Faithful friends and encouraging high school teachers inspired Shrine alum, Xavier University freshman to become Catholic
ROYAL OAK — For college freshmen, everything feels new and exciting. There are challenging classes to discover, campus activities to explore and new friends to make. For William Thibault, a freshman at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, something else is new: his Catholic faith.
Thibault received his sacraments of initiation in April, thanks to the inspiration and encouragement of his Shrine Catholic High School community.
Thibault graduated from the Royal Oak school in May. After attending public school since kindergarten, his parents enrolled him at Shrine Academy in eighth grade. Even though his family wasn’t Catholic, Thibault felt welcome and at ease in his new school.
“I had done a camp with some guys from Shrine the summer before, so I already had friends there,” Thibault said.
When he began high school, Thibault embraced his theology classes.
“Will was a good student. He was always engaged and taking it all in,” said Brian Folmar, his junior-year theology teacher. “You could tell the wheels were always turning.”
In January of that school year, Thibault signed up for a four-day Kairos retreat. While the retreat isn’t mandatory, most of Shrine’s junior class attends each year. Many students name Kairos as a highlight of their high school experience, saying the retreat dramatically changed their faith life and their relationship with God.
During his Kairos retreat, Thibault felt a special connection to his friends. While he was always inspired by their faith, he especially admired their example during those four days. By the time he left Kairos, he knew he wanted to be part of the Catholic Church.
Folmar and fellow theology teacher Eric Ruszala assisted at the Kairos retreat. To them, the retreat's impact on Thibault was clear.
“He was surrounded by a phenomenal group of peers — of extremely faithful young men — so I wasn’t at all surprised that they inspired him to go deeper in his faith,” Ruszala said. “Peer evangelization is worth its weight in gold. Those friends can evangelize in a way we can’t.”
Later that year, Thibault began OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) through St. Thomas More Parish in Troy. Curtis Schuelke, the catechetical leader at the parish, worked with Shrine’s theology department and campus ministry to ensure that Thibault was well-prepared to receive the sacraments of initiation.
Despite Thibault’s demanding lacrosse schedule and other activities, he was intent on completing the necessary requirements to become Catholic.
On April 19, Thibault was initiated into the Catholic Church at St. Thomas More, along with the parish's eighth graders. Dozens of family and friends came to the Mass in support and prayer, including Folmar.
“I’ve been at Masses when other students were confirmed, but this one was unique in that Will was easy to spot as a tall high school senior in a group of eighth graders,” Folmar said. “It was beautiful to see, and to see a whole student section from Shrine there for him.”
For his sponsor, Thibault chose Sarah Cerone, principal at Shrine and a family friend, to be by his side.
Isabel Morkoc, the college counselor at the school, was grateful to have a front-row seat to Thibault’s journey to the Catholic faith. Thibault initially spoke to Morkoc about Michigan State University, but after a visit to Xavier, he was eager to apply to the Catholic university.
Overall, Morkoc has noticed an increased interest in Catholic colleges and universities in recent years.
“I think our students recognize how lucky they are to attend a school that is faith-based, and they want to continue that,” Morkoc said. “There’s a movement happening now for young people that it’s cool to practice your faith; it’s cool to do our Friday morning Bible study. So when they visit college campuses, they’re looking for that. It’s wonderful to see.”
Thibault’s parents, Tony and Marcy Thibault, were moved by their son’s journey as well, and by seeing his friends and family surround him with love and support at his confirmation.
“I have never been prouder of the young man he has become,” Marcy said. “Will’s faith has been incredibly infectious. We are so grateful that our son was the one who opened our eyes to the beauty of the Catholic faith. It feels like our own little private miracle.”
In September, Tony and Marcy will begin OCIA classes to become Catholic.
In a February social media post by Shrine, seniors were asked what they were most looking forward to in the coming months. Students spoke of college decisions, final sports seasons, senior festivities, and summer plans. Thibault responded, “I’m excited to complete my process of becoming Catholic and being confirmed in April. Just being around the Shrine environment and my friends influenced me to do that.”
“He could have said anything, but he said he’s most excited about the sacraments of initiation. That really stuck with me,” Ruszala said. “Just like when we see long lines when we offer confession here, or we witness meaningful encounters with the Lord in adoration, it’s gratifying to know that something is clicking with them, and that we can be a small part of the work of the Holy Spirit.”
As Thibault settles into his dorm and classes at Xavier, he has seen a difference in how he approaches his day. He now makes time for prayer and to read his Bible.
“I can definitely feel a big change in my faith in my everyday life,” Thibault said. “My way of praying is getting better, and I read my Bible before I go to bed. Every day I see a bigger shift.”
