My life serving in the African American Catholic Community
By Jennifer Neely
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 At the age of nine I was blessed to be introduced to
the African American Catholic Community through my foster mother, Ivy Guidry,
who is a member of Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church. She suggested that I
join the youth choir and immediately my foster mother talked to the choir
director about me joining their ministry. While I was in the choir I began
practicing catholic beliefs. This was the beginning of my experience in the
Catholic Church. For many years, I participated in the youth choir and in the
general congregation. During those years I was not committed to any
denomination.
At age 14, I left the Catholic Church and was
baptized in a Baptist Church. It was interesting and a joyful experience.
However, at age 15, I returned to the Catholic Church, rejoined the youth choir,
and became a member of the Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM). Through this ministry
I was introduced to youth prayer services, faith sharing and the teachings of
the power of the Eucharist. My passion for Christ deepened and I desired to
fully convert into Catholicism which I did during the Easter Celebration 2008.
In my senior year in high school I was elected as
the CYM youth president, this also helped my spiritual growth. I then joined the
Altar Server and Lector ministries. Holiday celebrations such as New Year,
Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, I volunteered to participate in
plays and celebrations offering my creativity and time to the church. My
involvement with other parishes and Dioceses activities helped me to understand
how God works through me and how to accept it.
 At times, it is very challenging and uncomfortable
to accept how the Lord works through me but I learned that the overall outcome
was better for me and it brought me great joy. For instance, during my
adolescent years, I experienced the lack of knowledge about love, trust, and
family. In life we want to give and receive both love and trust. Everybody wants
a family; yet, at times we may not know it until we experience the loss of
family members. Moreover, we must devote all our love and trust in the Lord for
he is the Father of all families. However, in the African American Catholic
Community I feel loved and wanted.
My name is Jennifer Neely. I am a 19 year old
freshman at Lamar University majoring in Political Science. My ultimate dream is
to become a Criminal Defense Attorney. I enjoy celebrating our Lord with my
brothers and sisters in Christ at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in
Beaumont, Texas.
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