Coming from a Methodist family, for the last 20years, I have been a visitor to the Catholic Church. First at Our Lady Star of the Sea in St. Anne’s, with my then boyfriend, and then after our wedding there, we moved to Our Lady and St. Michael’s in Workington. I have always been happy and felt welcome at both churches, but didn’t feel ready to take that leap of faith, as I could not get my head around the true presence of Jesus. I have always felt at home in the Catholic Church, as I felt close to God. There was no debate when Paul asked me to marry him, that it would be at Our Lady’s, and later on our children Joseph and Isabel would be baptised Catholic.

The last couple of years, I have prayed more and more to understand the real presence, and to be worthy of Jesus. The words ‘I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed’ always moves me and brings tears to my eyes, begging Jesus to open my eyes and heart to him.

A few years ago we decided to experience Youth 2000 as a family. Youth 2000 run retreats for young people; this one was at the national shrine of Walsingham in Norfolk. We had a great time, remembering after 9 years how to put up a tent (this was Isabel’s first camp) and debating who was sleeping where (this changed every night!). The children made friends with other children, everyone was so happy and friendly, we felt we could relax.

That first evening was the opening Mass, not only for the festival, but what turned out to be the journey of me saying to Jesus ‘I am yours’. The marquee was packed, and yet there was a sense of peace. The one thing which my husband and myself really differ on, is that I feel a lot closer to God celebrating with contemporary music, where Paul is more traditional, (although we can both be found enjoying Graham Kendrick top volume!) so from the moment Mass started I was mesmerised and felt alive. 

We were blessed to have many priests with us and one of the most moving moments I found was when all the Priests stood together for the consecration of the bread and wine, what a moment. I think time stood still during that Mass, I was utterly absorbed as a whole, especially at the end when we had Eucharistic adoration, I wasn’t looking at the clock, being distracted by the children or movement, instead I was still in front of and adoring Jesus in the monstrance, I felt so close to God, I didn’t want to leave. Each evening I could not get enough of our Lord. 

After returning home from Walsingham, I asked my Parish Priest Canon John Watson, if he would receive me into the Catholic Church. I was delighted when not only he agreed, but also offered for us to meet weekly to go through the catechism, I was truly blessed to have a great teacher and friend, who on the 9th August 2020 received me into the Catholic church, albeit a bit different to the planned Easter Vigil, but still as special.

One thing which I was in awe of in Walsingham, was that I noticed that a lot of the youngsters, when going up for communion, would genuflect to our Lord before receiving. From Walsingham until August I felt drawn to do this, I would genuflect to honour my Lord before I received a blessing, as I would to a King, because he is my King and I feel so blessed, honoured and fulfilled to be able to finally receive him.

It is our hope, in the near future, that the children and I can experience our first pilgrimage to Lourdes as a family with Paul, to deepen our relationship with Jesus through his mother, Our Lady.

Elizabeth Briers