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Raised
as a non-denominational Christian
My name is Cara Salazar. I was raised as a non-denominational
Christian. Both of my parents were raised as Catholics, but they
wanted to raise their family as Christians. My parents raised my
younger brother and I with unconditional love and taught us how to live like
a good Christian. They did a great job of teaching me that God loves
everyone.
When I
was a baby I was dedicated to God in a Christian church in New Mexico, but
never baptized. My grandmother is a strong Catholic and when I got
older I would go with my grandparents to Sacred Heart Church. It
wasn’t until I was maybe in Junior High School that I found out that I was
not baptized. After I graduated from Junior High School, I had a
choice of high schools; it was between Paraclete and Quartz Hill. I
chose Paraclete. I believe it was my best choice. I made
wonderful friends and I met my boyfriend Armando, who has been there for me
ever since we met. But most of all I was able to find my faith in the
Catholic Church.
I wanted
to join the church my sophomore year, but I was afraid and not sure how to
go through with it, so I put it off. I started to date my boyfriend
Armando at the end of our freshman year. He has been raised Catholic.
Armando and I have been together now for almost five years and I am really
happy to be with him. He and his family have welcomed me into their
family and also the Catholic faith over the years.
After
getting introduced to the church a little, I started talking to my grandma
more about the church and she told me that always wanted me to get baptized
into the church. But she knew that it would have to be my decision. It
wasn’t until then that she told me that when I was a little girl and she was
bathing me and she baptized me. She said she knew that it didn’t count
as a real baptism into the church, but she said that it wasn’t for that
reason. It would be something just between her and me. It also
gave her a sense of peace in her heart that if anything was to happen to me,
that she knew, that in her heart, I was going to be okay.
When I
told my grandma that I was going through the RCIA program at Sacred Heart
last year, I would never forget her reaction, she looked at me and started
to cry. She said that she was so happy and she said that she knew deep
down inside that I would someday get baptized into the Catholic Church.
She always prayed for me to find the Catholic faith and now finally I am
ready to accept it and begin a new an exciting journey in the Catholic
Church.
I really
want to thank my family for always supporting me - I love you guys.
Thank you Armando for supporting me unconditionally and I love you.
Thank you Carmen, my sponsor, you have been a wonderful sponsor and thank
you for welcoming me into your family and accepting me into your faith. I
love you and your family. I want to thank four people that have become
a new part of family to me. I know I am quiet in class, but I have
been touched by each one of you. Thank you Deacon John, Irene, Anne,
and Angela for showing me the Catholic way, I love you all. |
