Let me share mine:
When I attended Allegheny College (2004-2008), I would say that I was a non-practicing Catholic for quite some time, and attended Holy Day masses and feasts with family with no purpose aside from accompanying family and friends. As a college freshman, and being away from home and my family support, homesickness was a constant factor. I performed my academic studies as was required of me, but deep within me, I felt i was spiritually empty.
With the encouragement of friends and hallmates, I went to the Catholic mass at Allegheny College's Newman Chapel , which was celebrated on a Sunday at 7pm, with Fr. Mark Hoffman, the collegiate chaplain, presiding.
That first mass in Allegheny College, to me, was different from any other masses ive ever attended. It really was. I guess it was different because i found myself finding what i was looking for for quite some time, realizing the promise of the proverbial doctrinal verse in
Matthew 7:7, "
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." It wasn't long until I was properly introduced to Fr. Mark Hoffman, and developed a lifelong friendship with him, who was ever so pivotal in helping me find my faith. He would come sit with me on our free time, of course, and read with me with beautiful psalms in the bible, discuss with me about questions that i would bring to him and then provide a biblical answer, as well as the church's position on things. I guess i found that fatherly-relationship that i was so longing for , a fatherly relationship that cultivated my faith, nurtured it, helped it grow, through the patience of that bald-headed, funny, jokingly wise, sharp witted man that was Fr. Mark Hoffman. Countless hours were spent when i had a troubling time in class, or general homesickness where i would find myself going to his office and just talking.
I truly and officially, actively took up a Catholic mentality when I realized in the beginning of my 3rd year in college that I wasn't confirmed. My sister and I, apparently, were never confirmed, so we both signed up for the Catholic Confirmation , which we both completed , under the guidance of Fr. Hoffman. Officially we both were confirmed in Easter 2007 , presiding over us was Bishop Donald Trautman (Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania, USA), who poured over us Holy Oils of confirmation. At that moment I felt the Holy Spirit.
Looking back at it now, the moment my friend Don took me with him to Newman Chapel that Sunday in 2004, was the day that I found Christ.
Everything else followed suit..
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=31842.0
