32 AQUINAS LANDMARK | SUMMER 2026 focus on faith Staying Connected Through Faith Sometimes, staying connected doesn’t begin with certainty, it begins with a quiet feeling that something is missing. For Reena O’Reilly ’27, Molly Reinard ’26, and Gracie Reinard ’28, that feeling led them down a shared path, one rooted in faith, strengthened by community, and ultimately fulfilled through the Sacraments of Initiation on Holy Saturday. All three students are members of Aquinas’ Mission & Ministry Core Team, a program established by Director of Mission & Ministry, Mrs. Jodi Schott P’29 & ’32 during the 2022-2023 school year. Students in Core Team lead by example; organizing retreats, supporting liturgies, and fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging. This year, for Reena, Molly and Gracie, their leadership took on a more personal dimension. They each felt called to deepen their faith. “I thought I missed my chance.” Reena’s journey wasn’t straightforward. Raised Catholic, she attended Mass regularly growing up, but like many, that routine was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. When she later tried to pursue her Confirmation through her parish, the experience left her discouraged, time had passed, and she believed the opportunity was gone. “I felt lost,” she shared. “I would come home from school thinking, ‘I claim to be Catholic, but I don’t feel complete.’” It wasn’t until she freely expressed all of this to Mrs. Schott, that everything changed. Through Aquinas’ connection with St. John Fisher University, and Deacon Jonathan Schott, Mrs. Schott’s husband, Reena was able to grow in her faith through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Reena realized something she hadn’t before: Her journey wasn’t over, it was just beginning. “This opportunity changed my whole perspective,” she said. “I had learned about OCIA through Theology class but never thought it as an option for me. I finally felt accepted. I felt called.” A Shared Journey, Strengthened Together For sisters Molly and Gracie Reinard, the decision came from a desire to feel more connected, not just to their faith, but to the people they love. Molly had been attending church regularly with her grandmother, but something felt incomplete. “I didn’t like that I couldn’t receive Communion,” she said. “I wanted to feel more connected to my faith and to my grandma.” Like Reena, Molly turned to Mrs. Schott, who introduced her to the OCIA process. What began as a personal step soon grew into a shared one, as Molly invited her sister to embark on the journey together. Gracie welcomed the opportunity, seeing the journey as a way to deepen her relationship with the Church and to honor the faith that meant so much to her family, especially her great-grandfather, who has since passed. “We had a special bond,” Gracie shared. “I know how proud he would be of me and my sister, that after attending Greece Athena, we now attend Aquinas and chose to take this step to receive our Holy Communion and Confirmation.” With the support of their parents, and encouragement from Mrs. Schott, both sisters embraced the process together. “This experience brought us even closer,” Molly shared.
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