If you have followed my story on all my pages, you will recall that in 2000, when I was 30 years old, I was confirmed and received my First Communion as an adult convert to the Catholic Church. For a few years afterward, we faithfully attended both the Cathedral of St. Jude in St. Petersburg, FL (where I was confirmed) as well as at a local Byzantine Catholic parish. In 2006 though, a series of events in our lives compelled us to attend a traditional Anglo-Catholic parish for about 10 years, and I honestly thought that would be our permanent church home - it was conservative, and I could still remain faithfully Catholic in conviction while fully participating in the parish we attended. So, for many years I served in various capacities in that particular jurisdiction, and actually did so until our recent move back to this area. At that point, some things happened.
First, although our initial parish in Frederick, MD, was the same as what we had been used to for about 10 years, something was not quite right about it and in time we finally decided to move on for various reasons. So, we found right down the street from our house a Roman Catholic parish called St. Joseph's, and earlier this summer we began attending as their Mass times were also compatible with Barbara's work schedule. In time, this eventually led to my taking the steps to return to the Roman Catholic Church, and I was welcomed back with open arms and hearts. That was therefore one reason.
A second reason has to do with my university where I am currently wrapping up a Master's degree, Franciscan University of Steubenville. After being somewhat disillusioned with the direction my alma mater, Southeastern University in Florida (where I had gotten my BA in 1996), I transferred out of the graduate program I had started there in 2012 and transferred to Steubenville. Learning so much about the Catholic faith began to make me recommit to my own Catholic convictions, and later it also became a very pivotal factor in choosing to come back home to the Church. And, here we are. There are of course other reasons, as well as more detail as to our reasons stated, but these two major reasons were the decisive factors in our return to the Catholic Church this year.
I bear no ill will or animosity against the faithful Anglicans I had fellowshipped with for all those years - we had gotten to know a number of good people, and they have been a blessing to us in more ways than I can document here. And, it is not against the Anglican tradition itself - the Anglican spiritual and liturgical tradition is a very rich one, and I also learned a lot from that too. However, with certain opportunities opening up as well as other factors, we have made the right decision.
Our new parish home, St. Joseph Church in Hagerstown, MD
So, it has been several months, and I now am thoroughly Roman Catholic again, and it feels right to be so - I have been able to tap back into a stability and solid faith that is also helping to strengthen me as well. And, I also get to use all that classroom work in a practical way - I have been commissioned as a 6th-grade catechist for our new parish, and am able to disciple an amazing group of about a dozen sharp young people. It is a reward in itself to be able to embark on the high calling of catechetical work that I have been in preparation for, rather than being merely a flunkie somewhere while waiting on the right moment, etc.
I still have a course to plot out, but it is coming together. Being on the verge of finishing my Master's at Steubenville and starting a doctoral program next fall at Catholic University of America, as well as my new membership in the Knights of Columbus and the Confraternity of St. Peter (an organization within the Roman Catholic Church that seeks to preserve the old Mass in Latin, called Tridentine), have integrated me well into our new parish.
I want my former Anglican folks to know I still think a lot of them, and many are still dear friends. Therefore, this in no way reflects upon anything about them - rather, it is just a different direction God has called us to. It took probably about four months of intense soul-searching to come to this place we are now, and I am probably at the most peace I have been personally in a while. It also will serve us as well being that doors can open for opportunities at this point that otherwise wouldn't have, and we have to go where we can achieve a balance of both fulfilling our vocation while retaining life stability. That is the primary reason we are here now.
I also know this will come as a shock to some, and I understand that completely. However, nothing has fundamentally changed much in my convictions - I was always Catholic first as far as my Christian identity is concerned, and that hasn't changed for at least 20 or more years. Now, I can be fully free to live that out, as well as also being more informed about what that faith is now, thanks in part to excellent instructors at Steubenville who have been a phenomenal witness - people such as Dr. Mark Miravalle, Dr. Petroc Willey, Dr. John Bergsma, Dr. James Pauley, Dr. Scott Hahn, Dr. Regis Martin, and of course my ever-reliable admissions rep, Tom Weishaar. Them, as well as those two old Lebanese ladies - Freda Faris and Bertha Nassif - I used to walk to church back all those years ago when I was an awkward 16-year-old who was being prompted to conversion by the Holy Spirit Himself. Any rate, this brief announcement should hopefully answer any questions some may have had lately, and I thank you for understanding. God's blessings be with each of you reading this, and continue to remember myself and my family in your prayers as we begin to step through those doors God is opening for us.
