Oneida parish welcomes five elementary students to the faith
By Dc. Tom Cuskey, editor
It was a quiet Easter at the Spirit of Hope at St. Patrick in Oneida. One of six worship sites making up the merged Madison County parish, St Patrick’s had no one joining the church during the Easter Vigil service, the traditional time when new members to the faith are welcomed.
Students receive First Eucharist from Fr. Ballard as Fr. John Buttner stands by with the chalice of Precious Blood.
The following Tuesday morning was a completely different story, though.
The church was full of noise, full of grace, full of the Spirit as five new members were welcomed to the faith and parish family during a morning Mass. It was squeezed into the school day where all five are students at the parish elementary school.
“This was very special,” said Father Christopher Ballard, Spirit of Hope pastor. “We intentionally saved this moment so the whole community could experience this, so the boys and girls could be inspired by this, that following Jesus is a lifelong endeavor from childhood all the way up.”
Classmates and teachers, family members, friends and godparents filled the pews to witness this unique celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation. It all started one year earlier.
“The five students came forward last year,” according to Tara Dixon, who Fr. Ballard asked to shepherd the group. “The principal (Kristin Healt) asked if anyone would like to receive their sacraments, and they had five that came forward and said they would like to be baptized, receive First Communion and confirmation.” Dixon is a catechist at the parish. “I don’t really think I have a title,” she laughed. “Mark (youth minister Mark Ranieri) asked me if I’d be willing to do that,” and she said yes, something she usually does when it comes to sharing her faith. Her students in OCIC, or the Order of Christian Initiation for Children, included two third graders, a fifth-grade student and two in sixth grade. It was a third-grade student – Alexandra, the lone girl of the group – who came forward first.
From the mouths of babes
We asked Alexandra what made her want to experience this.
The sacrament of Confirmation is bestowed as part of the liturgy culminating a year’s study in the Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIC).
“Because I really support Jesus and I love him,” she proclaimed. And was it everything you thought it would be? “No, it’s crazy. It’s even better. It’s even better than I thought it was.” And when asked what makes it better, she replied “I don’t know … everything!”
Tyler, another of the group, is in fifth grade. He, too, was at a loss for words when asked what prompted him to make the spiritual journey. He did qualify for one tangible, personal goal as a result of receiving the sacraments, however. “Now I get to be an altar server!”
Fr. Ballard, no doubt, is happy to have the help, but more pleased that the Spirit is moving among the students and leading them to take action in their faith. “These children, of their own accord, starting with Alexandra,” decided to answer Principal Healt’s call to action, Father shared. And while their parents were surprised, they were also very supportive. “It’s been great,” Father said. “They could not do [this] without the support of their parents.”
Father Ballard baptizes one of the students while the “other” fathers – Dad and Godfather – look on.
Is it unusual for students in Catholic school to not be Catholic, or to have not received all their sacraments? Fr. Ballard says it’s part of the mystery that accompanies today’s formation in faith.
“There’s a good chunk of our population that is not Catholic. They come to our school because they like the value of a private education, the small classroom size, for various reasons. You don’t have to become Catholic to come here.”
Judging by the number of remaining students who approached the altar to receive the Eucharist, but with arms folded over their chests – the sign that a blessing is sought because they have not made their First Communion yet – there are more potential converts who this day witnessed what evangelization is all about. Father believes it bodes well for more students to perhaps come forward next year.
“I think the children were inspired by what they saw here.”
*Editor’s note: “let the little children come to me” (Matthew 19:14 NIV)
