A long-time prayer answered: My Mom becomes Catholic

My mother was raised by her Jewish mother and Episcopalian father. She participated in both synagogue and church education but never officially accepted either one, although her belief system was more Jewish as she had a hard time understanding how God could become man.

In time, both of her sons would become priests. Our father was the one who brought us to church and sent us to Catholic school. He often invited priests to our table, so we knew them on a personal basis.

Mom supported both of our vocations. She was always a great example of love.

I had gone over the catechism with her and answered all her questions, but she still wasn’t ready to make the act of faith. She did indicate that if it were a life-or-death situation, then she could be baptized. For that reason, I had taught my older sister how to baptize her in an emergency situation.

In May 2017, I led a pilgrimage to Rome for the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and to Fatima for the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Mother. We were preparing to board a flight in Newark, N.J., when my sister called to tell me that Mom had had a weak spell. I asked my sister if I should take the flight, and she said, “Yes.”

We arrived in Rome and almost immediately went to celebrate Mass in the baptistery chapel of the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls. After Mass, I looked on my phone and saw a message from my sister saying that she had baptized Mom, upon her request, after she had several weak spells in a row in the doctor’s office.

When I told the pilgrimage group, they erupted in applause and thanksgiving. I was so shocked that this long-time prayer had been answered in such a sudden way.  Mom was age 86 at the time.

After a wonderful pilgrimage, I was anxious to return home and share this faith with my mother.  My brother, Msgr. Bennett J. Voorhies, flew in for the priesthood ordinations in Lafayette, and, with the bishop’s permission, we arranged to have Mom receive her other sacraments in a home Mass.

I confirmed her, and my brother gave her first Communion. My younger sister was her sponsor, so each of us children had a hand in her conversion.

Mom got better and even started driving herself to our home parish of St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Lafayette. When the pandemic hit, she stayed home, and I celebrated Mass at her house on my day off.

It has been so wonderful to celebrate the sacraments with Mom and share the faith with her.  God does answer prayers in a beautiful way.

Father Thomas Voorhies is pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Ville Platte, in the Diocese of Lafayette.