By Jacqueline Gilvard Landry
Voice correspondent

“God has loved us since the day we were born,” said Braeden Dawdy. “When I become Catholic, I will become even closer to God.” On Holy Saturday at St. Philip Neri church in Alameda, 8-year-old Braeden will indeed become Catholic, alongside his entire family.

Greta Rosenberger, director of adult faith formation at St. Philip Neri Parish, carries the Book of the Elect containing the names of the Dawdy family during the Rite of Election at the Cathedral of Christ the Light, March 8. GREG TARCZYNSKI PHOTO

Melissa and Connell Dawdy and their daughters Evelyn, 7, and Ella, 13 months, will join Braeden in receiving the sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church on April 11.

It was Braeden’s and Evelyn’s interest in the Catholic faith that helped inspire the Alameda family to convert, said their mother Melissa.

“We had not been members of any church in Alameda, but wanted to make religion a larger part of our children’s lives,” she said. So the couple enrolled their school-age children in St. Philip Neri Elementary School, where Braeden is in second grade and Evelyn is in first grade.

“Both Braeden and Evelyn showed a lot of interest in their religious studies at school,” said Melissa, especially Braeden. “(He) did always talk about it with excitement. He showed a lot of passion in what he was learning about.”

“Since they were both attending a Catholic school and went to Mass regularly and it was such a big part of their lives,” Melissa Dawdy continued, she and her husband decided to await Ella’s arrival and then baptize the three children in the Catholic Church.

In exploring baptism for their children with Father Joy Kumarthusseril, pastor at St. Philip Neri, Melissa and Connell were drawn to the Church and last fall began the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults—the program required for becoming Catholic.

“The more we learned, we decided we wanted to be resources for our children and experience the joys of sharing religion with them,” she said.

That is something their RCIA instructor liked to hear. “Parents are the primary catechists  . . . they really are the first teachers,” said Greta Rosenberger, the parish’s director of adult faith formation.

Melissa said she was baptized in the Methodist church and Connell was raised Catholic, but their baptismal records cannot be found. All five Dawdys will be baptized; Melissa, Connell and Braeden will also be confirmed and receive first communion.

RCIA has been a bonding experience for the family. “I like the whole idea of faith and the togetherness. It just brings a warm feeling inside me,” Connell Dawdy said.

“You think about your marriage and family in spiritual terms on a more daily basis,” Melissa added.

The family is also observing Lent together. Melissa, Connell and Evelyn said they gave up sweets and “indulgent foods,” while Braeden sacrificed his favorite video game.

So how will the Dawdys celebrate their first Easter as Catholics? Dusting off the Nintendo DS was not the top priority for Braeden, who suggested lighting “special cross candles.”

Likewise, Evelyn’s plans focused not on the Easter chocolates forbidden during Lent, but on Christ. “We could say a special prayer to Jesus,” she said.

This year in the Oakland Diocese, 182 adults and 81 children will be fully initiated into the Church at the Easter Vigil. Another 279 baptized adults will either be received into full communion or will complete their initiation through reception of Confirmation and Eucharist.

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