An Easter story: ‘Let the children come to me’

Oneida area students to be welcomed into the faith

By Dc. Tom Cuskey
Editor

“Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’”  (Matthew 19:14)

At St. Patrick’s School in Oneida, principal Kristin Healt and her team followed Jesus’ command to the letter, and the proof is in the process. The Order of Christian Initiation process, that is.

In September, as the school year was getting underway, a letter went to parents asking them to update information on the sacraments their children had received. “This year, we decided to add a line under the Sacrament of Baptism that said, ‘We would like more information about how to receive Baptism,’” Healt reports. And parents checked the box, opening the door for their children to engage in OCIC, the Order of Christian Initiation of Children. The companion program to OCIA for “adults,” this process is for children aged seven and older.

Healt says that there was willingness among children and parents alike.

“We did have a couple of kids that actually kind of took it upon themselves to talk to their parents,” she shares. “It wasn’t just their parents wanting them to become Catholic, they wanted to … I thought it was neat to see them kind of advocate for themselves, to do what they wanted to do, and to grow deeper in their relationship with God.”

Healt reached out to Father Christopher Ballard, pastor of Spirit of Hope parish, for assistance. “He actually sent over a catechist. She comes a couple of times a month to work with this group of five students, to prepare them for their sacraments.”

The group consists of two third-grade, one fifth and two sixth grade students. Typically, children and adults entering the church through this process of education, reflection and discernment are welcomed during the Easter Vigil liturgy at their parish. For this group, a special Mass will be celebrated  at the school during the Easter season so all of the students will be able to witness and welcome their classmates to the faith.

Healt says it is not unusual, especially in the post-Covid era, for young people to have missed out on what one might consider the typical path to the sacraments. But at St. Patrick’s, it runs much deeper.

“I think our schools are very Christ-centered and very welcoming to anyone,” she says. “We take Catholic kids, we take Protestant kids, we have had Buddhist children before … we just want to bring the good news of Jesus to everybody.”

Does the rest of the student body get involved?

“They’re very supportive of them, and the parents are also” she observes. The student body is looking forward to the upcoming Baptisms. “All the kids are going to get to see the Sacrament of Baptism, they’re going to witness it, which will be really cool. A lot of them probably don’t remember their baptism … so now they’re going to get to see their friends get baptized. It’s going to be really great.”