By Becca Thiry, Enrollment Coordinator

Ryan and Tara VandenBos never expected that choosing a kindergarten for their twins, Dawson and Delaney, would one day lead their entire family into the Catholic church.

It began with an unexpected change. The preschool that their twins were attending had closed just before kindergarten, sending them into a season of searching. They explored both public and private schools, attending an open house where several options were presented. Among them was St. Michael Elementary. The welcome they received felt sincere and personal, and when they later walked through the doors of the school itself, something quietly stood out.

“It just felt different,” the VandenBos’ recalled. “The academics were strong, the atmosphere was warm, and the community felt authentic.” This decision marked the beginning of something much bigger than they realized.

Ryan had been baptized Catholic but had stopped practicing as a teenager. Tara was raised Christian Reformed. When they began dating at age 14, they attended her church together. For years, that was their church. Once their children entered Catholic school, something began to shift.

Faith was no longer something happening only on Sundays. Their children were learning it daily. “They’ve had this faith since kindergarten,” Tara said. “They understand way more than we did.” As their children brought home religion lessons and talked about what they were learning, Tara found herself looking closer. What she had once understood from a distance now felt richer, fuller, and more complete.

What struck them most during those early school years was how fully they were welcomed — even before becoming Catholic. “Most kids never knew ours weren’t Catholic,” they shared. “They were never singled out.” That quiet inclusion planted seeds neither parent could ignore.

For Ryan, there had always been a quiet longing to return to a Catholic Mass. Even while attending a Reformed church, he found himself wondering what was happening at St. Michael. That desire, once buried, began to rise again.

One day, Ryan asked the question that had been lingering: “Where do you want to go [to Mass]?” He quietly hoped for one answer. When Tara said, “St. Michael,” he responded without hesitation: “Perfect. Let’s go.”

In 2021, Tara began working as an administrative assistant at O’Gorman High School. During orientation, she heard about the podcast Bible in a Year with Father Mike Schmitz. She decided to listen. Day by day, Scripture began to unfold in a new way. “It answered so many questions,” she explained. “It really made sense. And that kind of sealed the deal. I was like, yes — I do believe this. I want to join the Catholic Church.”

Looking back, she sees God’s providence woven throughout their story. Even at previous jobs, Catholic coworkers had gently encouraged her. One of those coworkers eventually became her confirmation sponsor — an O’Gorman graduate herself. “We’ve come full circle,” Tara reflected. There were other quiet nudges along the way. Tara remembers repeatedly seeing billboards that read, “You belong here.” Each time, the message struck her heart. “There it is,” she thought. “I guess we belong here.”

Through OCIA, their faith deepened together. “We really wanted to be on the same page with our kids,” Tara said. What their children had been learning was now transforming their marriage and their home. School, Sunday Mass, and daily life were no longer separate, they were one.

In March of 2024, at Easter Vigil, Ryan and Tara were confirmed into the Catholic Church. That same night, their children received First Communion. It was more than a sacramental milestone, it was a unified family moment, years in the making. Since their confirmation, even Ryan’s parents have returned to regular Mass attendance, a quiet ripple of grace extending beyond their own household.

What began as a school search became a journey home, guided by small invitations, steady conviction, daily Scripture, and the witness of their own children. “You feel like a family,” they shared. “You feel a part of it. And it’s something very special here.” And in the end, the message that once caught Tara’s eye proved true: They belonged here.