New Catholics at St. Rose of Lima cite school as part of draw to the faith

Moved in part by their experience of Catholicism through having children enrolled in St. Rose of Lima School in Franklin, three families were welcomed into the full communion of the Church during the Easter Vigil Mass on April 19 at St. Rose of Lima Church. They are Widd and Jamie Lewis, left, Zahra and Zackery Estes, and Bethany, Xander and James Skaggs. Standing behind them is Father Timothy DeCrane, pastor of the parish. (Submitted photo)

By Natalie Hoefer

A parochial school is often considered a parish’s largest ministry. It can also serve as a parish’s largest form of evangelization.

Take the school of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Franklin, for example.

Bethany and James Skaggs and their son Xander were not Catholic when they enrolled him in second grade at St. Rose of Lima School in the fall of 2023.

“He talked about his religion class all the time,” says James. Bethany notes Xander “would say some of the prayers at home that he learned at school, and James and I would ask him to explain them to us.”

Another non-Catholic couple, Widd and Jamie Lewis, enrolled their daughter Elena in the school’s pre-kindergarten class last fall.

“We went to all the school Masses we could, almost every Friday,” says Widd. “It’s like we were learning with the kids,” Jamie adds with a laugh.

Moved in part by their experience of the faith through the parochial school and also by a parish community both couples call “very welcoming,” James, Bethany, Xander, Widd and Jamie—as well as one other family with a student in the school—were among those welcomed into the full communion of the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass in St. Rose of Lima Church on April 19. A fourth family associated with the school is finalizing details to receive the sacraments of initiation as well.

Below, the Skaggs and Lewises share about their faith journey and the role St. Rose of Lima School played in their draw to the Catholic Church.
 

• Witness of St. Rose community—and ‘Uncle Bill’—draw family to the faith (Skaggs family)
   
• New Catholic couple says ‘God guided us here’ to St. Rose of Lima Parish and School (Lewis family)