Journeys Home by Marcus Grodi Page A

problem, she would say: "You know, Paul, if
you would be Catholic with all the resources of the Catholic Church -- spiritual direction, Confession, the sacraments, all the Catholic
theology -- you would be so much more effective." Now, if a wife
says that just once every six months, that is not too much. But
over eighteen years, that adds up to thirty-six interventions.
I finally avoided the whole issue by getting into a building program.
    I thought I could justify to Pat and to myself ignoring all these
issues while I was immersed in this building program. Around this
time, Scott Hahn's conversion tape was released, and my wife -- who never misses an opportunity -- obtained it. But with architectural
drawings in hand, I said, "I'm not interested," and avoided listening
to the tapes for almost three years.
DAY OF DECISION
    After the building program was complete, I truly found myself
Catholic and decided I needed a day of personal reflection and
retreat. On October 15, 1991, I drove off to my favorite hiding
place along the Mississippi River fortified with a book of Catholic
doctrine by Frank Sheed and two sets of Scott Hahn's tapes. After
reading a few chapters and listening again to Scott's tapes on
"Common Objections," along with his series on Mary, I fully realized
that all my biblical arguments had disappeared.
    It became clear that day that if I remained where I was, I would
be compromising. I would be stagnating spiritually and facing
spiritual death. When you can see the consequences of your behavior,
clearly you have a better chance of making a decision.
    So I drove home and said to Pat, "I'm either going to stagnate
and die or change." Then together we decided that we needed to
make some radical changes. I resigned from my pastorate and moved
to Steubenville, Ohio, to study Catholic theology and become immersed
in the very strong Catholic community there.
    For the entire first week at Franciscan University, after listening
to Father Mike Scanlan orient the new students, I was in tears
because I realized how stubbornly I had been avoiding what I had
clearly seen for eleven years. Then at the Easter Vigil Mass in
1992, with my wife and children and friends from the Master's
program standing up and cheering in the back, I was received into
the Catholic Church.
    The Lord has truly blessed us. Through gentle leadings as well
as remarkable signs and wonders, He has guided and provided whenever
and whatever we have needed. Yes, in this journey we have learned
in unexpected ways the importance of the evangelical counsels
of poverty, chastity, and obedience. He has humbled me repeatedly,
asking that I give up everything -- money, position, power, even
for long periods my wife and family -- all to help me rediscover
how much you and I can totally depend upon Him.
    After a number of years of study and intense struggles, trying
to discern how I might be able to continue to serve the Lord in
the Catholic Church, I was hired by the Diocese of Lubbock, Texas,
as director of evangelization and of their Spiritual Renewal Center.
In 2007 I was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Tyler, Texas,
and I now serve in college campus ministry.
    In the Catholic Church, we have the richness and the fullness
of the tradition, the wisdom of pastoral practice, the wholeness
of biblical theology. Now we must prayerfully and charitably help
each other learn it and apply it. It continues to be an incredible
journey, and I give the good Lord thanks for everything He has
done for us.
    Father Paul Key was ordained a Catholic priest in 2007 for the
Diocese of Tyler, Texas. He is now engaged in campus ministry
at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.

A JOURNEY HOME -- SISTER ROSALIND MOSS
    former Jew and Evangelical minister
    MEETING JEWISH BELIEVERS IN CHRIST
    VIEWS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
    GRADUATE STUDIES AND NEW MINISTRY
    UNSETTLING QUESTIONS
    DISCOVERING CATHOLIC TRUTH
    COMING HOME
    "May He guide thy way, who Himself is thine