ROCK ISLAND — Second-grade students at Jordan Catholic School here got a very practical education on the sacrament of baptism last Friday when they witnessed three of their classmates receiving it.

“There is a lot of love and support here for you,” Father Michael Schaab told the newly baptized students, who stood with their parents and were joined around the baptismal font at St. Pius X Church by their classmates and teachers. “Let you live always as children of God.”

The newly baptized include Erik Lee Coulter Jr., son of Erik Lee Coulter Jr. and Taryn Elizabeth Welsh; Jaylen Michael Gore, son of William and Patricia Gore; and Hilari Alexis Wilkens, daughter of Timothy Wilkens and Sara Cox.

Father Schaab told The Catholic Post that as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and Catholic schools in general bring more families into or back to the church, there are increasing requests for child baptisms. This was the first time in his memory that three baptisms from the same grade level took place on the same day.

“It’s a great day,” said Father Schaab as he welcomed the children and adults. Father Schaab then described the sacramental actions and symbols and their meanings before inviting all around the baptismal font.

Two days witnessing their son’s baptism, William and Patricia Gore had a big day in their own faith journey — traveling to Peoria to take part in the Rite of Election at St. Mary’s Cathedral. The Gores, raised Baptist and Methodist, are preparing to enter the Catholic Church through the RCIA. Their decision was motivated by wanting to support Jaylen as he learned the Catholic faith at Jordan.

“We wanted to know what he is learning,” said Patricia Gore, noting that Jaylen attends their RCIA classes with them. “He’s been with us through the whole journey,” she said.