I was born to a Catholic mother and a Protestant father (in name only) in 1951 in Rochester, N.Y. I grew up literally one block away from the parish church and school, which I attended for 8 years. First Communion and Confirmation are vague memories, but positive ones. I can recall at a very early age being very sensitive to spiritual things. Becoming an altar boy was a genuine privilege that afforded me the opportunity to participate in the liturgical life of the Church. I remember asking my maternal grandparents to take me on a tour of other Catholic Churches in our city. I was fascinated with the architecture, the statuary, and overall environment that made all of these sacred spaces conducive to worship. My whole environment growing up was very Catholic. All of my friends were Catholic as well as many of my neighbors. Sunday mornings, we would walk in the company of many others going to the same Mass. Looking back, I now understand how blessed I was to grow up in that very stable world. After elementary school, I explored the possibility of entering a junior seminary but remember a few cautioning me against it. After graduating from an all boys Catholic High School, I entered college to study engineering, but after 2 years and an Associates Degree, decided that the technical world was not where I wanted to spend the rest of my life.
Why I Left the Catholic Church
My mid twenties became rather chaotic with a failed marriage and the birth of a son. As custodial parent, I learned much about life, but even more about my own Heavenly Father. My barber, an ex Catholic, had shared with me his experience of being "born again" through the ministry of a Baptist Church. My own "spiritual hunger" was again emerging after those traumatic years. Upon attending my first service in a Protestant church, I was impressed with their hospitality and sincere desire to make my visit a positive experience. The people actually sang the hymns with enthusiasm. The pastor preached a sermon from the Bible that I thought he crafted by knowing the intimate details of my own personal life. Not unlike a Billy Graham Crusade, I responded to an "altar call" and walked an aisle to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. In retrospect, the Lord used this very genuine conversion experience to redirect my life. Sadly, not one Catholic seriously challenged my decision. I became very active in that community, and met and married a beautiful spiritual woman who was also an ex Catholic. We got involved in Children's Ministry and I eventually became the Sunday School Superintendent for over 1000 children. Friends suggested I enter Bible school and pursue the ministry as a vocation. After 4 long years of attending night classes and working a full time job, I graduated at the top of my class and began pastoring a Baptist church in Auburn, N.Y.
The Road Back to Catholicism
The next 4 years were difficult, but another opportunity to grow in my faith. The church I led was born as the result of a church split. Protestantism is built upon 2 major foundational principles: Sola Fide (Faith Alone) and Sola Scriptura (the Bible alone). Without a visible voice of authority (the Pope), each individual is left to privately interpret the Bible. However in many of these churches the individual pastor becomes that authority often disagreeing with the Protestant minister down the street. The Reformation has taught us that once you create schism, you naturally continue to divide. At present there are over 30,000 denominations with new ones appearing every year. The sheer lack of unity and constant disagreement over doctrinal issues created an environment of pride and arrogance that in a subtle way blinded people to their own lack of genuine holy living. The belief that salvation was by faith apart from works, and a one time static event, only served to solidify that attitude. In 1991 after serving in a very dysfunctional community, we returned to my hometown. Consequentially, my theology began to evolve from fundamentalism to reformed theology as found in the Presbyterian church. I became an active elder in that denomination, but continued to preach as a substitute minister in other churches. One Sunday, I conducted the "Lord's Supper" in three different rituals for three different denominations all under one roof called a United Ministry!
In September of 1994, after gathering for Bible Study with many disillusioned Christians from many different Christian groups, including Catholics, we began an Evangelical church associated with the Evangelical Free Church in America. As its founding pastor, I continued to stay open to the leading of the Holy Spirit in my life by continuing to ask searching questions regarding salvation and authority. A dear fiend of mine who had attended the same Bible school announced to me over breakfast one day that he was going to enter the Catholic Church. We had been meeting and discussing the history of Christianity and the writings of the Early Church Fathers for a few years. As Cardinal Newman put it, to be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant. I awoke to the truth that Christianity existed long before the Reformation in the church that Christ established - the Catholic Church. Verses of Scripture rightly understood and interpreted by Catholic scholars over a 2000 year tradition began to deconstruct my Evangelical theology. Having avidly studied the Scripture for nearly 20 years, I was surprised to learn that it was the Bible itself that was moving me closer and closer to my Catholic roots. Verses like 1Timothy 3:15 teach that it is the church, not the Bible alone that is the pillar and foundation of truth. We are saved by grace through faith that is never alone but always accompanied by good works (James 2:24).
My journey back to Catholicism was also guided by some very practical experiences as a Protestant minister. As people sought counseling, I became aware of their innate desire to confess their sins. Instead of the confessional, we had substituted pastoral counseling. My awakening to the beauty of the sacraments was fast emerging in my times of reflection. While sitting in my church sanctuary one afternoon, I noticed the words so beautifully etched in our communion table - "Do this in memory of Me". It was the one thing Jesus told us to do, but as Evangelicals we neglected to do on any regular basis. Ultimately, it was the Eucharist that brought me all the way back to the Catholic Faith of my childhood. On Friday mornings, I began to excuse myself early from a breakfast gathering of men from my church, to drive 15 miles to attend Mass. The first time I entered that Catholic Church my mind was flooded with the fond memories of my Catholic childhood. I instinctively knew that what took place on that altar was truly sacred - the presence of Christ, Body Blood, Soul and Divinity. After a few months of incessant and exhausting introspection, I knew I would have to resign my pastorate and leave the Protestant faith. The doubts ensued - how would I now make a living? What about my wife and 4 boys and their reaction? How would my Protestant friends respond?
Putting Mary to the Test
The problem that the Catholic teaching regarding Mary presented became the only way to escape such a risky life altering decision. I decided to put Mary to the test by asking her to help me in a very specific way, unsure that I should even be praying to her. Within a matter of weeks that prayer was answered so specifically, that I could not deny her holy intervention. I resigned my pastorate from a church that was growing and exciting to be a part. It was a painful separation for me and my family from a very wonderful group of Christian people who simply lacked the fullness of the faith found only in the Catholic Church. We moved to Florida, and within the last 3 years all of my boys were received into the Church. Through all of this, my wonderful wife has been there supporting me, even when she could not understand. She returned to the Catholic Faith in 2006.
7 Reasons to be Catholic
Why be Catholic? Drawing from the words of another convert, here are 7 reasons why I believe the Catholic Church is the One True Church that Christ established:
1. Most accurately Biblical of all Christian groups
2. Most intellectually honest and most historically accurate
3. Exhibits an excellent practical environment for ministry (head, heart, hands - balances theology and social justice issues)
4. Maintains the deepest and most profound spirituality
5. Most truly represents the essentials of sin and salvation
6. Has the most coherent doctrine concerning sex, marriage, and the family
7. Puts it all together in the Mass, the celebration of the Eucharist
This is my story - a journey of faith that continues to this day!
It is simply because of God's grace that I remained open to the pursuit of truth - the pursuit of Christ, that has led me back to the Catholic Faith. As Catholics we should always remain open to ongoing conversion and the need to pursue authenticity in our spiritual lives. In answering John Paul's call to participate in the "New Evangelization", let us endeavor to intentionally live our Catholic Faith with zeal and resolve, unafraid to engage a world of religious pluralism!
Glory be to the God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and God the Holy Spirit forever and ever Amen!
If you would like to contact Bill Gent - email - Bgent@HNJ.org