This witness was made at liturgy on the weekend of April 6-7, 2013. Maria was baptized at the Easter Vigil.

It’s not easy being in front of people. It’s scary. So is change. On Easter, Jenny, my godmother, said that when I was being baptized I was crying. It wasn’t until the next day that I realized in a way she was right. I was crying, and I found myself crying again, but I get ahead of myself.

There was a time in my life that I wasn't a trusting person, but I chose to change. So, my journey started with a question, but really it started with something more. It started with a “yes.” If I hadn’t said yes to myself, to try and find what I felt what missing, then I would have never began this journey. That’s a part of why I chose Gabriel as my confirmation name. Mary chose to begin her journey with her own yes. A journey that gave us Jesus and salvation.

This witness was made at liturgy on the weekend of April 6-7, 2013.

Hi, my name is De Ann Kurtz.

About a year and a half ago, I told my husband I knew something was missing in my life; I knew I needed the fellowship and communion of fellow Christians. I wanted us to find a church we could attend together and made the comment, “I would even consider a Catholic Church.” My husband, a cradle Catholic and former altar boy, heard let’s find a Catholic Church.

We looked at 3 or 4 churches, but something about Epiphany just spoke to us. The music and message were so uplifting. We met with Father Randy and were sure we were making the right decision in becoming members. Father referred me to Sister Mary for pre-cat.  During my first meeting with Sister Mary, I made the comment that I wasn’t looking for a church to just attend on a weekly basis, but rather for a church in which I could become involved. In hind sight I might have worded that statement a little differently because Sister quickly had a list of ways for me to become involved.

This witness was made at liturgy on the weekend of April 6-7, 2013.

Hello. My name is Lori Murner.

For me the journey to fully join the Catholic Church really began with the birth of our first child. My husband Chris and I had decided before our marriage that our children would be raised Catholic; so after Daniel was baptized, we started attending Mass as a family. I had no intention of becoming Catholic, but as both our families had always been involved in their churches, I couldn’t imagine not going to church as a family.

So for the past 25 years, I’ve been coming to Mass - 12 of those at Epiphany. Over the years I gained a much better understanding of many of the differences that challenged me, but still wasn’t sure about taking that last step. This especially weighed on me because during this time I was not taking communion at Mass, which was a personal loss I felt – the peace that comes with receiving Christ through communion. It also left me feeling not quite part of the community.

Those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day. They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. (Acts 2: 41-42)

Since late last summer six people along with their sponsors and spiritual companions have been make a journey of faith, discerning God’s call in their life. The intensity of this journey began to increase with the start of Lent and it has reached a high point in the celebrations that took place at our Easter Vigil. Those who were received into the church at that time have given their witness to the community about their experiences throughout this journey.  Their witness statements will appear on our website.