Why are you Catholic? What difference does being Catholic make in your life? We’re inviting you to reflect on these questions this Lent and share them with the community, to give us all the reason for your hope. We invite you to make a video or write something (long or short) telling us why you like being Catholic, what difference being Catholic makes in your life, or even your favorite part of being Catholic. The videos and written stories will be shared on our website and our Facebook page.
This is your chance to creatively tell the world about the gifts the Catholic church has to offer the world. To submit something from your faith story, email your video or written statement to Mike Erickson, or use the form at the bottom of this page.
Why I like to be Catholic:
I like being Catholic because Catholicism is endless. You can always keep learning, constantly growing deeper in your faith and love for God. These is always one layer deeper that you can go. It is also so universal; anywhere you go on earth you are bound to find a Catholic church nearby- can you say that about any other church?
One of my favorite aspects of Catholicism are the saints! They are even more endless! Some levitated, some bilocated, some healed, some even recitated! And so much more! I love Catholicism because it is endless, exciting and so universal!
Miriam
I was fortunate to be able to attend 12 years of Catholic education at St. Pats. I was taught by the Presentation Sisters for those years. I knew no other religion and
was taught that the Catholic faith is the one true faith. My parents were my first teachers.
Sometimes it’s hard being a Catholic because of the rules and regulations. But when I think about it that’s what I love about it. It sets me apart from those who aren’t Catholic. It makes me feel special.
Joanne Larson
My favorite part of being Catholic is the Mass. The Lord began this worship in the old testament with the Jews coming together on the Sabbath to study scripture and atone for their sin with an unblemished lamb or some other animal. When Jesus died on the cross he became the unblemished lamb to atone for our sins.
Every Mass begins with praise and a prayer to remember what we are doing wrong and right followed by more praise and glory to God. Next is scripture readings and a homily related to the readings. The Creed professes our faith followed by special prayers of petition. The gifts are blessed as at the Last Supper and the Hosanna is said or sang as we come to the part from the Last Supper when the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ as was given to Christ’s apostles. At the elevation I was taught to say “my Lord and my God”. The words spoken by Thomas when he saw Christ’s wounds. To which Christ said “blessed are those who do not see but still believe”. The mystery of our faith tells us Christ has died, was risen and will come again. The rest of the Eucharist prayer remembers the saints, those who have died and the faithful.
The communion rite begins with the Our Father and sign of peace. We remember Christ as the Lamb of God for the atonement of our sins earning us eternal salvation. When I receive communion I accept Christ as my Savior and all he has done for me. Mass ends with a blessing and prepares me to go out and live my faith.
Every moment of the day the Mass is being celebrated somewhere in the world keeping alive the promise Jesus gave to us.
Donna Snitker
I did not grow up Catholic but some of my elementary school classmates
in the public school were Catholic. I was always fascinated when they'd come to
school with ashes on their foreheads at Easter time, or were late for school
because they had to go to "Mass" in the morning. I wondered what turned a
church service in to a Mass. My interest in the Catholic Church stayed with me as
I grew up. When I married a Catholic I was thrilled to convert.
As an adult I came to love all the sacraments, statues, rituals, songs, and
everything else that we practiced. At my dad's funeral in the church where I grew
up, my kids genuflected when they walked in and questioned why nobody else
did. I was the only one in my family who converted to Catholicism. My faith grew
stronger as I grew older.
I fell away from going to church for a few years. I was going through my
own problems and, in hindsight, can see now that I was an angry individual. But I
found my way back with the help of God, my priest, and good friends. Since then,
I have gone through a divorce and my faith is solid. The legal divorce made me
feel half divorced. I had to hear from the Church it was okay and I was still
welcome and able to participate fully in all the Church has to offer. I obtained an
annullment and feel whole again.
People would comment that God talked to them. I never quite
understood that until it started happening to me. He is amazing. He answers
prayers in ways that leave me in awe. I decided quite some time ago it's best to
just let him handle things his way because it is better than anything I could come
up with.
Why Catholic? For me it has been a process. Patience has been a
struggle at times for me. I suspect he has had to have a lot of it with me too. I
love the Catholic church. It completes my life.
Sherry Plein