After raising her children in Avalon parish, mother joins the Church

While she grew up in the Baptist faith, Jeanine Taylor promised to raise her children in the Church when she married her husband, who is Catholic.

She has long and faithfully kept that promise, nurturing a strong faith in her children – who are all active in the family’s parish of Saint Brendan the Navigator, Avalon. And while she has always felt accepted as part of the parish family, not being Catholic herself had left her feeling like something was missing.

“As the years and decades went by, I felt left out that my kids could partake in communion and I could not, especially when my daughter, my youngest, made her First Communion this last year,” she said.

Inspired by her family’s strong faith, Taylor is happy to formally complete her journey to Catholicism, as she is set to receive the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Confirmation at the Easter Vigil.

For Taylor, her conversion has been a long time coming.

“I have wanted to join the Catholic Church for years, but I always made the excuse that life got in the way – you know, I am too busy or it’s not the right time,” she said. “I was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in July 2024, so I decided that after I finished all my treatments and feeling better, I would start the process of converting.”

The Dennisville resident has learned a lot about the faith from her children over the years.

“I feel like I have gone through all the Catholic CCD teachings multiple times as my children grow,” she said. “We attend all the Masses and retreats together as they make their sacraments. My sons are also altar servers.”

Her family frequently talks about the Catholic faith, including in-depth conversations on the long car rides to and from ice hockey games for her children. She notes that her children have helped to answer questions she has had about the faith, as well.

Her oldest son Louie, 16, is an altar server along with his brother, Elijah – and Louie has the privilege of serving as his mom’s sponsor. “He is very knowledgeable about the Catholic faith,” she said, “much more than you would expect a 16-year-old to be.”

Louie shared that he has been happy to help his mother, especially since she helped him with his Catholic religious education classes.

Taylor describes her 9-year-old daughter, Evie, as her “sidekick,” adding that the youngster looks forward to having her mom join her in receiving communion.

Parish Deacon Bob Dooley first met Taylor and her sons after his ordination in 2020. At the time, he was recruiting new altar servers. “She along with her husband have done a great job in raising their children in faith,” he said, adding that they actively participate in Lenten Rice Bowl collections and are always available for special liturgies.

Deacon Dooley recalls seeing Taylor come to Mass weekly, but never receiving communion. He gently asked her about it, which is when he learned she was not Catholic. With her formally becoming part of the Catholic Church, Deacon Dooley believes some of her fellow parishioners will be pleased.

“It’s always edifying for the parishioners when someone displays their faith – and in the context of family and relationships,” he said. “It’s similar to the reaction we get from parishioners when we bring our Pre-Cana couples to Mass.”

Taylor said that the process of working toward entering the Catholic Church has been filled with support from her parish community – with an excitement from her fellow parishioners that she describes as humbling.

“I can’t believe all the members of the Church who are excited for me,” she said. “I just can’t say enough nice things about how supportive the congregation has been to me and my family. I had put it off for years, and I wish that I hadn’t.”