Five people convert to Catholic faith during Easter Vigil in Frackville

Apr. 8—FRACKVILLE — Five Schuylkill County residents have officially joined the Catholic church.

During Saturday's Easter Vigil Mass at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Frackville, the young worshippers received the last of their sacraments that marked the formal completion of their initiation into the Catholic faith.

In what has been a troubling time for churches across the region, with many closing or consolidating due to dwindling congregations, the addition of five new members marks a special occasion for those who still faithfully attend.

"I'm thrilled," said the Rev. Giuseppe Esposito, pastor of St. Joseph the Worker. "I, as a priest, have given my life to serving God through our Catholic faith. And to see young people who are also very, very interested in growing closer to the Lord, through the faith — it's very inspiring to me."

Over the past several months at St. Joseph, the churchgoers participated in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, the process by which adults become full, participating members of the Catholic church.

On Saturday night, they received the two sacraments marking the completion of their initiation — Holy Communion and confirmation.

The adult RCIA class was composed of Tori Correll, 29, of Pottsville; Matthew Schlegel, 30, of Ashland; Caitlyn Boyer, 29, of Ashland; and Brent Runge, 26, of Lavelle.

Denise Moran, a student at North Schuylkill High School, went through a separate initiation process, although she received her sacraments alongside the others on Saturday.

Different backgrounds

While four of the five worshippers were baptized Catholic at birth, Correll grew up attending a Lutheran church.

During her teens, however, she stopped attending church and became interested in spirituality and New Age concepts.

Correll gave little thought to returning to her religious roots until about two years ago, when she began dating Paul Luke Domalakes, of Frackville, a member of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church.

As she began attending church with Domalakes and his family, she found herself becoming invested in the Catholic tradition.

"It quickly and very easily became a big part of who I was," Correll said. "And I just fell headfirst into it, and I decided that it was time for me to join."

Throughout Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter, Correll participated in a number of events at St. Joseph the Worker to prepare herself for the initiation. She, along with Domalakes and a handful of other church members, participated in a foot-washing ceremony during Thursday night's Mass in the parish hall.

Although Correll initially had reservations about converting to Catholicism, she found that by keeping an open mind, she naturally became attached to the church and the concepts it represents.

"Things that used to worry me didn't worry me anymore, and things made sense," she said. "And I just eased into the faith myself and the people around me."

Schlegel, who was born into a Catholic family, wanted to rekindle his faith after having strayed from it for a large part of his youth.

He entered the RCIA program in part because of his late mother, who wanted to see him receive his sacraments.

His fiancée, Boyer, who was also baptized Catholic, decided to participate in RCIA with him, which made the experience "all the more special," Schlegel said.

Now that they are formally integrated, the couple want to continue deepening their relationship with God and growing their faith.

"I really just want to get closer to God, and all that, definitely," Schlegel said.

Schlegel credits the time he spent in Crossfire Youth Ministries, a community youth group in Ashland, as a major influence on his return to the Catholic faith.

"They are there for the kids, and to help them get connected with God," he said.

Runge, who also grew up Catholic, had a similar experience.

After his baptism, he never received further formation, although some of his family members had wanted him to pursue it.

"I just want to do it for my grandma and uncle and all of them that passed away. I think my grandma wanted me to do it when I was younger," he said. "I just never got a chance when she was alive."

Although never a regular churchgoer as a child, Runge now attends St. Joseph the Worker, as well as St. Charles Borromeo Church in Ashland, where Esposito also serves as pastor.

In the long term, Runge plans to continue attending St. Charles.

"The people (at church) are all very kind," he said. "A lot of people have said they're happy that I've joined the church."

Future of church

Over the past several months, Esposito has led the weekly RCIA classes, which involve learning the basics of history, theology and other important aspects of Catholicism.

"We talk about different aspects of the faith," he said. "We talk about baptism, we talk about trinity, those kinds of topics."

Although he has noticed dwindling numbers in church congregations across the region, Esposito believes that the members of St. Joseph the Worker, overall, represent a devout and dedicated group of worshippers.

"The people who do go to worship want to be there, and they understand why they're there, which is always good," he said.

He added that the church's "future" depends heavily on the younger members who are interested in strengthening their faith.

Although the church typically oversees the initiation of at least one adult member each year, Esposito said it is rare to have five in a single class. The church congregation currently holds about 500 families.

"I was really happy to see five (people) being interested in receiving their sacraments, even just getting to know God a bit more through the Catholic faith," he said. "It's helpful both ways. I'm inspired by it, and hopefully they are as well."

Contact the writer: hlee@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6085