Sandra Hall

My faith story:
After 12 years of Catholic education in Fresno, CA I tossed aside my faith. I quit going to church and thereby missed the wonders of Vatican II. I quit praying. During that sad time I knew that God existed, but I didn't believe that he existed for me. I became jealous of my brothers and sisters who could take their faith for granted; who trusted in God and who knew their prayers would be answered. My mom, a convert to Catholicism, never stopped praying. She knew I was bereft and she knew that no matter how many different religions I studied, I had lost my base and was wandering in the desert. I thanked God for His many gifts, but never asked for anything. I didn’t believe my prayers would be answered. As the Scriptures read, it was a child who led me back.
 
My first grandson, Robby Rusca, entered into kindergarten here at St Catherine of Siena. I was the most available to participate in his Catholic education, so after being away for 30 years, I came to church. My mother had once suggested that I pray to have my faith restored, and I remember asking her, "Don’t you have to have faith to pray for faith?" Once, at one of those early Masses in the petitions, the prayer from the ambo was: "For those who've lost their faith, that their faith may be restored." To which you all responded, "Lord, hear our prayer." I remember looking around and thinking, "these people are all praying for me, and they don't even know me."
 
Soon, thereafter, I offered my first prayer. I had been a lifelong smoker who had tried many ways to quit, and always failed. My first prayer was, "Dear God, please take this affliction from me. I cannot do it by myself. Lord, you know I've tried and failed and can’t do it alone; I need your help." It wasn't long after that that I was able to quit effortlessly. I realized that the gift of my faith had been restored; not only that it had been restored, but that I was filled with joy in the knowledge. I knew that God heard my prayers and sent me answers.
 
I signed up for Sister Moira's RCIA, the Right of Christian Initiation for Adults, even though I had received all my sacraments. There, I learned of the incredible gift of Vatican II, and I rejoiced in that knowledge. I became active in our church: Choir, Lector, Liturgy Committee, Religious Ed, Environment, RCIA Team, and PACE where I was commissioned as the Financial Co-Chair.
 
I attended the Diocesan three-year course of study at St. Mary's College and earned my certificate of Pastoral Ministry. I went through the annulment process and had my marriage blessed here at Saint Catherine. I created a program for returning Catholics called Reconnecting and, through that, I learned some of your stories.
 
And, as for Robby, the child who brought me here, he continues to help renew my faith. He graduated from St. Catherine School where he received the Siena Award, then from Alhambra High School where he was one of five Valedictorians, then, graduated from the University of Notre Dame. He now lives near Tacoma with his wife Kaitlyn, who is getting her Masters Degree in Family Counseling at Seattle University.
 
Your simplest prayer, "For those who have lost their faith, that their faith may be restored," helped to change my life.