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what joining the church means to one new catholic

Story and photo by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

Catechumens and candidates are joining the Catholic Church at Easter Vigils across the Diocese of Belleville and around the world. At St. Nicholas Parish, as folks prepare for the Easter Vigil, we spoke with someone who joined the church within the last two years: Crystal Gedris.

Christal’s husband, Zach had come from a Catholic family and as the couple dated during and after high school, Crystal began attending Mass with Zach. When they decided to get married, they had talked about having children and raising them in the Catholic faith.

“I had no problem with that,” Crystal said but decided she wanted her marriage to be a partnership in faith as well and began the process of becoming a Catholic before their wedding. Plus, Crystal said that when the family attended Mass together she couldn’t go to Communion. “I felt left out when everyone went to Communion,” she said.

Zach was her sponsor and attended the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults or RCIA classes with her. Often, after a class, Zach told her he learned more about his faith as well, she said.

During the classes, she said she was encouraged to think about the decision to join the church and make sure it was the right decision for her.