I married into a Catholic family.  My wife had three children who became my step-children.

They are all a blessing to me.  I love them and cherish them.  They are my life.

For the past two and a half years, my wife, myself and the children have attended mass regularly

however I was born and raised in the Church of England and could not take part fully in the Mass.

I am not unfamiliar with the Christian Faith and dearly and deeply wanted to be in communion with

our Lord.  It is a most emotional time for me, during a mass, just hearing the description of Christ

saying how His body would be broken like the bread and given up and His blood shed for me.  I

would look up during the mass as the priest ate and drank the body and blood, I imagined it was .

me taking that Communion.  My youngest step-daughter would hold my hand and keep me

company in the pew as everyone else took part in the Eucharist.  Last year she has her first

communion, so now I sat alone in the pew as my family shared in that sacrament.

Families are supposed to be together, they are supposed to be one with each other, and one in

the sight of God.  There was no reason why I should not  become Catholic and complete our

family.  So, I took the step and joined the RCIA group to learn more about Catholic doctrine

with the view to eventually becoming Catholic.  The RCIA classes are so much then

becoming Catholic, they are time with God, time to reflect on one's faith, a time of peace and

spiritual growth.  It is a blessed journey.  The weeks have gone by all too quickly, I feel I am

ready.  At the Easter Vigil my family will be complete, not only with my wife and the children but

also my parish family.  I will be alone in the pew no more.  For me, this is the right thing to do.

From time to time, during a mass, I know I will look into the pews and see someone sitting alone

like I used to.  I will say a prayer for you, for you are not alone.