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| our angels dressed for their baptism: Derek Hunter, Alison Blair, Charles Herbert II (aka Chip) A reader commented on this post about a possibility of a story. So here it is. I hope the reader is not disappointed. My searching for somewhere to worship God began when I was in grade school. I went to church with various friends. I did not find my place till I was in junior high school. The name of the house of worship was Avondale Methodist Church. Sunday mornings I went to Sunday School, then church, and come evening time, I attended MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship). I was also active in the church choir. Later, as an adult my momma reminded me that I had considered converting to Catholicism. But I had told her that it sounded too hard. Oddly, I have no memory of this, but there is no reason for her to tell me that and it not be true. This Methodist church continued to be my home base up through the time I was married. Then my husband and I switched to the Methodist church that was close to our home, also it was his sister and brother-in-law's church. We stayed there till our babies were born. Still at age 2, our oldest and his siblings were not baptized. Neither of us wanted them to become members of the Methodist church because both of us had become disappointed in the lack of spiritual nourishment we needed. In the meantime, we had become good friends with a Catholic couple. I loved how they interacted as a family- prayer time, kindness, a general openness to loving others. So I asked about taking instructions in the Catholic faith. I was introduced to Father Grady, the assistant pastor of St. Mary Church. Father Grady continued my instructions until he received a transfer to another parish. So that I could continue, he notified Father Schultz at St. Lawrence to instruct me. So, even before I was baptized, I started going to Mass. (Instruction then was different.) The first time I went to Mass, I felt as if I were home! Even with not knowing Latin, I was warmed by the essence of what was taking place. About a year later, Father Schultz baptized me. The following afternoon the assistant pastor baptized our three children. Their Godparents were our Catholic friends who started me on this road. My husband agreed that our children would be brought up Catholic. So this church became our home parish until I started teaching at St. Mary in 1986. My conversion to the Catholic Faith began at St. Mary, continued at St. Lawrence and at this time, I have gone full-circle whereas St. Mary is my place of worship. And I am glad.  was baptized on Chip's birthday. |
Pictured here is a pen and ink drawing
of St. Mary Church and other buildings
including our school campus.
done by an architect Mr. Tony Costello.
When the prints came out,
my student-teacher gifted me with it.
lovingly linked
to
Rebecca's
Comments
Much love...
of your life story Norma...I was born
into a Catholic family and it is interesting
to hear from someone who chose it for herself.
(these are the things we could talk about
while walking in the morning)
♥ ♥
we take many journeys in life, but none carry such import as our spiritual path. thank you for sharing your footsteps on the path of love.
p.s. your children are beautiful!
xoxo
What a loving story of your yearning for God. Our paths to His love can be a long and complicated (and sometimes torturous)one. Your post has implanted in me a germ of an idea to write about my own journey.
Love,
Annie