Keener Family Shares Inspiring Journey “Home to Rome”

A few years ago, when Ron Keener was in the Army, Christ reached His arms out to him in an extraordinary way.

“Our journey to the Catholic faith began when I was training Air Force pilots, and a couple of them were faithful Catholics who did a very good job at explaining and living out the Catholic faith,” Ron says. “They were really stewards of the Church, and they were willing to answer all of my questions. This really lit a fire in my heart that I took back to my wife and son.”

Divine Providence worked its wonders, and other people were also put into their path to help carry the Keeners “home to Rome.”

“My sister and brother-in-law were also Catholic, and he died about a year ago,” Ron says. “Soon after going to his Catholic funeral service, my son said he really wanted us to consider becoming Catholic, so we decided to seriously look into it.”

Although little seeds of faith had already been planted in their souls, the Keeners wanted to nurture them and bring them to fruition.

“We tried several different parishes, and we just happened to visit Holy Family the same time they were having their Becoming Catholic classes,” Ron says. “We felt at home here, and we started coming to the classes right away that August. We are very happy with what we have found!”

Becoming Catholic is Holy Family Cathedral’s program for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or RCIA. The process of RCIA was established for the universal Church for individuals to become Catholic and receive the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. This initiation process also involves a parish community experiencing a renewal in faith as it prepares and welcomes new members into the Church.

“The weekly classes brought us through a good, long journey,” Ron says. “We covered a lot of information, but I know there is room for a lot more. I am very interested in the Catholic faith and I plan on studying a lot more about it, and maybe even going back to Becoming Catholic classes next year as a sponsor, or just to learn more.”

Throughout the Becoming Catholic process, the Keener family eagerly looked forward to the Easter Vigil. After receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time, each of them was confirmed and received their First Holy Communion, while Ron was baptized as well.

When asked what they have found most inspiring and authentic about the Catholic Faith, Ron has plenty of details to share.

“We were drawn to the Catholic Church because of the uncompromising core values it teaches,” Ron says. “It doesn’t just pick and choose what it wants. We appreciate the Church’s views on pro-life issues, as well as those on marriage and family. We have found the Church to have a merciful attitude towards sinners. There is much peace in the Catholic faith, especially because of Confession and the Eucharist.”

Overall, Ron believes that they have found the “real deal.”

“When I was growing up in the Episcopal Church, we would joke that we were ‘Catholic-like,’ but now I see that the Catholic faith is something much different, deeper, and richer than we thought,” he says. “It is the real thing. From what I have learned, every other Christian church is just a splinter of what the original Catholic Church started.”

We joyfully welcome the Keener family at Holy Family Cathedral. Welcome home!

If you would like more information about Becoming Catholic, please call the parish office at 918-582-6247 or email becomingcatholic@tulsacathedral.com.

The Keener family