Most of us move through our faith lives assuming we already know the basics. We were taught what the Church teaches. We learned what to believe. We trusted that the story we were given was complete.

Then one day, something shifts.

• You read something.
• You hear a story.
• You come across information you were never taught.

Suddenly, you realize there is more to the story than you were told.

That moment is called discovery.

For me, discovery came when I learned that women were not just helpers in the early Church, but ordained leaders. Women served as deacons, priests, and even bishops. Their roles were real, recognized, and later deliberately hidden.

I did not go looking to challenge my faith. I went looking for truth.

What followed was not a loss of faith, but a season of questions, grief, courage, and deeper honesty. I learned quickly that discovery does not arrive as a single moment with a single answer. It unfolds over time, and at each stage, it asks something different of us.

At first, discovery raises questions.

Then it stirs fear.

Later, it brings grief and anger.

Eventually, it invites discernment and choice.

Because discovery unfolds in stages, it cannot be explored in one article. That is why this is a series.

This series is written to walk through those stages, one at a time.

Each article focuses on a specific part of the discovery journey. One addresses the fear that arises when we begin to question. Another explores the grief and sense of betrayal that can surface when trust is broken. Another turns toward Jesus himself, asking what discovery reveals about following him with honesty and courage. And finally, we will look at what comes next, how to live faithfully with open eyes and a clear conscience.

This is not a series meant to rush you to conclusions. It is meant to accompany you as discovery unfolds.

What Is This Series About?

This is a series about discovery within one’s faith, not about abandoning faith.

It explores what happens when truth surfaces after years of silence and how to sit with new information without fear, panic, or shame.

Along the way, you may find yourself asking questions like these.

What Can I Do With This New Information?

Discovery can feel overwhelming. You may feel pressure to fix everything immediately or to push the information away. This series invites you to slow down, take a breath, and understand that discovery is a process, not a demand for instant answers.

Will This New Information Change How I See My Faith?

It might. And that does not mean your faith was weak. It may mean your faith is maturing.

Faith that cannot be examined is fragile. Faith that can be questioned becomes stronger and more honest.

Will I Be Afraid to Question What I’m Discovering?

Many of us were taught that questioning meant disobedience. Fear is a natural response when you step outside what you were told was safe.

This series makes space for that fear instead of dismissing it.

Will This Affect My Belief in Jesus?

Discovery may change how you see the institution of the Church. But it does not require you to lose Jesus. For many, discovery leads to a more direct and honest relationship with him.

Closing Reflection

If you are reading this and feeling unsettled, take comfort in this.

Discovery does not mean you have failed at faith. It means you are paying attention.

You are allowed to pause here. You do not need to decide anything today. You do not need to explain or defend what you are learning.

Discovery is not a demand. It is an invitation.

Faith is not about having all the answers. It is about being willing to stay present when the questions arrive.

About Deacon Margaret Mary O’Connor

Deacon Margaret Mary O’Connor, a former member of the Catholic Laity, once believed she understood her Church and its teachings. Everything changed the day she uncovered a centuries old scandal of lies and institutional cover up surrounding the history of women in ordained ministry. Realizing that her own Church had hidden the truth about women priests, women deacons, and even women bishops, she felt a deep and unforgettable sense of betrayal.

That moment became the catalyst for her mission. Margaret Mary now travels what she calls the Highway of Radical Truth, exposing the layers of deception that have kept millions of Catholics unaware of the prominent roles women held in early Church history. Her work challenges long held assumptions, confronts the complicity of the hierarchy, and calls Catholics to learn the real history for themselves.

For Margaret Mary, every Catholic deserves the truth. She believes transparency is not optional, especially when the suppression of women’s vocations continues to harm the Church today. Her research shines a spotlight on hidden historical records that may even hold answers to the modern priest shortage.

Often described as a “Modern Day David,” Margaret Mary is relentless in her commitment to revealing what has been intentionally concealed. Through her well researched writings, public advocacy, and ministry within the Celtic Christian Church, she brings these buried truths to light.

She is the author of Scandal in the Shadows and Journey of a Celiac’s Soul, and remains a force for honesty, courage, and reform within the broader Catholic conversation.