Having faith
Four adults become Catholic at St. Paul’s on weekend
Justine Vessey attended her first Roman Catholic mass two years ago. She said she was blown away by the beauty and goodness of it, and the sense of tradition. On Saturday, she was welcomed into the Catholic faith during the Easter Vigil at St. Paul’s Parish in Summerside. The 22-year-old is one of four people getting confirmed at St. Paul’s this weekend.
Justine Vessey attended her first Roman Catholic mass about two years ago.
She said she was blown away by the beauty and goodness of it, and the sense of tradition. On Saturday, she was welcomed into the Catholic faith during the Easter Vigil at St. Paul’s Parish in Summerside.
“Since that first mass I knew at some point I’d join the Catholic faith,” Vessey said.
The 22-year-old was one of four people to be confirmed at St. Paul’s this weekend. The oldest of the four is 39, and the youngest is 17. Growing up Christian, Vessey was already baptized in the United Church.
After deciding to convert, she began the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program, which is a year-long course that explains Catholic teachings, beliefs and prayer.
After a year, Vessey still didn’t feel ready to become Catholic. She met Rev. Chris Sherren, pastor at St. Paul’s Parish, and decided to do the RCIA program a second time with him. This time, studying catechism and church basics was the focus, she said.
“Now I feel very prepared.” During the program, Sherren took the RCIA participants into the church and walked them through the mass, explaining every aspect. He talked about the meaning of the sacraments, which was crucial for Vessey’s own formation, she said.
“It’s important I understand what sacraments are rather than just going through the motions,” said Vessey.
She was to receive three sacraments this past weekend - first reconciliation, first communion, and confirmation. She said she was nervous because she spent so much time getting to this point, but remained excited to continue learning the Catholic faith. She’s
thankful for the blessings in her life that God gave her, she said. “Everyone I speak with is excited for me,” Vessey said.
Sherren headed the four confirmations, as well as the baptism of an infant on Easter weekend.
Welcoming people into the Catholic Church during Easter is a centuries-old tradition. It could be to honour Jesus’ resurrection, Sherren said.
The RCIA program is a discernment process, Sherren said. “You make your decision at
the end of it.”
People who decide to become Catholic usually have different reasons.
“Some were influenced by friends, others by things they read.”