Why I became Catholic? The Record’s Debbie Warrier speaks to David Pettitt.
I look back on our conversion now and see it as a gradual awakening. My wife Paulette and I spent a lot of time in the Scottish mountains either walking or cycling. When you get away from the daily clutter of your life and go out into the countryside it allows you to focus on different things. You stop worrying about things like the mortgage and get back to living the way we’re supposed to live. It’s peaceful. There is no need to make the Scottish mountains as beautiful as they are but they are. So there is a bigger hand at work. We just took a long time to recognize it though we knew something was missing.
In 2002 we immigrated to Australia. We didn’t explore our faith until we decided to start a family after being married for 14 years. We have two children Scott (turning 4) and Emma (turning 2). The year before our son was born Paulette and I had a chat about religion. I was christened Church of England but my parents weren’t practising. Paulette wasn’t christened at all and her parents showed no faith leanings. Yet the feeling there was something more to life persisted.
After Scott was born we thought we’d try going to a Catholic Church. We saw a sign in the Clarkson parish window about the RCIA coordinator Carrollyn Payne and took down her phone number. When we called Carrollyn we told her we were not sure what the protocol was, like when to stand, kneel or sit. So during those early Masses she sat with us and talked us through what was happening and why it was happening. As we came mid way through an RCIA cycle Carrollyn started something she called pre RCIA with us. One of the RCIA group leaders assisted us with a Gospel reflection once a week. As we journeyed towards Easter we had a better understanding of what our faith meant.
At our first Mass Carrollyn explained to us we could go up to the priest with our arms crossed over our chest for a blessing. Father Philip Perreau made the sign of the Cross on me. He put his hands on me and I had this tremendous feeling of love and peace. I went back to my seat and burst into tears. Like a lot of blokes I’m not the kind to burst into tears easily. Carrollyn said, “You belong here.” I had this enormous feeling that I was in the right place. It wasn’t the same as how I love my wife or how I feel when I hold my children. It was much more than that.
In October 2007, my parents were visiting from the UK and we were still journeying with the RCIA. We asked Father Philip if he would mind baptising the children while my parents were here. Our baptism and confirmation wasn’t to happen until Easter the following year. However, the RCIA group leaders and Father decided Paulette and I were sufficiently prepared to be baptised and confirmed. So this happened while our children were being baptised at the same time. We chose our normal Mass time so that all the parishioners we knew would be there. That was a wonderful day.
Now I say to people, “God always knew that I was going to recognise Him. He just gave me time.”
If you have a story to tell please contact Debbie via debwarrier@hotmail.com