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Friday, May 1, 2009
New Catholic: 'I felt reborn'

text only version

During the Easter season, new Catholics of the archdiocese are sharing their stories of conversion. As many of these stories as possible will appear in the weeks ahead.

Philip Germain
I am 11 years old, and my parish is Blessed Kateri Church in Santa Clarita. This experience was very exciting for me, since I was the only child in the Elect being baptized at the Easter Vigil.

I began attending Blessed Kateri two years before beginning my journey. I felt like I was missing something in life, and I realized that it was being a Catholic.

Since my stepfather is a eucharistic minister and a lector, I asked him many questions about the Church. When I started my journey, at first I wanted to quit. But when I went to the Cathedral one day, I had a very spiritual experience at the crypt of St. Vibiana. I felt that she was there, praying for me and with me. I felt her hands upon my shoulders. That made me decide to continue my journey.

The sacraments of the Catholic Church are very important in our lives. Baptism was a very special experience for me; it washed me clean of everything I did wrong. When Father Blaise Brockman put the oil on me to confirm me and put his hands upon my head, I felt like a new person. Out of all the moments of Easter Vigil, taking the Eucharist was the most important for me because I was receiving God.

At the end of the evening, after the Vigil, I felt like I was reborn. I understood the meaning of the word. I cannot explain the feeling, but I felt like the saint I took the name of --- St. Philip the Apostle. This is one of the most moving experiences you can imagine for someone my age.

This entire journey has made me a better person and a new person.



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