‘Welcoming the Neophytes’ 2011
I felt drawn to the Catholic Church
Two years ago, I decided to end my very unhappy, unfulfilling civil marriage and begin my life over again. After some consideration I realised that I was missing spiritual fulfillment and guidance.
Although I was born a Hindu, I attended Mass every weekend with my three children, who were baptiSed Catholics. I felt myself being drawn to the Catholic Church in my search to find spirituality and a relationship with God.
In September 2010, I began the RCIA classes. It was a very trying period for me and I found every reason why I should miss classes on a weekly basis but I persevered with God’s help and knowing that I will have one more thing in common with my children – our Catholic religion, and that I would soon be able to receive Holy Communion with them, instead of just being an onlooker.
Several people asked why I was converting. Why not remain a Hindu? I started hearing all the reasons why I shouldn’t convert but I knew by then that God was in charge and wanted me to be baptised. In the last week leading up to my baptism, my life became very dismal and cloudy with a lot of issues on my job, and with the relationship I was in. I was unhappy and my heart was crying out for help. My sponsor who is also a newly converted Catholic told me about the beautiful changes she felt when she was baptised but I was too deep in my unhappiness to understand what she was talking about.
On Gloria Saturday, everything that could have gone wrong did so, my mind was restless, I could not concentrate on anything and I felt hopeless. Remembering to read some scriptures that I was given was the only thing that finally settled my mind. Throughout the Easter Vigil service I was very composed until I was handed one of the gifts and as I walked towards the altar, I became overwhelmed with a type of happiness and peace that I had never felt before, I could not stop smiling. I felt like I was in a different world. In the days after my baptism, I felt Jesus guiding me to make some hard decisions. So, I will continue to pray, trusting Him as this “new” life unfolds. – Anita Bhola, St Mary’s