Journey of Faith and Purpose

Rosary, faithful friends lead Pedro and Layni
home to Roman Catholic Church

By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles

Because God writes straight with crooked lines, a boy from Brazil found his way to a girl in Sulphur and both eventually found their way home to the Roman Catholic Church as husband and wife.

Pedro Carlucci was baptized Catholic as an infant but was never brought up in the Faith. Layni Bevills was unbaptized, nor did she give it much thought most of her life.

They are both part of a growing increase of people who joined the Catholic Church at Easter 2026 in many U.S. dioceses.

In the Diocese of Lake Charles alone, Pedro and Layni were among 260 who were received fully into the Church at the Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 4. A total of 111 of those were Catechumens (unbaptized) and 149 were Candidates (already-baptized Christians waiting for full participation in the Church).

Those numbers show a significant increase in the past couple of years. In 2025, the Diocese of Lake Charles welcomed 183 converts home to the Catholic Church, up from 168 in 2024, for a 155 percent increase over the past two years.

Both born in 2005 exactly six weeks apart and 5,000 miles away from each other, the journeys of Pedro and Layni Carlucci led them not only to the “one, holy, catholic and apostolic church” through Confirmation and the Eucharist, but also to the Sacrament of Marriage.

“I found the Truth that I had been looking for when God led me to full participation in the Catholic Church. I found something really special,” Pedro shared. “If you have an honest heart, it is hard to just keep it for yourself. That is the reason I wanted to get my wife on board with me, but not only that, I want to get more people on board with me. I don’t want to be selfish. Salvation is not just for me.”

Journey Home

Pedro said that he is eternally gratefully for the friends God placed in his life who directed him to the Truth while helping strengthen his faith.

He came to Louisiana in August 2022 as an exchange student when he was 17 years old and attended Sulphur High School where he met Layni.

“In one year, I had to change host families three times, with one location being in Oregon,” he recalled. “By that time, I had already started dating Layni in Sulphur and did not know when I would see her again.” On the last day of the deadline for Pedro to find a host family back in Sulphur, he was offered the opportunity to stay with one of his teachers. A privately funded scholarship from a local company helped support Pedro’s studies at SOWELA Technical Community College, allowing him to extend his student visa.

“While I did not see it at the time, every little thing that happened — changing host families, going to Oregon, being separated from Layni — led me to where I am today, and where I am today is a really good spot. God had a plan for me,” Pedro remarked. “It was a moment of ‘Wow! Hold on!’ Those things did not happen by accident. There was a purpose for it. God was working in my life.”

Pedro realized that he needed to take his faith more seriously but did not know what kind of faith he would be going into.

“At SOWELA, I met one of my very good friends, Everett Thomas, who introduced me to his friends — Dallas Reeves and Thomas Watson,” he said.

It was not lost on Pedro how much his new friends led by example when it came to their Catholic faith. “They not only knew their faith, but they also lived their faith. I could see that they were Christ-centered people. I admired them a lot.”

Before committing to Catholicism, Pedro tested the waters of a few Protestant churches, but it never felt right to him. He knew there was something missing. His friends encouraged him to give OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) a try to learn more about what the Roman Catholic Church teaches.

However, it wasn’t until he asked Dallas to be his best man (who refused because Pedro was planning to be married outside the Catholic Church), that Pedro decided it was time to start taking his faith seriously.

“Someone who calls you out for your sin loves you more than someone who lets you live in it,” he said.

After Pedro began OCIA at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and after praying many rosaries for Layni to join him, she still wanted to continue living life the way she wanted.

“I thought Catholics had too many rules and I did not want that for my future,” she admits. “It wasn’t until Pedro taught me how to pray the rosary and we prayed it together for the first time that I had a moment with the Holy Spirit and Mother Mary. I realized this is what my purpose is. I need to start doing things God’s way. This is how I should be living my life. I knew then I should be baptized and confirmed Catholic and start my journey with Pedro. He was a role model for me.”

Layni chose Mother Mary as her confirmation Saint.

“I feel like the Blessed Mother has been my guide and given me the strength to get through the OCIA process,” Layni recalled. “When I was doubtful, she carried me through all of it. I just love her.”

Easter Vigil

From the beginning of his journey, Pedro wanted Layni to get on board with him, so it was emotional for him to watch her being baptized by His Excellency, Bishop Glen John Provost during the Easter Vigil in the Cathedral.

“The only feeling I had watching Layni be baptized was gratitude to God. He used me as a vessel for Layni,” Pedro said. “It was extra special for me thinking back to how hardheaded she was and me praying all those rosaries for her.”

Pedro knows there were many others, too, but is glad that he was a part of her journey. “To see my wife receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist was a gift,” he said, commenting that he teared up walking back to his pew after being confirmed himself and receiving the Body of Christ.

Layni said that her cheeks hurt from smiling so much. Being able to do everything with Pedro as husband and wife is what stood out to her the most.

“It was an overwhelming feeling of joy,” she said about the Easter Vigil experience. “Pedro and I have come such a far way, but here we are today saying ‘yes’ and being received into the Church together. I loved it.”

One of the things she likes about being a “baby Catholic” is when she doesn’t know what to pray, there are so many resources. “There is a prayer and a Saint for everything,” Layni remarked.

Pedro shared that since he and his wife are both Catholic, there is nothing better than being able to take part in the sacraments.

“Before being received fully into the Church, we were learning about the sacraments of confession and the Eucharist. I have always wanted to be part of being able to go to confession, be absolved of my sins and receive the Eucharist,” Pedro said. “It is amazing that Mass is offered every day, and we can receive the Eucharist daily. I am embracing that I have recourse to the sacrament of confession, that I have the support from the community of the Church, the priests, and the sacraments.”

Sacrament of Marriage

Pedro and Layni were blessed to go through their marriage preparation with Father Ruben Buller simultaneously with OCIA. They said this process helped strengthen the Sacrament of Marriage for them.

“As we learned more about the faith, we learned what the Catholic Church teaches about marriage and what our roles are as husband and wife,” said Pedro. “I am glad we were both going through OCIA while going through marriage preparation.”

Layni added, “We were two souls walking towards God together and going to Heaven. That is beautiful in itself.”

Giving Back to God

Pedro has a gift for sharing other people’s stories through his videography skills and hopes to do that to help evangelize to others. For his Confirmation Saint, he chose Saint Maximilian Kolbe.

“While most people know Saint Maximilian Kolbe for his great sacrifice in giving his life for another (which alone is already a big inspiration), he had also spent most of his life on a mission to evangelize and spread Christ through media,” Pedro said. “That inspires me deeply because I also hope to use my media talents to bring others closer to God. His devotion to Mary, Mother of God and his selflessness inspire me! God has a purpose for me, and I want to use my videography and media talents to glorify Him.”

For more information on the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), please contact the Office of Religious Education in the Diocese of Lake Charles at 337-439-7400.