Witness of St. Rose community—and ‘Uncle Bill’—draw family to the faith

Bethany, left, Xander and James Skaggs pose for a family photo before heading to St. Rose of Lima Church in Franklin on April 19 for the parish’s Easter Vigil Mass, during which the family was welcomed into the full communion of the Church. (Submitted photo)

By Natalie Hoefer

Life can be a series of highs and lows, joys and sorrows. Sometimes those contrasts are concurrent, and sometimes the highs and joys are borne from the lows and sorrows.

James and Bethany Skaggs and their 9-year-old son Xander know this well.

During the 2022-23 academic year, when Xander was in first grade, struggles with his school led to the challenge for James and Bethany of trying to find a school where he could excel.

Then last fall the family lost a cherished loved one, James’ uncle, Bill Skaggs.

It was Bill, a member of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Franklin, who had recommended the parish’s school for Xander and invited the family to come join him for Mass.

And it was the welcome they received from the parish community and the staff at the school—where Xander thrived—that called them to embrace the Catholic faith.

The journey culminated on April 19. On that day, James, Bethany and Xander were welcomed into the full communion of the Church during the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Rose of Lima Church, receiving the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist. (Related story: New Catholics at St. Rose of Lima cite school as part of draw to the faith)

There was sadness that Uncle Bill did not live to witness the Mass.

But there was joy in what James calls “the most peaceful thing I have ever experienced.”

‘It just felt like home’

Although they didn’t realize it at the time, the family’s journey to embracing the Catholic faith began with the need to find a different school for Xander to enter second grade in the fall of 2023.

Bill recommended St. Rose of Lima School. The couple explored the option, liked what they saw and enrolled Xander in the school.

James and Bethany were more than pleased with the results.

“St. Rose is the most amazing school,” says James. “They’ve done so much for Xander. The principal there [Kim Tekippe] is absolutely amazing, and all of his teachers are awesome.”

Like any child, Xander had his favorite class and time of the school day.

“Xander talked about his religion class all the time,” says James. “The school Mass on Friday and religion class were his favorite.”

There were other signs of the fact, too.

“He said some of the prayers at home that he learned in school,” Bethany recalls. “James and I would ask him to explain them to us.”

Growing up, James went to a Baptist church with his family. And while Bethany was not raised in a faith tradition, she “prayed to God every single night.”

But together, the couple struggled to find a faith home for their family.

“We went to a couple of different churches,” says James. “But it seemed like they were all like going to a concert, and we didn’t care for them. We found other churches, too, but they didn’t feel like home.”

One day, “out of the blue,” he asked his uncle Bill about the Catholic faith. “We were very close, and I knew he’d tell me the truth,” says James.

He recalls his uncle’s response: “If you’re serious, I’ll meet you at 4:30 Mass on Saturday.”

“So, one Saturday I showed up,” says James. “And then I kept going and going and going.”

Bethany and Xander joined him.

James says Father Timothy DeCrane, the parish’s pastor, “and everyone at St. Rose were just awesome and really welcoming. People came up to give us hugs saying, ‘We’re glad you’re here’ and ‘Call if you need anything.’ It just felt like home.”

Through Bill’s guidance, the welcome they received from the parish and school community and Xander’s unknowing witness, James and Bethany knew they had found the faith they’d been yearning for.

When they enrolled in Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) at the parish last fall, it was not just to learn more about the faith, says James: “It was to become Catholic.”

‘I couldn’t quit smiling’

Bill had hoped to be his nephew’s sponsor. But he was sick—“sicker than we thought,” James notes. “We built an addition on the house, and he moved in with us.”

Despite the family’s care, Bill Skaggs died in November.

Father DeCrane was with him when he passed away. But before Bill died, he asked a favor of the priest.

“Uncle Bill had bought Xander his first rosary,” says James. “He gave it to Father Tim, and Father Tim gave it to Xander at the funeral.”

The morning of the Easter Vigil Mass “was difficult,” James admits. “I was down because Uncle Bill wasn’t there. I even called Father Tim.

“Xander was having a bad time, too. He and Uncle Bill were going to wear matching suits and go out to dinner after [the Mass]. Father Tim reminded him even if you can’t see him, he’s there.”

Xander says his favorite part of the Easter Vigil Mass was being baptized—which is a bit ironic.

“When Xander started going to Mass at first, he was upset because he couldn’t have the Body of Christ,” Bethany recalls. “Uncle Bill explained to him that you have to be baptized in the Church first. In [Xander’s] eyes, that meant ‘dunking,’ and that scared him. Once he found out he wasn’t going to be ‘dunked,’ he was excited!”

Being baptized was also a memorable moment for James.

“It was the most peaceful thing I ever experienced, like I was the only person there,” he says. “It was like just me and Christ. I couldn’t quit smiling.”

Bethany felt joy, too, but expressed her emotion in tears.

“The best thing for me was receiving the Eucharist for the first time,” she says. “It was always my favorite part of the Mass, but I couldn’t take part in it. I believed in [Christ] and prayed to him, but I didn’t truly feel his presence until I finally got to receive Communion. I just cried.”

The communion of saints—above and below

During OCIA at St. Rose, catechumens and candidates took time to research the saints, looking for one to choose as a patron for their confirmation.

For James it was St. Hubert, the patron saint of hunting.

“I’m an avid hunter, and I love the outdoors,” he says. “I was looking up a saint I could relate to, and when I saw him, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s my saint!’ ”

Bethany says St. Dymphna chose her rather than vice-versa.

The saint, most often known as the patron for those suffering with anxiety and depression, is also the patron of those who have lost a parent. That patronage spoke to Bethany, whose stepfather died in March.

“I had three saints in mind” for her confirmation, she says. “But when they asked me who my saint would be, St. Dymphna just popped out.”

As for their son, his choice was easy: “St. Francis of Assisi, because he picked up trash,” says Xander.

After a chuckle, James explains.

“Xander will tell you this is God’s Earth,” he says. “He gets so mad when people throw trash on the ground. He says, ‘You have to keep the Earth clean,’ and St. Francis took care of the Earth.”

Bill Skaggs now walks with Hubert, Dymphna and Francis among the deceased communion of saints.

But thanks in part to Bill—and the welcome and witness of St. Rose of Lima’s parish and school communities—James, Bethany and Xander are now counted among the living communion of saints.

And James and Bethany, like their beloved Uncle Bill, are now leading others to the faith, too.

“We raised two nieces. One of them is 18,” says James, who then proudly adds, “She’s going through OCIA classes at St. Rose in the fall.” †