My journey to Christianity began at age eleven, after my family immigrated to the United States. Previously, I was raised in a Buddhist home, though our practice was largely nominal. Though I initially drifted away, a deep spiritual longing resurfaced in my late twenties. This led to a personal discovery of God's love and a calling to serve, prompting me to leave my job and attend seminary. I then dedicated 15 years to serving as a full-time youth pastor and pastor in a Baptist church.
My attempts to serve God through my own efforts ultimately resulted in burnout and my departure from ministry. It revealed my inadequacies and flaws, failing to produce any of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). I felt like a profound failure—as a Christian, husband, father, and son.
The initial ambition to "save the world" now felt hollow as I struggled to "save myself." Overwhelmed by hypocrisy and impostor syndrome, I returned to the secular workforce to support my family.
During this challenging "wilderness" period, a bumper sticker led me to discover a Catholic radio station (1260 AM). Embracing the Catholic Faith I was particularly drawn to Mother Angelica and EWTN's "The Journey Home," which featured former Protestant ministers sharing their conversions to Catholicism. This spurred my own research, especially into John chapter 6 and the Eucharist. Rereading the passage numerous times and consulting "The Faith of the Early Fathers" series, recommended by a Catholic colleague, brought a profound revelation.
Delving into the early Church Fathers' teachings on the Eucharist felt like a veil being lifted, revealing the real presence of Christ, much like scales falling from Paul's eyes.
God remains faithful even if I am unfaithful (2 Tim 2:13), meeting us where we are. Given my Protestant background, it was natural that He would use Scripture to convict me. Once convinced by Sacred Scriptures and affirmed by the early Church Fathers' teachings, my response could only be "Yes, LORD." I then acquired a Catechism of the Catholic Church to deepen my understanding.
I am deeply thankful for my Protestant background and experiences; it was through Protestantism that I first came to know God's love and His Word, and I do not reject or discount it. Similar to how Priscilla and Aquila helped Apollos understand "the way of God more accurately" in Acts 18:26, God guided me toward the Catholic faith to know Him more accurately.
In 2017, I enrolled in the RCIA program at a local parish in Castro Valley, but withdrew before the Easter Vigil in 2018. I couldn't undertake the journey alone, perhaps lacking sufficient faith at the time. I knew I wanted my wife to join me. Believing that if God was leading me, He would also call her, I decided to wait. I stopped attending Protestant worship and began attending various local Catholic parishes irregularly. During the pandemic and afterward, I would observe Mass online while my wife worshipped at our local Protestant church.
Last summer, my wife, Olivia, unexpectedly suggested attending St. Isidore in Danville. I hadn't heard of it and felt it was too far, preferring a local parish in Castro Valley. She believed God was leading her there after a chance meeting at a cafe in San Ramon. She intended to help me connect with a Catholic church, planning to return to her own church after six months, having been saddened to see me worshipping online alone. I am immensely grateful for her compassionate heart and sacrifice, akin to the friends who carried their paralytic friend through the roof to Jesus (Luke 5:18). However, God had different plans for her as well.
After three months of attending Mass at St. Isidore, I spoke with Father Matthew about signing up for RCIA. Last November, Olivia and I both began attending and participating in the Tuesday evening sessions and Sunday morning dismissals. The rest, as they say, is history. I entered the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil this year, and my wife followed shortly thereafter. Looking back, I can now clearly see God's consistent presence and guidance throughout my journey.
Even during my time as a pastor, I was unknowingly drawn to Catholic traditions, integrating the liturgical calendar, following the lectionary for Scripture readings, practicing the Stations of the Cross during Lent, and engaging in Lectio Divina. San Damiano, a place where I, as a Protestant minister, often went for personal retreats and spiritual discernment, later became sacred and familiar to me once more. It was at an RCIA retreat there this past March that I experienced my first confession and Eucharistic adoration, almost two decades after first seeking God in that very place. LORD, thank You for Your faithfulness and for never forsaking me.
At the conclusion of RCIA, I've been asked about my next step. While I am unsure of God's plan for the next chapter of my life, my desire and prayer is to grow deeply in Catholic faith so that at the end of my life, I too can confess like Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7). And in some small way, LORD willing, He will use me as His instrument of peace—perhaps as His ambassador to bridge Catholics and Protestants—so that we may be one, and the world may believe that the Father has sent Jesus (John 17:21).
My heartfelt thanks go to Father Matthew, Father Mark, Father Wayne, Steven, Lesli, April, Larry (my sponsor), Lyn, Barbara, Pat, Christina, John, Mike, and the entire RCIA team and participants. Your generous dedication of time and your embrace of my wife and me are profoundly appreciated. Thank you for equipping us for His service. May our good LORD bless you, keep you, and make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace. (Num. 6:24–26). May He protect and bless St. Isidore for His glory. "To the one who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished and exultant, in the presence of his glory, to the only God, our savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord be glory, majesty, power, and authority from ages past, now, and for ages to come. Amen" (Jude 24). Maranatha.
—John, St. Isidore parishioner, husband and father of four
Every year, parishioners at St. Isidore take their own path toward the Catholic faith. Read more journeys, or take the first step in yours.
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