether becoming a Catholic is right for you, call St. Gilbert Parish at 847-223-4731 or email Fr. Gene Nowak. There's no obligation to become Catholic by engaging in the RCIA process. Its goal is to give you the insights to determine if God is calling you to become a Catholic Christian, and its style is to avoid any pressure to do so.

How long will it take to become a Catholic?
Fully becoming a Catholic Christian is a lifelong journey, of which the RCIA process is a short piece. The journey to full initiation into the Catholic Church usually takes about 7 months, beginning in September and finishing after Easter.

Why does it take so long?
This is perhaps the most commonly asked question as people formally enter the RCIA process. The journey to understanding what Catholics believe needs to have substantially begun before someone can rightfully be expected to be able to choose whether they wish to be Catholic or not. While it seems long at the outset, most people find it to be time very well spent, and are sad to see it come to a close. We're not kidding! J

Can't I just do it on my own?
Community is a core value of Catholic Christianity. If we are created in God's image, then we are created to live in relationship. There is a real value in exploring with others the question of whether Catholicism is right for you. And there's a real value in the support and belonging that come in journeying alongside others.

What kind of people engage in the RCIA process?
The religious backgrounds of people who attend include some who have never experienced organized religion, some who grew up practicing non-Christian faiths, some who grew up in other Christian traditions, and some who grew up Catholic but grew separated from the Church at some point. The ages of people who attend range from those fresh out of college to those whose grandchildren are fresh out of college. Regardless of where you are in life, all are welcome.

What is the RCIA Process?
It's a name for the journey from the awareness of stirring of faith and curiosity within one's heart, to a life of faith, love, and justice lived in communion with God's people throughout the world. We all enter into the process somewhere along the spectrum between these two points. The informal part of the process is already going on inside of you and has been your whole life long. The RCIA focuses on the formal part of the process and includes time to:
- "break open" God's Word (exploring the Bible)
- develop skills in relating to God (finding a prayer style that works for you), and
- learn about Catholic beliefs and values (formal presentations).

What do Catholics believe?
This is a huge question due to the rich history of the Catholic Church and our Judaic roots. Our beliefs have been built upon the experience and insights of God's people from Biblical times right up to the present. In short, we believe what is expressed in the Nicene Creed. Exploring what we believe in greater detail is the focus of the RCIA weeknight sessions. Join the first few and ask questions along the way!

OK, I understand these things, but what's a "rite" and what's "initiation"?
These are terms used to express that there is some formality associated with the journey to becoming Catholic. "Rites" are ways to celebrate the milestones on the way to journeying towards Catholicism. They don't require you to become Catholic, but they are nice ways to recognize the maturation of your journey if you choose to continue from one milestone to another. The singular use of the word "rite" is a way to tie all these individual "rites" together. "Initiation" is a formal welcoming into the Catholic Church celebrated on the evening before Easter. So the "Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults" is a way to formalize the process of journeying towards becoming a Catholic Christian.