As I reflect on the years of my life, I can see a painting developing in God’s perfect timing. What started out as a very simple drawing has become ever more complex with colors and dimensions added. Some areas of gray and gloomy darkness have become areas of brilliant color — a beautiful painting which only God the artist could create. He knew what I needed and was creating it all through this journey.
My return to the Catholic faith began about eight years ago, but first I must share some of our history. My husband, Michael, and I were both born and raised in a Catholic family and attended the same church. However, we did not meet until high school and discovered that I was the girl with the blue glasses he would see in church. We dated for several years and then got married at St. Mary in White Bear Lake where we each grew up.
Moving out to Vermont, away from our families and friends right after we were married was a lonely time for us. We started attending a Baptist church as we wanted to know more of what the Bible said. Thus began our departure from the Catholic Church, which would last over 40 years.
We moved back to Minnesota from Vermont after a couple of years, and my husband decided that we would not return to our childhood church. We went church shopping, which brought us to a Baptist church in White Bear Lake. We became very involved teaching Sunday school, attending Bible studies and serving in other ways. After our children were raised, Michael quit going to church for about 10 years. I would go to church alone and pray that God would work in our lives and lead us to a church that we would go to together. I patiently persisted in this prayer.
During this time, the Lord was preparing each of us in different ways to eventually return to our Catholic roots. After over 40 years of being away from the Catholic Church we started taking my mother to Mass at St. Pius X in White Bear Lake and other area churches. This was the start of our journey back home.
I was a nurse for my entire career and Michael was a teacher. The last 15 years of my career I was a hospice home care nurse and would drive around the Twin Cities every day, including to visit my patients. I would listen to Relevant Radio in my car and learned more about Catholic doctrine than I had ever been taught growing up. I also met several faith-filled Catholic couples who inspired me with their strong faith and reverence. I had the privilege of witnessing Eucharistic ministers bring Communion to the homebound and priests administer the sacrament of anointing of the sick to several of my dying patients.
Michael began volunteering at St. Pius X working on various projects to help our brother-in-law, Chuck, who was at that time in charge of maintenance at the church. This led to Michael meeting Father Joseph Bambenek, who had a profound and life-changing impact on Michael. He was growing, finally finding peace and healing in his life. Together, we began to read and study various books about the Catholic faith authored by Scott Hahn, Matthew Kelly and many others. We attended a healing retreat in Tallahassee, Florida, given by Bob Schuchts, which launched us full speed back to the Catholic faith. We both went to confession for the first time in over 40 years and something dramatically changed within us.
When we returned, Michael became very involved at St. Pius X and I joined the choir. We were going to Mass regularly and growing together in our faith. It felt like we were truly back home. Sadly, a couple of years later, in 2019, Michael was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and died after three months. It left our family shocked and devastated.
Since then, I have remained at St. Pius X and have felt great peace and joy. “The joy of the Lord is my strength” (Neh 8:10) continues to be one of my life verses. The St. Pius X family is a wonderful, faithful community and I have met many new friends and have felt loved and supported. I love so many aspects of the Catholic faith — its rich history, tradition, the saints, prayers, the sacraments, and so much more. I love going to Mass and my eyes well up with tears when I am praying on my knees or while I’m proceeding down the aisle to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. I try to attend lectio divina and adoration as often as I am able and I’m still singing in the choir. I call upon St. Cecilia’s intercession to help me. As St. Augustine has said, “Singing is praying twice.” I love praying the Liturgy of the Hours and I even have a singing version on my phone. I have also been involved in CCW (Council of Catholic Women) leadership and am grateful for the holy, faith-filled women who have mentored me. I will continue to strive to grow in holiness until one day God calls me home where I hope to be reunited with my beloved Michael.
Mullin is a retired RN, mother of three children and grandmother of seven. She enjoys lake life in the summer in northern Minnesota, kayaking, fishing, reading, and crafting — but mostly just spending time with her family. St. Agnes is a favorite saint (her aunt was named after her) and her great-grandfather’s construction company helped build St. Agnes church in St. Paul. As St. Agnes said, “Christ made my soul beautiful with the jewels of grace and virtue. I belong to Him whom the angels serve.”
