By EmmaLee Italia | Correspondent

Some people find their spiritual home in the Catholic Church at first Mass. Others need time to digest the complexities of the religion and find their footing on a more indirect path.

For Don Hutchinson, the journey was a 40-year process with the support and influence of family that led to his initiation into the Church during last year’s Easter Vigil in St. David the King Parish, West Windsor.

“My reasons for starting this journey were maybe for other people, but along the way I changed,” Hutchinson said, as he reflected on his journey of faith. “My faith strengthened, my relationship with God became closer and even my relationship with my wife became better.”

Hutchinson was raised in the Baptist church, but began attending Catholic Mass in high school after meeting his future wife, Sharyn, who was a practicing Catholic. After marrying in St. Anthony of Padua Church, Hightstown, the couple spent the next 40 years attending Mass together in various Catholic churches, and raising their three children in the Catholic faith.

Though she never pressured him, Sharyn mentioned the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults process to her husband a few times.

“I felt attending Mass and living a good clean life and treating others well was enough,” Hutchinson reflected.

  “The biggest reason I decided to join the RCIA last year was that I wanted my three grown children and my new grandchild to see that I believe in the value of having a strong faith. I always thought that they felt I only went to church because of their mother.”

Hutchinson credits his full acceptance into the Catholic faith with improving his spiritual and married life.

“(Sharyn and I) always have had a great relationship, but this was one more thing we could share,” he explained. “I now start every day by reading the Scriptures and I find Mass to be more meaningful.  Although I have watched others receive the Eucharist for many years, I underestimated how powerful that can be.”

Hutchinson is grateful for the guidance of his RCIA leaders Peter Okajima and Nanci Bachman, and is still actively involved in the ministry.

“Everyone in our group felt comfortable sharing his thoughts, and this comfort created an environment where we were able to reflect on our faith,” he said.

“Information about the Catholic religion was presented, but it was during these times of reflection and discussion where I think my faith began to evolve.”