Pierre Julien will enter the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil Mass April 19 at St. John Vianney Parish in Bettendorf.
By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger
BETTENDORF — Pierre Julien began searching for a faith community as a young adult, having grown up without one. He said his dad did not have an interest in religion and his mom, a Christian, did not participate in a faith community.
As a young adult, he belonged to a small church group for a while but it didn’t resonate with him. One day, he chose to go to St. John Vianney Catholic Church to attend Mass. He had been hearing that the parishioners were friendly and very open to others. “I had been curious about the Catholic faith, so I went.”
His first visit led to a desire to learn more about the Catholic Church. When he decided to participate in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), he chose his coworker, Gabrielle Guyette, to be by his side as his sponsor. The two work third shift together and had talked about the Catholic Church on breaks. “We had some good conversations,” he said. Having a personal connection with his sponsor made the process smoother, he believes.
“What impressed me most with Pierre was that he went through a shortened OCIA class we had last summer and had the opportunity to come into the Church last fall prior to this year’s OCIA class,” said Father Rich Adam, St. John Vianney’s pastor. “Pierre decided not to come into the Church last fall, but wanted to go through the full class culminating in the Easter Vigil celebration.”
“His attentiveness, enthusiasm and thirst for wanting to know more about the Catholic faith, what we believe in, and live in as a true disciple of Christ really impressed me and the rest of the class,” Father Adam said. Pierre never missed class and was eager to respond to questions.
During class conversations, it is clear that Pierre is “soaking up everything that is said, taught and shared,” Father Adam continued. “I can’t wait for Pierre to be baptized and come to the Lord’s Table for the first time this Easter. For someone who grew up really with no faith at all, it is inspiring to see his eagerness to become a Catholic and to receive our Lord in the most holy Eucharist!”
Looking forward to the Easter Vigil, Pierre said he is excited “to be finally joining the Church and being a part of it. It is such a blessing. I like building relationships and St. John Vianney has done that for me.”
