From Lost to Found: Mason’s Journey

When Mason arrived at Texas A&M, he stepped into a life filled with tradition, challenge, and brotherhood as a member of the Corps of Cadets. The Corps asked a lot of him: discipline, accountability, and a willingness to serve. Yet beneath the crisp uniform and polished boots, Mason knew he was searching for something deeper.

Mason came to college believing faith was enough but still felt lost.

The Corps gave him structure, but his heart longed for a foundation that only Christ and His church could provide. That foundation began to take shape when he found his way to St. Mary’s.

A Tug on the Heart

Mason signed up for the Connect Retreat without knowing exactly what to expect. He thought it would be another weekend away, maybe with some talks and icebreakers. What he found was something that caught him by surprise.

“I thought it was just going to be a normal, stereotypical Christian camp. But when I went to adoration for the first time, I did not know much about the Church at all. I had a lot of questions, and I came in really skeptical, but there was something tugging on my heart telling me to keep on going back. Over time, I started to realize this was something real, something worth exploring more deeply.”

That tug was Jesus.

And through the community at St. Mary’s, Jesus gave Mason companions for his time in college. His John 15 group leader kept showing up for him, inviting him to dive deeper, and walking alongside him with patience. “Even when I was not Catholic, he made the effort to reach out, invite me, and be personable. Honestly, I would not be Catholic if it was not for this community.”

Walking Into the Church

The Connect retreat opened the door. OCIA at St. Mary’s carried him the rest of the way. Week after week, Mason wrestled with questions, dug into the teachings of the Church, and found clarity where before there had been uncertainty.

Mason carried questions and misconceptions about the Church.

The day he was received into the Church, Mason’s longing was met in the Eucharist. “I had thought about being able to receive the Eucharist for so long. When the moment finally came, it was incredible, something I cannot even fully describe. I just remember looking up and seeing the priest, and realizing this was real, this was Christ Himself. That first Communion was one of the most special moments of my life.”

Living and Leading

Now a senior cadet, Mason brings together what both the Corps and St. Mary’s have given him: discipline, brotherhood, reverence, and a servant’s heart. Younger cadets look to him as an example, and he considers it a privilege to share the faith that has changed him.

At St. Mary’s, Mason discovered the gift of Catholic friendship, a source of prayer, accountability, and joy. Now as a senior, he sees it as a privilege to walk with freshmen and share the Faith.

For Mason, the Corps of Cadets and St. Mary’s are not two separate worlds but two communities shaping him into the man he is becoming. The Corps forms him in leadership and tradition. St. Mary’s grounds him in Christ and the sacraments. Together, they prepare him to live with courage, integrity, and faith.