A new member of Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Lincoln Park, Michigan, shared his reflections on joining the church as an adult after attending services for almost 30 years.

Patrick Nagy decided to go through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RICA), the church bulletin reported.

 “I’ve thought about taking the next step many times, but it never felt like I would be able to fully understand or allow myself to believe all the things that make up the foundations of the Catholic religion,” Nagy said, the bulletin reported. “Something recently had changed my feelings and I reached out to the RCIA. Even then I was not 100% that I would be able to totally accept/have faith in the mystery of the holy trinity. “

After learning more about the teachings of the church, he was convinced that becoming a member was the right choice.

“The RCIA group did a wonderful job of teaching and listening to our questions,” Nagy said, the bulletin reported. “They answered them with a depth of knowledge and explanations that conveyed their passion, going the extra mile and then some on many occasions. I am very happy that this team was the team that walked us through this journey even when things became difficult because of what has been going on.”

Nagy is now a church member.

“It’s been a long time, and now that I’ve taken this step, some of the members of the church have already welcomed me and I look forward to the future in the church,” Nagy said, the bulletin reported.