I have been meeting at the seven deaneries continuing our focus on “creating intentional discipleship” in our laity, and in our parishes. At one of our deanery meetings a couple shared their journey. I asked permission to use their story in my Catholic Times column as a means of showing successful witness to living this “way of life” which is “intentional discipleship.”

The Spirit truly was alive in all those who blessed this couple and their family when they had all but decided to change their church and denomination affiliation:

One Mass away from leaving the Catholic Church

“It was a beautiful spring morning in May of 2009 as we climbed the steps to what my wife and I had decided would be our last Catholic Mass. We were at the prime of our lives — 24 years old with a 3-month-old baby in tow. Both of us had just landed our dream jobs and we were getting settled into our new home on our family’s new farm. We had it all — or so we thought.

I was born a cradle Catholic, received the sacraments and attended Catholic grade school through eighth grade. I always knew about God and was reminded of him every Sunday as I attended Mass with my family. He, however, stayed within those sanctuary walls, more or less, and when Mass was over we checked him off the list until the next week.

My wife had a similar story: cradle Catholic but she bounced between the Catholic Church and a Protestant church after her parents divorced. We were married in the Catholic Church and kept up our impeccable Mass attendance after we were married, although deep down, we were not exactly sure why.

Although neither of us wanted to admit it, we were missing something but we were not sure what that ‘something’ was. Settling in a new town and having a 3-month-old depending on us, we both knew we had to find whatever it was we were looking for.

So, we searched in the only way we knew how: We went church shopping. It hurts to admit that now, because those same churches I had written off as not ‘doing’ anything for me at the time are the same churches that I love and feel at home at today. Regardless, that fateful May morning was to be the last Catholic church we were going to try before switching denominations.

As we walked in a stranger at the door met us with a ‘Good morning, good to see you’ and a firm handshake; and he meant it. We sat down, probably in someone’s seat, and a little girl behind us whispered excitedly: ‘Look, Mommy, they have a baby!’ Deep down it felt good that someone admitted openly that they had noticed us.

Mass started as I had always known it to, but when it came time for the Gloria the music (which included a guitar, keyboard, bongos and three vocalists) chimed in before I could even reach for my Mass card. They sang that Gloria in a way I had never experienced before; a way that felt glorious! By the time I realized what was going on it was time for the Our Father. Again the music picked up, the whole congregation held hands and the women echoed the men praising our Father. That lead into the Sign of Peace where people left the safety of their pews to shake others (including our) hands.

I began to wonder if we had accidentally wandered into a Protestant church a week early! But Communion came and they approached our Lord with the same reverence I knew from my upbringing. Mass ended and a lady came from the other side of the church to let us know how good it was to see us there and that she hoped she would see us again next week.

She did. That’s all it took. We found what we were looking for before we even knew what it was: intentional disciples. We wanted what they had. We had begun the ‘pre-evangelization process.’

I would love to tell you all that has happened since then: Meeting Jesus face to face at Cursillo, reading and being inspired by the Bible for the first time, sharing openly in a love affair with Jesus with my family. I could go on and on. But I will save that for another time. I want to hear your story first. Let’s use his Holy Spirit to inspire each other just as the first Disciples did and let’s do it like we mean it; let’s be intentional.

There has been no turning back; there is no way to deny this plan God is laying out for us. In the past seven years I have fallen head over heels in love with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and his Catholic Church. His real presence in the Eucharist has become the culmination of a week that revolves more and more around him. I don’t leave him in that sanctuary anymore; I am trying to be his sanctuary carrying him out to the world.

We were one Mass away from leaving the Catholic Church. What are you doing to show the world they are only one Mass away from coming back?”