Rite of Sending

Posted on February 10, 2013 by elizabeth

My husband, Matt, has been going through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and today, he begins his formal journey into the Catholic Church through the Rite of Sending.

Four years ago, at Easter Vigil 2009, I entered the Catholic Church. I have prayed for my family to join me every single day. It has seemed like an impossible dream.

Neither of our families are Catholic. We have no Catholic friends. Our backgrounds are very definitively non-Catholic. Our only living Catholic relatives are my husband’s grandparents and they live on the other side of the country. It has been a long, lonely journey. I actually thought my husband would never become Catholic. I was committed to living out my life as the only Catholic in our family.

But then, last year, my twins were baptized into the Church. And finally after two years of me NOT talking about it and just letting the Holy Spirit work, my husband is joining me. At long last, we are together as one, united in faith and in love. I can’t tell you how happy I am.

I would sincerely appreciate your prayers for my family as we approach this Lenten season. And please say a special prayer for my three oldest children (Jewel, James and Jude) who are still making their own spiritual journeys. Thank you so much.

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
St. Jude 1: 24-25

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  • http://twitter.com/khouriajen jen

    I had wondered what your kids were doing with regard to the Church.

  • Lizzie

    Your story is so courageous and beautiful and gives me hope for my very definitely (at the moment) non-Catholic dad. I will be keeping you all in prayer – especially in Lent and for protection for you all. God bless, LIzzie

  • Greg Hahn

    I’ve not heard the first part of the story, but I can definitely rejoice with you that the two of you will be together in faith. May God use you there in special ways. To adapt Mat 13:52- may you bring out of your storerooms new treasures as well as old.

  • http://www.facebook.com/heidi.hess.saxton Heidi Hess Saxton

    Such wonderful news! God bless your family as your husband continues his journey — including your extended families, who may need extra graces to see this as the gift it is.

  • http://twitter.com/awestintx sonja

    This is such great news! I will keep your family in my prayers. Lent is such a special time to focus and re-center ourselves. I think I enjoy it more than the Christmas season. I cry every time I see all the new Catholics getting the oil placed on their foreheads. Blessing for you and yours.

  • http://www.facebook.com/robert.swain1 Robert Swain

    How wonderful for both of you. I converted and my wife has not. So I am hoping that she does what your husband has. I know this will open up so many ways to live your faith together!

  • Kim

    praying for you…God works in surprising ways. Love this story!

  • http://www.ericpazdziora.com/ Eric

    Here’s one Protestant at least who’s very happy for both of you! All blessings.

  • http://www.over-the-threshold.com/ KelleyAnnie@Over the Threshold

    That’s great, Elizabeth! I am also going through RCIA this year to join at Easter Vigil. My husband is Catholic and most of my family is so I was actually a bit of an oddball not being Catholic.

  • http://felicemifa.wordpress.com/ Margaret_at_FeliceMiFa

    What an exciting day! I hope the rite was as beautiful as your picture. Welcome to the catechumenate, Matt!

  • Anna Whiston-Donaldson

    That is wonderful! I wanted my husband to be a Christian and I basically just got out of the way and let God do his thing! Very similar story.

  • http://twitter.com/SandraHeretic Sandra

    oh so very, very, very happy for you both! There is nothing so wonderful as being able to share your spiritual path with the people you love.

  • Mia

    Hi Elizabeth, congrats on such a happy occasion! I have a few questions about your experience with the Catholic Church if you have a second or two….
    Why are you Catholic? What drew you to the Catholic faith after your upbringing in fundamentalism? Why aren’t your children Catholic?
    I grew up Assemblies of God and had little experience with Catholicism (besides being told that “they pray to idols”, and I know there has to be more to it than that).
    Would love to hear from you if you have a sec. Nonetheless, rejoicing with you today! Blessings!

  • http://devinrose.heroicvirtuecreations.com/blog/ Devin Rose

    Prayers! So awesome!

  • Laura

    How exciting! I have been reading your blog for a couple months now, but I had somehow not realized that your husband had not converted when you did. As a Protestant drawn to the Catholic Church, that actually is very interesting for me, because I have never considered converting without my husband. I strangely never realized I had that assumption before. Thank you for helping me realize that I have been assuming my path has to be identical to my husband’s when, in reality, of course it does not.

  • http://twitter.com/Kendall_Ashley Kendall Ashley

    Congratulations!!!

  • tanya b

    I haven’t been keeping up with you lately, but at this news I burst into tears. So happy for you and your family. God Bless!