By Jessica Easthope
Outside of St. Boniface Oratory Church in downtown Brooklyn, a sign asks, ‘Is Catholicism right for you?’
It’s a question Laura Asserfea has been asking herself her whole life.
Answering yes or no would mean sacrificing something, but through months of Order of Christian Initiation of Adults or OCIA, Laura realized that ‘something’ was peace.
“I think it’s given me a way to sort of find peace when there are challenges,” Asserfea said. “I like to pause and reflect; it’s given me more connection, humanity, and just feeling more giving toward my fellow man.”
Asserfea, raised by a single mom in Queens, went to church often. Her mom was a Eucharistic minister, but receiving her sacraments wasn’t a priority.
“She never really forced it on me,” Asserfea said. “When we would get sick, she would bring out the Bible; she taught me the saying I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Now an attorney with a degree from Columbia Law School, when Laura got to college at NYU, she met Dave Solimano, who would become a spiritual guide on her faith journey. Although Solimano was raised Catholic, he was also exploring his commitment in college, when most stray from their faith.
“I continued to educate myself during my high school years, and in college, I really became serious about it,” Solimano said.
Solimano was diving deeper into a relationship with Christ.
“When I was confirmed, one of the things they made us promise was that we would continue our faith formation,” Solimano said. And I guess I kind of thought to myself, well, I promised this to God. I should probably do something about that.”
“He was tutoring me in calculus, and here’s this person who I think is so smart but was also so devoted, and it solidified that I wanted something more in life, that connection,” Solimano added.
Now, Laura is just weeks away from receiving her sacraments and becoming Catholic.
“I think it’s always going to be like a homecoming,” Asserfea said. “I’ve been going to church as a child; during college, I found my way back toward it, and now I’m finally home again.”
She’s still learning but has confidently explored this question, and her answer is yes.
NET TV will show all the Holy Week and Easter services, including one of the dozens of Easter Vigil Masses at which catechumens like Asserfea will be baptized.