Candles in the Dark, Finding Faith in Catholic Schools

May 21, 2025

By Jake Shama

The lights were low in the sanctuary, the silence punctuated by prayer and anticipation. For Braylen Thomas, a sixth grader at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Des Moines, the Easter Vigil Mass was unlike any he had experienced. Holding his own lit candle, he felt the weight and wonder of the moment.

“Getting baptised felt good as we realized what a big deal it was to become a member of the church,” Braylen said. “It was really neat to be able to get the bread and the wine … carrying our own lit candles felt like a big responsibility.”

That responsibility – embracing the Catholic faith – wasn’t shouldered alone. Braylen received his first sacraments alongside his brother, Bryson Thomas-Hamrick, a second grader at Holy Trinity.

Braylen was moved by the unexpected wave of support from classmates, who not only made posters but showed up at the Vigil Mass to witness the boys’ entrance into the Church.

Adding to the profound sense of community, four generations of their own family were present, surrounding them with love as they received the sacraments.

Braylen and Bryson’s journey, culminating in that candlelit ceremony, is a powerful symbol of a quiet but significant movement happening within the Diocese of Des Moines Catholic Schools. 

During the 2024-25 school year, no fewer than 45 students, from second graders to high schoolers, and four dedicated teachers chose to become fully initiated members of the Catholic Church through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) or related processes. 

Their stories reveal that these schools are far more than centers of academic learning. They are vital spaces of spiritual discovery and belonging.

Seeds of Faith in the Classroom

For many students, the decision to explore Catholicism arises naturally from their daily experiences within the school walls. It’s not necessarily one single event, but rather a collection of moments – a compelling lesson, an authentic witness, a sense of community – that opens the door to deeper questions.

Ellis Vaughn, a sixth grader at Sacred Heart Catholic School who entered the Church alongside his brother, Grayson, attributes his decision directly to his school experience. 

“From being in Catholic school this year, I learned more about God and became more engaged and interested in the faith,” Ellis explained. “I learned from my classmates, my religion teacher, and from going to Mass each Wednesday.”

Their mother, Michelle Vaughn, watched their journey unfold with admiration. 

“As their parent, I have been impressed and inspired by their journey,” she said.

At St. Malachy Catholic School in Creston, students express similar ideas. Third grader Natalie Miller said religion classes helped her decide to become closer to God. Second grader Bryson Berry said he was becoming Catholic because his family and friends are also part of the Church. And sixth grader Hank Shinn saw it as a source of strength.

“I decided to join the church because it would make my life and challenges easier through Christ,” Hank said.

The impact was perhaps seen most prominently at St. Theresa Catholic School, where 15 students have or will soon join the Church through the sacraments of baptism and first Communion. Jane Ann Becicka, director of Evangelization and Formation at St. Theresa, said it’s unusual to have so many school children baptized during the year.

“Most of the children have attended St. Theresa School since they were in preschool … Some are adjusting to life in Iowa as refugees, some have had difficulty securing suitable godparents, and some of the parents were not raised in the Catholic faith,” Becicka said. “Seeing the fruits of living the faith in the lives of other families and at school, and encouraged by one another, parents sought baptism for their children.”

Teacher Becomes the Student

The path into the Church isn’t solely walked by students. Educators, immersed daily in the schools’ faith environment, are also learning about the faith and finding themselves drawn to full communion. Sam Vos, a first-year kindergarten teacher at Holy Family Catholic School in Des Moines, is one of them.

Having been confirmed in another denomination years ago, Vos felt something was missing. Taking a position at Holy Family wasn’t initially planned, but it felt right. Soon after, she started attending Mass. 

“The Catholic church felt like the missing puzzle piece in my faith journey,” Vos said. 

Now, having entered the Church this Easter alongside colleagues Stefanie Mueller (second grade) and Liz Weiss (prekindergarten), Vos feels her own faith journey enriching her teaching. 

A Welcoming Church, A Growing Trend

This influx of new Catholics within the school communities mirrors a broader trend observed both locally and nationally. Parishes like Christ the King in Des Moines, which welcomed around 30 people into the Church this Easter season (including children from its school and parish programs), offer insights into why this growth might be happening now.

Father PJ McManus, pastor of Christ the King, suggests several contributing factors. Some of it involves “covid clustering,” as the Church helps individuals catch up on sacraments missed during the pandemic years. There’s also been a renewed emphasis on retreats and faith experiences in many parishes.

Crucially, there’s a strong emphasis on intentional welcome and personal invitation. Christ the King cultivates a “natural charism for hospitality,” ensuring fellowship opportunities after every Mass. Staff and volunteers actively look for newcomers and extend personal invitations to explore the faith.

There are cultural changes as well.

“Ten years ago, you just didn’t have unbaptized Hispanics,” said Fr. McManus. “Children might be one or two years old when baptized, but there was a deep understanding of the importance of baptisms. Families often would wait until everyone could go to their homeland, or family from their homeland could come here for the celebration.”

But secularization is occurring in Latin America, like in the United States, and there is a pool of people ages 18-25 who are not baptized. Therefore, there’s a larger pool of adults interested in OCIA, and information about formation programs like OCIA is shared widely in welcome packets and special Masses.

Parish leaders know the importance of sharing the faith in schools too. Fr. McManus visits classrooms every year to chalk an Epiphany blessing on doorways. Jason Feeney, coordinator of evangelization, invites school parents who haven’t completed their own sacraments to talk about continuing their sacramental journey.

This culture of invitation resonates deeply within the schools themselves. They embody this welcome, creating environments where questions are encouraged, and faith is presented as a relationship, not just a set of rules.

Nurturing Faith, Fulfilling a Mission

Superintendent of Schools Donna Bishop emphasizes that fostering this environment is central to the schools’ identity. 

“Our goal is to create an environment where students feel safe asking life’s biggest questions and can encounter the living Christ,” she said. “We strive to integrate the beauty of the Catholic faith authentically and joyfully into everyday learning, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in each individual’s heart while respecting each person’s journey.”

Diocese of Des Moines Catholic schools are demonstrating they are more than educational institutions. They are communities where faith is actively lived, questions are explored, and individuals are finding a place to belong – body, mind, and spirit.