Convert shares his new faith with others

Friday, Dec. 23, 2022

PARK CITY — Like many who join the Catholic Church, Justin Hibbard wants his family and friends to understand his conversion. A former evangelical pastor, Hibbard received the Sacraments of Initiation during the Easter vigil this year at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church. Since learning of his decision to become Catholic, many of those close to Hibbard have sought to learn why he made the change.

A concerned friend even sent him a book, What Roman Catholics Believe, written by a Protestant, which left Hibbard wondering. “‘Why would I want to hear what Roman Catholics believe from a Protestant who has never been Catholic?’” he asked. “It’s like if you were to take the most famous restaurant and write about it in the most mundane way and put it in an encyclopedia. It presented [Catholicism] in its most dull light, and I thought, ‘How can I share what the Catholic faith is in its most ideal, in its most beautiful, truthful and good form?’”

In answering questions from his family and friends, Hibbard discovered he had a lot to share. He discerned he has a calling to act as a bridge between his former life and the new one he has embraced. Out of those many conversations with loved ones was born the idea to host a podcast that would not only share Hibbard’s perspective with non-Catholics but also help Catholics understand their own faith. In July Hibbard launched the weekly “Why Catholic” podcast. At press time he had recorded 32 episodes, each of which runs 12 to 17 minutes. 

In the podcast, Hibbard hopes to share “the truth, goodness and beauty of Catholicism,” he said, freely acknowledging that he presents the Church through rose-colored glasses. “There are plenty of sources out there telling you what’s wrong with the Catholic faith and Church; I wanted to present it in its most ideal state.”

Hibbard understands there may be those who wonder how, as a new Catholic, he is qualified to talk about the Church, but says his perspective has value. 

“My qualification is I argued against Catholicism for years and years of my life,” he said comparing himself to the apostle Paul. “It was his understanding of Judaism that led to him being a Christian apologist and missionary. In the same way, I think it is my background that helps me speak both the Protestant and Catholic language and to convey the Catholic faith in a way that is hopefully helpful to Protestants. Sometimes that’s the gift that converts give: They see this faith with a whole different lens and help people who grow up with the faith appreciate it because they are able to share a different perspective.” 

The first podcasts focus on what Hibbard sees as the most fundamental difference between Catholic and Protestant theology: the sacraments. 

“If you understand the sacramental worldview, so much of Catholicism will begin to make sense,” he said. 

More recent podcasts have focused on the Eucharist with topics that include “The Eucharist Changes Everything,” “The Mysterious Case of Eucharistic Mysteries” and “The Eucharist Throughout History.”

“We need to understand the Eucharist because the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life,” he said. “All the other sacraments are oriented towards the Eucharist.” 

In the future Hibbard plans to include interviews with other Catholics including clergy, missionaries and converts. He recently interviewed Devin Halford, a former St. Lawrence Parish administrator who made the journey from atheist to Catholic and now serves as a Christ in the City missionary in Denver. He will also offer highlights of various saints. At press time, one of the latest recorded podcast was “One Baptism for the Remission of Sins,” which is about the Nicene Creed.

Response to the podcast has been very positive, Hibbard said. Cradle Catholics have come up to him in church and told him that the podcast has helped them understand the faith, he said. 

One member of the church Hubbard grew up in told him, “When my pastor explains Catholicism, it seems like this really bizarre sect, but when you explain Catholicism, it makes compete sense.” 

A former high school educator and host of the podcast “Politics in Plain English,” Hibbard is the co-founder of the “Christianity is Jewish” podcast. He works in education technology sales and is an altar server at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Park City. “Why Catholic” is available through most podcast providers.