For those preparing to become Catholic, the journey often begins long before the Easter Vigil. Through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults – OCIA, formerly known as RCIA –individuals who are unbaptized or baptized in another Christian tradition are gradually introduced to the teachings, sacramental life and community of the Catholic Church. Over several months, participants engage in prayer, study and liturgical formation, culminating in the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism (if needed), Confirmation and the Eucharist – at the Easter Vigil.
Three individuals from diverse cultural and faith backgrounds were among the 25 people welcomed as full members of the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil Mass celebrated April 19 at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, the archbishop of Washington, served as the principal celebrant.
Arjun Lenin, a graduate student originally from Kochi — a city in the Malabar region of Kerala, India — was one of the candidates received into full communion with the Church. He grew up in an agnostic household but said he was always drawn to learning and religious traditions.
“I’ve always had a curiosity about faith,” Lenin said. “What intrigued me most about Catholicism was its ceremonial aspects.”
Lenin holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in the same field at George Washington University. He expects to graduate in December. His spiritual journey included visiting Catholic sites in India — such as the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa, where the relics of St. Francis Xavier are venerated.
“Bom means baby in Portuguese,” he explained.
His confirmation saint is St. Thomas the Apostle, who is known for bringing Christianity to India — the same region where Lenin grew up — during the first century.
Karl D. Bar-Lev, a retired U.S. Navy veteran who served for 17 years, also entered the Church at the Easter Vigil. Raised in the Pentecostal Church of God tradition, Bar-Lev began exploring Catholicism more deeply while working as a security officer at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception from 2019 to 2021.
While there, he was encouraged in his faith journey by Msgr. Walter R. Rossi, rector of the basilica, and Msgr. Vito A. Buonanno, its associate rector and director of pilgrimages. Bar-Lev said their support helped him realize he was called not only to attend Mass — but to participate fully as a member of the Church.
Though he resides in Alexandria, Virginia, Bar-Lev regularly attends Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew.
“Jesus Christ inspired my focus,” he said. “I want to continue learning about the Catholic faith and open myself up to receive the gifts of the Church.”
Eduardo Smith was among the other candidates received into full communion at the Easter Vigil. He said his decision to become Catholic was the result of a gradual journey — shaped by the people God placed in his life.
“I just found that God kept putting people in my life who spoke to me about Jesus and encouraged me to live a better life — a life with Jesus,” Smith said.
His desire to grow in faith deepened as he encountered individuals who lived out their beliefs with conviction and joy. Over time, their witness stirred in him a longing to experience a deeper relationship with Christ — and to become part of the Church that had formed them.
One of those individuals was his wife, Katherin, whose steady faith and quiet encouragement became the final turning point in his conversion. She accompanied him throughout the OCIA process, offering prayerful support as he prepared to receive the sacraments.
“She’s been walking with me the whole time,” he said. “She never pushed, just loved — and that helped me open my heart.”
Smith chose St. Michael the Archangel as his Confirmation saint, drawn to the archangel’s courage and unwavering defense of what is good and holy.
Richard Muabe, his wife Gertrude, their four children — Aaron, Janella, Javan and Jayden — and his mother, Rose, entered the Catholic Church together at the Easter Vigil at St. Joseph Parish in Largo, Maryland.
The Upper Marlboro family, who describe themselves as close-knit and busy with work, school, and sports, said they were drawn to the Church by its deep history, sacramental life, and a desire for more structure and community in their faith.
“We were drawn by the richness of the Church’s history, the beauty of the sacraments, and a desire for a more structured and communal way to live out our faith,” Muabe said.
They learned about the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults through their parish and were encouraged by a personal invitation. Muabe said each family member came to the decision in his or her own time through prayer, conversation and reflection.
“It wasn’t a single moment, but a series of small nudges that led us here,” he said.
As they prepared for Easter, Muabe said the parish’s warm welcome and his children’s enthusiasm for prayer, the saints, and the sacraments have deepened their commitment.
“They’ve reminded us why we started this journey,” he said.
The family draws inspiration from the rosary and from St. Joseph, whose quiet strength and faith have become a model for them. They plan to stay active in their parish and begin new spiritual traditions at home.
“The Church is a home, and there’s room for everyone,” Muabe said. “If you’re feeling even a little curious, follow it. You might be surprised where it leads.”
When a pandemic-canceled race led to an unexpected invitation, Maureen Glassbrook and her then-future husband, Jarrett Glassbrook, had no idea it would mark the start of a lifelong partnership — both in marriage and, eventually, in faith.
Originally from Saugerties, New York, Jarrett met Maureen, a New Jersey native and longtime D.C. resident, during a Ragnar Trail relay race in New Jersey in 2021. A friend of Maureen connected her with his trail running group when they needed a last-minute teammate. Though Maureen didn’t particularly enjoy trail running, the cancellation of her usual road races convinced her to give it a try. Assigned the first and second legs of the race, they struck up a connection that quickly deepened over the multi-day event.
After a year and a half of long-distance weekends between Washington and Jersey City, the couple got engaged in November 2022 and were married at St. Peter’s Church on Capitol Hill on May 4, 2024.
Although raised Jewish, Jarrett had grown up around Catholic extended family and always had positive impressions of the faith. It wasn’t until he began attending Mass regularly with Maureen that he felt called to explore it more intentionally. He especially credits the couple’s marriage preparation experience at St. Peter’s as a turning point in discerning whether to join the Church.
“Going through the marriage prep process really impacted me,” he said. “It helped me think more deeply about what it means to live out faith in everyday life, and what it would mean to do that together.”
Encouraged by Maureen, he reached out to the parish’s OCIA coordinator and began attending Tuesday evening sessions last fall, describing the process as welcoming and enriching.
As he prepared to be received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil, Jarrett said he was most looking forward to fully participating in the Mass for the first time and continuing to grow in the faith alongside his wife.
“We hope to be active parishioners at St. Peter’s for as long as we’re able,” he said. “It’s where our story together began — and now it’s where this next chapter begins, too.”
Shawn Foh Dame, a junior at the University of Maryland in College Park who is studying finance on the pre-law track, didn’t expect a free dinner on campus to change the course of his spiritual life. But after tagging along to a Wednesday night meal hosted by the Catholic Student Center there, his curiosity was sparked — and a journey toward the Catholic Church began.
Raised Christian, Foh Dame was never baptized or confirmed in the Catholic Church, though he briefly attended Catholic services as a child. His family later shifted to non-denominational churches, and for a long stretch, regular worship fell out of practice altogether. But in college, things changed.
“When I got to UMD, I didn’t really think much about Catholicism,” Foh Dame said. “But through mentoring students — some of whom were Catholic — I ended up at a Wednesday dinner at the Catholic Student Center. That’s when I first started meeting people, having conversations, and exploring the faith more seriously.”
FOCUS missionary Jack Winkert played a key role in Foh Dame’s journey. FOCUS, dedicated to evangelizing college students through personal relationships and Bible studies, helped Foh Dame explore his questions about the Catholic faith. Winkert invited him to lunch, and from there, he guided Foh Dame as he delved into Catholicism through YouTube, Bible studies, and personal research.
“I came to believe the Catholic faith was true, and that it was something I was excited to be part of,” he said.
As he prepared to receive the sacraments at the Easter Vigil, Foh Dame credits much of his growth to the Catholic community he found on campus. He continues to attend a men’s Bible study and values having what he calls “accountability partners” to walk with him in faith.
“I try to surround myself with guys who are stronger in their faith than I am. That helps keep me grounded, especially when I still have questions,” he said.
Foh Dame’s sponsor and godfather, Colin Valcarcel, whom he met during a CSC retreat was someone he naturally gravitated toward. “We ended up praying the rosary together every night on that retreat,” he said. “He’s someone I really look up to.”
He chose St. Thomas More as his Confirmation saint, inspired by the English martyr’s courage and deep conviction. “He was the first Catholic saint I ever read about, and his story stuck with me,” Foh Dame said. “He never wavered in his faith, even in the face of death.”
Looking ahead, Foh Dame hopes to attend law school, possibly at Georgetown, and plans to stay active in Catholic life wherever he ends up.
To others who may be curious about the Church, especially those coming from non-Catholic Christian traditions, Shawn offers simple advice: keep an open mind.
“The Catholic Church can seem really different if you’re used to something else,” he said. “But don’t judge it too quickly. Talk to people, hear their stories, and pray with an open heart. That’s what I did — and it’s changed everything.”
