By Dev Nath Kaushal
Dev, Class of 2019
To become Catholic was big for me. Since my childhood, I was drawn to Jesus despite my secular upbringing. In times of need, I used to pray wholeheartedly and often had a rosary, crucifix or even a prayer book on hand for comfort, but that was all I knew. On reflection, my communications with God were merely bargaining for a smooth passage through crisis without even knowing Him. Nevertheless, I realised that many of my prayers had been answered and they were not just mere coincidences. Entrusting that my life’s path was in the good hands of the Lord also gave me a wholesome sense of purpose in the world.
Following my friends and relatives to church and sitting through a Mass always brought me an unexplained sense of warmth, ease, love and being which helped to quiet down and clear away the hassle and hustle of the day’s chaos. It did not take me long to realise that something was giving me peace. Something was constantly calling me back to Church. Something was drawing me to prayer. I personally believe that something was the Holy Spirit calling me.
Unlike some testimonies, my RCIA story did not begin with some huge miraculous event or realisation. Rather, it was small baby steps day after day. When I found my wife (a cradle Catholic), she taught me more on what it was to be a Christian. The next thing I knew, life happened, and I was back to procrastination.
Along the way, another crisis shook our lives up when my beloved mother fell severely ill. I found myself back to bargaining with the Lord for my mother’s wellbeing. Although she eventually passed on, all my prayers for a comfortable transition had been answered. It was then that I opened my heart, got off the fence that I had been sitting on and committed to becoming a Catholic to get to know our saviour and Lord Jesus Christ better.
Initially, I was a little afraid to start, not knowing what to expect but after the first gathering my fear went away. I eagerly attended each meeting which I thoroughly enjoyed. The classes were conducted with no animosity towards any of the catechists’ thoughts and backgrounds. The instructors guided each of us and paced the lessons to meet the needs of individual participants. I felt that I had learned so much about the true meaning of the Catholic faith. My personal experience through the RCIA activities is akin to having a fire lit within me.
Through my Catholic Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion, and commitment to worship, I am now growing slowly but surely in my faith and closeness to God, which I feel is one of the greatest gifts.
