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.