Yesterday we celebrated Easter Vigil at St. Catherine of Sienna Church. Jason and I have been attending RCIA since Fall 2022. Today was an incredibly extraordinary day not just because of Jason’s Confirmation and my re-entrance into the church after many years. In the Catholic faith this Mass is sacred and recognizes and reaffirms our faith that Jesus has risen and that he has recreated humanity and washed away our sins. In this world, I feel that faith is an important cornerstone in finding ourselves and committing to a purpose larger than our own.

I have always been an avid catholic. Attended Catholic schools from K-12, mass on Sundays, alter server, sang in choirs, and in my young adult hood made my faith my own when I faced difficult times. When I met Jason, and military life took a front row seat, I fell away. I stopped attending regularly, for years I felt disconnected. We were married at the courthouse, Justice of the Peace in 2011, I never received the sacrament of matrimony. All of the others as a full fledged Catholic. Over the years since I met Jason in 2009, I met attempts to get connected again and none of those attempts stuck. I found churches where we were stationed, never staying in one place long enough to get established.

Fast-forward to Jacksonville, Florida 12 years since our marriage. We made plans to get grounded in a community as Jason started the transition out of the military toward retirement. Last year I started attending St. Catherine’s church. Just down the street from our house, I began going with a dear, sweet woman named Judy. Judy encouraged me to keep with it. I tried, a little harder each time. First attending solo with Judy sometimes on Saturday Nights, I made my first attempt with the family last summer. That first time with just Ella and Hazel, Hazel attempted to jump in the Holy Water Basin and climbed up and under the pews. I didn’t think I would ever try again after that experience. I also for some time was discouraged, not ever thinking Jason would come around. Kept with it, going solo with Judy occasionally. Until Judy mentioned RCIA. RCIA was forming classes in August of 2022. RCIA is for those who wish to be Baptized and Confirmed in the church. It is also for people like me who wish to get re-aquatinted if being absent for some time. I went alone to begin. Week after week. Enrolled the girls in Encounter, the religious education program at the church. I would attend, come back and share the papers with Jason, hoping to spark an interest. It did not happen all at once for him. But he started to ask more questions. Halfway through, I would say early this year, Winter 2023…He would start attending RCIA, we would switch off, as we also had the kids at home at the time RCIA would happen. By February, he was attending most of the RCIA sessions himself.

I saw a change in him, at one point or another. He understood the importance of such for all of us. I really never imagined he would be Confirmed, much less come to church. For years, he considered Sundays as sacred in terms of Football and Beer. This change in him has been an amazing thing to witness. I am so proud of him for embracing Catholicism and becoming confirmed in his faith. Now being part of this community, it is so welcoming and close knit.

The Easter Vigil was beautiful and led by Father Andy. The choir, and everyone involved in its preparation did an amazing job. Especially was grateful to our RCIA instructors, who guided us through. It was incredibly moving to see Jason experience this moment, and for us to go through this together. I am incredibly proud of Jason and believe this to be a wonderful thing for us and our family.

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