Aug 26 2025 Danielle’s Testimony I was born into the Catholic faith. I attended CCD, but, once I made my Confirmation, life outside of the Church took priority. I always knew God was with me, But I never felt a strong presence of the Holy Spirit. Even when I got married, I managed to return just long enough to jump through a few hoops in order to get married in the Church, but fell away again shortly after. During this time, my family was growing. But I could barely enjoy it because I was hyper focused on my career, the highs of success, and hitting high performance goals. So much so that work was becoming more important than my family. My husband stayed home with our children and the pressure to succeed and make more money, ruled my life. And then my 7-year-old daughter asked me one day, “Why don’t we go to church?” That question cut me like a knife. I didn’t have an answer for her. I asked her if she wanted to go to church and she said yes. I was afraid to take her to a Catholic Church, so, we went to a Protestant church in town on Easter. Everyone was so kind and welcoming. It was very nice. But in the middle of that service, I felt this presence come down on me saying, “What are you doing here. You do not belong here.” It really scared me, but also pushed me to where I should have always been. The very next week we were sitting in the pews of St. Katherine Drexel Parish and have never looked back. A few months after we started attending Church, I heard about a program that would be starting called “Discovering Christ.” It met weekly for 8 sessions. You’d get a beautiful meal and a time to really look at our relationship with Jesus. I wasn’t sure I felt comfortable with sharing my feelings about what I believe, but after some reflection, reluctantly I decided to sign up. I really thought that I’d show up and everyone at my table would find out that I’m a fraud and stupid and very uneducated in the Catholic life.” Everyone seemed way more Catholic than my family was. But I signed up. And it was much different than I expected. These people were welcoming and humble. The experience showed me what is meant by the word “community.” Everyone was so authentic and were genuinely happy to be a part of this with me. Learning, sharing, discussing, and enjoying the Holy Spirt with others was such an amazing experience. Through Discovering Christ, however, I didn’t just make friends at my parish—my spiritual life changed. Over the sessions, I had a couple of unmistakable Holy Spirit moments. The retreat gave me an opportunity to recommit my life to Jesus, and my relationship with Jesus became real in a way I’d never known. I began asking God how to serve, and even with a busy work schedule He showed me where to make room. I felt drawn to the Sacraments more often. They became non-negotiable. My prayer life kept growing, and my draw to know more became a priority. Our family’s goal became clearer—heaven. And I noticed a new peace at home and at work. Looking back, none of this would have happened if I hadn’t stepped out of my comfort zone. Discovering Christ was a pivotal experience that finally showed me what a relationship with God looks like. I’m so grateful that our parish offered it. With a renewed commitment to my prayer life, this program gave me the courage to talk openly and comfortably about God, which led me to teach faith formation and occasionally help with OCIA. It has made our Parish Community much closer as we invite parishioners, fallen away Catholics as well as non-Catholic to our spring and fall sessions. It’s really amazing to see a table full of people from different faiths and political backgrounds be able to discuss what our relationship with Jesus is. Around these tables I have seen the Holy Spirit at work by bringing fallen away Catholics return to Mass, and non- Catholics beginning to attend and seek more. The program blends solid Catholic teaching, mixed with thoughtful conversation. It creates an environment that makes our faith more approachable, relatable and mostly importantly, centered on the relationship we have with Jesus. I’m convinced my spiritual life would not be where it is today without Discovering Christ. Danielle experienced ChristLife at St. Katherine Drexel Parish in the Diocese of Sacramento. Danielle’s testimony was originally shared on the August 2025 Proven Path webinar.
Jun 05 2025 Gilbert Rodriguez’s Testimony from the Archdiocese of New York Gilbert shares the experience of ChristLife at parishes throughout the Archdiocese of New York and the fruit he’s seen. Gilbert serves as the Coordinator of Adult Discipleship and Marriage Formation for the Archdiocese of New York. Gilbert’s testimony was originally shared on the May 2025 Proven Path webinar.
May 29 2025 Jack’s Testimony I was raised Catholic and attended Catholic schools, but I never had a relationship with God. I knew I wanted to go to Heaven someday, but once I left home I never went to Mass. After I got married and had kids, we attended church most Sundays, a time when I’d check out who was there, and a time for planning my week. Even that stopped once the kids went to college. I just wasn’t into it. Once I turned 60, I started thinking about eternity more deeply. I started reading books about the afterlife and near-death experiences. I started going to Mass again, but I was still just checking a box. I did learn from my spiritual reading that it wasn’t about just me and God—I needed community. So I started teaching Religious Education at my parish. One day I got a call from my Faith Formation Director asking me to join and play a leadership role in a new program the church was going to run called Christlife. God must have told me to say “Yes,” because it wasn’t me. I went to a 3-day training on how to lead ChristLife. While I was at the training, I felt the presence of God and felt excited and called to lead ChristLife. At the time, I didn’t realize how much it would change my life. Once we began Discovering Christ, I sat at a table with other guests. I immediately felt a connection with them and understood the value of community. We shared our thoughts, our doubts, our fears, and our questions about our faith. Discovering Christ talked about a God who loves us unconditionally, a God who wants to have a personal relationship with each one of us, a God of mercy and empathy, a God who is with us every moment of our lives, a God who really hears our prayers, and a God who can and does change lives. It was so different from what I remembered from school—that religion was a “don’t do this, don’t do that” religion, all about the rules. I had never heard of the concept of having a personal relationship with the Lord. I never realized religion is all about Love–God’s love for us, and our response to that Love. A simple concept, but one I had never really gotten. At the Discovering Christ retreat, I encountered, for the first time, the love of God, and I knew without a doubt that Jesus was with me and in me. I go to Sunday Mass now because I want to go, not because it’s a rule. I go to daily Mass, pray every day, and read spiritual books for the same reason. Most days, I stop by church on the way home, sometimes for 10 minutes sometimes longer. Daily rosaries and monthly confession are now a habit. I hadn’t been to confession in over 30 years. At the very end of the ChristLife Process, there are Cardboard Testimonies where in just a few words you write where you were before and after ChristLife. My ‘before’ was: self-centered, pleasure seeking and fear of death. My ‘after’ is: God-centered, joyful and peaceful. Simply put, I have fallen in love with the God who created me. My life now has purpose and meaning. I have joy and peace I never knew was possible. I wake up now ready and eager to face each day. Sometimes, I feel so happy I want to jump up and down and start laughing. My goal in life now for whatever time I have left here on this Earth is to bring the Love that God has given me to as many people I can. With help from a monsignor in the Archdiocese of Washington, an old high school friend, I’ve introduced the program to six churches in the DC area. Two are running the program now, with the other four starting in the Fall. Thank you Jesus, for showing me how to live my life! Jack experienced and leads ChristLife in the Archdiocese of Washington. Jack’s testimony was originally shared on the May 2025 Proven Path webinar.
May 22 2025 Taylor’s Testimony My name is Taylor, I am 26 years old, and I grew up in a small town outside of Boston. Growing up attending Sunday Mass followed by family dinner was a constant in my life, and the memories created over those years I will hold in my heart forever. As a kid I had a crippling fear of death, I was so terrified to lose my loved ones because I found my identity in them. In 2021 those fears became my reality and one by one the most important people in my life started to pass away. First my Nana, then my Uncle, and 4 more family members and close friends followed. Most recently my boyfriend, CJ, the man I thought I would spend my life with passed away in his sleep. After losing him I felt broken, still believing I was somehow in control. I kept God at a distance because I was convinced my sins were too great for his forgiveness. I was living in darkness desperately searching for the light, but I didn’t find it in the world. I was silently suffering, and made many mistakes along the way. With my family’s love and support I found ways to help heal the trauma. During that time, a stranger approached me, saying a few words, he handed me a Bible. Unlike the many Bibles I’d received before, I opened this one and started to read, but I felt like it was reading me! Eventually I would move back home, eager to attend Sunday Mass. That’s when I saw the beautiful banner that read ChristLife: Discovering Christ. I felt in my heart I needed to be a part of this and quickly signed up. Throughout the three ChristLife courses—Discovering Christ, Following Christ, and Sharing Christ—my relationship with Jesus, myself, and my community has been transformed. Discovering Christ taught me Jesus’ character, why we need Him as our Savior, and the hope of His resurrection. It showed me that pain isn’t the enemy, it signals brokenness, but God is always working for good, and the cross is the most beautiful symbol of what is possible if we endure our pain and suffering… an eternity with our creator. The course videos were engaging and inspirational. They address real-life struggles and offer hope to those seeking Him, whether new to faith or looking to deepen it even more. Following Christ dove deeper into Catholicism and the Church’s importance. This course ignited a fire in my heart. I learned to pray to the Holy Spirit before reading Scripture, trusting God to replace feelings of unworthiness with His grace. Receiving the Sacraments regularly has also helped strengthen my faith, especially receiving the Eucharist, as I know have internalized the fact that Jesus is truly the bread of life. I’ve also returned to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I try to go every 2 weeks but never longer than a month. Establishing a daily prayer time has also been of great importance to me. I set aside 30 minutes each morning to pray and read the Bible and even more time at night to be with the Lord, to worship him and thank him, leaving all my worries at his feet. Sharing Christ has convinced me that my purpose in life is to share Jesus’ good news with others. ChristLife has equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to live my faith boldly without fear. I started “The Little Jesus Project.” I hide small Jesus figurines around local communities in MA, in places like coffee shops and gyms to spread His love. One day, I met an elderly woman crying outside a store. Sometimes all we need is for someone to just listen and that’s what I did. Visibly overwhelmed, she shared her struggles with me – family illness and financial stress. I handed her one, and her frown turned to a smile. She gave me the warmest hug, and shared she felt Jesus’ peace in that moment. For me, it’s about planting the seed and trusting God with the rest. A little Jesus truly makes a big difference. ChristLife has made me a faithful disciple, prioritizing a life reflecting Jesus’ love. The courses’ fellowship has transformed my parish community, calling others to action in their faith. A couple in my small group has even converted to Catholicism, and it’s been so beautiful to witness. As a child, I prayed God would use me to help others, but I lacked confidence to speak publicly as my fear was debilitating. ChristLife has changed that. Today, I facilitate youth discipleship and faith formation at my parish and share my testimony at addiction recovery centers across Massachusetts. I’ve gone from fearing to speak before ten people to confidently sharing God’s love with hundreds. ChristLife helped me find my identity in Jesus, not the world, and the blessings have been abundant. If your parish is seeking to deepen people’s relationship with Christ or a way to share His perfect love, ChristLife is a beautiful path to meet Jesus where you are at. And today, it has made all the difference in my life! Taylor experienced ChristLife in the Archdiocese of Boston. Taylor’s testimony was originally shared on the May 2025 Proven Path webinar.
Feb 26 2025 Jim’s Testimony from St. Ignatius Parish Jim shares the experience of ChristLife at St. Ignatius Parish since they began in 2015, including testimonies from several parishioners. Jim helps run ChristLife at St. Ignatius, Ijamsville in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Jim’s testimony was originally shared on the February 2025 Proven Path webinar.
