ARTICLES

New Catholics welcomed by Bishop

By Steve Neill
Of The Catholic Virginian

Like most married people who decide to become Catholic, Susan Mangin took the journey of faith for herself and not because of any pressure from her Catholic husband or his family.

But it was only natural that her husband of three years, Chris Mangin, was pleased to know that she wanted to discover more about his Catholic faith through the RCIA program at St. Benedict parish in Richmond.

Mrs. Mangin shared her story of her reason she wanted to be Catholic with The Catholic Virginian just before the diocese’s first Neophyte Mass May 4 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo presided at the special liturgy for all who had been baptized or had entered the full sacramental life of the Church at Easter. Worshippers came from as far as Roanoke.

Mrs. Mangin admitted that she had been thinking about embracing the Catholic faith for the past three years, soon after her marriage in the Presbyterian church of her parents in Greensboro, NC.

“It’s just very important to Chris and his family and they introduced me to the beauty of the Catholic religion,” Mrs. Mangin said.

She entered the RCIA with a lot of questions.

“Why do Catholics do this? Why do Catholics believe that?” Mrs. Mangin said. “For me, never having been around many Catholics before, I had a lot of questions and I felt that my questions were answered.”

Mr. Mangin, an attorney, explained that he tried to be faithful to his religion and set a good example as a Catholic, but never pressured his wife to become Catholic.

“I prayed for her to come into the church, but never said anything to her about it,” he said.

Jerry Bullard, a new Catholic at Cathedral parish in Richmond, gave a witness talk at the Neophyte Mass at which Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo presided.

He announced that he had grown up in the Bible belt of middle Tennessee.

“My parents were hard working, God-fearing, church-going Protestants,” Mr. Bullard said. But even though most of his peers were baptized, as expected, by the age of 12, he felt some reluctance.

“Finally when I was 18 I succumbed to the pressure and was baptized in a private ceremony with only family and my choice of the minister,” he said.

But as a college student in a private Christian church-supported institution, he said he still had doubts even though he felt he received an excellent education.

“But the underlying question was always there,” he said. “Was God in my life or was I living a shallow existence, fooling no one but myself?”

“My path crossed with lots of people from different faiths,” Mr. Bullard said. But it was Catholicism which really kept resurfacing in his mind. He felt he could understand the structure, beliefs and commitments.

“After attending Catholic Mass, I heard for the first time that we are all sinners and it is okay,” he said. “I began to understand the significance of Easter and the crucifix and the excruciating pain that Jesus endured for each of us.”

In 2000 he met a Catholic woman who was to become his wife. He began to attend Sunday Mass with her on a weekly basis.

“My hunger for the Catholic faith deepened,” Mr. Bullard said. “I learned that instead of taking on the ‘infamous’ Catholic guilt, I could potentially let go of my guilt because of a loving and forgiving God.”

He and his wife, Terry, were married in 2004. They first lived in Atlanta and three and a half years ago moved to Richmond where they began worshipping at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. He entered the RCIA after reading in the parish bulletin that classes were to begin. He received the full sacramental life of the Church at this year’s Easter vigil.

“The last eight months have been powerful,” Mr. Bullard said. “The love, acceptance and warmth have been immeasurable.

“Not only have I learned about the teachings and traditions of the Catholic faith, but I have learned more about Jesus and his life than I ever knew.

“Equally important, I have learned more about myself and the influence of my choices on others, as I strive to find my vocation within the Church.”

In his homily Bishop DiLorenzo told the new Catholic Christians that they have “a never-ending relationship with Jesus that is ever joy-filled and ever-deepening.”

“As fully initiated Catholic Christians, as human beings, you have your own part to play in the church and also in the world,” Bishop DiLorenzo said.

“It is your role to make the world as good a world as you can make it,” he said. “We know full well that at the end of our life, we will be asked by Jesus, ‘What did you do to follow my loving will to make this world a better place?’”

The Bishop admitted that he often likens being a Catholic to being on a roller coaster ride.

“It has its ups and downs, but you wouldn’t want to miss the ride for the world,” he said.

“Take it from me, I’ve been doing this for 66 years and it’s still fun.”

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