Journey of Discovery...
This is the story of my journey to becoming a Catholic.
It began in 2007, when I met my wife. She was born and raised in the Catholic faith, while at that time I was a member of the United Reformed Church.
As our relationship grew, I began accompanying her to Mass each Sunday, both at our local Catholic parish and whenever we visited her family in Kraków, Poland. Although I attended regularly, I remained very much an observer, trying to understand a faith and tradition that was new to me.
We also made a pilgrimage to Lourdes. I remember hoping that I would experience something profound, but instead I came away feeling that I hadn't made the connection I was expecting. Looking back, perhaps I was searching for something extraordinary, when God was inviting me to encounter Him in a quieter, more gradual way. At the time, however, I simply felt that something was missing.....
Fast Forward....
Over the next fifteen years, the subject of RCIA came up many times. Various people encouraged me to join, but I always felt that becoming Catholic had to be my own decision. I still believe that today. It is a deeply personal choice that only you can make.
As someone who was not Catholic, I found the message of Divine Mercy especially compelling. It was a message of hope and love that resonated with me. As Kraków is the home of the Divine Mercy devotion, we visited the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy every time we travelled there. During those visits, we had the privilege of getting to know one of the priests, Fr Józef, who spoke to us about Divine Mercy and the life of St Faustina. We were also invited to help translate a book from Polish into English based on St Faustina's Diary. I felt truly honoured to be involved, and I would highly recommend reading her writings.
In 2019, my wife went on a parish pilgrimage to Medjugorje. When she returned, she shared her experiences with me, and something stirred within me. I decided that I would attend the next RCIA course, not because I had already made up my mind to become Catholic, but because I genuinely wanted to understand what the Catholic faith was all about.
During the first few sessions, Fr Peter gently guided our group through the teachings of the Church. Looking back, I cannot point to one particular moment or argument that changed my mind. There was no dramatic conversion. Instead, my faith grew gradually, and becoming Catholic simply began to feel like the right step to take.
In February 2020, we travelled to Dublin to attend the Divine Mercy Conference. I found it to be an inspiring experience, with many excellent speakers who deepened my understanding of God's mercy. Shortly after we returned, the COVID-19 pandemic brought the country into lockdown.
I had been due to be received into the Catholic Church at Easter, but the celebrations were postponed until September. Because of the restrictions at the time, our family could not attend, and even participating at Mass required strict safety measures. Although it was not the celebration we had imagined, receiving the sacraments was nevertheless a profound and joyful moment in my journey of faith.
Since becoming Catholic, my faith has continued to grow. We have made pilgrimages to Medjugorje and Assisi, and after moving back to Aldershot, we have become part of the parish community once again, worshipping at St Mary's and St Joseph's. We are really blessed to have Fr Rob as our Priest.
Looking back, I realise that RCIA was not simply about learning Catholic teaching—it was about encountering Christ more deeply and discovering where He was calling me. I would encourage anyone who is curious about the Catholic faith to consider attending RCIA. It is not only for those who are thinking about becoming Catholic or who come from another Christian tradition; it is also a wonderful opportunity for lifelong Catholics who would like to deepen or refresh their understanding of the faith. Faith is a lifelong journey, and there is always more to discover.
What is your story? Have you attended RCIA, would you like to share?
