Two weeks after he received his Sacraments, 21-year-old Ali Younes is still energetic about his faith journey.

“[I am] happier and more at peace,” said Younes, of receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion during the March 31 Easter Vigil in St. Barnabas Church, Bayville. “It was a beautiful ceremony. I always wanted to come into God’s community.”

Younes, who said the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults experience brought him “close to God,” is the youngest of four children in an interfaith family. His mother is Catholic, and his father is Muslim. His sisters – Sabreen, 29, Nadia, 28 and Sarah, 26 – were baptized Catholic and will be confirmed and receive First Eucharist on Pentecost Sunday, May 20.

He explained that his parents let the children decide what religious tradition they would follow. Their mother’s deeply religious Catholic family and most especially, their grandmother, lit a spark of faith in the four siblings.

“My grandmother loved God, and she set a real example,” Younes said. “I wanted to find God. I wanted God in my life.”

Growing up in Toms River before moving to Bayville about a year ago, he attended public school and recalled going to the special religious observances of his friends, including First Holy Communions. “I always felt included, but I really wanted to connect to God.”

The chance came when his oldest sister began researching ways for the siblings to come into the Church together. “It was a great experience,” Younes said, adding that the close family dynamics played a significant role in their journey.

“We all encouraged each other,” he said. “We had great teachers who made us feel very welcome and supported. We realized that this was a very good thing.”

By Lois Rogers, correspondent