I grew up Jewish but not really practicing. My father was Jewish and my mother converted to Judaism when she married my father. When I was about five years old, my family stopped going to temple and I stopped attending Sunday school. I grew up largely agnostic. I always sensed that there was something more — something beyond what I could see or explain. It never felt right to say there was no God at all. I couldn’t define what I believed, but I carried a deep awareness that there was more going on than what could be seen on the surface of our day-to-day life.
Then I met my wife, Whitney. She was born and raised Catholic. Her faith has always been important to her and her family. We were married in the Catholic Church in 2020. The birth of our three children profoundly changed us. Becoming parents strengthened my belief that God exists, and it brought my wife and me closer to Him in a deeper, more intentional way.
Over the past year, especially since beginning the journey to become Catholic, my perspective on life has changed. I’ve come to realize how much of life is out of our control and how freeing it is to trust that it’s all in God’s hands. I’ve started asking a new question: Is this God’s will? rather than trying to force outcomes on my own. I am more at peace with the path that He has chosen for me, surrendering to His will and proceeding with wherever He wants to take us in our lives.
This shift has not been natural. I am a super driven person — definitely not a “go with the flow” personality. But now, when a door closes, I try to trust that God will open another door or window, even if the path forward isn’t immediately clear.
I still believe I am responsible for my family and my life, but I now see that responsibility through a different lens. Putting forth my best effort matters — but the best ideal outcome may not be what I imagine. I’ve experienced this first-hand in my career with a recent job change. At the time, it was frustrating. Yet looking back, I can see that those closed doors led me exactly to where I needed to be. Learning to trust that God’s plan will unfold as He intends has brought a deeper sense of peace to our family.
In 2024, I decided to become Catholic and began RCIA. One of the most meaningful parts of becoming Catholic at St. Isidore has been the overwhelming sense of welcome. From the very beginning, we were embraced by the community in a way I had never experienced before — something that usually feels reserved for close family. Everyone was open, kind, and genuinely glad we were there. The spirit of warmth and acceptance is unmistakably present at St. Isidore.
Beyond the sense of welcomeness, what stood out most was being surrounded by people who sincerely wanted to help me grow in my faith — not just Fr. Matthew or my wife, but many others in the parish as well. People took an interest in my journey. They devoted time to teach about the faith. They led by example. They offered encouragement. Help, guidance, and care were freely offered and joyfully given. That sense of true community has been one of the greatest gifts of this experience.
Since starting this journey, my life has changed in very practical ways. There is now a greater focus on doing the right thing and striving to be a good person. Growing up, that emphasis on moral formation was never front and center for me. In Catholicism, it is foundational. My decision-making is now shaped by a desire to live well and choose rightly in light of my faith.
When I think about what God may be calling me to next, my answer is simple: to be a good husband and raise my children well. My St. Isidore RCIA mentor once reminded me that everything I am doing at this stage is laying a foundation. I don’t need all the answers. I don’t need to understand everything about the faith yet. What matters is practicing my faith and trusting that God will reveal what comes next, one step at a time.
Learning to trust that God’s plan will unfold as He intends has brought a deeper sense of peace to our family.
—Alex, St. Isidore parishioner, husband and father of three