Convert holds leadership positions before baptism

Intermountain Catholic

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Suzanne Vasquez was baptized into the Catholic Church by Father Joseph Rooney in April, just prior to finding out that he would retire. ?It was divine intervention,? said Vasquez. IC photo/Christine Young

PAYSON — Suzanne Vasquez has been a member of San Andres Parish in Payson for almost 30 years and a Catholic for just over three months.

Vasquez was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints until April 6, when Jesuit Father Joseph Rooney baptized her.

Fr. Rooney became pastor of San Andres in 2004. At that time, Vasquez had just finished a term as president of the Women’s Society. He was pastor there for eight years and retired last month. For six of those eight years Vasquez was on the parish council; she is currently president.

"Her husband, Jose, is very active and is my chief usher," said Fr. Rooney. "They are always here at Mass, and many times I told her, ‘As a Mormon you’re a better practicing Catholic than half the people in the parish.’ She was always doing things for the parish, including playing the organ at Mass."

Because of Vasquez’ involvement in the parish, she was named the parish’s Woman of the Year in 2002.

Becoming Catholic was divine intervention, said Vasquez. "I was playing the organ on Holy Thursday and had been thinking about being baptized because two of our friends had passed away this year and I just felt it in my heart. I had already taken the RCIA and confirmation classes, but I needed to get my first marriage annulled. So after Mass that day, I told Father I wanted to be baptized and he said, ‘Well you’ve fulfilled all the requirements. Give me 30 minutes.’"

Vasquez and her husband returned the next day – on Good Friday – and learned Fr. Rooney needed the 30 minutes to fill out the paperwork to annul Vasquez’ first marriage and to find a sponsor for her sacraments.

"I couldn’t sleep that whole night because I knew it was what I needed and wanted to do," she said. "He baptized me later that evening. To be able to take the Eucharist was the most wonderful thing after all these years I can’t even describe it."

Two weeks after her baptism, Fr. Rooney told Vasquez that he had been to the doctor and would be retiring Aug. 1.

"He and I are so close that I could not believe I was so inspired after all of these years to be baptized, and why at this time," said Vasquez through tears. "He didn’t know when he baptized me that he was going to retire; this all came about within that one week. There would have been nobody else in the world except him that I would have wanted to baptize me; it was just a blessing."

Recently, Fr. Rooney told Vasquez that he had received official word that her first marriage had been annulled. On July 29, the last weekend he was at the parish, he convalidated her marriage in the church.

"It’s something I find very, very pleasing," said Fr. Rooney.

"Fr. Rooney is such an inspiration," said Vasquez. "I lost my dad when I was 16 and he is like a father to me. He has helped me with many problems and with my kids. He is the most humble person to talk to; he doesn’t condemn or criticize, he doesn’t really even give a whole lot of advice, he just lets you talk through your problems. He has just been amazing. I am really going to miss him."