Lenten Campaign 2025
This content is free of charge, as are all our articles.
Support us with a donation that is tax-deductible and enable us to continue to reach millions of readers.
“I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” These are the words that thousands of catechumens around the world are preparing to hear on Easter night when they are baptized. Throughout Lent, Aleteia is sharing with you the stories of some of these men and women, who are happy to become children of God. Read all of the testimonies here.
When Ta'sjé Carrasco's plans to teach in New York fell apart just days before her scheduled move, she felt her world collapsing:
Everything was set until two days before my flight, when my roommate backed out. I couldn’t afford to go alone, and the reality hit hard: I’d be homeless trying to pay for housing on my own.
But in God’s mysterious providence, this apparent setback turned out to be a blessing. It led her to discover the Catholic faith and a deeper relationship with God.
At the time, though, “I was devastated,” recalls Carrasco, a 23-year-old fifth-grade teacher from Chicago. “My savings were already running low after a summer of struggling to find work, and I broke down emotionally.”
A prayer answered
In that moment of despair, Ta'sjé turned to prayer, asking for an opportunity to teach in her hometown. The response came swiftly.
“I felt an overwhelming sense of comfort, as if the spirit of a loving and nurturing parent was holding me. I knew it was God,” she said.
Within a week, her cousin connected her with local principals, and Ta'sjé soon found herself interviewing at St. Sabina Academy. Despite not being Catholic, she was hired and warmly welcomed into the school community.
Learning alongside her students
As she settled into her new role, teaching the religion curriculum became an unexpected revelation for Ta'sjé:
I found myself learning alongside my students. Many misconceptions I had about the Catholic Church were being corrected, and I became genuinely excited for religion class.
Her principal noticed her enthusiasm and offered consistent support and encouragement: “She spoke life into me, regularly checked in, and supported me as I grew into my role.”
When that principal was later assigned to a new school, Ta'sjé followed, demonstrating her commitment not just to a job, but to a community that was increasingly feeling like home.
A Mass that changed everything
The turning point came during a back-to-school picnic at her new school. During Mass celebrated by Father Carl Gales, Ta'sjé experienced something profound:
I felt deeply connected to the teachings and the way the service was conducted. I kept coming back. I had never felt so close to God, and for the first time in my life, I truly felt like I was getting to know Him.
This spiritual awakening gave Ta'sjé’s life a new sense of purpose. She soon joined the choir and began considering conversion to Catholicism.
The path to baptism
Now enrolled in OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), Ta'sjé is preparing for baptism at Easter 2025.
I couldn't be more excited. I truly believe that God led me here. One missed opportunity opened the door to a path that helped me feel God's love more deeply—and in turn, helped me love and value my own life more. I’ve never been so happy.
For Ta'sjé, the journey into Catholicism has brought a sense of fulfillment and gratitude that had previously eluded her.
“I no longer feel insatiable. I don't take my life for granted,” she said. “I'm incredibly grateful because the teachings of the Catholic Church have saved me.”
As she continues her preparation for full initiation into the Church, Ta'sjé offered powerful words of wisdom to others who might be hearing God's call:
When God is calling you to do something, following His call will lead you to where you’re meant to be. That’s where true happiness lies. I no longer feel insatiable. I don’t take my life for granted. I’m incredibly grateful because the teachings of the Catholic Church have saved me. I know now that I matter to God, and I want to dedicate my life to showing Him that He matters to me.
