Julie Nicholson plans to enter the Church during the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Louis Church in Camden. She attends Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Magnolia. The following explains her journey, written in her own words.
Looking back in my Christian walk of over 30 years, I can now see my steps into the Catholic Church as a reflection of the poem, “Footprints in the Sand.”
My feet have traveled into many Christian denominations the past 30 years, such as Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian Church (USA), Presbyterian Church in America, Assemblies of God, nondenominational and Bible churches.
My footprints and Jesus’ prints were side by side for several of those years. For many years, I looked down and I could only see one set of prints, thinking they were mine and I was alone in this journey. My love for Jesus was so real in my life, but why could I not feel at peace in the church? I felt alone in this walk and began to think just maybe something was wrong with me. Now, I see that they were Jesus’ footprints carrying me into the Catholic faith.
Fifteen years ago my faith was challenged in the church in which I was a member. I was hurt deeply and this was when my journey into the Catholic faith began, not having a clue this is where my journey would end.
Fifteen years ago “Catholic” was not in my vocabulary. My search for a new church began after I was hurt and my feet trotted to many denominations with no peace to be found. A place of worship “one-on-one,” worship with my Lord was my heart’s desire.
An anointed sermon and music (praise and worship) was my agenda, and yes, I found this in many churches I attended. I also loved to study the Word of God. A good study was encouraging as well. Good sermons, good music and good teaching meant a good church.
I traveled into several “Jesus and me” churches. Then somewhere on my journey, some things just did not add up right. I was confused and challenged by the different “truths” that were being taught.
My uncle and aunt journeyed into the Catholic faith in the early 90s. They shared with me their journey from time to time, not to convert, but just to share what they were experiencing.
They invited me to several Catholic charismatic conventions during the 90s and I enjoyed them, but I was not Catholic and really did not desire to be one. They would on occasion hear a good teaching on tape, such as Scott Hahn, and sent it to me to hear. “That was nice,” I would always reply.
I love music and “worship music” is my favorite. In the mid 90s, I ordered a Christian CD by John Michael Talbot, not knowing anything about him. I loved it. I bought more of his CDs and began to learn he was Catholic … hummmm.
In my journey there have been times that the music of John Michael Talbot was my only source of worship. I realize now the words he sang were historical to the Church teaching and the faith of my Lord. The Holy Spirit would always comfort my soul with the prayers and truth John Michael composed in his music.
A new beginning
In 2004, my husband, Jim’s job relocated our family to Magnolia, heart of the “Bible Belt,” and where there is a Baptist church on every corner. Jim and I have two grown children. Our daughter, Jeanine, lives at home while she attends South Arkansas Community College in El Dorado. Our son, Josh, lives in Tampa, Fla.
Our move was a new start in a new town and just maybe we could finally find a church. We started visiting all the churches in our area: nondenominational, Baptist, Assemblies of God, etc.
We visited most all except the Catholic church. This was still not an option. Two years came and went and we still could not claim a church as home.
I ordered a book written by John Michael Talbot called “The Joy of Music Ministry” thinking it was all about worship music. I soon discovered it was about sacraments, sacred music, liturgy, the Catholic Mass and how the Mass brings you into worship with God the Father, Jesus Christ our Lord and the Holy Spirit.
I also found a new station on television called EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network), where I discovered “Journey Home,” Father John Corapi, Scott Hahn, “The World Over,” Mother Angelica, “Threshold of Hope” and “Abundant Life.”
I argued for several months with my Lord, when I knew the Holy Spirit was saying “try the Catholic Church.” I would say, “Lord, we are in Baptist country. No one probably goes to the Catholic Church.”
Being a Protestant all my life and listening to views the Protestants held concerning the Catholic Church was a tremendous hurdle for me. Pride was a factor as well. For about a year EWTN was a place I learned about the Catholic faith. The grace of God opened my heart and I became hungry for more. I wanted fellowship with believers of this faith to discuss and learn about it.
Surrendering to god
The Lord kept encouraging me to just visit the local Catholic church. To be honest, I was scared of the outcome. What if it did not work out? This meant “I had not heard God’s voice.” I finally surrendered to the direction I felt sure my Lord was sending me.
I drove by the little Catholic church several times and even stopped once. It was locked up and nobody was there. The church sign gave information about Mass times: Thursday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m.
My thoughts were “I guess I will have to show up at a Mass” and we finally did. Our first few visits would have probably been our last visits had we been visiting a Protestant church. The priest is from Africa and we could not understand a word he was saying. (I have, over time, taught my ears to understand and know this priest is God’s instrument for this parish).
There was no choir, no wonderful dramatic worship music playing. Two different ladies (they take turns) with servant’s hearts play the organ and though they might not have the tools of a choir, musical instruments, PowerPoint songs and high-tech speakers, they are faithful.
We sang hymns about “one body,” “one church,” “one Eucharist” and “one Lord.”
With the soft playing of the organ in a slow timely manner, the hymns became prayers. (“Be still and know that I am God.”)
The Lord’s grace has been my walking stick in this journey and a peace to continue moving forward. For the first time, it was not about me and I had to trust.
Discovering a beautiful faith
A few weeks into this new journey, a young man from Immaculate Heart of Mary Church who is the “educational organizer” invited Jim, Jeanine and I to a small group called Why Catholic?
My foundation about the Catholic faith so far was built on trusting God (blind trust), EWTN, “The Joy of Music Ministry” and things my uncle and aunt had shared with me about the teachings of the Catholic faith.
I had a lot of questions about how this faith lined up with the Word of God. Why Catholic? was a wonderful starting place. I came to realize that I was not the only one who did not understand the faith. Why Catholic? challenged the cradle Catholics to answer, “Why am I Catholic?”
I had the honor last spring to facilitate a group at my home. Facilitating gave me the opportunity to attend the leadership class in Hope. The Eucharist was the topic that evening. The teaching and discussion about the Eucharist reaffirmed what I was already learning. A lady shared with the group her testimony about receiving the Eucharist for the first time when she entered into the faith. She was a Jewish convert. With tears rolling down her cheeks, she shared the mystery of worship when she took of the present “Body and Blood” of her risen Savior. Her faith sharing touched me and gave witness to me that this is the worship I had been longing for.
It’s been almost two years since my first visit to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. I have discovered 2,000 years of tradition and Church doctrine that is beautiful. The early Church Fathers’ writings confirm the teachings that are still being taught today in the Catholic faith. The history of these teachings has survived the test of time. I realize my journey is just now starting and I have so much more to learn.
I am now in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and looking forward to “coming into the fullness” of the Catholic faith at the Easter Vigil. I will be joined by my daughter Jeanine.
Good preaching, good teaching, good music is all good and has a place in the church, but it’s the “one-on-one” worship of “the Mass” that feeds the soul.
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