A faith walk from Hinduism to Catholicism

Six years ago, Natalie Ramlochan was not much different from who she is today. She was the wife to a supportive husband, the mother of a wonderful young man and an avid lover of cactus and succulents. But on Glorious Saturday night 2018 when she joined the Catholic Church, she believes that she became so much more.

Natalie was born into a Hindu family. She married a Muslim but found herself constantly praying at the start of 2017 to spend her birthday in church and to be baptised. Why? She can’t really explain but in her search to find Jesus, she was invited by numerous friends and neighbours to various Christian churches throughout the country.

In August of 2017, a series of events occurred. First, her older brother passed away, he was Catholic and belonged to a long line of well-known Catholics in the community. His wife’s sister was Sr Angela Coraspie. Natalie was in deep grief but the funeral took place in her Tabaquite RC church with the vibrant and effervescent Fr Robert Christo. Strangely enough, that funeral was the answer to one of her prayers because the funeral occurred on her birthday and so, she was able to spend her birthday in a Catholic church.

Natalie admits that before the funeral Mass was over, she knew that she had found a new home. As she was about to exit the church, her husband turned to her and said, “I think you and Nicholas should start coming to church here”. That was the moment of confirmation of what she already knew in her heart. Tabaquite RC would be her new church.

Natalie returned to the church for her brother’s 40-day Mass. At that time, the parish announced the start of their RCIA programme. Natalie signed up herself and son that same day and from then on, there has been no turning back for Natalie Ramlochan as a soldier for Christ in the Catholic church.

It was Gloria Saturday night 2017. Natalie had spent her entire day praying and fasting. The joy and amazement of that day was twofold. Firstly, seeing her son come out of the water with the most glorious smile on his face and absolute joy in his eyes may have been enough to fill any woman’s heart. But then it was her turn and she said, “I saw angels!”. She laughs, “Girl, the moon hit directly over the baptismal font and when I looked up, I literally saw angels.” She shares this story as if she is still in awe today. “Then it was time for me to have my First Communion experience. Now, I don’t drink alcohol at all, so I was worried about the wine. But when I heard, “Blood of Christ”, I tilted the chalice and I started to smell real blood and as it was going down my throat I felt like I was drinking real blood and as I took the last gulp, I heard the Holy Spirit say, “It is done. Go and spread the gospel”.

And that she has been doing.

Natalie likens her six-year journey in the Catholic church with four women in the Bible.

Natalie says, “I saw myself as the woman with the alabaster jar……(Matt 26:6–13). I used to have long hair and that’s how I see myself being when I meet Jesus, and most importantly people don’t know the cost of the oil.”

Secondly, the Word of God cuts differently for Natalie who says, “I see myself as the woman at the well. Remember how she thirsted for Jesus? Well, that’s who I was.”

Thirdly she said, she was like the woman with the blood disorder who touched to hem of Jesus’ garment (Matt 9:20-22). For most of her life, Natalie had a blood disorder that led to excessive bleeding. On January 14, 2022, Natalie went into the hospital for a hysterectomy. That day is etched in Natalie’s memory because it was the day that her relationship with the Blessed Virgin was sealed. “I used to say the rosary since I was in primary school, and after my Baptism, I enjoyed saying the rosary. But on the morning of my hysterectomy, I started to say the rosary but then mystically something happened, and I began to praying the rosary. It is two different experiences you know…It was the Sorrowful Mysteries, which I identify a lot with and at some point, it changed from me simply reciting the Hail Mary to me deeply praying the rosary. It was more of a deep conversation with Jesus than anything else.” She said in utter amazement. Then she said, “look meh pores raising”.

Finally, Jarius’ daughter. It was almost three months after her hysterectomy when she heard Jesus say, “Rise up”. Natalie got back on her feet and began her evangelisation journey again.

Natalie is fervently involved in numerous ministries in her parish including, RCIA, SVP and the cleaning ministry in her parish. Since her RCIA experience, Natalie has gone on to attend Liturgy School, Bible studies and Evangelisation school at the Catholic Bible Institute, and Original Pain Therapy. “Girl, I can’t want to teach people about the faith if I don’t understand it”.

Natalie credits her two mentors in her parish Veronica Luke and Maureen Perriera for all that she is.