Kaitlin Rinker, 16, has sensed her baptismal call since she was child during her second open heart surgery.
“I remember I met Jesus and he had said to me, ‘You’ll get through this and remember to fight,’” Rinker said. “At that moment I knew my faith was an important part of my life.” Rinker has had a total of three open heart surgeries over the years and her connection to Christ since then has never faltered.
Rinker has endured physical suffering, and has also been through her parents’ divorce. In spite of all of these things, Rinker held her faith close to her heart and believes that her faith is what has seen her through all of it. Her stepmother, Jackie Haladay, has been Rinker’s cheerleader when it comes to attending Mass and staying connected to the Church. Rinker has continued to attend faith formation classes in the form of CtR’s Youth Ministry programs, Rise and Encounter. Through these programs Rinker was inspired to begin exploring the Rite of Christian Initiation. Haladay then became Rinker’s godmother and RCIA sponsor along with being her stepmother. Haladay has helped Rinker arrive at the baptismal font and has been a source of support and a good example of a Christian witness.
“Jackie and I have been through a lot,” Rinker said. “She is honestly my second mom. She has helped me through the really hard times and cheered me on in the great times. She helped me find what I was looking for by taking me to church, Sunday school and reading the Bible with me. Finally, after seven years of waiting, I got my dream because of Jackie’s acts of kindness.”
Rinker’s dream of baptism was realized this Easter and Rinker said it was something she had been waiting for since that second open heart surgery.
“It was breathtaking when we were holding our candles while going into the church,” Rinker said. “The church was dark - only lit were the candles. It was really amazing.”
Rinker is glad and excited to have been welcomed into the Church at Easter and looks forward to continue going to Encounter with CtR’s high school Youth Ministry.