Joining the Church is a family affair

The Groenewegens are five of 27 adults and children joining the Church this Easter

- WCR photo by Bill Glen Wade and Kelly Groenewegen know the move to join the Church means their sons will enjoy being able to take part in the sacraments.

By BILL GLEN
WCR Staff Writer
Red Deer

Gage Groenewegen had a question for his parents before starting his Rite of Christian Initiation of Children classes at Sacred Heart Parish in Red Deer.

"We aren't Catholic?"

Gage, 8, attends a Catholic school where his parents are teachers. Many of his friends are Catholic.

Wade and Kelly Groenewegen have been married 13 years but did not make the commitment to the RCIA/RCIC programs because they could not afford the time. With two more sons - Quaid, 11, and Rhys, 4, - all the boys are actively involved in sports. Taking the Catholic initiation programs, the Groenewegens were looking at four nights out a week.

Shift of priorities

But a year ago, Kelly's curiosity about Catholicism got the better of her and the family shifted priorities.

"It means a lot that our boys feel more a part of the Catholic community. They will be able to participate in the sacraments," said Kelly, a Grade 5/6 special education teacher at St. Patrick's Community School in Red Deer.

Kelly has been teaching in the Red Deer Catholic Regional School Division a number of years while Wade began two years ago. Living the faith daily at their school had an impact on them.

"Kelly wanted to do it last year, but we fought over the S word - soccer," Wade said.

The Groenewegens will become members of the Catholic community when they are baptized this Easter Sunday, part of the largest RCIA/RCIC program this year in the Edmonton Archdiocese.

Seventeen adults and 10 children will be baptized or profess their faith.

"We do a large part of our Catholic living everyday at school. I'm not Catholic but I teach religion," Wade said.

"In (Grade 7) class, we talk regularly about my RCIA journey. Not every student in the class is Catholic, but they follow along because they are interested. I'm up front with them and I tell them we are all on a journey."

Kelly was raised in the Pentecostal Church while Wade's family was "non-denominational."

"Teaching in the system, following the religion curriculum and having our kids in the school, I wanted to learn more about it. It was time," Kelly said.

"I'm glad because we are doing this as a family."

Sister Lynn Rouleau is the RCIA director at Sacred Heart. She says the high number of candidates and catechumens is particularly special given that the parish will celebrate its centennial in June.

Rouleau says the spike in numbers is attributable to two factors: Father Don Stein and the mentoring program in the Catholic school district.

"The whole Catholic school team in Red Deer provides a good system where a concerted effort is made to make faith primary in the schools," Rouleau said.

"The program encourages new Catholic and non-Catholic teachers to attend monthly meetings during the year. They meet members of the community and are introduced to the care and concern of others in the schools.

"I think it sparks something within them, to see such an environment."

- WCR photo by Bill Glen The three Groenewegen brothers – Rhys, 4, Gage, 8 and Quaid 11 – are joining their parents in becoming members of the Catholic Church.

The parishioners are welcoming and do a lot of outreach with friendship meals, Rouleau said. The parish has a social justice orientation.

Fr. Don's presence

But at its heart is its pastor.

"Father Don encourages people. He is very approachable and a big part of this with his support of the RCIA. And we have great catechists. It wouldn't work without this team."

Shona White is one of the teachers who was moved by the school division's mentorship group. With her husband Darrell and their two children (Dallas, 10, and Cody, 8), White began attending Sunday Mass at Sacred Heart.

"We had wanted to get them baptized for awhile when I started teaching at Ecole Camille J. Lerouge School. We have belonged to different churches but we wanted something more.

"We couldn't find a good fit until we went to Sacred Heart. We fell in love with Father Don."

White and her children will be baptized at Easter. She is proud to be a role model for her students.

"The three of us, sharing the same steps in our journey, is incredible. The kids are a little apprehensive about getting wet in front of people, but they're excited. Through RCIC, it surprises me how much they have learned and understand about their baptism."

The depth of Catholicism impressed White.

"I've been a Christian since Grade 8, but I started to see not what I was led to believe from outside the Catholic Church. There was so much learning to be done. I appreciate that."

Spiritual anchor

As their children grow, the Groenewegens know the boys will have a support system when moments in their lives become difficult.

"Seeing Quaid participate in the celebrations, I feel confident that when he is in turmoil as a teenager, he will have something to think about knowing he belongs to something bigger than this year's brand of jeans," Wade said.

"He will have an anchor."

Bob Francis was a neighbour of the Groenewegens in Rocky Mountain House some 20 years ago when he worked with Wade's father. He never met Wade back then, but now he is Wade's RCIA sponsor.

"For one thing, it's an honour to be chosen as a sponsor," said Francis, 49. "It's one of the most important things I could do as a service for anyone, to help them come into a faith community.

"Becoming Catholic is the best thing anyone can do for their faith building."

Francis has been a member of Sacred Heart for more than six years, during which he has become a eucharistic minister. He also leads the parish's prayer group.

"Seeing Wade's faith grow gives me gratitude to the Lord. Every time you go to an RCIA session, you learn something. He has asked some very intelligent questions.

"He is dedicated to his belief system. I can't get into his head of course, but I've seen his realization of the love of Jesus."

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