Living Liturgically: Alisha Wischkaemper's Journey to Catholicism

“I didn’t know who I was praying to, but in that moment it didn’t matter. I was just desperate for someone to hear me.” In February 2022, a car accident on a seemingly ordinary morning left Alisha Wischkaemper grappling with the devastating loss of her younger sister as paramedics worked to revive her. 

One prayer led to another, and Alisha’s sister miraculously recovered in the ICU. Alisha loosely kept the promise she made to God to pray in exchange for her sister’s survival, but always held on to resentment for the Christian God. Wrestling with guilt and despair, Alisha turned to prayer for the first time in her life, beginning her journey toward the Catholic faith amid unimaginable pain.

Several months later, a volleyball scholarship to Nicholls brought Alisha to the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Alisha remembers the moment she decided to become Catholic. She said, “My boyfriend nagged me for weeks to attend Mass with him.” To appease him, she agreed, not knowing how that “yes” would change her life. 

“Everything was a blur until the consecration,” said Alisha. The reverence of the congregation stood out to her, and she said, “I felt a pull in my heart and I met Jesus there.” This experience of Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist was the remedy to years of ache in Alisha’s heart. She said, “I just knew that’s where I was always meant to be.”

Alisha was flooded with questions and to her surprise, the Church provided answers through the community she found at St. Thomas Aquinas and in studying Scripture and other respected theologians such as Dr. Brant Pitre.

Alisha is a candidate for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), awaiting Baptism, Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation at Easter. The liturgical season has profound meaning to her. She said, “Easter is something I’ve been waiting for a very long time even if I didn’t realize it.” For Alisha it means cleansing her of her past and reaffirming her commitment to a life lived for and with Christ. She said, “He is power and love. And He spends all of eternity proving His love to us through the Resurrection.”

Ahead of her initiation into the Catholic Church, Alisha is most anticipating her ability to receive the Eucharist at Mass. She spoke of an ache in understanding the Real Presence but not being able to receive Jesus fully at Communion. She said, “I want to be dry wood, highly flammable, ready for Jesus to set me on fire.”

While Alisha’s journey has been positive, she’s also encountered struggles. She said, “I hit points of desolation, but I remember that love isn’t a feeling—it’s something you do.”

Family tensions and moments of doubt test her resolve, yet she perseveres, finding strength in her newfound faith community. “I spent a lot of my life resenting anything to do with the Catholic faith, but the timeline of how I got here is irrelevant, it’s comforting to know that I’m here now and I will never be alone again,” said Alisha.

Reflecting on her journey, Alisha offers advice to those struggling to deepen their faith. She emphasizes the importance of encountering Christ beyond religious rituals and encourages others to embrace the transformative power of Catholicism. She recalls the stories of Jesus’ closest disciples like St. Peter and St. Mary Magdalene who were longing for fulfillment until they met Christ. Alisha said, “What could it look like if you allowed your life to be changed like He changed their lives too?”

For Alisha, the Easter season represents not only a time of repentance and renewal, but also a celebration of Christ’s unfailing love and sacrifice. “He came to me at the worst possible time in my life,” said Alisha. “And I now know how much He waits for us, longing for us to open the door to Him.” Alisha’s journey is testament to the boundless grace and mercy found in embracing God’s love.