New Catholic finds peace in the Church

Courtesy photo/Ted Roundy

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Ted Roundy talks to the Saint Henry Parish confirmation class to tell them what they have is special.

BRIGHAM CITY — Ted Roundy has found peace in the Catholic Church and joined because he said the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wasn’t meeting his needs. He became a member of Saint Henry Parish during the 2010 Easter Vigil.

"I grew up in a Mormon family in Utah and went to church when I was younger, but I didn’t feel any spirituality," said Roundy. "I’ve always been a spiritual person and I wasn’t finding the answers to my questions. After I got married, I began reading the Bible and hundreds of books and investigated different religions. I started going to Mass with my wife every Sunday for about a year and a half before I decided to go through RCIA. She was surprised at my decision.

"I came to the Catholic Church because I needed to be fed," Roundy said. "In everything that I studied, I wanted the Eucharist. Other churches have sacraments, but the Catholics are the only ones who have the body and blood of Christ. I believe that I was lost and now I’m found. God never leaves us, but I separated myself from him for more than 40 years, and it’s lonely out there. My only regret is that I didn’t come to this feeling of peace that I have now many years ago. I’ve had a lot of struggles and I don’t want to be out from under God’s mighty arm again."

Because Roundy can get the attention of the youth, Mary Ann Barnett, St. Henry director of religious education, has him talk to the confirmation classes. "Ted was looking for the truth and has a way of telling his story that reaches the youth," said Barnett. "They listen to him."

"I tell them how I spent time lonely and alone and what they have in the Catholic Church is a gift," said Roundy. "I tell them they need to go to Mass and listen to the homilies and participate. It’s hard to be in Utah and be different among Mormons, but they have to be brave to be different. I tell them not to be intimidated to wear their crosses because they are a sign of love and sacrifice and we aren’t ashamed of the cross."

Being a Catholic is different for a convert than a cradle Catholic, said Roundy. "A convert is out searching for things he doesn’t have when he comes into the Church," he said. "When you get those things, it’s a tremendous feeling. Cradle Catholics may not always realize or appreciate what they have.

"After I came into the Church, we had our marriage vows renewed, and now our marriage is complete," Roundy said. "Before my conversion my wife never pressured me, she would ask me questions or leave me material to read that would get my mind going. Most of all, the Catholic Church has taught me to be less self-centered. We all belong to God and need to be treated with dignity and respect."

Roundy and his wife, Debra, have been married for 40 years. She said since her husband’s conversion he is now more thoughtful, patient and understanding.

"I could see these things in him before, but other emotions or reactions would take over before he had a chance to think about a situation," Debra Roundy said. "His soul has softened since his baptism and created a whole different human being. He was a very good man before, but now he is filled with the Holy Spirit."