Why did I become Catholic?
The following people participated in their parish's Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, which is the process for adults to enter the Catholic Church. They were among the 511 people who received the sacraments of initiation — baptism, confirmation and Eucharist at Easter Vigil Masses across Arkansas on Holy Saturday, April 23, 2011.
It Feels Right
"Daniel and I got engaged and he's Catholic. I wanted to be the same denomination as him when we got married, so that would be another thing we had in common. That's what it started out as. When I came here, I realized it was really good for me too. It's been good going through all this and learning more about the Church. I've been going to Mass with him ever since we've been dating. It feels right. It feels like the thing I need to do. He's not making me. This is my idea, and it's been good for me and for us. It's definitely brought us closer together and both of us closer to God." — Andrea Smith, candidate, Our Lady of the Holy Souls, Little Rock
It's Unfaltering and Sincere
"My husband was brought up Catholic. I saw how devout he was in his religion and how he stayed true to it. I've been to various Baptist and Methodist churches and just didn't feel like I'd found my religion. I've been going to church where I found my religion, because it is something that doesn't fall through and doesn't change. It is the religion and any other religion has broken off from this. It is the faith that I see at church and through other Catholics. It is nonfaltering and sincere. You're being held accountable for your actions here on earth and you live your life to get to heaven and be more God-like. You're not just saved. You're continuing on to be a better person and make it to heaven. My daughter, Jordan, is doing this with me, and another daughter is making her confirmation and first Communion. We're all celebrating. For all three of us to do this, it is a real special time." — Kelly Simmons, candidate, Our Lady of the Holy Souls, Little Rock
An Experience to Share
"A lot of my family was Catholic when I was growing up, so I always had an interest in the Catholic Church. I started watching EWTN and reading people like Scott Hahn. Just all of it together, I felt led by the Holy Spirit to do it. It was an intellectual curiosity at first, and then I felt I was led by the Spirit to do it. My next door neighbor is a Catholic and a member of Immaculate Conception. He suggested that I come to the RCIA classes. At the time, I wasn't committed yet, but I had an intellectual curiosity about it. I came up here and what Father (James) West told us made a lot of sense. He answered a lot of the questions that I had and it all started to fit together. My wife and I have been married 35 years and this has been something we could share together. It makes it incredibly special to do this with her." — Leslie Denison, candidate, Immaculate Conception Church, North Little Rock
"It's kind of by accident. Leslie was the one who was interested in Catholicism. I didn't even know a Catholic until I went to college. Everybody I knew was Baptist and Methodist. Leslie and I have been married for 35 years, both raised Baptist and were practicing Methodists as adults. For him it was never a good fit. There were so many questions. He was the one who had all the questions and wanted to go to the classes. Leslie asked me to go. I said, 'Yea, I'll go with you, but I'm not going to convert.' I was resistant to it at first, only because it was foreign to me. As the months have gone on and the more in-depth we've gotten, the more it felt right to me. I feel comfort that I've come to this decision and I can share this with Leslie. I want to belong to the same church. It draws us closer together. It is very special that we can do this together." — Shelley Denison, candidate, Immaculate Conception Church, North Little Rock
He was Calling Me
"My intentions were to check it out and then work on converting (my husband Anthony) to becoming a Baptist. But the more I went to classes, the more I realized the teachings matched much of what I already believed, and the more I realized the Lord was not just calling my husband, but also calling me." — Joann Baca, candidate, St. Louis, Camden
To Stay Strong in Faith
"There are two main reasons that I chose to become Catholic. The first one would be that I married into a wonderful Catholic family. My wife was born and raised Catholic and I feel that it is extremely important for us to see eye-to-eye with our religious beliefs. The second one is simply that I needed the structure of the Catholic Church to help me stay strong in my faith. I have always been a Christian, but I found that as I got older I needed to be more accountable for my actions and the Catholic Church helps me to walk along the right path." — Buckley Blew, elect, St. Joseph, Fayetteville
With an Open Mind, Open Heart
"I was raised Baptist and didn't know (the whole picture) about Catholicism. I didn't know much about the saints or the rosary. I'd heard about Catholic weddings and always wanted to have one. When we got engaged, I came here with an open mind and an open heart. Now, my fiance, Wesley Northey, and I pray the rosary every night. While living in Zambia for five months, we worshipped at a Catholic church with (the locals). Maybe God was getting me ready for this. (My fiance) and I have had a great experience and we want to come back to RCIA next year." — Lauren Boozman, candidate, St. Joseph, Fayetteville
In Love with Virgin Mary, Rosary
"I had romanticized feelings about the Catholic religion. It was something I could share with (my father, who died when I was 8). I read as much as I could. I was in love with the Virgin Mary and I wanted a rosary. ... I became Anglican, as close to Catholicism as possible and my son was baptized Anglican. ... I married a Roman Catholic and when our daughter was born and christened, I realized she was going to be Catholic just like that ... and why didn't our family match? My son and I have been attending RCIA classes and at the Easter Vigil, we will make first Communion together." — Maryeileen Hutchcraft, candidate, St. Joseph, Fayetteville
Place to Worship Together
"I grew up attending an Assembly of God church and didn't attend church regularly during my first marriage. When I married Melvin, a lifelong Catholic, we tried to find a church where we both felt at home. He wasn't happy at different churches, and I knew that we both needed to be happy. After moving from Natchitoches, La., to Van Buren, we began attending Immaculate Conception Church. I started understanding Catholicism more, and it felt right. I received an annulment and joined RCIA. My oldest daughter, Leslie, had become a Catholic when she married three years ago. She and my mother-in-law, Mary, are my biggest support system, and she is encouraging my other children to become Catholic too." — Liz Moreau, candidate, Immaculate Conception, Fort Smith
Following in Son's Footsteps
"It really started when Connor (my 10-year-old son) received his first Communion here at St. Vincent's last year. When his dad and I walked up with him for his first Communion, I had to cross my hands and not receive holy Communion. It hit me then that I wanted to share this with him." After her first RCIA class last fall, Connor asked Austin if she was becoming a Catholic. She replied, "Yes, I want to share this journey with you." Connor said, "I'll teach you what you don't know." — Meredith Austin, candidate, St. Vincent de Paul, Rogers
Sacredness of Eucharist
"I always had a longing to become Catholic. My mother was raised Catholic, but left the Church when she married Dad. I was raised Presbyterian. I would occasionally visit the Catholic church with my mom's siblings and my friends, and I was really attracted to it. I love the sacredness of the Eucharist and worship. Worshiping in a Catholic church is like a prelude to heaven. I also admire and respect the Church's teaching on not giving in to worldly ideas and concepts. My mom was Agatha after St. Agatha (born Feb. 5), and Agatha will be my confirmation name in honor of my mom." — Betty Johnson, candidate, St. Edward, Texarkana