Cheryle’s Testimony

Cheryle shares how ChristLife helped her get through a deep grief and empowered her to pray with others.

Some years ago, my pastor decided to offer ChristLife in the parish and needed someone to attend the training in Baltimore. Normally, I would have jumped on that because I love to start new things. But at that time, I knew I was at my limit, my plate was full.  

On top of being very busy, my husband died just some months earlier and I was still struggling with my grief and the effects of it: Lack of energy, confusion, bouts of tears, sleepless nights, navigating this new life, etc.  

I immediately said no to the training.  I was overwhelmed and couldn’t imagine leaving for three days. After three people encouraged me, though, I brought it to Adoration, and the Lord clearly asked me to go and showed me exactly how: what to organize, who would help, etc., and He faithfully provided it all!

I am here to tell you that it was the best thing that I could have done! The training was very thorough and hands-on, allowing us to experience what the participants would during the course. Each day, I felt the Lord lifting a bit of my grief. For example, On the first night, a prayer team prayed with me to be renewed and filled afresh with the Holy Spirit. I left feeling so much lighter.  I was reminded that I was not alone and am loved by God.  I received so much comfort in that reminder!

Later, we stepped through an exercise of forgiveness, and I realized that I was harboring some unforgiveness regarding Dale’s death.  I was able to forgive and that heavy burden was lifted from me.  

I learned and experienced so many things that I never knew about my faith, even though I had been Catholic all my life. 

I went home in utter amazement and awe, filled with comfort and peace.  I still had some grief, but it was so much lighter, and I was full of energy and was renewed and refreshed to deal with everything coming up AND to experience some JOY in it all too! I was no longer afraid of having to face a new life ahead of me.  I remember thinking that I couldn’t wait for our parishioners to experience all of what I just did throughout the series.  

There was one more healing that took place after I got home.  I had not been able to sleep in my bed since my husband Dale’s death.  When it was time for me to retire, the thought of going to that bed was just too painful!  I couldn’t do it.  So I slept on the couch for many, many months.  Until I got home from the training!  That very night, without any thought, I went to my bed as if it was what I do!  That pain was taken away completely!  I was able to get a good night’s rest to serve the Lord!

Through ChristLife we also learned and practiced how to pray with people, which was new and a little intimidating for me because I mostly prayed memorized prayers.

The Discovering Christ retreat gave me confidence to respond when the Lord opened a door. In December, after completing Discovering and Following Christ, I noticed a woman in the Walmart Christmas aisle quietly crying. We talked, and when she shared that she had lost her husband seven years ago, I asked if I could pray with her right there. She said yes, and we prayed together right then and there: in WALMART!  This is something I never would have done before ChristLife.  Now?  I pray with anyone, anytime and anywhere!

I am so grateful that God pursued me for this work of running ChristLife in our parish.  Just as he worked amazing miracles in my life, He is working marvelous and wonderful miracles in the participants.  We have had nearly 1,000 people go through the courses since 2017.  I love listening to their incredible testimonies of how their lives have changed:

• Many have begun to pray daily.
• Many have gone back to Confession and now celebrate the Sacrament regularly.
• I hear frequently from couples how their marriages have improved.
• Those suffering from grief have found relief – like me.
• Some have grown to love the Holy Spirit, who didn’t really know Him before ChristLife.
• Faith has been strengthened or awakened.
• They feel a part of the community and are now doing things like serving at the Church, continuing small groups in their home, attending Bible study, share their testimony at Mass, and more.

This is just a small sampling of how God is working in our people through ChristLife. 

I am confident that Jesus will work his wonders and healings in the lives of your parishioners as well.  

Cheryle leads ChristLife in the Diocese of Cleveland.

Cheryle’s testimony was originally shared on the November 2025 Proven Path webinar.