By Marcel LeJeune, Catholic Missionary Disciples - WHAT IS CONVERSION? The root of the word “convert” means to “turn around”, “change”, or “transform”. Think of turning from sin, death, evil, and hell to now orient yourself toward grace, goodness, virtue, heaven, and everlasting life. It is the transformation of the human heart, by an act of God's grace… Thus, we sometimes call one who becomes Catholic a “convert” which means they have turned from their previous beliefs and now are Catholic.