This is My Testimony by Shaun

This testimony was shared at the Baptism Celebration Mass on Sunday, 6th July 2025.

My name is Shaun, and I’m a recent convert to the Catholic faith. I was received into the Church and Confirmed at the Easter Vigil this year. This night will always be special — like the Prodigal Son, welcomed home by the Father and a new family. I felt overwhelmed but loved.

This is my testimony.

I lived in a small town called Warneet in Victoria with my parents and five brothers until my parents got divorced. As a result, mum moved us to Hervey Bay when I was 11. Because of this, I started to act out, so my mum sent me to Hervey Bay Christian Academy, where they still gave out corporal punishment—otherwise known as “the paddle”. It was here that I met my first Christians. They were caring and had a genuine belief in God. Even though I was acting out, they showed love and a lot of patience.

It was also here, during the weekly sermons by our principal and pastor, that we would see the words written above the pulpit: “Be still and know that I am God.” Even though I ignored most of the sermons, that sentence stuck with me. What does it mean? Even though I wasn’t ready, a seed had been planted. I went through life thinking that there must be a God, with thoughts like:

• Who started all this?
• Why does something always drop when I let go of it?
• Why do we all know right from wrong?

I believe He wrote His law on our hearts. I understood this, but I did not know Him.

It wasn’t until last year that a personal tragedy struck, and it shook me up completely. My heart and mind were racing. I found myself lost, with no answers and no peace. I turned to God and prayed that I would give this problem up to Him. I believe I felt God’s calmness come over me, like a calm undercurrent beneath a stormy sea.
“Be still and know that I am God.”
I started to wonder why God created us in the first place. In time, He personally revealed to me that it was to show us His love.

After some searching and reading, a book that helped me a lot was Why We’re Catholic by Trent Horn. This book helped address common objections to Catholicism with logic and compassion.

At this point, I felt drawn to the Catholic Church, this Church, and I was greeted so kindly by Wendy. Thank you, Wendy — I felt genuinely welcomed. This was my first time at a Catholic Mass. It was beautiful, reverent, and there was a sense of peace. I felt that phrase again: “Be still and know that I am God.”

I joined the RCIA program, and it was fantastic. A big thank you to Ronda and Norma, and everyone who helped. What stood out to me most was how generous the people in the Church are—so many serving quietly without recognition, just to honour God. At RCIA, I discovered that the Eucharist isn’t just symbolic — we believe it to be the real Body and Blood of Christ. My RCIA journey concluded at the Easter Vigil, which was beautiful, reverent, and peaceful. Standing there, about to be Confirmed and receiving the Eucharist for the first time, left me with a deep sense of awe, knowing something sacred had just happened.

Since becoming Catholic, my life hasn’t become magically easier, but it has been transformed. I feel anchored, I feel I belong — not just to a community, but to God. Now, when I face struggles or stress, I try to take them to God in prayer and give it all up to Him in quiet contemplation. I trust in God’s power. I try to serve others more patiently, and I’m learning to show grace and mercy, because God has shown both to me.

If you’re someone searching for answers, or even just wondering if God is real — don’t give up. Sometimes the journey starts with one small step. Mine started with a question, a book, and a visit to a parish.

To those who have drifted from the Church, please know you are still loved. The door is still open, and you are always welcome back. There’s a verse that has carried me through all this: “Be still and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10. For me, it means I don’t have all the answers. I can bring my worries to God. I can trust Him. He knows and has a plan for me. God knows you and has a plan for you.

This is my testimony.