Meet Donzetta Seals: Living a Life of Thanksgiving

From time to time, Donzetta Seals’ mother Rosie Lee shared with her a profound, well-known saying, one that she has carried with her throughout her life. “Here and there over the years, I would think about leaving the Catholic Church, and my mother would say to me, ‘Once a Catholic, always a Catholic,’” Donzetta says. “At one point, I did actually leave, and I became a Protestant. I went to the church around the corner from our parish for seven years.”

Despite the wrong turn she made, however, her mother’s words continued to resound in her heart, and the almighty “Hound of Heaven” did not cease to call her name.

“One day, God spoke to me, and told me I would find my healing in the Eucharist,” she says. “I soon realized what He meant, so I left the Protestant church I was at. Then, I decided to join Holy Family Parish, even though I was raised in St. Monica’s Parish because I wanted my return to the Church to be about me and God, not me and others.”

Our parish has welcomed Donzetta with open arms, showing her the beauty of God’s mercy.

“Everyone I run into at Holy Family has become one of my friends!” she says. “I appreciate Fr. Kastl because he is very present to each of us. The first time I asked him a question, he listened. He validates people this way. I also really like belonging to Holy Family because many parishioners have the same interests that I do, such as traveling, reading books, and teaching. I also like the fact that I encounter people from other cultures at our parish, and I do have a strong interest in other cultures.”

Donzetta has found the Holy Family Cathedral Women’s Club to be a beautiful source of fellowship. Normally, this group meets about once a month to share meals and participate in various activities, such as a garage sale to raise money for our parish school.

“When I first came to our parish, I was feeling a little disconnected, so Deacon Mattox had his wife, Kathleen, invite me to the Women’s Group,” she says. “Then I came to know the rest of the ladies, and I found everyone to be so warm and embracing.”

As an integral member of our parish family, Donzetta truly enjoys giving of her time, talent, and treasure in numerous ways.

“There are so many different things I like about Holy Family, such as all of the ways you can get involved, especially now that we have embraced stewardship at our parish,” she says. “Everything I do for the parish, I enjoy doing! I also appreciate the fact that we have Confession available so frequently.”

In the past, she prayed the Rosary before Mass with the Knights of Columbus and volunteered for the Feeding the Homeless Ministry. She is currently taking part in Becoming Catholic, or RCIA.

“I am in RCIA because I want to learn more about the Catholic faith, and deepen my roots,” she says. “I just love it! It includes a lot of discussion and I am learning new facts about the Church. I really enjoy it and I love the speakers. I will probably end up being a sponsor too!”

Above all, one of her favorite ways to be involved is by being a reader.

“It makes the Word of God come alive for me,” she says. “I am glad I can proclaim it to everyone else. It is uplifting to me.”

Donzetta Seals truly enjoys giving of her time, talent and treasure in numerous ways.

Donzetta Seals is currently taking part in Becoming Catholic, or RCIA.