The journey to the Catholic sacraments of initiation reflects the unique personal stories of the people entering the Church through baptism this Easter.
Logan Tonkin, a student at Conwell-Egan Catholic High School in Fairless Hills, Bucks County, experienced the culmination of her preparation to enter the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass on April 4.
“I wanted to receive all my sacraments so I can be a part of this big family,” she said.
Joining her were 16 fellow students of the school who also received their sacraments that night at St. Ephrem Church in Bensalem.
Altogether, some 85 students in archdiocesan high schools received their sacraments of initiation — including baptism, Eucharist, and confirmation — during this year’s Easter Vigil celebrations in parishes across the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Conwell-Egan theology teacher Mary Cole has accompanied Tonkin in her sacramental journey since the beginning of the current academic year.
“I was talking (in class) back in September about how God created them. I started to open up conversations with her,” Cole said about Tonkin’s road to the sacraments.
“You said you’re ‘nothing,’” Cole remembers saying to Tonkin during a conversation about her religious affiliation.
“I’m not nothing. I’m just not Catholic,’” Tonkin said.
“Well, then you’re not nothing,” Cole replied, noting that Tonkin’s mother had recently died. “She blossomed in my classroom and she just got baptized at the Easter Vigil.”
“Once I got in there and I did everything, I was really happy,” Tonkin said. “I was really excited to be a part of this big family that I’ve been learning about.”
Each young catechumen and candidate came to receive their sacraments in response to God’s movement in their life, whether it’s Tonkin finding a new family in faith or in the case of Korey Francis, the Philadelphia Catholic League’s boys basketball MVP at Msgr. Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast High School, fulfilling the faith of his family.
While their journeys into the Church are unique, so is the path that each school takes to lead their students to full communion in the Church.
As is often the case in parish-based OCIA preparation programs (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) the team leaders’ passion for engaging their faith with the catechumens and candidates is a key feature.
Cole’s sense of initiative in missionary discipleship has catalyzed Conwell-Egan’s ministry of sacramental development.
“I got to Conwell-Egan three years ago,” she said. “I was talking about Mary, and one of our resident international students wanted to understand more about Mary. The Holy Spirit had me ask her, ‘Are you Catholic?’ And she said, ‘No, but I want to be, and no one will help me.’
Though surprised, she wanted to help the student but discovered there was no OCIA program in place. But since she promised to help, she realized she needed “to make it happen. I really had to learn myself,” Cole said.
She took the assistance of her son Deacon Declan Cole, who is set to be ordained a priest for Philadelphia in May, and essentially created the Sacrament Club as an after-school activity, along with chicken nuggets, french fries and Spirit-led accompaniment in faith.
Mary Cole often nudges her own theology students into the club if they haven’t received their own sacraments. Students also use Conwell-Egan’s theology classes as part of their OCIA preparation.
Thirty-eight of those students have received sacraments through her OCIA leadership over the last three years.
“I can’t emphasize the importance of having the right person leading a mission or program,” said Conwell-Egan President Matthew Fischer.
“Without Mary Cole, I don’t know where the OCIA program would be at CEC. That’s not because other people aren’t doing a great job and helping to evangelize students, but Mary has put all the pieces together to make this program work.”
One person cannot guide the faith journeys of more than a dozen students by themselves. Each of these Catholic high schools relies on much help, from campus ministers like Father Brenden Zehner at Conwell-Egan to fellow students who take on the role of confirmation sponsor.
“It’s so uplifting to see students filling the role of sponsor and others attending the Easter Vigil in support of their friends and classmates,” Fischer said. “While Mary is certainly the driving force behind the OCIA program, peer support and mentorship can be so impactful.”
Conwell-Egan sophomore Jackson Dean is another of the Conwell-Egan students receiving the sacrament of baptism this year, marking his entry into the Church.
“I wasn’t baptized or anything. I knew Ms. Cole was doing this thing, and she was telling me about it. I started going to the meetings after school and was learning about what it is to be baptized and confirmed. I thought it would be good for me to get that,” Dean said.
His parents wanted him to make his own choice of faith, and with the help of Cole and the faith community he has at Conwell-Egan, the Holy Spirit led him to choose the sacramental Catholic life.
“I just felt so much happier afterwards, and I felt better,” Dean said about his experience at the Easter Vigil. “It’s like a big thing for me because I chose to do it on my own.”
Share this story