Thank you so much for sharing this! It absolutely warms my heart. This sweet little girl who loves Jesus. I have a theory....that the overwhelming number of people martyred and persecuted for their faith in the 20th century, reaped an abundant harvest of souls, which God is only now applying to these younger generations. These are the generations who are godless through no fault of their own, having been raised in secular families that didn't properly pass on the Faith. It's like God skipped the generations that threw God out the window when they knew better, and saved the martyrs' graces for their children. I think that might explain this sudden explosion of conversions in the young over the last few years. I don't know; just a theory.
Roy Schoeman's conversion is quite well known but there may be some who aren't aware of him. It's good to see these stories being posted on an Fb site, you never know who might see them and find the inspiration to embrace the Catholic faith. From Totus Tuus page today: "Roy Schoeman grew up deeply rooted in Judaism—pious, enthusiastic, immersed in Hebrew school and tradition. But at MIT, intellectual pride and the pull of atheism took over. He built a successful career, even joining the faculty at Harvard Business School. Then, on vacation, God broke through: Roy was plunged into a mystical experience of Heaven itself—overwhelmed by infinite love, his life reviewed with perfect clarity. Every struggle, every "catastrophe" was part of a divine plan. Desperate to know God's name, he begged, "Tell me Your name… as long as You're NOT Christ!" But God had other plans. Soon after came a mystical encounter with the Blessed Virgin Mary—indescribably beautiful, gentle, drawing him irresistibly toward Catholicism. He began hanging around Marian shrines, then visited the actual La Salette site in the French Alps, spending his "ski trip" in deep prayer instead. There, someone suggested he visit a Carthusian monastery. Roy went—for a week of solitary "come and see," even while still identifying as Jewish. The monks welcomed him warmly; one elderly monk even sighed in relief upon learning Roy was Jewish, not Protestant—seeing Jews as elder brothers in faith. Roy returned for longer stays, including an extended period right after his baptism and confirmation in 1992, to discern if God was calling him to the monastic life in that silent, contemplative world. Ultimately, he discerned a different vocation—to holiness as a layman, serving Christ through speaking, writing (like his powerful book Salvation Is from the Jews), and sharing his testimony. But those monastery visits were pivotal: they deepened his love for the Church's Jewish roots and showed him the beauty of total surrender to God. ------ Roy's story shouts hope: No background is too complicated, no doubt too deep, no intellect too sharp for God's pursuing love. He became more truly Jewish by embracing the Jewish Messiah—and found freedom in the fullness of truth. If you're wandering, hurting, or seeking—God is still interrupting lives with love. Your story isn't finished. Let Roy's inspire you to listen."
I love Roy's story. I was fortunate enough to be on several retreats with him in his early days. I am so pleased to see the path he has taken.
Link to story: https://www.osvnews.com/former-astr...l-enter-full-communion-with-church-at-easter/ "Former astrologer rediscovers Catholic roots, will enter full communion with Church at Easter"
"In the silent, freezing corridors of a central hospital in Hue, Vietnam, Bui Thi Kim Thanh faced the longest night of her life. Her three-year-old daughter was rushed into emergency surgery for a rare, life-threatening ear infection. Raised in a devout Buddhist family, Thanh had always known faith through temple rituals–but in that moment of fear, she turned to a God she had only encountered through her husband. In 2019, Thanh married Matthew Phan Van Khi, a Catholic. Like many interfaith couples in Vietnam, they made a mutual promise to respect each other’s beliefs. They agreed their first child would follow Buddhism, and their second would be raised Catholic–a peaceful balance that shaped their family life. But in that hospital corridor, everything changed. “Please, God, save my child,” Thanh whispered, clinging to words from the Gospel of Matthew (6:31–32): “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’… your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” The verse, once a simple gift, became her anchor. Months earlier in Vung Tau, she had felt drawn to the towering Christ the King Statue–a quiet stirring she did not yet understand. When her daughter recovered with remarkable speed, Thanh saw it as a divine response. “God answers me,” she said. “When we ask in faith, He responds immediately.” Her husband, who had long prayed for this moment, was extremely happy when Thanh chose to embrace the Catholic faith. Now a catechumen, she is preparing for baptism this Easter as Teresa, while her daughter will soon be named Catherine. For Thanh, this journey is more than a change of religion–it is the fulfillment of a promise made in a moment of fear and a testimony to a God who hears, answers, and transforms." Discover God’s goodness every day- join Shalom World News! shalomworld.org/news-whatsapp
On Totus Tuus page today: "In February 2009, young child actress Lucy Hussey-Bergonzi (who had a small walk-on role in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) suffered a devastating brain hemorrhage from a rare condition. She collapsed, underwent emergency surgeries, fell into a coma, and ended up on full life support. After five days, doctors told her family she wouldn't survive—prepare to say goodbye. Lucy's parents, devout Catholics, were heartbroken not only for her life but also because she had never been baptized as a baby or child. Deeply concerned for her soul, they urgently called a priest to the hospital to administer baptism (along with last rites) right at her bedside. As the priest poured the holy baptismal water on her forehead for the very first time—the moment of her sacramental baptism—Lucy's arm suddenly shot straight up into the air! The family was stunned; her mother initially feared a seizure. But within just 24 hours of that baptism, Lucy was miraculously taken off life support, began showing strong signs of recovery, and left doctors and nurses completely baffled—they could offer no medical explanation. Lucy went on to relearn how to walk, talk, eat, and more through rehabilitation. By 2011 (when the story went public), she was 16, attending school, and praising God for her healing despite lingering effects like headaches and numbness. Her mother shared: "I think it was a miracle. I can’t think of any other explanation." This powerful testimony highlights the Catholic belief in the grace of baptism and God's power to act through the sacraments—even in the face of death. --------- "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." – John 3:5 Stories like this remind us: With God, all things are possible! Have you experienced or known of a similar grace-filled moment? Share below."
To me, this looks like a great spiritual revival across all of Brazil. A few years ago, I could never have imagined that there would be millions of people willing to wake up in the early hours of the morning to pray the Holy Rosary, including the Luminous Mysteries added by Saint John Paul II in 2002. What is the likelihood of this happening naturally?
From Shalom World News Fb page: The Catholic Church in South Korea has emerged as one of the most striking growth stories in modern Christianity, growing from about 500,000 faithful in the 1960s to nearly 6 million today–a growth of 1,200%. This extraordinary rise now places Catholics at roughly 11% of the national population. Church data cited by Vatican News showed that the Catholic population reached 5.8 million in 2018, up 48.6% from 3.9 million in 1999 alone. What was once a small and often overlooked community has become one of Asia’s most vibrant Catholic Churches, shaped by the witness of Korea’s martyrs, strengthened by strong parish life, and sustained by generations of priests, religious, and lay faithful. Its growth unfolded alongside South Korea’s rapid modernization, political upheaval, and economic transformation, giving the Church a visible moral and spiritual presence in national life. The story is not only about numbers. The Church in South Korea has also gained growing importance in the life of the universal Church. Seoul is set to host World Youth Day 2027, after Pope Francis announced in Lisbon on Aug. 6, 2023, that the next global gathering of Catholic youth would take place in the South Korean capital. The official WYD Seoul 2027 site says the event will mark a major moment for the Church in Asia. Still, the rise has not come without challenges. Vatican News reported that annual Catholic growth in South Korea has slowed to below 1%, even as the Church remains a powerful witness in a society where many claim no religious affiliation. From a flock of half a million to a national force, the Church in South Korea stands as a vivid testament to endurance, missionary zeal, and the enduring power of the Gospel. Discover God’s goodness every day- join Shalom World News! shalomworld.org/news-whatsapp
Raised in a Muslim family, Nikki Kingsley speaks with John Henry Westen about her journey from Islam to Catholicism.
