My Journey Home to the Catholic Faith

I grew up Lutheran, and from a young age, God was woven into the fabric of my life. I sang in the choir, rang bells in the bell choir, acted in church plays, and went through confirmation. The church was familiar, comforting—it was where I first came to know who Jesus was.

As I got older and went off to college, my belief in God never left me, but my presence in church slowly faded. Life became busy, and faith became quieter, more private. When I later moved to Rochester to begin my nursing career, I tried to return to church, but without a strong community around me, it became something I only participated in on special occasions with family. Looking back, I can see that my relationship with Christ had softened—but it never disappeared. I still prayed. I still felt Him. He was always there, even when I wasn’t fully showing up.

When I met my husband, Eduardo, I was deeply moved by his quiet, steady faith. He would attend Mass -even if it meant going alone. There was something so beautiful and unwavering about that. It stayed with me, even when I didn’t fully understand it.

Years later, as we began raising our children, we chose to send them to Catholic school. At the time, I never imagined that I would one day become Catholic myself. I thought I could simply support my family from the sidelines, attending Mass with them, but remaining where I was. But God had something more in mind.

Katie Antpack and her family

Over time, something began to stir in my heart. I found myself drawn in—especially to the mystery and beauty of the Eucharist and the meaning of the Mass. I watched my children come home from school filled with excitement, sharing stories of Scripture and the Catholic faith with a joy that was contagious. Their innocence, their curiosity, and their love for what they were learning began to awaken something in me. In many ways, they led me closer to Christ.

A couple of years ago, I felt that gentle nudge and reached out about OCIA, but life got busy and I didn’t follow through. Then, this past year, that nudge became something much stronger—something I could no longer ignore. It felt like a quiet but persistent call placed on my heart: It’s time. And so I said yes.

I remember wondering how I would manage it all—leaving my family every Thursday night, missing dinners, bedtime routines, and the busyness of life. But God provided. My family supported me in ways that filled me with gratitude, and what I found in those Thursday nights was something I didn’t even realize I had been longing for.

Through OCIA, I encountered not just knowledge, but love. I formed meaningful friendships with others who were searching, questioning, and growing, just like I was. We were guided so gently and faithfully by Deacon Randy and Terese, and I felt truly seen, known, and supported. Week after week, my understanding deepened—but more importantly, my heart changed. And never once did I feel doubt. Instead, there was a quiet peace, a growing certainty that I was exactly where God was calling me to be.

The Rite of Election was breathtaking—standing among so many others, all answering that same call, all taking that same step toward something sacred and life-changing.

And then came the Easter Vigil.

It is almost impossible to put into words what that night meant to me. It was holy, powerful, and deeply emotional. As I watched my classmates be baptized, I couldn’t hold back the tears. There was something so pure and beautiful about witnessing those moments—lives being transformed, hearts being given fully to Christ. Looking around the church, I saw people crying, smiling, rejoicing—and in that moment, I felt it so clearly: Christ was there. So close. So present.

Receiving the Eucharist for the first time is something I will carry with me forever. It was not just a moment—it was an encounter. And having my family there beside me made it even more meaningful than I could have imagined.

Today, I feel a sense of unity in my family that is deeper than ever before. We are bound together not just by love, but by faith. The Catholic Church has become more than a place I attend—it has become home.

I am so grateful that God never stopped pursuing me, even in the quiet seasons. And I am so thankful that, when He called, I finally said yes.

Katie Antpack