The joy of conversion, Christian community, and the Catholic faith
“Right now, the Holy Spirit is using me and the book to help all of us who are coping with the transition into a new lifestyle of constant restraint and change. I didn’t know that Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story would be used for this purpose, but I’m now realizing that the Holy Spirit had many uses in mind for it. People want to know how to get through this and this book has answers”–Nancy Ward
I closed my eyes and found myself in a cocoon — the coronavirus cocoon of isolation. Where was the familiar life I knew yesterday? Here God wrapped me in his protection by confining me to a small space and captivating my heart. Instinctively, I struggled to escape. Each struggle to escape brought me a new understanding of myself and, finally, peace in God’s will. I settled into the attitude of learning what He intended to teach me.
In my coronavirus captivity, God was shaping me into the woman I need to be when I fully emerge into a new life. He was giving me the strength, wisdom, and faith to survive in the world outside that was becoming so different from what I remembered. He was teaching me not to expect or long for the old life I had, but to trust Him for this new life He has for me.
I beseech you, therefore writers, by the mercies of God, that you present your manuscripts a written sacrifice, typewritten, acceptable unto the editor, which is your reasonable service; and be not conformed to secular markets, but be able ministers, by the renewing of your lives, that you might present the good, acceptable and perfect manuscript. For I say through the grace given unto me, to every writer that is among you, not to think more highly of himself than the manuscript he produces, and to be diligent in fulfilling the capabilities that God has given; for we have many authors in our midst, and not all authors have the same capability; So we, being many, are still one in Christ and members of one another.
Three posts this week: I discovered our joyful duty of passing it on. As Pope Paul VI wrote: Here lies the test of truth, the touchstone of evangelization: it is unthinkable that a person should accept the Word and give himself to the kingdom without becoming a person who bears witness to it and proclaims it in his turn. Then, In Bread Upon the Waters, Deanna Klingel tells the true story of Father Tien Duong, a Catholic priest who grew up in the strife and hardship of Communist Vietnam. The biography is filled with incredible personal stories told to Deanna during her long hours with Fr. Tien. Fr. Bob Hilz teaches us that the Eucharistic Liturgy, the Mass, is the clearest source of God-power in our life. The liturgy, in the scriptures, teaches us how to live a good Godly life on earth and provides us the energy and power to do that.
Although Tien, as a child, knew he would be a priest, this dream was not just a fleeting aspiration but a sure calling. His courage and perseverance never wavered through unspeakable torment. Bread Upon the Water is quite an inspiring tale of intrigue, deception, clever tactics and trust in God. Humanness emerges from the pages in many scenes. Tien’s mother, Pham Toa fascinates me. I can see where he gets his strong-willed spirit—and his gentle generosity. She’s not afraid to stand up to the soldiers by spitting on them when they confiscate her wares in the marketplace. She walks for days to bring food to her imprisoned husband and takes in relatives and friends in need. Stoically she tells two of her sons goodbye, perhaps forever, for their chance to find freedom far away from their homeland.
Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story tops the posts on JoyAlive.net this week with a stunning review from Virginia Lieto, who writes, “I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about the conversion stories of others. If you are an RCIA Coordinator, this book would serve you well in learning where people are coming from, to better guide them to where they need to be – in the loving arms of Jesus Christ and His One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.” And enjoy the fun endorsement from Barb Szyszkiewicz! My Holy Spirit Mission delights readers of the Catholic Writers Guild and Fr. Bob Hilz delves into The Last Things, encouraging us with, “Let us get as close to Jesus each day as we can so we are ready to meet him right after we die.”
Barb Szyszkiewicz is a wife, mom, Secular Franciscan, managing editor for Today’s Catholic Teacher magazine and editor at CatholicMom.com. Her three children range in age from high school to young adult, and she enjoys writing, cooking, and reading. Barb is a music minister at her parish and an avid Notre Dame football and basketball fan. Find her blog at FranciscanMom and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information for diabetics at Cook and Count.
She is a tireless and committed volunteer for the Catholic Writers Guild. Barb is highly skilled and experienced in writing, editing, social media and blogging with specialties in inspirational and technical topics, book reviews and recipes. She contributed to the CatholicMom’s Prayer Companion. Watch for her book review of Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story coming in 2020.
The Holy Spirit’s mission of evangelizing by sharing our Catholic faith story is perfect for me – and given to every baptized Christian at Baptism. Whatever other career, family commitments, or ministries God has meant for us to do, this one fills all the crooks and crannies. Being ready to bring God’s presence to others by sharing his wonders in our life embraces all our goings-on.