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April
3, 2006
VOL.
44, NO. 7Oakland,
CA
Pleasanton woman takes journey to baptism
When May Woulfe
knelt beside her husband during Ash Wednesday Mass, the quiet act marked
a milestone for her, a sign of progress in her journey toward membership
in the Catholic Church.
For years Woulfe had attended Mass with her husband and her father-in-law,
but she had never joined them in kneeling at prayer.
This year, however, as a catechumen in the Rite of Christian Initiation
for Adults (RCIA), she went down on her knees among the crowd of worshippers
and - also for the first time - received ashes on her forehead to mark
the beginning of Lent.
“I always felt it was for the Catholics to kneel and not for me,”
said Woulfe, who attended a Presbyterian church when she was growing up
in Stockton. Now, she said, “Kneeling felt right, and even though
there were people all around, it felt like it was just me and God.”
Woulfe is one of 10 candidates and catechumens who will be joining the
Church during the Easter Vigil at the Catholic Community of Pleasanton.
She has been moving toward this moment ever since she began attending
inquiry classes last June, but her story begins well before that day.
Although Woulfe attended church as a child and young adult, she was never
baptized or confirmed, and since her marriage to a Catholic she has accompanied
her husband and his father to Mass. She has also seen both of her children
marry and join churches of their own – her son becoming a Catholic
and her daughter attending a non-denominational congregation.
It was a nudge from a close family friend some 10 years ago that sparked
her interest in joining the Catholic Church. That day Nichole Samson Wong
handed her a flier about RCIA and said, “Auntie May, if you ever
want to be a Catholic, I will be your sponsor.” Woulfe made no move
at the time, but, she said, “I always kept it in the back of my
mind.”
Then this past year, she decided to take the step, on behalf of herself,
she said, but also on behalf of her father-in-law and husband. With her
husband at her side, she began to attend the Sunday morning inquiry group
and moved on to the Rite of Acceptance and RCIA sessions in October.
From then on she has been moving steadily toward her goal -- baptism,
confirmation and the Eucharist during the Easter Vigil. The journey “has
been one of the most exciting experiences in my life,” she said,
and the RCIA group has had “a good, close feeling.”
The meetings feature speakers, such as pastor Father Dan Danielson, and
sharing among the candidates and catechumens. In the process, Woulfe said,
she has learned to speak openly of her faith and feelings.
She has also seen the fruits in her daily life. “I do feel at peace,”
Woulfe said. “I do feel that I have a good life. I know that God
is with me in the work environment and in the home.”
Her entire family has given her support, and the faith journey has brought
her closer still to her husband. Her daughter told her with enthusiasm,
“Mom, we’re all going to be in heaven together.”
Best of all, she has grown into a deeper sense of communion with God.
“I just feel very, very close to God at this point,” Woulfe
said. “I feel that going through the RCIA process has to be one
of the highlights of my life.”
May Woulfe
