I was born into the Catholic faith. I made my First Holy Communion at eight and was confirmed at seventeen. One of my most treasured childhood gifts was my first missal, given to me by my parents. Inside the cover, my mother had written: “Grizelda, let Mother Mary always be in your heart and mind and life will be wonderful. Love from Mommy and Daddy.”
I still read those words today, and they inspired this post.
My journey, however, has not been perfect. I have not always been faithful, and I am certainly not without sin. As a teenager, I visited other churches with friends, but I never felt at home there. Later, I went through a season of doubt that lasted about six years, where I questioned whether God even existed.
Looking back, I see how much the people around me influenced me. They weren’t trying to pull me away from faith, but their lives had no place for God, and slowly, without realizing it, I found myself drifting in the same direction. My mother once told me that the people you spend time with shape how others see you. Over time, I’ve come to realize it’s even deeper than that the people you walk with often shape your choices, your path, and even your heart.
During those years of unbelief, I never doubted I was in the wrong Church; I doubted God’s existence altogether. Living in a country with so much visible suffering took its toll, and without strong faith, the weight of life can overwhelm your belief until you hardly realize it’s gone.
Yet even as a child, I always felt there was something more for me. I can’t explain why, but I carried a sense that I was meant to help people. Somewhere along the way, I lost that clarity.
About eighteen months ago, a conversation with my future sister in-law who is Protestant opened a new chapter. I admitted to her that I wasn’t sure I believed in God, and she invited me to read Scripture daily with her. I agreed, though I never felt comfortable sending her my notes. I read most days, but still felt unchanged. Then one day, she sent me a video critical of the Vatican and Pope Francis. That sparked a long and intense discussion about Catholicism, our beliefs, and why we do what we do.
At first, I felt defensive. But as I thought it over, I realized she was genuinely asking, not attacking. Those conversations deepened our relationship and, more importantly, reopened my heart to real faith. Like a light being switched on, I could suddenly see what I had been blind to.
I now understand that without those six years of unbelief, I would not have arrived here. My faith today is very different from before stronger, clearer, more rooted. I believe God used my sister in-law, a Protestant, to call me back to my Catholic faith. Some might argue He was calling me to hers, but I can say with certainty that I am exactly where He wants me: within His Church, the one promised to stand forever. “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)
The truth is, our Lord calls to us every day. The question is do we listen? Do we believe? Or do we think we know better? He has already given us everything we need to follow Him; it is up to us to choose it.
Even in today’s world, with endless voices on social media, proof of God’s Church is still all around us. After Jesus ascended, twelve men set out with no phones, no platforms, no followers yet Christianity spread across the world and has endured for centuries, exactly as Jesus promised. People demand proof, but often the real issue is not proof at all it’s whether we are willing to see.
If you truly want to witness Christ, you must be willing to be open, even beyond the biases you may have been taught.
Reflecting on My Catholic Faith Journey
My journey of faith is really only beginning now, in my forties. For the first time in my life, I feel an unmistakable pull to do more to help bring others closer to God’s Church. That is why I have begun writing Catholic-inspired children’s books.
The Catechism teaches us that the family is the domestic church the first place where we learn about God. For me, this truth is beautifully embodied in two treasured items, my First Holy Communion missal from my parents in 1991 and the rosary of my late Avô. They are not just objects; they are a tangible legacy of the faith my family nurtured in me.
I want children, parents, and families to understand not just what we do in our faith, but why we do it. Behind every devotion, every sacrament, every tradition, there is a depth of meaning that is often overlooked. My hope is to share the beauty of these truths in a way that is simple, accessible, and alive with wonder.
My books are written to make the faith relatable, short and simple for children not because they cannot understand it, but because the beauty of our faith deserves to be shared in a way that speaks to their hearts and everyday lives.
At the heart of it all is the message Christ has always given us, a message of love, of hope, and of charity. That message never changes, and it is what I hope shines through in every word I write.
Peace be with you.
- Helping Children Understand Loss Through Faith and Story
- 5 Creative Ways to Help Kids Look Forward to Sunday Mass
- How to Make Faith Fun: The Importance of Children’s Catholic Books
- Discover five fun and practical ways to teach children Catholic prayer at home.
- My Catholic Faith Journey: Overcoming Doubt and Finding Peace
