Mary Jefferies, Our Lady of Perpetual Succour

Mary kindly completed a short, optional questionnaire designed to find out more about why people have decided to join the Catholic Church. She will be fully welcomed into the Catholic Church this Easter, 2026.
 
Please tell us a little about what drew you towards wanting to become a Catholic.

I was raised without faith or religion, and for 40 years I thought it was logical to believe there was nothing. I remember as a child hearing a friend talk about Sunday school. “You don’t think that’s real do you?” I asked. I couldn’t comprehend that anyone would actually, truly believe in a God. I lived in the world and the world lived in me.

When my dad was dying, the Truth I was hiding from finally caught up with me. I started to have extremely vivid dreams. I would sit at my father’s hospital bed and pray, “Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.” Over and over - I didn’t know what it meant or where I’d found the words, but I knew it was a grace I needed to ask for.

I was drawn to the prayer room in the hospital. Sometimes I would stand outside, sometimes I’d take one step inside. One time I went in a met a woman waiting to give Holy Communion; she gave me a book of psalms that I took out of politeness. 

After my dad died, I could feel something in the world just out of my reach. Like an extra layer but absolutely real. I started to think of those posters I’d seen as a child - ‘GOD IS LOVE’. I couldn’t prove love existed but I knew it was real. If God is love, maybe that was what I could feel. Maybe it was God. 

I had a very real dream where I saw my dad in ‘the in-between place’ which I later learned was called purgatory. It was more real than being awake. I thought I was losing my mind.

I decided I needed to read the Bible and reassure myself it was a fiction, but it was too long and I’ve never liked reading. I found a podcast - The Bible in a Year with Father Mike. He was a Catholic priest, but I was certain I wouldn’t be having anything to do with all that! 

The Bible wasn’t what I expected at all. A sinking realisation set in - it was True. Friends would say kind things like, “Well, if it brings you comfort I’m happy for you.” But it didn’t bring me comfort. The standard I had used to measure my goodness was completely flawed and it started to dawn on me I was wretched. Oh no! I am a sinner and I need to change. I think I’m going to have to find a church. 

But which church do you find if you have no connection to any? I found out there were thousands of them and I didn’t know what to do. I started to look into the early church, the one Jesus founded on Peter as his rock. I wanted to join the one holy, apostolic church. I learned that was the Catholic Church. Oh dear! That felt serious and terrifying. 

I researched Catholic Churches in my area for weeks. I found one a little further away and saw a picture of the priest online. He was smiling! He didn’t look stern or like he would be angry with me - he looked kind and welcoming. I chose that church. But the big battle was getting through the door. Months passed. 

One Saturday I was driving on the motorway with my children in the car. I was in the slow lane and a minibus, parked on the hard shoulder, pulled out directly in front of me. I was doing 70mph. There was traffic behind me and in the middle lane - I had nowhere to go. I slammed the brakes and we all screamed. Then nothing. NOTHING. It didn’t make any sense. There was no crash. We drove home and I spent the rest of the afternoon crying. We should have all have been killed. Tomorrow I was going to church. 

I didn’t know anyone in my life who went to church, so I was amazed to find the car park completely full the next day. I approached the church and asked the two men on the door if I could come in. I was shaking with fear. They were so warm and friendly, they truly welcomed me with the love of Christ and continue to do so week after week. It’s an immeasurable gift. 

So I got inside and attended the Mass, then the next Sunday and the Sunday after that. Before I knew it I got to know people and realised no one minded me being there, they welcomed me. It was so strange and unexpected. The journey towards being received into the church hasn’t always been easy, but it’s always been absolutely necessary.

Please tell us something you have learned during your period of formation to become a Catholic.

The Catholic faith is more about love than judgement. 

My advice to anyone thinking of joining the church is to search for the Truth - He is waiting for you. And most of all, do not be afraid - the Lord is with you.

Please tell us something you are looking forward to, following your reception into the Catholic Church.

Looking forward to being fully part of the body of Christ and receiving the Eucharist.