It was during an open house tour of Holy Family Classical School when Nick and Jessica Bouray decided to pursue Catholicism. It was the Moehrman family who invited the Bourays.
“We were searching for a home church after moving here from Tennessee, where we attended a Baptist church,” Jessica says. “Between the two of us, we’ve been many denominations of Protestantism. Both of us were always searching for truth in our faith.”
The Bourays met their neighbors, the Moehrmans, upon moving to Tulsa, and became good friends during the pandemic. The two families spent lots of time together during that time. They began talking about their faith journeys.
“After some research and discernment, we decided to attend our first Mass with their family,” Jessica says. “Around this same time, Michele Moehrman invited us to the Holy Family Classical School for an open house, so we went and fell in love with the structure and passion of the people we met there. We decided after leaving the open house that we were ready to convert.”
Nick and Jessica, and their daughters Aubrey and Caitlyn, entered the Church in September 2021, and Hadley was confirmed and received her First Communion in May 2022. The Bourays have two younger children as well, Davis and Cecilia. Their children range in age from 15 to five months old. The couple has been married for 17 years.
From their first time walking into Holy Family Cathedral, the members of the Bouray family have had a “wonderful experience,” as Jessica notes.
“When we sat down, Fr. Kastl was walking near where we sat and said something hilarious,” Jessica says. “If you can imagine coming into a Catholic Mass at a Cathedral for the first time, it’s a bit scary. After he made a lighthearted comment, we were put at ease.”
Since joining the parish, Nick and Jessica have gotten involved in the Confraternity of Christian Mothers, the Men’s Holy Hour, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and their older daughters attend youth group.
Joining the community has also been a welcoming experience for them. When the Bourays had their newest baby, Cecilia, parishioners set up a meal train and baby shower for them.
“Everywhere we look, there are people who are warm and welcoming,” Jessica says.
The Bourays also appreciate the reverence of the cathedral building, the celebration of the Mass, and the presence of many other young families.
“We also love the school, where three of our children attend,” Jessica says. “Overall, the community of the parish is thriving and you can feel it. The leadership is outstanding and keeps us all moving forward.”
As a family, the Bourays pray together every night on their knees, in front of their prayer altar. Jessica and Nick also pray before bed every night, even when Nick travels for work.