PARISHIONER JOSH KOENEN Embarks on the Joyful Journey to the Catholic Faith

Some conversion stories look like St. Paul’s — God knocked him off his horse, temporarily struck him blind, and, in a booming voice from the sky, demanded to know why St. Paul was persecuting Him. For some, their conversions happen quickly and dramatically, while for others, a conversion happens slowly and over a long period. No two conversions are the same. God works in the hearts of us all in very different ways. This slow and steady conversion was the experience of St. Joseph parishioner Josh Koenen.

Since getting married to his wife, Shannon, joining the Catholic Church had been at the back of his mind. God’s instrument for Josh’s conversion was his family. He grew up in Clara City and Shannon grew up in Willmar. They met after college and got married in 2008 at the Catholic parish of St. Mary’s in Willmar. They are parents to two boys — Kolton and Quinton. The family raises chickens on a farm north of Maynard.

“Over the years, I have regularly attended Sunday Mass with my family,” Josh says. “And now my boys are just getting older so they started asking questions about why I was not taking Communion.”

These questions and comments from his own children planted seeds for Josh. When a letter came in the mail about RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation, it sat on the counter for a while.

“I was actually really OK with Josh not being Catholic,” Shannon says. “We had agreed to be married in the Catholic Church and raise our children Catholic as well. So when he came to me and said, ‘I think I am going to do this as long as you can be my sponsor,’ I was so happy I had fireworks going off inside!”

Shannon and Josh attended RCIA classes together where they dove deeper into the teaching of the Catholic faith.

“It was nice to talk to each other on our way home about what that week’s lesson was about,” Josh says. “Shannon’s grandma was a huge inspiration for us, so we would ask her questions along the way about what we were learning. She is 80 years old and she even learned something along the way, too. This was truly an amazing journey doing this together.”

Even though Josh has attended Mass for many years, his experiences within the parish itself have changed since joining the Church last year. Josh has also joined the Knights of Columbus and become more involved in the life of the parish itself. Learning about the faith through the knowledgeable RCIA team members has helped him to grow deeper in relationship with God. Forming relationships with the RCIA team and other parishioners has impacted his life in important ways.

“If you are thinking about becoming Catholic and taking the RCIA classes, it is a commitment but it is well worth the time and effort,” Josh says. “In the end, all of the work you put in is so rewarding to finally be welcomed into the Church.”

Josh and Shannon are parents to two boys — Kolton and Quinton. The family raises chickens on a farm north of Maynard.

Josh Koenen and his wife, Shannon, attended RCIA classes together where they dove deeper into the teaching of the Catholic faith.