Apart from Theology and Faith,
Why Do I Stay in the Catholic Church?

I speak a lot about doctrine and stuff on this site but there are other ways I can tell God wants me to be Catholic.

Before I came to the Church I was a wanderer. I never belonged anywhere. As a performer, I had 23 living addresses in 10 years. I'm not a "joiner." I left every organization I ever belonged to. How is it that I have been able to stay in the Catholic Church for over 15 years? There is only one explanation - God's Grace.

I hated prime ministers and political leaders. How have I been able to submit myself to the authority of the Catholic Church? There is only one explanation - God's Grace.

I'm a Christian Contemporary Music (CCM) artist. The business is dominated by Evangelicals, many of whom honestly think the Catholic Church is off the spiritual beam. I know that one of the greatest hindrances to my career in the CCM field is my membership in the Catholic Church. I have a history of ambition in music but nevertheless I stay Catholic. Why?  Quite simply, it's God's grace.

I belong to a tiny parish community of outwardly unimpressive, non-sensational, elderly women. I'm a show off and I could play in many of the sparkling "happening" Churches in Ottawa. How is it that I've been in the same Parish for 18 years, showing up at 8:30 am every week for twenty elderly women and a several people from other countries? God's grace. It is in this environment that my faith has grown, matured and has been nourished.

There is another miracle. I had had a terrible eating disorder, bulimia. I had been free of the behavior for 5 years but I still struggled with cravings and dreams about food. (You have to be an addict to understand this). I had been attending Catholic Church for 7 years but I was not Catholic. In 1995, I was confirmed in the Catholic Church. The very day I was confirmed into the Church the cravings and dreams about food left me never to return. This is a very welcome miracle and confirmed to me that I was on the right path. Praise be to Jesus, my Lord and Savior.

Note: recently, the Church mentioned here that I belonged to for 18 years closed and I now belong to a very vibrant youthful Church called St. Mary's in Ottawa.

Lord Jesus, let Your prayer of unity for Christians
become a reality, in Your way
we have absolute confidence
that you can bring your people together
we give you absolute permission to move
Amen

©2002 David MacDonald

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