Gregg Pinheiro on becoming Catholic

The Catholic News spoke with Gregg Pinheiro who will be initiated into the Church and join the community at Our Lady of Mt Carmel RC Church, Carapichaima.

Q: What initially sparked your interest in converting from Anglicanism to Catholicism?

My wife is a devout Catholic who is very involved in parish life, and in attending church with her I felt like a bystander and not a participant as I couldn’t partake in the Eucharist. Therefore, I decided to join the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) programme so I could become more involved.

Q: How do you feel about being initiated into the Catholic faith?

I feel blessed to be on this path towards initiation into the Catholic Church. Through the RCIA programme, I have become more knowledgeable about the teachings of the Bible and by extension the Catholic faith.

Q: What was your previous spiritual life like?

Prayer has always been part of my daily routine; however, I was never a regular attendee at weekend Mass.

Q: It has been a two-year spiritual journey, share a few challenges and joys.

Some of my most memorable moments were engaging in discussions with other RCIA candidates and building relationships with members of my church community. I attended most of my sessions, but this was challenging at times since I would attend straight from work and be very tired on most days.

Q: What are you looking forward to when you become a member of the Catholic faith?

I am looking forward to deepening my faith and actively participating in the Mass now that I am able to once again receive the Eucharist.

Q: How do you plan to integrate yourself into the Catholic community and participate in parish life?

I plan to increase my involvement during Mass and actively participate in parish life by engaging in various ministries and activities. I encourage everyone to find some way to deepen their faith, whether it is through more regular church attendance, reading the Bible or silent prayer.