On April 10, men, women and children across the Superior diocese will receive the Sacraments of Initiation during Easter Vigil services. In anticipation of their welcome into the church, candidates and the elect were asked to respond to the following question: Why have you decided to seek entry into the Catholic Church?
Denise Carstensen, 32
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Medford
I was married in Holy Rosary Church nine years ago. Since then, my husband and I have had three children baptized at Holy Rosary. I feel my journey began then into the Catholic faith. My son is a second grader and will have first Communion this spring. I felt the time was right to complete my journey as my son begins his. This is a very special time for our family.
Dennette Johnson, 31,
Tim Johnson, 28,
Amanda L'Allier, 21,
Laurie Merth, 4
Our Lady of the Lakes, Balsam Lake
Each of us has decided to fulfill our spiritual journey and become a part of the Catholic faith community. We want to become members united in Christ and share in the Holy Sacrament. By becoming active participants in what we feel is the true church of Christ, we firmly believe in God's love for us and that eternal life will be achieved.
Shanna Roiger, 21
St. John the Baptist, Rib Lake
To receive the body and blood of Christ and to find spiritual healing and become closer to Mother Mary.
Tim Mason, 35
Our Lady of the North, Phillips
I am going to get married in April and I wanted it to be a sacramental marriage, and to be recognized by the church. I signed up for the classes, and I have learned so much, thanks in part to Deacon James Celba. He has been very influencial in my learning process. I look forward to my classes every Monday. I am looking forward to April 10th, when I will receive the sacrament of confirmation, and also receive the Eucharist for the first time with my future wife. I want to thank Deacon James and Fr. Jerry (Hagan) and our church for all their help.
Emily Callendar, 30
St. Patrick, Hudson
I want to be able to bring Christ's love and word to my children in a way that was not given to me as a child and to give them a foundation to fall back on in good times and in bad.
Dale Simmons, 51
St. Patrick, Hudson
Because I believe in the Catholic Church. I want to take reconciliation and the Eucharist. My family is all Catholic. I want to be a member and help spread the Catholic belief to others for everlasting life.
Bethany Lanis, 18
St. Patrick, Hudson
I was born a Catholic and was going to be confirmed in my junior year, but I didn't feel I was ready and that my faith and knowledge of the Catholic Church was not strong enough. I knew the RCIA would teach me as a person coming into the church so that I could learn a lot more. My faith has grown an incredible amount because of the unity of this group. I am very thankful that I chose to be in the RCIA. I appreciate the church's teaching the tradition of the Mass much more.
Clark Hagemeyer, 44
St. Patrick, Hudson
My wife and 6-year-old son are Catholic. My son attends St. Patrick School. I am participating in the RCIA so I and my family can live the Catholic lifestyle. Since my decision to become Catholic my family life has improved and I am looking forward to being an active member of the Catholic community.
Bobby Brovold, 26
St. Patrick, Hudson
I felt this was something I've wanted to do for a while. It was time for me to trust in the Lord and let him lead the way.
Phillip Persoon, 28
St. Patrick, Hudson
I have always believed in Jesus. I just needed to know who Jesus gave the key to heaven and started a church. I found my answer in the Catholic Church. I am home.
Cynthia Conroy, 43
St. Patrick, Hudson
After my divorce, and faithfully raising my four children Catholic, I desired to become a full member of the Catholic Church.
Harmony Kobilka, 27
St. Patrick, Hudson
I was recently married and am expecting my first child. I felt a deep calling to become closer to God. My hope is that being closer to God will strenghen my marriage and family.
Shannon Sivek, 32
St. Patrick, Hudson
I feel welcome when I enter the church. Every time I come to church I am learning something new. Also I think the people are great and friendly. Coming to this church has made me get in touch with myself in away that no one's been able to do for me.
Steve Ebbe, 45
St. Patrick Hudson
I want to get my life back on the right path and out of the wrong one. I also want to make my life simpler and not as complex after I get married. But mostly to get my life back in order. I also wanted a church that was more like a family and I feel the Catholic Church is like a family. I needed a change in my life so I am doing this for me, to make me a better person.
Angela Pearson, 18
St. Patrick Parish, Hudson
Because I wanted to become a member of the church and have a deep understanding of everything that is involved with the church and the Bible.
Eric Wittkopf, 43
St. Patrick, Hudson
I want to be the best Christian I can be. I want to walk as closely with Jesus as I can.
Heather Wittkopf, 42
St. Patrick, Hudson
I wanted to be in a church where my family and I would have a solid foundation of the truth and knowledge of God.
Krystal Alwin, 22
St. Patrick, Hudson
I have made this lifelong commitment because I feel God has led me to be Catholic. I know this is the right path to be on. I feel in my heart that this is my destiny.
Karen Zum Mallen, 24
St. Bridget, River Falls
I decided to participate in the RCIA and enter the Catholic Church because I believe families need to be started out on a solid foundation. To me two religions in one household does not signify a unified structure to build a family on. Therefore we looked at the Catholic Church and I decided that there are many more similarities than dissimilarities between the Lutheran and Catholic religions. I then decided to join RCIA and learn more. I liked the experience and have decided to join the Catholic Church in order to fulfill my belief.
Heidi Bowman, 21
St. Bridget, River Falls
I feel that it is important to raise a family with strong faith and good values. To do so a family should be united in the same beliefs. As I prepare to be married and raise a family, I strongly feel that my family should start on a solid base. By becoming part of the Catholic Church I will have a great start to this new beginning. I was raised to believe in God by my family but had little exposure to church as I was growing up. I have always felt a drive toward faith. The RCIA program has helped me grow spiritually and prepare me for the future.
Jonalee R. Buckel, 30
Immaculate Conception, Hammond
To more fully unify with my marriage and family -- my husband and three daughters are Catholic -- and strengthen my Christian religious beliefs.
Mark Lebo, 49
Immaculate Conception, Hammond
To be able to worship together as a family and follow God.
James R. Regelin, 31
Immaculate Conception, Hammond
I went to a koinonia retreat and learned some of what the Catholic faith was about. I wanted to have the peace within myself that the Catholics have.
James Phillip Taul, 50
St. Peter the Fisherman, Eagle River
I came into the Catholic faith seeking guidance and balance in my life. I wanted to learn more about the word of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. My involvement in the RCIA program has brought me an opportunity to be part of a faith community.
James Henry Stephenson
St. Joseph, Amery
My wife, Kelly, and I were married in 1993, and I agreed to raise our children as Catholics. The only thing I knew about Catholics came from watching Spencer Tracy play Fr. Flanagan in the movie "Boys Town." I attended church with Kelly and our two children, Maxwell and Carly. I found the church to be an interesting place to be, although I didn't understand the traditions and rituals and had many questions. A year ago, we moved to Amery and became members of St. Joseph. I knew it was the right time to become Catholic myself. I felt it would make me a better father if I were an active member in the church. The RCIA program helped answer the questions I had, and through it and attending Mass, I have become a member of the church community. Not only has the experience made me a better father to my children, it has also put me on a spiritual journey that I have just started but have in no way finished
Robert Hulbert
St. Mary, Rhinelander
Attending Mass with my wife since 1960, I always knew I should become a Catholic but it was easy to procrastinate and keep putting it off. Last summer a chance meeting with Deacon Mike Harvey led me to RCIA classes. Through Deacon Mike's instruction it was an enlightening and meaningful experience. I've finally come "home," something I should have done years earlier.
Ben Bonnell, 42
St. Joseph, Rhinelander
Life is full of commitments -- to family, work, ourselves -- but I had never made the most important commitment of all. It's easy, after so many years to keep setting it aside and focus on those other commitments. Somehow I felt this need to make the commitment to our lord and with the help of my wife, Gretchen, my sponsor, I enrolled in the RCIA. I soon realized how important this decision was and what a great gift I was receiving. Deacon Mike and the other catechists really put things in perspective in all the RCIA classes. Everything just seemed to fall into place. Now being a part of the Catholic community is the basis of my life.
Susanne Schaars, 36
St. Peter the Fisherman, Eagle River
To become part of the Catholic community with my husband who is Catholic and our children who are being raised Catholic.
Ameer S. Nelson, 46,
Sonja K. Nelson, 16,
Benjamin T. Nelson, 13,
St. Dominic, Frederic
St. Peter the Fisherman, Eagle River
Because Mom was brought up in a Catholic background and we are home where she is. Also we need a "non-fair- weather fan."
Jodi McLain, 26
St. Dominic, Frederic
I am marrying a Catholic. Also I am interested in being part of a spiritual community. Since my fiance is a Catholic, I would like our family to be united in one faith.
Jessica King, 26
St. Dominic, Frederic
I married a Catholic and agreed to attend church regularly and raise our children Catholic. I went to church because my husband wanted me to go. I'll be honest, there were days when I came home from church and cried. I felt so alone when I went to Mass because I could not take Communion. When our first child was born we debated where to get her baptized. I finally gave in and let her become Catholic. This started to pull us in different directions in our marriage. Some weeks I would even stay home and let the rest of the my family go to Mass. Once our second child was born, I began to doubt myself and my religious standing with God. What would I someday tell our children when they asked why I did not take Communion or why I wasn't Catholic? I also started to realize how important it is in a marriage to bring God into our relationship. All of a sudden I felt a calmness and peace I had never felt in church before. I began to feel like I needed to be part of the church. Now that my time is drawing near to be confirmed into the Catholic Church, I can't wait until we can fully participate in Mass as a family.
Michele Evenson, 38,
Scott Evenson, 14,
Austin Evenson, 8
St. Bridget, River Falls
This is something that I've always wanted to do and just never knew how important it was until my dad passed away. That was my push to open and strengthen my religious beliefs. I thought what a way for me and two of my sons to go through it together. My one son made a statement when we were writing this: "Don't you think Grandpa would be proud," and he would be. It was a long road, but well worth it.
Nancy Reich, 49
St. Bridget, River Falls
I have had a strong calling to the Catholic Church for several years. I also would like our marriage to be blessed in our Catholic Church where we worship.
Melissa Rose, 33
St. Bridget, River Falls
There are a lot if reasons I chose to join the RCIA, but the main reason is that I was baptized Catholic and never went any further with my religion. After I had my two kids it made me realize how important God was. I felt very strongly about them being baptized Catholic and to follow through with the Catholic religion. I have always had them go to CCD, receive their first Communion and their first reconciliation. It made me realize that if I felt it was so important for them that it should be just as important for me to do the same thing. I felt this way for a long time but only after losing my dad and my kids' uncle did I make the step to go forward with this decision. I am very glad I did. It has been a very good experience for me, I have learned a lot and met a lot of great people. I am very excited about becoming a part of the Catholic Church.
The names of the remaining candidates and elect are shown below:
St. Joseph, Amery
Tammy Briseno Ponce
St. Joseph, Barron
Lora Jeanne Cabral
Gerri Cowley
Diana Lynn Miller
Janice Marie Tahtinen
St. Mary, Bruce
Wallace Frisinger
Patricia McHugh
St. Peter, Cameron
Blake Paul
Staci Jo Paul
St. Paul the Apostle, Catawba
Connie Guzinski
St. Boniface, Chetek
Lorena Clare Lyrek
Vickie Renae Newingham
Adele Richie
St. Anthony Abbot, Cumberland
Corrie Behling
St. Patrick, Erin Prairie
Rachel Zabel
Assumption of the BVM, Farmington
Ed Vater
St. Dominic, Frederic
Benjamin Flanery
Staci Gross
St. Patrick, Hudson
June Catura
Tabitha L'Allier
Lonnie Lutz
Ella Pruitt
Lawrence Pruitt
Amanda Wittkopf
Micah Wittkopf
Our Lady of Sorrows, Ladysmith
Cindy Jansen
Kayla Lashua
Melissa McHugh
Ryan Pias
Cheryl Tatrow
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Medford
Theresa Rismeyer
St. Francis Xavier, Merrill
Tom Meyer
Michael Saeger
Immaculate Conception, New Richmond
Maria Alcantar
Kristina Anderson
Thomas Nelson
Our Lady of the North, Phillips
Sarah Celba
Mike Spanjer
Immaculate Conception, Rhinelander
Rhonda Jones
Monica Jorgenson
Kristy Lewis
Melanie Wilson
St. Joseph, Rhinelander
Michelle DeHart
Clyde Estabrook
Tina Goyins
Melissa Kohler
Michael Quade
Sandra Tromp
St. John the Baptist, Rib Lake
Jolene Berger
St. Joseph, Rice Lake
Arlaina Meyer
Lucille Derousseau
St. Bridget, River Falls
Catie Swenson
St. Ann, Somerset
Katie Jo Bowen
Carolyn Gensen
Darin Frandsen
Cathedral of Christ the King, Superior
Catherine Taylor
Jessica Lynne Grant
Leonhard Thomas Rouse
Virginia Mae Rouse
St. Ann, Turtle Lake
Laura Ryan
St. John the Baptist, Webster
Martika Atkins
Logan Burch
Katlin Burch
Tanya Burch
Ann Marie Gomulak
Mary Katherine Gomulak
Jodi Elizabeth Van Swearingen
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2004