Open Seat: A Holy Family Podcast
Welcome to Open Seat, the podcast where we create a space for authentic conversations about faith—unfiltered and unapologetic. With each episode, we invite guests from all walks of life to share their personal journeys, struggles, and revelations moments of doubt, discovery, and everything in between. Here, we believe that every story matters, and in the open seat, there’s room for honesty, vulnerability, and community. Whether you’re questioning, seeking, or steadfast in your beliefs, you’ll find something relatable in these heartfelt discussions. So grab your seat, get comfortable, and let’s dive in to today’s story here - at the Open Seat.
Open Seat: A Holy Family Podcast
Becoming Catholic: A Search for Truth & Healing
In this episode of Open Seat, Jenna Duckett, who recently came into the Catholic Church this year along with her husband and two children, shares her profound journey into the Catholic faith, discussing the initial hesitations, her quest for answers, and healing that led her to embrace Catholicism. Jenna helps to debunk some of the misconceptions she and her husband had before becoming Catholic as well as the resources she used to help her learn more about the Catholic faith.
Book Resources:
The Lamb's Supper by Scott Hahn
The Eucharist is Really Jesus by Joe Heschmeyer
Theology of the Body by Christopher West
Video Resources:
Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz
This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond.
www.HolyFamilyAdrian.org
Instagram: Instagram.com/holyfamilyadrian
Facebook: Facebook.com/adrianCatholic
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian
Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.
I was so worried about coming into the Catholic Church because I thought, if this is wrong, and I'm doing this, I'm really wrong, But if it's right, I absolutely have to be Catholic. And just that moment of receiving Jesus. when you believe it and you have faith in it you feel the comfort, like you feel the closeness to him, thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus.
KATIE:Welcome to Open Seat, the podcast where we create a space for authentic conversations about faith, unfiltered and unapologetic. Here, we believe that every story matters. Whether you're questioning, seeking, or steadfast in your beliefs, you'll find something relatable in these heartfelt discussions. So grab your seat, get comfortable, and let's dive into today's story here at Open Seat. So today in the Open Seat, we have Jenna Duckett. Jenna, welcome.
JENNA:Hi.
KATIE:So, why don't you just tell us a little bit about who you are.
JENNA:well, have lived here in Adrian Blissfield area, my whole life. I am married to my husband Jared, and we have two kids, Luca and Miriam.
KATIE:I think some people may have been blessed to be be At that Mass where you both came into the Church your children got baptized, your vows got renewed. Like every sacrament ever dispensed in the Catholic Church fell upon that day. which is pretty cool, right? I so you did decide to come into the church. What made you decide to make that decision?
JENNA:I came across the church on accident, pretty much. my husband and I, we knew that we wanted to get back to church when we had kids. we were both Christian, but we weren't going to church. we weren't practicing our faith that much, but we had always said, Oh, when we have kids, that's when we'll do it.
KATIE:a good reason.
JENNA:Yeah. And, well, that's what we ended up doing. We went to the church that I grew up in, like an evangelical church, and then we moved to another church, and I had a lot of questions. Not always suspicion or, too confused, but I just had a lot of questions, so I spent a lot of time online, and like on YouTube, and looking things up, and I came across. this. You know, Father Mike Schmitz. I came across Bishop Robert Barron, a lot of interviews like that. I was like, Oh, these people seem to know what they're talking about. And it didn't really click with me for a while until, I had a cousin who had sent me the Bible in a Year podcast with Father Mike Schmitz. And I said, Oh. I want to read the Bible, but I don't know if I want to do a Catholic one.
KATIE:Yes, there's those extra books,
JENNA:Yeah, yeah. And, was, what kind of got things rolling more. Is he knew that we had kind of become more Christian and he told me, you. know, I really want to send this to you I think you'd like this and that started things more and then I really got into studying church history and theology and Like, oh, where does it teach this in the Bible? Where does it teach that in the Bible And that's, pretty much how I got here. And we started coming to St. Mary's because, I wanted to try this one first because I knew that my grandmother, my dad's mom, had come here. I never was able to meet her. She passed away before I was born, but I knew there was sort of a family connection there. And we came here and it was very welcoming. I think the stereotype is, you know, Catholics are very, you know, keep to themselves. but no, it was very welcoming. And, we really liked Father Mike here, so and we kept coming back.
KATIE:The other Father Mike, right? Not Schmitz, but the other
JENNA:Yes.
KATIE:Newman.
JENNA:So,
KATIE:you and your husband both went through the program together. Do you think that that helped strengthen your relationship, like walking in your faith together, or?
JENNA:yeah, well, I think mostly we had decided before we came to RCIA. And I think it helped us, connect on it a little bit more So it wasn't such a personal journey, but more of Meeting the community and kind of getting out of our shells a little bit. Ah,
KATIE:I, I just, I have like one memory of your husband We were filling out the paperwork or something. and he just picked up a book that was laying on the table and he just
JENNA:reading it. And
KATIE:pretty far into this book and I'm thinking, it's been like 15 minutes. I'm impressed. because. First of all, those books lay all over the church all,
JENNA:the time, Yeah. Yeah.
KATIE:and no one picks them up, but he was Really intense in into this book. So do you guys do a lot of studying, on your own? Like, reading? and Yeah,
JENNA:We watch a lot of things. We have a book of Sunday Mass reflections. and we're, we're doing the Rosary in here right now. Oh, yay. Mm hmm.
KATIE:And your parents are now coming into the church, right? Okay, so did you have an influence on that,
JENNA:I think so. Yeah. I don't want to take full credit because, it's their own journey, but my dad was raised Catholic, he didn't really know a lot about his faith, but He had started reading a little bit I read some books, just you know, like psychology type things that interested me that talked a little bit about Christianity too, and he got into that book, and he wanted to read some more. So I offered him Rome Sweet Home, by Dr. Scott Hahn. I had liked that one. I didn't think it would really strike a lot. I was just like, oh, this book was good, you can read It, But then he was like, wow. I did not know, there was so much to this.
KATIE:it's always amazing what we can pass along to
JENNA:someone else. That
KATIE:you just don't even know, it, what it's going to do So what do you think has been your greatest, gift since coming into the church?
JENNA:Jesus and the Eucharist, I'd have to say.
KATIE:The Eucharist!
JENNA:Yes. that well, that was the biggest thing that pulled us to become Catholic, and that's, I mean, that's
KATIE:What about it? Cause I think it can be one of the biggest sources of division
JENNA:Mm hmm.
KATIE:Is, the Eucharist. So what drew you to the Eucharist?
JENNA:studying, reading the Church Fathers and Church History. Okay, the, the people that were taught by the Apostles and the people that taught them and taught them, what did they believe about Communion? And that was very convincing to me. I don't remember who it is, but basically, these, this group of people over here, like, basically don't even associate with them because they don't confess the bread and wine to be the true body and blood of Jesus and with that and a few other people, I believe it was St. Ignatius Antioch and then seeing it in the Bible, seeing it in scripture, and realizing, it's not just, oh, this this verse here, or this verse here, it's seeing all of it together, the Old Testament and the New, working together just how connected it is. I was like, I can't see this as symbolic. I can't say this is symbolic. and reading it back, Jesus is so clear that it really is his body and blood. It's not a metaphor. It's not a parable. He doubles down many times. I mean, once you see that, you can't unsee it
KATIE:When you were going to your former church, the evangelical church, did they do communion?
JENNA:Yeah, but it was, you know, it was symbolic. It was, oh, we're doing this that Jesus did. And I know there's some churches that, they see It as more of a real presence of Jesus, but, well, that, That would bring in the authority of church. Yeah. And, you know, why the real presence would be distinct to the Catholic Church.
KATIE:When you received the Eucharist for the first time, how was it?
JENNA:I was I was nervous, there was a little bit of me that was like, I was like, okay I want to know this is real. I wanted to have an experience. I know that doesn't always happen. But, I did! And I was, I don't know if anyone saw me because I was, trying to hide it, but I was sobbing when I got back to the pew. I was, I just, in my mind, I was like, thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus.'Cause I was so worried about coming into the Catholic Church because I thought, if I'm, if this is wrong, and I'm doing this, I'm really wrong, I'm really off. But if it's right, I absolutely have to be Catholic. And just that moment of receiving Jesus. You feel when you believe it and you have faith in it you feel the comfort, like you feel the closeness to him, And that was, a really powerful experience for me.
KATIE:do you still feel that presence of peace and,
JENNA:mm-hmm
KATIE:every time you receive the Eucharist?
JENNA:not every time, because, I've got a 2-year-old with me and sometimes he's trying to run away while I'm receiving. But no, it's always, I always have that feeling and almost every time my mind goes back to that first experience and any of the experiences I've had after that and just like, every time.
KATIE:Yeah, after I receive the Eucharist, I, always feel like, oh my gosh, I can tackle the world.
JENNA:Yes.
KATIE:And we're given that final charge at the end of Mass, go out and spread the gospel or go whatever. And I'm like, oh, I actually can do that. Like, I don't feel like I'm going to be defeated again. I'm okay, you know. so you're right, the Eucharist is a super powerful thing in this world that I think oftentimes we forget. When you think of whoever's distributing Jesus, right? Yeah. The body of Christ giving you the body of christ, to the body of Christ. I don't know that there's a more holy moment the the world than that happening, So, how was the RCIA process for you?
JENNA:It was good.
KATIE:You learned a lot about the Church and,
JENNA:I had heard most of it from what I had done before I went into RCIA. But Like I said, a lot of it for me was experiencing it, coming into it, talking to other people, sharing it with other people, because besides, two of my cousins, I didn't know anyone that practiced
KATIE:Is your husband's family Catholic?
JENNA:No. My dad, and his brother were the only people in my family that were raised Catholic from what I can think of at the moment. But, yeah, everyone else was Protestant.
KATIE:And now you're slowly converting all of them. I can imagine what family holidays are like.
JENNA:Yeah, Well,
KATIE:Don't invite Jared and Jenna, they are to come proselytize us all.
JENNA:Yeah. You know, it's difficult sometimes. People are very, attached to what they believe and what they were raised with. And that's how Jared And I started out, too. We, we both had our own reasons that we did not want to become Catholic, but it took time.
KATIE:Trust in the slow, patient work of god.
JENNA:Mm hmm. Yep.
KATIE:So, some of those misconceptions about the Catholic Church that may have said, Oh, I don't want to be Catholic. Did, did those get cleared up for you? And now you're like, Oh, I totally understand why people would think this but it's not this way.
JENNA:Yeah, yeah, That was one of the first things I had come across that made me start to wonder, because I was, more so, Catholics have too many rules, I'm not interested. And Jared was, they worship the saints, they do a lot of all these crazy, Yeah.
KATIE:And now you're doing rosary in a year?
JENNA:Yes. the first thing I came across, it was just a simple statement of someone saying like, no, no. It's not exactly that we're praying to the saints like they're God. We're asking them for their prayers. It's just the way we use the word pray is different. I was like, oh, that's interesting. It's just little things like one at a time when you realize that the things I was told before were like misconceptions. They were just misunderstood. Yeah, it was one thing at a time, and then I got to the point where I was like, Okay, well, what about about this? And what about this? And what about this? And I started digging for it. Because I was thinking, wow, they have an answer for every question I have. I'm not to that.
KATIE:That's a good thing. I mean, if we didn't have an answer, that would be problematic.
JENNA:Yeah. Yeah,
KATIE:It's always amazing when people like come up with these misconceptions, you know?..hmm we pray to the saints..And I'm like, well, if I didn't have Saint Anthony, everything in my life would be lost. Yes. Right? I tell the confirmation kids when they're choosing their names for confirmation, you're like enhancing your tribe. Like you have your family, you have your extended family, you have your family friends. It's no different with the Catholic Church, right? they're guiding me, they're helping me, that can't be a bad thing. And then if I add another one to the list, that can't be a bad thing, You know, so you're just enhancing your community.
JENNA:it's your you realize, like, oh, there is more of the body in Christ in heaven, too. And, they want us in heaven as well. They're perfected in Christ. So, of course, they would pray for us.
KATIE:Did you see the video, The Veil Removed?
JENNA:Oh yes.
KATIE:The guy almost doesn't Believe in the Eucharist, but through, it's real short.
JENNA:Yeah, I've seen that
KATIE:I think that does the best job of explaining communion and the communion of saints, all of it interlocking, Because once you see all those people in heaven praying while the priest is calling down the, Holy Spirit for the Eucharist to be changed from the bread and wine to the body and blood, it's like all of it right there. And if anyone doesn't. understand the Eucharist, they should watch a seven minute video. Literally like, Yeah. you know, and it's available in all languages. So there's really Spanish, English, Portuguese, Chinese, everything. It's on YouTube. It's it's amazing. But, when you are talking, I'm like, oh my gosh, that's that video. like, everything about it is that video.
JENNA:Mm-hmm I've read a few things about the connection of Revelation, the book of Revelation and how the Angels and Saints are worshiping in heaven. And that's what that video reminds me of too, is the image you see in Revelation. And also, how we say these words in the Mass that, you know, the angels are saying in heaven, so it's the name of the video, the veil removed, where there's this connection between heaven and Earth at the consecration.
KATIE:Yeah. it's, always been incredibly comforting to me that any loved one that we've had is united with us in the Eucharist. So if I'm seeking solace in something I'm struggling with someone being gone or something, the Eucharist will unite. us. And I'm not alone, because not only do I get the body of Christ, but I also get that comfort in that short period of time, where we are united on heaven and And then you think about that happens all the time all over the world, and you're like literally never alone
JENNA:Yeah. Yeah, I I really like watching people go up for communion. It's, I think that's what gets me. Sometimes that will be part of my prayer time after receiving the Eucharist is watching other people go up. And no matter what the look is on their face, whether it looks like they're struggling, whether it, looks like they're excited to receive the Eucharist, whatever it is. I don't know, it's like you suddenly feel a connection with these people even if you've never seen them at Mass before. And And that's that's something that's really, really gets the idea of communion, community with everyone for me.
KATIE:yeah, community in communion, right? so you're well read, you listen to a lot of things. What kind of stuff would you, recommend to people to listen to, to enhance their understanding or deepen their relationship with the Eucharist? You know, we have some people who listen, who regularly use the internet for things, and then we have those who struggle to find the podcast. So we're gonna cover everything.
JENNA:And you also have, audio books too. So I've done a lot of that. So, for the Eucharist there's Some of these I've read. Some of these I've given to my dad. So I've listened to Jesus and the Jewish roots of the Eucharist by Dr. John Bergsma. That's a good book. obviously, Dr. Scott Hahn, anything, anything by him.
KATIE:The Supper I think is a good one.
JENNA:Yes, yes. And, and Rome Sweet Home talks about it a little bit too. the Eucharist is Really Jesus by Joe Heschmeier. And he does a YouTube channel too with, Catholic apologetics. It's called Shameless Popery. And then there is there's obviously Father Mike Schmitz with Ascension, and the Bible in a year, Of course. That, That, connects everything, yes. is the Counsel of Trent, his council, not council, like church council, but EL. Trent. Yeah, anything from Catholic Answers, there's, a lot on YouTube, for sure.
KATIE:Yeah. and social media has a lot in general, right? There's a lot of priests who are popping up who have things on the Eucharist, Father Mike Schmitz is a big player in a lot of things. Bishop Barron?
JENNA:Yeah.
KATIE:Have you seen his video series on the explanation of the Mass?
JENNA:No, I haven't.
KATIE:It's pretty good. I wouldn't recommend it for basic understanding, but if you understand what you've read a lot about, it, it's really powerful to watch it and see the explanations of things. You know. I think, there's a lot of good material in the Matthew Kelly books.
JENNA:Oh yes, mm
KATIE:especially simple material. Right? right Good explanations for if you're trying to get people to understand the misconceptions of the church. He has a lot of good apologetics on that stuff in a simple way. What, book in the Bible strikes you or what, verse in the Bible strikes you
JENNA:Oh, that is hard. there, there's a few. The Garden of Gethsemane. That that one, I think it, that, that's the one that brings me back because, Jesus, He's, he's, scared, it brings in his humanity a little bit, to where it's more relatable in that He still asks for the Father's will to be done and that's, What comes to mind when, I'm nervous, or I'm scared, or stressed, is that I can count on his will, and Jesus did, and even what he went through, that is so much more than I could ever go through. And, well, That that, was what changed the entire world for the rest of history. So of course I can get through this small thing in my life. If I just ask your will be done.
KATIE:Yeah, you're right. The Garden of Gethsemane is probably not one that, I would say is a happy recounting of
JENNA:yes,
KATIE:the Bible. Just knowing that all we have to do is ask, and it will be done..And even the task could be carrying the world on your shoulders to
JENNA:Yes.
KATIE:You will be given the strength to do so. Mm-hmm .Now, I, God willing, won't ever have to do that. But also nothing I'm going to ever have to do will amount to that. And Jesus was still given the strength to do that. So, that, that's a powerful powerful one to go back to
JENNA:Yeah. it's a good one to, to read. Meditate on. I would say a happier one that I like is the Magnificat.
KATIE:Mary's yes.
JENNA:Yeah.
KATIE:To know that, your world was pretty much falling apart at, like, 13, And then you're just like, yeah, Lord, let it be done unto me. No thanks.
JENNA:Yeah, Yeah. Yeah. just Thinking about myself in that position it would be terrifying. I can see how it would be exciting in some ways. Or really that, that whole time, from the time the angel Gabriel came to her, to going And visiting Elizabeth. that's, a lot to think about. This is the very moment, like I said before, where History really started to change.
KATIE:the Eucharist, one of the most powerful things, I think, is that, Mary was the first tabernacle.
JENNA:Mhm, yes. Right?
KATIE:I mean, that whole concept there is just, just, wow.
JENNA:Yeah, that's another part that really interested me about Mary being, like the new Ark of the Covenant. And she, she was really the first one to receive Jesus. She was the first one to accept Him. And in a way that we won't be able to either.
KATIE:Yeah, Father Mike did an excellent Father Mike Newman did an excellent homily about the Eucharist and Mary and I was like, Ooh, okay. That's a new thought. Cause a lot of it, you hear. the same repetitively but to have new ideas of how the Eucharist is applied to our lives, think is always very helpful always very helpful. But it seems like you're really on it about reading and keeping up with things.
JENNA:It helps me because I think sometimes we can. take it for granted, too, go back and I know it's not how everyone does it, but I usually go back into studying, Remembering where the roots are of it, and that, that's what brings me prayer and relationship. when I was younger, or even just before I started looking into Christianity, and the period from, when I started going to church, I was going to Bible studies and stuff before that, but, just the period from when I went to my first church to coming to the Catholic Church was pretty short, maybe like a year or two, two years. But, before that I struggled a lot with anxiety and depression. I was on medication. I had trouble in all my relationships. And that was, I, think, the big thing that when I was got pregnant with Luca, I was like, I have to do something about this. Because I'm not stable. and, so that's what brought me back to church. But, A lot of that went away. You know, there's, there's still things that come back and it's a struggle to deal with, but you can, you can tell people all of the, facts About Catholicism, you can try to convince them as much as you want by here it is in the Bible. And some people might say, sure, but I'm not so sure it's for me. So I think the other part that I would want to share is that it actually transformed my life spiritually. And I know that depression is different for everyone, and some people, they need medication regardless of what they're doing. But, for me, it was a spiritual thing. and I'm done with all of that now, It, especially becoming Catholic. it gave me a route out of that, and also a way to understand it, which I didn't think that, church would give me. I thought it was, you know, nice things and positive little scripture verses and stuff. But I don't Struggle with the things I used to. and
KATIE:it calmed the inner storm. Right.
JENNA:it was a, I, won't go into too much detail, but it was, detail, was a big transformation for me.
KATIE:I'm glad you caution. Some people Still need medication, still need help. I think no matter what, everyone can seek solace in that, maybe not to the extent that they would be healed, but, they will seek some kind of solace. There's a song out now, it's not a Catholic song, it's just a Christian song, talks about Psalm 23.
JENNA:Oh, yes.
KATIE:And, it's like, basically if you memorize a piece of scripture, you can weaponize it. and Formed the platform that the parish often dispenses, has some, anxiety and depression, some mental health resources on it. And they're really good, They teach you to weaponize scripture, like when you get anxious, you can just keep saying I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And just repeat it. But they also talk about the biological effects of like, just lowering your breath. And as you repeat some of the prayers, a rhythm slows down a lot, Like we get in a world where we get real fast and running, and this kind of slows your rhythm down a little bit. What particularly from the Catholic faith, though, helps you to overcome those things?
JENNA:I think the biggest thing is seeing just all of it, Seeing the world from a different perspective. Theology of the body was huge for me. Mike Schmitz did a series on it, and then Christopher West does a lot on that. And that gave me a whole new perspective of our bodies, and love, and having more confidence in myself because I was very self conscious. Like I said, I struggle with all these things a little bit still, but the the answers that I've received through the Church Through, what has come out of the church, is something that has given me a whole new perspective on how I see the world, And I think that was a big part of my issue was the culture that I grew up in, the, the secular world, secular culture really took a toll on me, and the online stuff, but it was, learning, again, you know, reading, watching things, is what was really healing for me. And then, figuring out prayer, And understanding the Eucharist, in a new way, I remember thinking about it, like, who am I praying to? Cause whenever I pray, I would just ask for things, but, was like, okay, I'm praying to God, but am I really thinking about who I am talking to. And that's something that helped me a lot, too, that I've experienced. It's funny because people say, oh, it's about a personal relationship with Jesus. and Catholics, they focus on religion, not relationship, but I never had. a real relationship. I wasn't really thinking about the person of Jesus Christ or God the Father, who I was talking to, who loves me, until seeing it through the Church.
KATIE:So, you have two young children, Miriam and Luca What advice would you give Miriam and Luca about faith, like today?
JENNA:I would give them probably, just what I would give them is the answer Jesus gives of the two greatest commandments. Essentially love God and love others. And, to just, to follow that. think the biggest thing for me is giving them an example. That's what I pray over them at night when they go to sleep is that they would just, search for God. That they would love. God with all their heart and that, as David who's described as a man after God's own heart. so yeah, that's, that's what I would tell them is to love.
KATIE:I'm guessing from the way they respond in church. Not Miriam, because she's too young. Lucas clapping and running around. So I'm guessing he's finding the love that you're talking about just the way he responds.
JENNA:Yes. He loves coming to church.
KATIE:He's got all his little friends chasing around. Yeah. so cute. so cute. Well, thank you so much for joining us today, Jenna. Thank you. Once again, we thank you for joining us today. We hope that wherever you find an open seat in your life, you will invite someone to join you.
