Seton and the Real Presence in My Life

“It wasn’t until my wife and I began using Seton’s curriculum that we became truly Catholic,” says John Thorp, homeschooling father and the new director of Seton’s Guidance and Records department.

“I remember the day vividly. My wife had been teaching our firstborn son from Seton’s Science 1 for Young Catholics workbook when I returned from teaching at a local public school. (Yes, I was a public school teacher, and we had still decided that homeschooling was the best option for our family.) I had seen a video during lunch about Eucharistic miracles, and I wanted to share it with her.

“In the Eucharistic miracles video I shared, the bleeding host in Lanciano, Italy, caught my wife’s attention. Unbeknownst to me, while reading through the Seton text with our son, she had come across this same event, but, as she says, she ‘just turned the page,’…not acknowledging that it could be true. However, seeing video footage of the bleeding host softened her heart and allowed God’s grace to open her beautiful eyes to His truth of the Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist.

“Tears began to flow with the realization of God’s mercy and love that He had given us at every Holy Communion we’ve received at Mass since my conversion. I thanked God for this grace and His subtle way of bringing Seton Home Study School into our lives. I have felt forever grateful and duty-bound to repay the apostolate for the spur that helped convert my wife’s heart and change our lives forever.

“In 2015, we had the opportunity to thank Seton when visiting Front Royal, Virginia. We were able to thank Dr. Mary Kay Clark for all the work that benefited our family. I submitted a résumé to see if the Holy Spirit had a window open for me. Three months later, I received an offer and began working with Seton’s Admissions Department. And now it is my pleasure to serve families as the new director of Guidance and Records.”