Received into the Catholic Church: 18 July

It has undoubtedly been a very interesting journey for us into the Catholic Church. There are numerous challenges that will undoubtedly face Anglican clergy converts especially those with large families like mine. But this is not a complaint about any part of our journey at all. It is simply an expected fact that challenges are to occur when one journeys into the Catholic Church. We are quite happy with our journey thus far and we are all adjusting very well to our new church family. The reception and warm welcome from our new very large family has been absolutely delightful and has really made us feel like this is indeed a journey home.

The family is planning on being received into the Church on 18 July. There is something very interesting about this date. I looked ahead at the calendar and noted that 18 July is the memorial of S. Camillus de Lellis, priest. What is so interesting about this date and my particular reception is the similarity of backgrounds of S. Camillus and my own. Though I was never addicted to gambling, some have said that I have taken many gambles in my life though I hope that most of them are acts of faith rather than gambles. But, when I was young, I often would take numerous risks and gambles that were simply foolish acts of youth. S. Camillus was known to be addicted to gambling and at one point in his life became penniless. Catholic online describes him in the following way.

He devoted himself to caring for the sick, and became director of St. Giacomo Hospital in Rome. He received permission from his confessor (St. Philip Neri) to be ordained and decided, with two companions, to found his own congregation, the Ministers of the Sick (the Camellians), dedicated to the care of the sick. They ministered to the sick of Holy Ghost Hospital in Rome, enlarged their facilities in 1585, founded a new house in Naples in 1588, and attended the plague-stricken aboard ships in Rome's harbor and in Rome. In 1591, the Congregation was made into an order to serve the sick by Pope Gregory XIV, and in 1591 and 1605, Camillus sent members of his order to minister to wounded troops in Hungary and Croatia, the first field medical unit. Gravely ill for many years, he resigned as superior of the Order in 1607 and died in Rome on July 14, the year after he attended a General Chapter there. He was canonized in 1746, was declared patron of the sick, with St. John of God, by Pope Leo XIII, and patron of nurses and nursing groups by Pope Pius XI. His feast day is July 18th.

I too served in the military in the US Marine Corps from 1987-1990. I too served the sick in hospital while studying in seminary from 1995-1998 as a rehabilitation physio technician. There were numerous instances in reading about his life that I was able to relate to and now it is on his memorial feast day that I am to be received into the Catholic Church. What the future holds for me as far as ministry is concerned is still undecided. First, I believe that there is an element of the Anglican priesthood within me that has to in some sense die. So, what needs to happen with me is a lot of quiet reflection, prayer and learning.

I would like to once again thank all the kind readers who sent emails, made comments or phoned me to congratulate our family on coming into union with the Catholic Church. We really appreciate it. Though many have spoken to me about my courage, I think it should not go unspoken that my wonderful wife has shown equally or perhaps more courage in being so agreeable to God's will for our lives knowing that this would take me out of secure employment. She is a wonderful gift who is to be praised in the gates as well (Prov. 31).