Kemi Oyewole

Kemi Oyewole

PhD Candidate, Graduate School of Education

“My faith journey has been filled with hills, valleys, twists, and turns. My time with the CC@S has made it clear that when you walk these paths with Christ and a faithful community, each unexpected detour can be used for His glory.”

As a woman raised in a devout family of non-denominational Christians, I approached the Catholic Community at Stanford with skepticism rooted in myths about the Church. I began attending RCIA on Zoom in the midst of the pandemic as a skeptic seeking to learn more. Through the weekly classes deftly guided by Father Xavier, I was convicted by the coherence between what I knew about the Bible, Church history, and the kind attention shown by members of the CC@S community. Though I was going through the pandemic with my family in Southern California, Father Xavier always made time for a Zoom call to answer my questions and unfold the beauty of Catholicism.

On Easter 2021, I was received into the Church and met many members of the CC@S in-person for the first time. Since returning to campus, I have grown by building relationships in my small group, serving alongside permanent community members, enjoying the availability of daily Mass, and reflecting with the guidance of CC@S staff. I am incredibly grateful for how CC@S has supported me through my Stanford journey.