English Case

In June of 1997, I, Karley Marie Quartararo was baptized into the Catholic Church and washed away of original sin. This moment in my life, even though at the time I was completely oblivious to what was happening around me, was a significant day in my walk with God. After being baptized, I was brought to church almost every week by my Godparents, also known as my Uncle Joe and Aunt Joanne. My parents at the time were working hectic hours and did not always get my siblings and me to mass every Sunday. Although my parents were not always able to get me to mass on Sundays, I am very thankful I had my Godparents to bring me to mass.

As the years went by I was enrolled into the “Mom and Tots”, program at St. Frances Cabrini, until I was about three. I went every few days with my grandmother, who at the time was basically my second mother because of the hours my mother had been working. While we were there we learned about many bible stories that I still remember and carry with me to this day, such as Noah’s Ark.

As I continued to grow older into elementary school, I began Religious Education classes. From first grade to second grade I learned about all that you must do and what it takes to make your First Holy Communion. For me, going through the process at such a young age, I didn’t quite grasp the concept and I did not really understand what God was holding in store. I just thought of it as a cool way to be forgiven for the bad things that I had done, and a chance to get dressed up and wear a pretty dress. It took until almost middle school for me to look back and say wow this is why I made my First Holy Communion, and this is what Christ has in store for me. I then continued Religious Education classes on and off until around ninth grade.

As the time was flying by and I was attending my regular religious education classes, I still remained confused as to what the whole picture was in my life. I always remember being confused when I finally was older and began to wrap my mind around life, as much as possible. I wondered why people went to mass, and why I had to take away from my weekend to go to mass. It wasn’t until around ninth grade, in my religious education class, that I began to understand it all better. Part of it, I think was because although, I was brought up Catholic and baptized and received my First Holy Communion, my parents were not actively involved in my faith as a child, which I believe is one of the most vital times to play a role in your faith.

It wasn’t always possible for my parents to get my brother, my sister, and I to mass every single Sunday because of how many hours both my mom and my dad were working at the given time, but I think that, looking back it maybe would have been possible to make it to mass in the times where we failed to go. But, when I was about ten or eleven, I finally took a stand in my own faith and began to go to Edge. I always would hear after Sunday mass, Jason,