Ten Converts Share Their Stories as Parishes Kick Off RCIARead Time 10 min

Owen Kozlik receives the sacrament of Baptism from Fr. Matthew Widder at St. William Parish in Waukesha at the Easter Vigil last spring. (Submitted photo)

You never know when someone will take the first step to become Catholic.

Judy Wolf met Mark Malaney in the parking lot of Annunciation, Fox Lake.

Wolf, who works in the parish office, asked if she could help him.

“I am looking for God,” Malaney responded.

“He came in, talked with me and our priest at that time. Long story short, he was baptized in December and confirmed on Holy Saturday,” Wolf said.

This fall, Annunciation and other parishes will invite people interested in entering the Catholic Church or completing their sacraments to begin the steps to make that happen.

Last spring, hundreds of people across the 10-county Archdiocese of Milwaukee were received into the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil after completing the steps of what’s known as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. They’re from small towns, big cities and suburbs, and they range from children to retirees. Many spent nearly a year taking part in RCIA — learning, praying and discerning.

In their own words, the following 10 people — including Malaney — shared why they became Catholic last spring. Maybe their stories can inspire someone you know to take the next step and contact a nearby parish to become Catholic, too.

Hallie Barteau

Basilica of St. Josaphat, Milwaukee

“I come from a Protestant background, and when I was growing up, I had an incorrect understanding about Catholicism. I grew up with a strong respect for Scripture. Then, about a year ago, I heard some pretty convincing arguments about Catholicism, and most of the arguments I found convincing came from Scripture. Intellectually, I know I made the right decision. There’s still a lot of room for growth, and I think that’s how it is for all believers. Even though I went through RCIA, I know that I’m going to continue working on my faith. There’s still so much to learn.”

Jay Carpenter

St. Francis Borgia, Cedarburg

“I’m working on my license in counseling, and I’ve seen how a lot of problems with people today seem to be caused by a lack of meaning in their lives. And I hadn’t really been satisfied with a lot of modern solutions to that. Then, a Catholic friend led me toward investigating Christianity. My parents were vaguely Christian. I broadly believed in God but was never Baptized, and I never really went to church. After thinking about it more, I realized that by and large, I agree with just about all aspects of Catholic morality. I did a religious consultation with Fr. Patrick (Burns), and after that, I decided to just go to church. I did that for about a year and a half before I decided to become Catholic. I basically lived as if I was Catholic, so it wasn’t a massive change in my daily practices. But it’s been nice to go there now and take Communion. I didn’t realize that church didn’t feel complete before that, but it does now.”

Nathan Godfrey

St. Elizabeth, Kenosha

“I grew up in a Protestant Anabaptist tradition. My parents were missionaries in Siberia, and I was there until I was about 6. I think the big thing was that I started to look at the world around me, looking at various church traditions. At first, I poked around the Lutheran church. After a couple years of thinking and reading, I came to the conclusion that I’ve been intellectually convinced of the arguments for Catholicism. I knew I felt compelled to go through the process, but I didn’t anticipate it being a life-changing thing. There are things I struggle with in my personal life that I have struggled with for years, and now, like a light switch, I feel empowered to not be a person I don’t want to be anymore.”

Jim Hodgson

St. Mary, Waukesha

“My son is a student at UW-Madison, and a year ago he joined the Catholic Church there. Talking with him last year at great length, I decided I wanted to make the change, as well. What really resonated with me was how the Catholic Church consistently and lovingly proclaimed the truth. It’s a very positive and uplifting message of hope the world needs right now, and it remains consistent with the teachings of Christ throughout the years. That’s what led me to investigate more and to go through the RCIA process. In the weeks since I’ve become Catholic, I’ve been busy becoming involved in Catholic organizations. I joined the St. Vincent de Paul group, and I’m looking forward to serving those in need throughout our community. I’ve also become active in the Knights of Columbus. I’m excited about our faith and the hope and promise that it has, and the good it can do in this troubled world we live in.”

Pam Kowalczyk

St. Anne, Pleasant Prairie

“My husband is Catholic. For various reasons, we moved near to St. Anne. I didn’t care where we went, as long as we went to church. So, we’d been going there for nearly 20 years, but there was something missing. After I prayed about it, the thing I needed was to become Catholic. My grandniece Abby was baptized Catholic, then her parents got divorced and nothing else happened. The day after I talked to the deacon, Abby asked if she could have her Confirmation and First Communion. I hadn’t even told her I was going to be doing the RCIA classes. I’m 64 and she’s this beautiful 15-year-old girl, and we attended classes together. She and I have become so close doing this together. The week before Easter, my husband and I got married again in the Catholic Church. Within a span of 10 days, I was married, had my First Communion, had my first confession and was confirmed. It was one of the most insane, crazy, beautiful 10 days of my entire life. And I know my journey has just begun.”

Owen Kozlik

St. William, Waukesha

“I first discovered Christianity in general about a year ago. My opinion on Catholicism was a lot like other people’s — totally false stuff. I had a stint where I was going to Orthodox Divine Liturgies. My grandma is Catholic, and she invited me to a Mass. I remember going to that Mass and feeling so much more like I belonged. My grandma is a big part of why I became Catholic. Once I found out she was still going to Mass, despite her really old age, it inspired me. I’m not old. I don’t have trouble getting around, so maybe I should go to church more often. Since then, I’ve gone to a lot of Masses. At the Easter Vigil, it was great seeing all my friends being fully admitted into the Catholic Church the same way I was. I felt like I was finally where I needed to be. I feel like I’m home now.”

Mark Malaney

Annunciation Parish, Fox Lake

“I’ve had a lot of things happen in my life. It took the latest big trial for me to realize this wasn’t working for me, that there has to be more than this. I kept finding myself depressed and feeling like I was missing something, and I needed something bigger and more fulfilling. I met with Fr. John (Radetski), and he invited me to come to Mass, and it was fantastic. I loved every minute of it. I loved the people there. I feel like I’m building a whole new family that I didn’t know was available to me. The Gospel is fantastic. The more I started reading the Bible, the more I realized that this was what I was missing. I’m feeling more fulfilled than ever before in my life. I’m 37, and I have a house, a career, toys and all that. But I’m sleeping better now. I’m all around happier. I owe it all to the fact that my soul has been saved.”

Kourtney Mathews

St. Charles, Hartland

“I grew up WELS Lutheran. I’ve had a lot of health issues over the past couple of years, which isolated me, and it drove home for me the point that it’s me and God. It forced me to question what I grew up with, what I believed, and to find comfort in the Word and comfort through God. The way I grew up, you didn’t get a lot of meat and potatoes about what a relationship with God was like. You weren’t taught the things that are vital to a prayer relationship with Christ. Then another mom invited me to her small group. God, to me, is so real in the Catholic Church, so tangible. I’ve been meeting with Fr. Ariel (Orozco), who is teaching me more about prayer. Focusing on mental prayer and putting the time in every day changed my whole relationship with Christ.”

Joshua Umfleet

St. Dominic, Brookfield

“It was a long process. I wasn’t really any religion. My wife and her family are Catholic, and after my wife and I got together, I started going to church with them on holidays. When we had kids, we toured St. Dominic. Before we went there, I didn’t want to spend the money. But as we left, we knew we would send them here. I started going to church every week with the family. Flash to eight years later, and here we are. There were a lot of coincidences in those eight years. Mainly they happened with Fr. Tim (Schumaker). I would have a question or thought, and the next time he was at Mass, that’s what he was talking about. It was like something was calling me to the Church, and after a few times, I got the hint.”

Eugene Vitvitskiy

St. William, Waukesha

“I grew up agnostic. My family is from the Soviet Union, and they weren’t allowed to practice religion. As I grew up, I learned that being agnostic doesn’t prepare you for the temptations you’ll face. About a year and a half ago, I started going to church on my own. Then occasionally I went with somebody I knew. Then I started to look into it some more. Every day I’m grateful to be part of the Lord’s Covenant, and to have his grace. I feel like I have a different outlook on life. I’m reading the Bible for the first time. In my mind, this is just the beginning.”