Having been raised a Roman Catholic and attended Catholic schools, in what ways did you find yourself drifting from your faith?

I became enthralled in the work of Atheists like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. Only now looking back can I see the maturity I lacked at this time period. I loved science (and still do now), and at the time always wanted to be right and have exact answers. I believed an atheistic or non-theistic world view was the most sensible. This was how I entered university life in 2018. While I thought I was an Atheist I can see now in the depths of my heart that I still had something there. At university I became involved in clubs and societies as well as youth politics and the union movement.

What was God doing in your heart during the last two years studying from home?

Prior to Covid-19 I had started to gain more of an interest in my faith, especially with the historical aspects of the Catholic Faith. I believed “If God exists, Christianity and more specifically the Catholic Church is the right religion”.

Through lockdown my attraction to the faith grew astronomically, until I finally hit a point where I realised that sometimes there has to be mystery in life.

From then, I started to take in as much Catholic media as possible so as to learn and grow in my faith. YouTube Channels like “Breaking in the Habit” and “Word on Fire” have helped me to grow stronger in my conviction and helped me to become a better disciple of Christ.

Having rediscovered the faith, what is helping you keep growing closer to God?

After the lockdowns of 2020 ended, I started going to a parish near my home, St Thomas the Apostle in Blackburn. I have made many friends in the Parish, including many religious members of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC). As somebody studying History, it was the historicity behind our Church that helped to bring me home, and I would highly advise any Christian to be as well read on our history as possible. This only helped me to grow closer to God, especially in the most difficult time periods of my life.

Any final words, Liam?

As a member of Deakin’s Catholic Society, I hope that people across all university campuses will feel the love of God as well!