Meet the Griffin: Family Blessed to Enter into the Catholic Faith Together

The Easter Vigil was a night of joy for the whole Griffin family. After a long journey of learning and preparation, Jason and Ann Griffin were blessed to see four of their six children received into the Church. Wyatt, 16; Jacob, 15; Keilleyanna, 14; and Kayla, 12 received the sacraments.

“It was absolutely beautiful,” Jason says. “I kept hearing that the Mass would be long and intricate, and it was, but I wished it was longer. My least favorite part of Mass is when it is over.”

The Griffin family’s journey together began when the family was leaving the Easter Sunday service at their nondenominational church in 2019. Jason remembers asking his kids if they understood what they were celebrating and none of them really knew even though they had been attending Sunday school. Jason realized that something needed to change if his kids were going to truly understand and embrace faith. The Catholic Church was his first thought.

“I have family members that are staunch Irish Catholics and I’ve always been drawn to the Church,” Jason says.

So, Jason called up a local priest and then he and his oldest son, Wyatt, went to Mass together. The experience impacted them so much that they went home and had to tell the rest of the family all about it.

The effect of COVID-19 meant that they weren’t able to begin RCIA classes right away, but in 2021 they were able to attend RCIA with Fr. Moreno.

“He was a wonderful instructor,” Jason says. “He entertained all questions, no matter how off-the-wall they may have seemed.”

As Ann learned about the faith, she was surprised to find more connections in Catholicism than she expected with the Protestant church where she grew up.

“Some of what my church did growing up was close to what the Catholic religion does, so it was interesting to see what was similar,” Ann says.

Most of the kids were old enough to go through RCIA with Jason and Ann — the youngest two, Amber and Allison, were baptized in a small ceremony in 2021. The couple has been struck by how readily their children are embracing the Catholic faith.

“At first, their favorite part of RCIA was the snacks,” Jason jokes. “But they’ve really taken the faith into their heart and they live the faith.”

The two oldest boys are altar servers and the middle girls are going to be trained as sacristans. Jason and Ann are inspired by their children’s willingness to serve.

The family’s journey is far from over and Jason and Ann look forward eagerly to the next steps and continuing to grow in their faith and as active members of their parish, Christ the King. As soon as they receive a ruling from the tribunal regarding their marriage, they’ll be ready to receive the sacraments in full.

To anyone considering RCIA, Jason offers nothing but encouragement.

“Just do it,” he says. “It’s a very rewarding experience. When you learn Catholic doctrine and study early Christianity, it only makes sense to be Catholic.”

(From left) Keilleyanna, Kayla, Wyatt and Jacob Griffin

(From left) Wyatt, Jacob, Keilleyanna and Kayla Griffin

Jacob and Wyatt Griffin

Allison Griffin

Amber Griffin

(From left) Jacob, Keilleyanna, Kayla and Wyatt Griffin