WITNESS TALK -
Wanda González

My Experiences with God and the Church

When I was asked to give this talk, I had to think about it before saying yes since I wasn't sure how it would be received. I am Wanda I. González and I joined Sacred Heart's family in January 2001 after moving to Massachusetts from Houston, Texas. It has taken a long time to adjust to the new way of worship, service and living.

Prayer has been part of my life since I was young. I have been a Catholic all my life and I was taught to pray before I learned to read. Our family attended Church together every Sunday. Each Sunday afternoon, the family had a discussion on the readings, the Gospel and what the young ones learned in CCD. It was a special time to reflect on how we can use the learning to do what God wanted us to do. What will Jesus do? was part of our talks. I was taught to be involved on all aspects of our faith. Since money was not abundant in my family, sharing time and talent was our way to be involved.

I was confirmed when I was 10 years old and I did not understand what Confirmation meant until I went to college away from home. I needed to make the decision to attend church without my family, especially my parents. Going to Mass together was not only an expectation in my family but also great family time. That's when I asked God to guide me to do what was right. I believe that this was my first experience with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit replied to my heart, "be involved, share your faith." For five years I attended mass at the Student Hall. It did not matter that there was an empty table with a single white tablecloth instead of a beautiful altar. We, the catholic students there made it our church.

As the years passed the Holy Spirit has always been there for me showing me the way. When my daughters were born and the joys and responsibilities of been a young wife, mother and student were overwhelming I got so busy with it all. I needed God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit in my life to help me continue be involved and to share my faith. They were there for me one more time sharing in my good times and my challenging times.

My mother's battle with cancer challenged my faith. She was a great Christian and I couldn't believe that God was letting her suffer so much. I wanted for her to get better and I prayed daily for it. I did this until one day I went to pray by myself in the hospital chapel and that's when the Holy Spirit once again spoke to my heart. I knew then that I was praying for the wrong thing. He reminded me to trust God, that she was going to be all right, it was time. Everyone around me noted the peace that I felt after the prayer in the chapel. God is my way of life, I am nothing without him.

Coming to Church every Sunday brings me back to my Church family. My week starts with the Mass and the Eucharist. I feel that something is missing if I don't participate in the Mass. I love to attend Mass, to hear the worship through not only the readings and the sermon but the joyful noises through the music.

I still miss my Church family in Houston. There were 3500 families in my former parish. When the priests asked for volunteers to complete a church project so many people volunteered that they have to send some of them away. Time, talent and treasure were our way of living. Holding hands during the Lord's prayer and sharing on God's peace with handshakes and hugs were an integral part of the mass. I miss the many people with whom I used to worship with and I helped put together turkey dinners every year to provide less fortunate families with a nice dinner for Thanksgiving. And also miss the many that shared their treasure to make the less fortunate happy during Christmas.

However, I always trust in God to guide me, just as He did with this talk and the other times that I lend a hand. As I see more people holding hands during the Lord's prayer and sharing the Lord's peace with their heart and soul, and sharing their time, talent and treasure, I am starting to feel a sense of belonging to Sacred Heart's family.