Clay Dimick
My name is Clay Dimick, and I am a convert to the Catholic Faith. I am a husband and dad, and I am in my fourth year as a professional soccer player.
My journey into the Catholic Church began during my years at Belmont Abbey College. Going to Belmont Abbey was a strictly athletic decision at the time. I thought I could go there, have a successful collegiate athletic career, and have a good time while I was at it. I knew Belmont Abbey was a Catholic College, but I also knew (at the time) I would go nowhere near the Catholic faith, or so I thought. While at Belmont Abbey I witnessed many authentic Catholics living out their faith daily. One person in particular was my coach, John Keating. Before going to the Abbey, I had many misconceptions of what Catholicism was, and what Catholics thought or did. But, after my time at the Abbey all of these misconceptions were wiped away. Coach Keating was an example of what a true Catholic man is. I finally had the conversation with Coach Keating after four years of the Abbey, I simply asked what makes the Catholic Church different from all the other churches around us. I was a Christian all my life, and I never understood why there was so many different denominations. This conversation is what changed my life, and brought me to the fullness of the faith, Catholicism.
Coach Keating explained to me the Eucharist, and what the Eucharist is. When he explained this, I was so curious and so skeptical of how this could even be true. I believed that God can appear in any form He wants to, because I know He is all powerful. But did I truly believe that Jesus appears in the Eucharist? His body, blood, soul, and divinity? All our Savior, every single mass, every single adoration, and we as sinners get to receive him Fully? I was shocked, and I needed to know more. Because, if this was the truth it would not make sense for me to be anything but Catholic. I fired off question after question to Coach, he and I talked through this until around midnight. We talked about other topics in the Church as well such as confession, Mary, and the apostolic succession. After all of these topics we discussed I began to pray and think, I really don’t know if there is another way I can go besides becoming Catholic.
The day after this powerful conversation, Coach gave me a Scott Hahn CD that discussed the Eucharist and where in the Bible we see the Eucharist. When I heard Scott Hahn talk about the Gospel of John specifically chapter 6 and went into detail on the Eucharist, I had to pull over and park my car. I realized in that moment that the Catholic Church is the one true Church that Jesus left for us on Earth and that He is present in every Catholic Church in the World in the form of the Eucharist. I almost immediately called Coach Keating and asked him how I can enter the Church and when is the earliest I could do so. The next week, Easter week 2018, I met with the Priest at the Church the Keating’s went to and we developed a plan and a fast-tracked RCIA schedule so that I could enter the Church on Corpus Christi in June 2018.
After completing the fast-tracked plan that Father Beuttner had pieced together and continuing the conversations with Coach Keating, I entered the Catholic Church on Corpus Christi (2018). After being a Catholic for almost four years now I can honestly say by the grace of God I was led to the fullness of the Faith. I believe the Catholic Church is the one, true, holy, and apostolic Church that Christ himself left for us on Earth.
Fast forward to where I am now, I am called to live out my faith daily. As a husband and father, I am incredible honored to lead our family toward Heaven. My wife and son are my two greatest gifts. I also have been greatly blessed with the career I have as a professional soccer player. Entering my fourth year as a pro, the challenges to be an authentic Catholic man present themselves often. But I would not choose to have it any other way, because I believe to grow deeper in my Faith, I must be challenged to live a life honoring Christ regardless of the situation I am in. I gain the graces to do so through the sacrament of confession, adoration, mass, and the Eucharist.