Finding My Way Home: A Journey to the Eucharist I grew up in a non-denominational family where the beauty and love of God were deeply instilled in my heart, yet the Catholic Church remained a mystery filled with misconceptions. My path changed in 2005 during my freshman year of college when I met my husband. Though we began attending Mass together in our senior year, I initially struggled with the transition; the liturgy felt foreign, and I missed the familiar emotional style of worship I had known. For nearly twenty years, I remained in a season of "attending" rather than "participating." I sat in the pew on Sunday's watching my husband and children receive the Eucharist, always finding a reason to delay my own journey: the kids were too young, my schedule was too full, worried about what my parents would say, or the timing simply wasn't right. In 2021, when life felt completely turned upside down, I finally stopped making excuses and started leaning into my relationship with God. I began diving into early Church history and deconstructing the misguided beliefs I had carried for years. The final "chain" broke during my son’s First Communion. When I told him how important the Sacrament was, he looked at me and asked, "If it’s so important, why can’t you take it?" That simple question from a nine-year-old cut deep because he was right. I had allowed the fear of judgment to stand in my way, but through much prayer, God gave me the strength I couldn’t find on my own. In 2025, I finally joined the OCIA class at St. Andrews. Guided by the beautiful teaching of Cecilia and Shanitza, I found a community that built my faith piece by piece with immense love. This past Easter Vigil, I was finally welcomed into the Church. After two decades of sitting in the pew, I now stand with my family to receive Christ in the most profound way possible. As a "baby Catholic," I know I am just beginning, but I now have a foundation of fullness and truth. If you are on the fence or waiting for the "right time," I encourage you to pray for your own chains to be broken. God is ready to welcome you home. - Alisha Hughes
The Parish of St. Andrew offers a period in which you can come together to learn more about our faith through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults. This method, (OCIA) is a formation process to prepare adults and persons who have reached the age of reason, to receive the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
The OCIA is for:
- Unbaptized adults and young persons who have reached the age of reason and wish to become Catholics.
- Adults baptized in another Christian tradition who are seeking full communion with the Roman Catholic Church and seek the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.
- Baptized Adults who were baptized as infants in the Catholic Church and now seek the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation.
“The order of Christian initiation presented here is designed for adults who, after hearing the mystery of Christ proclaimed, consciously and freely seek the living God and enter the way of faith and conversion as the Holy Spirit opens their hearts. By God’s help they will be strengthened spiritually during their preparation and at the proper time will receive the sacraments fruitfully.” (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults # 1)
The spirit and teachings of the Catholic faith are shared in a weekly meeting through dialogue among participants, lay people, and clergy of our parish. The OCIA is a journey that takes us through what we believe as Catholics, how we celebrate those beliefs, and how we live our life to bring us closer to God. In the process, participants get prepared to make the personal decision to receive the Sacraments of Initiation.
Are you interested in becoming a Catholic? Were you baptized Catholic as a child but have not yet celebrated the Sacraments of Confirmation and/or Eucharist? Do you know someone who still has not received their Sacraments of Initiation? If you do, please contact Cecilia Sousa for more information at 954-905-6332 – csousa@sacccs.org
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