Category: Joy Stories

Joy Stories: The hole in my heart

By Vijaya Bodach I grew up in India in the Episcopal Church. My mother read to us from the big Marathi Bible, and my earliest memories are of me in love with Jesus. I’d sit on half a chair, reserving the other half for Jesus. I often fell out of my chair. When I started...

Got Joy?

Got Joy? Latest posts 8-31-18

First Call by Nancy Shuman Sometimes I would sneak into the empty church during recess. I’d slip away from the other kids and run along the alley between my school and church, and I’d tug open the gigantic wooden door and tiptoe into quiet. It was perfect. https://joyalive.net/joy-stories-the-first-call-by-nancy-shuman-2/ Stirring Slumbering Souls by Michael Seagriff How many...

Joy Stories: The First Call by Nancy Shuman

In memory of Nancy Schuman who died on August 30, 2017. I fell in love for the first time when I was six years old.  Coming from an “unchurched but Catholic-on-the-books” family, I did not learn of Jesus until I entered first grade.  I’m forever grateful to my parents for sending me to Catholic school, for...

Julie Davis

Julie Davis tops the JOYAlive.net charts!

The stats are in! The highest rated post on JOYAlive.net for 2017 with 462 views was From Atheist to Happy Catholic, the dramatic conversion story of Julie Davis. Congratulations, Julie! Later in the year, I interviewed Julie about her new book, Seeking Jesus. That interview was published on CatholicStand.com and CatholicMom.com.   Joy Stories Everyone...

Greg Wasinski

Joy Story: Finding Jesus in the Eucharist

By Greg Wasinski As a lifelong Catholic, I spent many years going through the motions of Mass, catechism class, sacramental preparation and prayer without allowing myself to appreciate the beauty of our faith.  During an adult period of my life, I even drifted away from going to church altogether. So often, even when I was...