April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
JOINING THE CHURCH
At 14, Derek is a proud new Catholic
At 14, Derek is a proud new Catholic
The Mechanicville Junior/Senior High School sophomore was baptized a Catholic on June 28, following a year-long "trial run" of attending All Saints on the Hudson parish in Mechanicville/Stillwater.
When Derek was very young, he'd attended a non-denominational Christian church with his parents and was "dedicated" there - that faith's equivalent to baptism - but the family soon stopped going to that church. His mother, Amanda, had been baptized Catholic as a child.
"My mom said God helped her," said Derek, who felt, of late, that his life could use similar help from God.
After speaking with some friends, the teen decided to join All Saints on the Hudson's youth council to become more involved in the community, since council members do service work.
Pulled into parish
Derek enjoyed the youth council so much that he inquired about attending faith formation classes, too. After talking with family friend Debbie Clements, a seventh-grade catechist for the parish, Derek registered for the faith formation program.
"Out of all of the kids, he had perfect attendance" in the classes, said Mrs. Clements.
In faith formation, Derek heard peers talk about being confirmed and moving forward with their faith. "I wanted to get caught up with them," he told The Evangelist.
Derek and his mother approached Rev. Thomas Morrette, pastor, to ask that Derek be baptized.
"What struck me about him was the great sincerity in his eyes," said Father Morrette. "He wanted to be a Catholic. He seemed so excited about that prospect."
Mom and godmother
"My mom really helped me out a lot with making everything happen," Derek recalled: She even attended sessions along with him to prepare for his baptism, learning about basic concepts and foundations of the Catholic faith and rituals of the Church. Mrs. Clements would hold the informational sessions for the pair at her own home.
"I'm a big cheerleader for being Catholic," said Mrs. Clements. She feels the "foundation [of the Church] is our kids. I'll do anything to get them involved in the Church."
Derek found it only fitting to ask Mrs. Clements to be his godmother.
When the day arrived for the ceremony, Derek said he was "nervous and excited" after his months of preparation. It was a private ceremony, held after Sunday Mass for Derek and his friends and family.
"I cried pretty much through the whole thing," said his mother. "I was just overwhelmed with joy. He gets to be blessed and to feel Jesus in his heart."
According to Father Morrette, the traditional process of welcoming an adult into the Catholic Church would take place at the Easter vigil Mass, with the person's baptism, First Communion and confirmation combined into one ceremony.
However, Derek was a special case: "I didn't want to dampen his enthusiasm," Father Morrette explained. "I thought it was best to baptize him right away."
Next up
Now, Derek is planning to make his First Communion in the next few months, so he'll be "all caught up" in time to make his confirmation with his classmates.
Mrs. Clements said she'll continue to be involved in Derek's faith life: "I will be with him through the whole process."
Father Morrette believes that Derek acts as an inspiration for his family and friends in faith. "In this day when a lot of teenagers are often not so enthusiastic [about the Church], he certainly stands out," the pastor stated.
"He's a great kid. He is kind, patient and athletic," Mrs. Clements boasted. "If you were able to pick your kid, you'd want to pick him."
She said her new godson's age doesn't affect her role as godmother: "The only difference is, I'm able to communicate [with him] more."
For Derek, entering the Church as a teenager means that things are "a little different. The kids that are in the [faith formation] class already, they've been doing it since they were little kids.
"Because of my age, I had a choice of whether or not to go to church and be involved. I just feel like that's special," he noted.
"Everything that this kid does inspires me," said his proud mother. "He's just a wonderful kid."
(For information on becoming a Catholic through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults or RCIA program, contact a parish near you or the diocesan Office of Prayer and Worship, 518-453-6645 or prayer&[email protected].)[[In-content Ad]]
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