Here’s a great interview, below, with the young Diocese of Lansing native who was baptized by Pope Leo XIV. 26-year-old Alaina Skellett was christened by Father Robert Prevost OSA, now Bishop of Rome, back in the summer of 1999 when he was substituting at Saint Matthew parish in Flint for a week while pastor and good friend, Father Fred Taggart OSA, was away on retreat.
“I've always known as he was rising through the ranks because my dad was keeping track of him,” said Alaina to ABC 12 News, May 14, explaining how last week, upon the election of Cardinal Prevost as pope, her father texted her to say, “OH MY GOODNESS! All in caps!”
Alaina’s dad, Jim Skellett, first met Father Prevost at Saint Matthew during the parish’s 75th anniversary celebrations in 1986. Jim then spent six months with Father Prevost at the Augustinian seminary in Chicago before the future Holy Father departed for Peru to undertake missionary work. However, the two men have kept in touch in the years since. Alaina told ABC 12 News that she still cherishes the images of her baptism at the priestly hands of Father Prevost.
“My favorite photo is the one where he's just looking at me as a baby, and I think that speaks to his caring and his generosity, and it really touches my heart seeing that picture and then knowing what he becomes, because it reminds me of Jesus.”
According to ABC 12 News, Alaina was a nationally ranked swimmer, attended the University of Miami, and is now a high school swim coach in the Miami area. She's also engaged to be married. It’s a wedding to which Pope Leo XIV will be duly invited.
“He will also be getting an invitation to the wedding, and we'll see if he shows up!” said Alaina laughing.