Three Notre Dame students are baptized on campus

Children of Notre Dame staffer receive the sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist in a special ceremony at the school chapel.

The Campbell children, from left, Rylee (8), a Notre Dame 3rd grader, Haleigh (11), 5th grade, and Liam (5), kindergarten, were baptized on January 21 in the school chapel.

In a beautiful ceremony last Sunday conducted by NDPMA's corporate president Fr. Leon Olszamowski, s.m., and campus minister Fr. Ron Nikodem, s.m., and attended by a host of friends, relatives and co-workers, Notre Dame's alumni director and cheer coach Beth Campbell celebrated the baptism of her three children at the school chapel.

According to Campbell, it was her children, Haleigh (11), Rylee (8) and Liam (5) — all students at Notre Dame — who were the primary catalysts behind the decision to be baptized. Haleigh and Rylee also received their first Holy Communion after they were baptized.

"I was raised Catholic but always wanted my kids to decide on their own whether or not to join the faith," she said. "Their grandparents have been quietly encouraging this for a number of years and I also believe that the example demonstrated by Notre Dame teachers have helped guide my children along this path.”

Best day of her life

In fact, Campbell said, when her children first became students at Notre Dame in 2015, she noticed a definite increase in their desire to become more fully vested in the church.

Fr. Leon Olszamowski, s.m., with the help of Fr. Ron Nikodem, s.m., and godfather, Michael Burke, baptizes Liam Campbell in the NDPMA chapel.

“The kids have been asking me about Catholic sacraments for more than two years," she said. "As they would learn about them in religion class, they would desire them that much more. Teachers at the lower division, such as Kim Kreisel and Donna Stuk, have really helped them to fully understand what it takes to become official members of the Catholic Church. The kids were so genuinely excited and looking very much forward to Sunday. Afterward, Rylee even told me it was the best day of her life.”

Olszamowski said Sunday’s ceremony is a sure sign that Catholic schools continue to bel incubators of the faith. “The Archbishop’s recent initiative to 'unleash the gospel' has happily taken root here at Notre Dame," he said.

Six godparents

For Haleigh's baptism, Dr. Dirk Snyder and Campbell’s sister, Michele Snyder, were the godparents. For Rylee, they were NDPMA head of school Andy Guest and family friend Samantha Mularski. Liam’s Aunt Christine and her husband, Michael, served as his godparents.

After the ceremony, Olszamowski noted that there is simply nothing like a Catholic school to educate children in the faith, to teach them how to pray, and give them the tools and practices necessary to be of service to other people.

"I was excited and proud to bring three new members into the Catholic Church," he said. “My personal hope is that we will continue to have converts to the faith nurtured in our school environment."

Parent’s best gift

Campbell said it was breathtaking to see her children experience such a day on Sunday.

"As a parent, you can only pray that your children have a desire to serve God," she said. "Seeing my kids joyfully accept the Lord into their life was the best gift a parent could ever get. Having it here at school, with not only our family but our school family, made it that much more special.”

Notre Dame's alumni director and competitive cheer coach Beth Campbell is with her children, Haleigh, Liam and Rylee, after the Jan. 20 ceremony.

She also had high praise for the ceremony's chief celebrant.

"Fr. Leon was amazing," she said. "He met with my kids numerous times and really got to know them. He also met with me and planned every detail of the Mass to make sure it was going to be perfect! Faculty and staff from all three division were there and the well wishes are still flooding in. I knew a long time ago that God brought me to Notre Dame for a reason, but yesterday was the ultimate blessing for me and my kids."

Haleigh, Rylee and Liam’s family gathers for a photo after the Jan. 21 celebration.

More photos of Sunday's ceremony are here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.

Follow Notre Dame on Twitter at @NDPMA.

About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org