Start a journey to the Catholic faith …

“I doubt if my experience of RCIA is typical, but then again, whose is?  In my case I had the great good fortune to meet a lovely girl, Margaret, and we married in 1985. She was a lifelong Catholic and I admit that that, at the time, I was what she delicately called a ‘nothing’ – ostensibly a High Church Anglican, but not practising. Time passed and I found that wherever we went, here in the UK or abroad, the very first thing Margaret did was to find the nearest Catholic church. I accompanied her in the search and, occasionally, any Mass she attended. Frankly, it all went over my head and that remained the case ’till Christmas 1999.

I was settling down to enjoy the TV while Margaret and her mother bustled around readying themselves ready to go to midnight Mass. All of a sudden, I had this absolutely irresistible urge to go with them. I asked if I could and Margaret’s mum – a strong Yorkshire lady – called me a daft article and told me to get a move on. The rest, I think you can guess, is history: From then on I accompanied Margaret whenever she went to Mass and one Sunday, when she was away in Yorkshire visiting her mum, I found myself outside St Joseph’s – just before 8:00 am – wondering what on earth I was doing.  Anyway I thought “Well, I’ve come, so I might as well go in”. Something glorious happened because, as soon as I got home, I emailed Fr. Michael (the parish priest at the time) and asked how I might be received.

Nothing happened for a long time, until I got home from work one evening to be asked by Margaret “What are you up to? – Fr. Michael called and said you should join the next RCIA group”. Shortly afterwards KB (one of the catechists) phoned and told me when the first meeting was to be, and where, and invited me. I had no doubt at all that I’d stick with it. RCIA was a wonderful experience and I’m grateful to the team, led by KB, that saw me through it.

So here I am – a Catholic of 20 years! I’ve met some truly wonderful, genuine people in the Parish, attended Mass in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Belgium (which made me realise that ‘Catholic’ means ‘universal’).  I’ve seen the Pope (in Rome and in London), chatted with a cardinal, and been a governor of both our local Catholic schools, as well as of secular primary and secondary schools (the difference is astonishing).

Sadly, Margaret died from Cancer last August.  I really don’t know how I’d have coped if I didn’t have a strong and growing faith, able to turn to God and beg for help (it’s always comes).  Everyone I know in the Parish has been incredibly kind, supportive and helpful.”