CONVERSION STORY: Journey of faith a continuing process for Kylie

29 Mar 2017

By The Record

Morley parishioner Kylie Farina at her Baptism with Parish Priest Fr Sunny Abraham and her sponsor Philomena Mendonca. Photo: Supplied

By Caroline Smith

For Morley parishioner Kylie Farina, joining the Catholic Church was a journey of discovery which continued throughout and after her completion of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) last year.

Mrs Farina was baptised at Infant Jesus Church Morley Parish Easter Vigil Mass in March 2016, but said the real challenge began once this was over.

For Morley parishioner Kylie Farina, joining the Catholic Church was a journey of discovery which continued after her completion the RCIA in 2016. Photo: Supplied

“While I was doing the RCIA I was probably in a bit of a bubble. It was a fabulous experience,” she said.

“But the real challenge comes when you finish and wonder what you do after that, it has to come from within.

“When the RCIA was over, I met up several times with the ladies who had gone through it with me but it fell on me to continue to develop in my own faith.”

Kylie Farina and her daughter Issy, who shared in her journey of faith during the Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) at Morley Parish. Photo: SuppliedShe added that the parish community at Infant Jesus Church helped her a lot, welcoming her into the faith.

“It seems like a great parish for growth. To grow, I feel I need to surround myself with like-minded people,” she said.

“Parish Priest Fr Sunny Peackal Abraham, Assistant Parish Priests Fr Tadgh Tierney and Fr John Pallippadan have been great, and so has RCIA Coordinator Angela, who is truly inspiring.”

Mrs Farina said that while she was not brought up in any specific faith, she had learned about Catholicism during her childhood.

Morley parishioner Kylie Farina (third from right) celebrates her entry into the Church in 2016. Photo: Supplied

“I suppose technically my family was Presbyterian through my dad but I wasn’t brought up with religion, it was something that I learned about from my teachers,” she said.

“As I child I went to a Catholic Primary School, and spent a few years at a Catholic high school too, then I met my husband who was brought up in the faith.

“We married at Infant Jesus and when our daughter was born we had her christened there. When she started school, I realised that joining the Catholic Church was just something I wanted to do, so I started going to Mass.”

Morley parishioner Kylie Farina (second from right, second row), celebrates her entry into the Catholic Church along with other people receiving sacraments. Photo: Supplied

She added that completing the sacraments, particularly Baptism was an amazing experience.

“I definitely felt like I was marrying into a union with God,” Mrs Farina said.

She shared how her daughter, Issy had written her a card just before she completed the RCIA which read, “We are all so proud of you. You always seem so excited to tell me what you have learned.

“You’re always willing to help at the church and always want to be closer to God and are a great person to look up to. I hope you have had fun and learned a lot in this great journey”,

“Being able to talk to my daughter about this journey has helped both of us grow in faith,” Kylie concluded.