Susan and Greg McKeefer

Susan McKeefer

Threads of grace describes my faith journey.  Raised in a Protestant home, I attended church and Sunday School regularly, and was active in youth group.  The family and church I grew up in taught me the basics of the Christian faith, the importance of good morals and values, and gave me a foundation for understanding God’s love for me. I was guided by parents, teachers and youth ministers that had deep faith, love for God and lead by example.  The fact that I would become a Catholic by all outward appearances seemed very unlikely.  However, God is the Master Weaver, and strategically wove many Catholics through my life, starting with my best friend Kathy.  Kathy was a neighbor and attended Catholic school, and I envied her cute plaid jumpers. I remember visiting her church and actually feeling a strong presence of God, I was probably only six at the time. To this day, I still remember that feeling.  God did not stop there, he continued to weave Catholics in my life, including sister-in-laws, my close friend Betty, and countless others…. I was drawn to their faith. I can’t explain this in words, it was just a yearning of the heart.  In 1993, I took the plunge, informing Greg that I was going to explore becoming Catholic.  He was reluctant at first, but soon jumped in with both feet. We came into the church together, a family of five, receiving eight sacraments in one day. 

In 2010, we moved close to SEAS.  We transferred our membership for reasons of convenience, but once again, God was weaving.  I felt called to volunteer as a catechist, and when I opened that door God began guiding me to other doors, faster than I could open them.  Each time I have opened a door, whether it was to Catholic Biblical School, Living Your Strengths, St Vincent de Paul, or any of the other opportunities SEAS has offered, I have been delighted and inspired. This wonderful community is full of people that have a deep love of God and one another.  I love this parish, I feel at home and I am ever so grateful that God wove me into its fabric. 
 

Greg McKeefer

My faith journey thus far, now graced by so many blessings here at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, has been the proverbial long and winding road.  I grew up a nominal Methodist, church attendance vacillated up and down over the years. After I married Susan, we attended various protestant churches on a consistent basis. On a fateful day in 1993, Susan came to me and started talking about the Catholic Church. With raised eyebrows I listened as she told me about her lifelong attraction to Catholicism. She had heard of a program at St. Mark (RCIA) where you learn about the Catholic faith.  Enthused after the first meeting, she told me she planned to continue.  I told her that I was going to go with her to the next few meetings, (I did not want her to be brainwashed by the Catholics). A few months later, both of us with clean brains, came into the church. 

My faith life has been a series of peaks and valleys, with both blessings and challenges on that winding road.  Charted on a graph I feel that it continues to trend upward.  We were empty nesters and in 2010 we began attending SEAS.  Susan began teaching faith formation and I also felt called to give back.  I became a sponsor for RCIA, and that first taste of service set the table for a banquet of opportunities.  Becoming engaged in various ministries at SEAS has opened my eyes, touched my heart, and brought me closer to God.  I see the Body of Christ in action in this community, God’s people answering His call.  God’s people saying “I will go, Lord.”  I am grateful to be able to play a small part, helping build God’s Kingdom, one yes at a time.