| Reason #2 Why I Converted to Catholicism: Priests, Nuns, Deacons, Bishops, Lay Pastoral Associates |
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August 2001 was when my son first enrolled in Kindergarten at St. Augustine School. If you remember back, that time was the leading edge of the clergy sex abuse scandal. But it was also the a time when nuns, especially nuns teaching school, were held up for ridicule by standup comics or Broadway plays. Many big city families that had sent their children to catholic schools were backing away in such an environment. But my wife, a "Preacher's Kid" who attended catholic schools in San Francisco K-12, insisted that our son would be the beneficiary of the same type of education. Growing up protestant, and relatively close to the church, I had been aware of sexual and financial scandals among pastors and deacons (and even coverups by the AME hierarchy). I was in no way assuming that catholic priests and nuns had an exclusive hold over misfeasance/malfeasance. We live in Oakland, where else could I educate my son?
When I first came in contact with with priests, nuns, deacons, and pastoral associate affiliated with St. Augustine parish, I was thrilled with our decision. There was an approach that these people had for their young charges that was unique. From the protestant parent perspective, it was a delight to see people who did not consider the school (and this applied to the lay faculty also) a career, but a "vocation."
These were the first Catholic religious I had ever been in close contact with, so I got to learn about the rigor of their academic education and seminary training. I learned of the discipline of their prayer lives. I have always respected clergy, and I am not saying that catholic religious are better than protestant pastors I know. What I am saying is, I was surprised how "pastoral" and super intelligent these catholic religious people were. I saw them being not as "The Other," and over the course of the first year of William's education I came to see our priest, nuns and pastoral associate as role models for my son and myself.
Watching Father Ray teaching the parable of "Stone Soup" or Sister Mary Alice supervising monthly mass or Stations of the Cross gave me the feeling that they had something worth having. Father Jayson Landeza's example of commitment and perserverance (even in the face of physical exhaustion) to Christ and the People of God (his parish where is pastor and the City of Oakland through his service as Chaplain for the Polic and Fire Departments). Father Mark's hot enthusiasm for the mass and his suave cool in meetings or around the Rectory. Father Damian. Sister Mary Elizabeth. Sister Mary Alice. Sister Denise being the nicest scary Track & Field Marshall (plus Athletic Director) in the history of American CYOs. Karen Miller, the Pastoral Associate at St. Augustine, was the person who planted the seed in my mind by first asking if I had thought about converting to Catholicism (My answer was to blurt out in laughter, because I thought that converts to Catholicism was 96% for family cohesion/marriage vows, and in my case being the husband of a Protestant Preacher's Kid converting to catholicism would bring the opposite of wedded bliss to my marriage... more on that part of my conversion story in a later blog "My Wife the PK: Reason #50 Why I Converted to Catholicism"). About a year later I emailed Karen that I was indeed interested in converting (upcoming blog "Dreams, Signs, and the Hail Mary: Reason #8 Why I Converted to Catholicism"), she went out of her way to drive me home from Mass and classes for during the two years I was in RCIA. Among the myriad duties she has each week (accounting, new parish registrations, pastoral counseling, Children's Liturgy of the Word, fill-in acolyte, etc.) that she had time to notice that I had a vague look of someone that might be open to exploring the catholic faith still amazes me. These individuals made present the commission of Christ to me in a way that I finally understood the concept of "faith without deeds is dead." Priests, nuns, deacons and pastoral associates I have come to know over the past six years, have one characteristic that I can honestly say you do not see universally among religious among all denominations or faiths: An obvious delight in being ordained and attentive/devout to their catholic religious faith. There is a light that comes from people who enjoy their lives and their vocation, even when they are having a bad day. I admit that I was graced in coming in contact these special religious and lay people; but it was this grace (these examples) that definitely lead me into the Roman Catholic Church.
What I am saying is this: I discovered to my delighted surprise that Catholic clergy, religious, and laity live the gospel life, and the commission of Christ with a humble, selfless joy and enthusiasm that was not exceeded by Protestant clergy I had encountered in childhooed or adulthood.
Now that I am Catholic, I try to pray daily a morning rosary for a designated priest in our diocese. I also add a Hail Mary prayer in the evening for all nuns and pastoral associates. So I encourage all Christians to join me to pray for your clergy, and pray for more people to go into formal ministry. Their examples of devotion to Christ are so needed in our world, and their lives are so hard that they can certainly use encouragement. Pax Christi to all the religious, and the Peace of Christ to you also. |
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