Category Archives: Conversion

Healing the Elephant in the Room – by Steve Pokorny

Books, Church, Communication, Community, Conversion, Ethics, Evangelism, Family, Forgiveness, Healing, Holiness, Holy Spirit, How to be Catholic, Internet Resources, Marriage, Morality, Penance and Reconciliation, Pornography, Relationships, Sin, Spirituality, Suffering, Uncategorized

Imagine a son, brother, husband, or father sitting alone in the quiet of night, illuminated only by a screen. His heart feels empty, yet his body is drawn into patterns of desire that leave him unsatisfied. In the aftermath comes a heavy wave of shame, self-disgust, and a deep sense that he is unworthy — of love, of God’s mercy, of authentic relationship with others.

This suffering rarely remains isolated. A wife senses his emotional distance, his children feels the subtle fracture in family life, and friends notice a growing withdrawal. And if he’s honest, he knows the isolation is killing him. Pornography and unchaste behaviors do not confine their harm to one soul; they erode trust in marriages, distort perceptions of the opposite sex, and leave children in homes shadowed by unspoken pain and secrecy.

Many who struggle carry invisible burdens — guilt, shame, and inner voices insisting they are beyond repair or unlovable. They long for freedom, yet repeated efforts and failures deepen despair. Dear brother deacons, you have likely encountered this pain: in spiritual direction and in the quiet struggles of parishioners, family members, or friends. Perhaps you have seen joy fade from someone’s eyes when conversations grow guarded. This issue is real and the wounds are legion.

Why This Pain Persists: A Violation of God-Given Dignity

Attachment to pornography and the unchaste behaviors that flow from these behaviors arise from a fundamental distortion of our creation as male and female. We are made in God’s image to love as He loves through self-gift. Our sexuality is integral to this call: not merely an act, but who we are as embodied persons oriented toward communion.

As the Catechism teaches: “Sexuality affects all aspects of the human person in the unity of his body and soul. It especially concerns affectivity, the capacity to love and to procreate, and in a more general way the aptitude for forming bonds of communion with others” (CCC 2332).

When pornography redirects sexuality toward selfish gratification rather than self-donation, it brings not peace or joy, but guilt, shame, and alienation from self and others. Life is relational; anything that hinders authentic communion wounds the person at the core and the damage is inflicted in a myriad of ways.

The Broader Stakes: Protecting the Domestic Church

The family, rooted in sacramental marriage, is society’s fundamental cell — a visible icon of the Holy Trinity’s love. Through our bodies and vocations, we are called to reflect Trinitarian communion. The evil one, hating all that images God, attacks this foundation relentlessly. Pornography serves as a potent weapon, preventing marriages from forming, eroding existing ones, and distorting the next generation’s understanding of love.

Recent data from the Barna Group (2024) indicates that approximately 75% of Christian men and nearly 30% of Christian women report some level of pornography consumption. In a gathering of ten men, roughly seven or eight may carry this struggle; among ten women, three may as well. These numbers reveal a widespread challenge with serious consequences.

For men, pornography often fosters inward self-focus rather than self-giving protection and love. For women, it can falsely teach that their value lies solely in providing pleasure. When men and women fail to see and love each other in truth, marriages suffer, families weaken, and society bears a heavy cost. A 2003 survey of divorce attorneys found pornography a contributing factor in over half of cases, often due to unrealistic expectations that undermine marital intimacy and foster comparisons incompatible with sacrificial love. And with cell phones found in countless bedrooms, the gulch is widening between spouses who are both seeking genuine intimacy.

The lie persists that private behavior remains private. Yet what we consume shapes how we see and treat others — as objects rather than persons made in God’s image. This especially harms children: recent studies place the average age of first exposure around 8-11 years of age, and today’s content is often aggressive and enslaving. Pornography has become the primary “sexual education” for far too many young people, with lasting effects on formation, behavior, and future leadership.

Human trafficking, a related scourge fueled in part by this distorted view of the human person, generates enormous illicit profits (estimated in the hundreds of billions annually). No one begins life desiring such evil; it is learned, often through the normalization of objectification. This distorted “education” about sexuality and the body comes directly from the pornified culture, and the innocent are directly in danger of being harmed by such programmed behaviors.

The Pastoral Urgency for Deacons and the Church

Pornography ranks among the most frequently confessed sins, yet it is infrequently addressed from the pulpit. Many priests acknowledge the issue in the confessional but hesitate to preach on it — perhaps because estimates suggest a significant portion of clergy struggle as well. This is heartbreaking, as those called to lead must themselves seek healing in order to shepherd with integrity.

In 2019, a pew research survey found that only about 3% of self-reporting U.S. Catholics who attend Sunday Mass regularly affirmed the Church’s teaching on the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. This is a significant problem, yet it makes sense: for how can we recognize Christ truly present in the Eucharist if we are conditioned not to see the dignity of the human body and soul in those around us? The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Faith; yet without clear vision of persons as beloved children of God, we cannot perceive the God-man veiled in this Sacrament. 

Hope and Healing: Freedom Coaching as a Catholic Response

We believe the Gospel is for all of us, and calls us to receive the gift of redemption. I speak from personal experience: after more than a decade of bondage to pornography, God’s grace brought freedom I never imagined possible (see my book Redeemed Vision: Setting the Blind Free from the Pornified Culture for my full testimony, along with tremendous pastoral guidance on this issue). What started as personal healing has become a full-blown mission to liberate others.

In 2011, Freedom Coaching was founded as an authentically Catholic apostolate and nonprofit. We accompany men and women toward permanent freedom from pornography and unchaste behaviors through transformation of mind, heart, and vision. Unlike approaches focused solely on coping mechanisms, we address root wounds, inviting clients to encounter Jesus Christ the Healer, and then provide them the human and spiritual formation to abide in lifelong freedom.

Our process unfolds in four stages:

  1. Reintegration — Processing emotions tied to past brokenness, we introduce clients to Jesus as the Divine psychologist, often with profound graces and messages being imparted.
  2. Neuroscience — Understanding the brain science of attachment, showing why mere willpower is insufficient, and why a different path for lasting healing is necessary.
  3. Identity Formation — Through the lens of Theology of the Body, clients rediscover their identity as a beloved son or daughter, and then empowered to foster authentic intimacy with God, self, and others.
  4. Vision Coaching — Learning to see others through the education in art and beauty; scales fall from client’s eyes and lust gives way to genuine love.

This work bears fruit beyond stopping sin: clients begin truly seeing the homeless, the barista at their local coffeeshop, their spouse, and their children with reverence. It is this redeemed vision that transforms culture and is what helps make Christ’s reign visible.

Testimonies abound. Here are a few:

  • Jim (2014): “Freedom Coaching has completely freed me from a desire to lust. I can now be honest with myself and others.”
  • Fr. Jim (2020): “The process was very supportive in growing in holiness.The power of the evil one was broken. It was one of the best experiences of my life.”
  • John (2021): “Freedom Coaching very well may have saved my soul. It has changed my relationship with my wife and given me a newly found respect for all females.”

Freedom Coaching enjoys endorsements from Catholic leaders, including Christopher West of the Theology of the Body Institute, various bishops, and recognition as an official apostolate of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. (I encourage you to visit freedom-coaching.net for more testimonies.)

A call to Deacons: become allies in this battle

The call to live an integrated sexuality is the battle of our time, for it is the primary wound undergirding many societal wounds and profoundly decimates one’s capacity to receive and give love. The need is urgent: souls seek help, priests desire resources, youth need protection. But there is hope: At Freedom Coaching, we have witnessed shame transform into dignity, marriages strengthen, and priests renewed.

We invite you, dear deacons, to join us as allies:

  • Pray for our coaches, clients, donors, and all involved.
  • Share our resources — ministry cards are available to you, and your priests for the confessional, at no cost.
  • Support financially if God prompts — scholarships ensure no one seeking help is turned away. Your generosity helps save marriages, restore fathers, protect children, and renew vocations (including creating more deacons!).

I started this article with a description of man trapped in shame. Now picture that same man standing in light, hand-in-hand with his child, meeting his wife’s eyes with honesty, & entering his parish with hope. This transformation is possible through Jesus Christ and the work we do at Freedom Coaching.

The hour is late, yet as long as we trust in Jesus and respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, healing awaits. Let us work together to unveil the reality of mercy, truth, hope, and a redeemed vision of the human person.

Steve Pokorny is the Founder of Freedom Coaching, a one-to-one mentoring system designed to break the power of pornified images in both men and women. His book, Redeemed Vision: Setting the Blind Free from the Pornified Culture, is available from Amazon.

to Contact FREEDOM COACHING, click here: https://www.freedom-coaching.net/

Also, Steve’s book is available at AMAZONG by clicking here: Redeemed Vision

Open Doors Podcast

Anxiety and Worry, Apologetics, Blessed Virgin Mary, Book Review, Books, Charity, Communication, Community, Conversion, Cross to Bear, Death and Dying, Demons, Discernment, Early Church Fathers, Easter, Ethics, Eucharist, Evangelism, Family, Fasting, Forgiveness, Healing, Heresy, Holiness, Holy Spirit, How to be Catholic, Incarnation, Jewish roots, Lent, Life in the Spirit, Liturgy, Marriage, Miracles, Morality, Mystics, Peace and Justice, Penance and Reconciliation, Pope Francis, Prayer, Preaching, Priesthood, Pro-Life, Purgatory, Relationships, Relics, Rites of the Church, Rosary, Sacraments, Scripture, Service, Social Media, Soldiers, Spirituality, Suffering, Teaching, Terrorism, Tradition, Trust, Vocation, Women,

The leaders of our local Patchogue Prayer Meeting produce a PODCAST each week. I would like to recommend it to you. They talk about real life issues of living out our Catholic faith by sharing stories and experiences as well as teaching moments. To me, the thing that makes them stand out is the range in ages from teenage to Grown Adults. I asked them to write a short description and to give links to their podcast. Please find that here:

The Open Doors Podcast is a local Long Island–based, Catholic faith-centered podcast rooted in Christian testimony, reflection, and honest conversation. Through real-life stories of trials and triumphs, the podcast creates space for listeners to encounter God’s presence in everyday moments—especially when faith feels messy, uncertain, or difficult to articulate. Its mission is to encourage deeper trust in Christ and remind listeners that they are not alone on their spiritual journey.

The podcast is hosted by four voices from different seasons of life: Marissa (36), Janine (49), her son James (15), and Ivette (25), from Spain. Together, they offer an intergenerational perspective on faith, family, doubt, perseverance, and grace. Their conversations are intentionally relatable and welcoming, with a special heart for those who may feel disconnected, overlooked, or unsure if they truly belong within the Church.

At its core, The Open Doors Podcast exists to support evangelization by welcoming all—especially those searching for meaning, healing, and belonging. Select episodes are also available in Spanish, helping to reach listeners who feel more comfortable engaging in their native language. Wherever someone finds themselves on their faith journey, the podcast seeks to remind them that God meets them exactly where they are—and that the door is always open.

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@theopendoors.podcast?si=oqPxmoYtER9wyoIT

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ry05GnYAhYbIJ9eweZ60D?si=_lDnii6KQ9KLXsZHoP5ffw

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-open-doors/id1777095076

The Death, and Impact of a Christian Evangelist, Charlie Kirk – by Deacon Marty McIndoe

Agony and Difficulty, Apologetics, Blessed Virgin Mary, Charlie Kirk, Church, Communication, Conversion, Converts, Crucifixion, Death and Dying, Evangelism, Family, Forgiveness, Godly Patriotism, How to be Catholic, Marriage, Prayer, Preaching, Pro-Life, Rosary, Spirituality, Women, , , , ,

First of all, this is not a political article, it is simply about the death of a great American Christian evangelist and his impact on so many. His assassination on September 10, 2025 brought widespread sadness to so many people. I watched his memorial service on September 21 and was shocked at two things. First of all, it was a huge service with over 100,000 people attending, including the President and most of his Cabinet. Secondly, it seemed more like an Evangelical praise and worship meeting, than a funeral service. Also, I have never seen so many government officials give testimony to their faith in Jesus. I think that the reason for this was that even though Charlie Kirk was known as a Conservative political activist, I believe that his deepest convictions lay in his Christian faith and his desire to spread the Good News. He himself, when asked what he would like to be remembered for, or what his legacy was, said, “I want to be remembered for courage for my faith That would be the most important thing. The most important thing is my faith”. When asked of his goal of teaching conservatism to people, he said, “You have to try to point them toward ultimate purposes and toward getting back to the church, getting back to faith, getting married, having children. That is the type of conservatism that I represent, and I’m trying to paint a picture of virtue, of lifting people up, not just staying angry.” That is the role of a Christian Evangelist.

The slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk was “a modern-day St. Paul,” New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan said in a Sept. 19 appearance on “Fox & Friends.” “He was a missionary, he’s an evangelist, he’s a hero,” he said. “He’s one, I think, who knew what Jesus meant when he said, ‘The truth will set you free.’”

The Cardinal was not familiar with Kirk before his shooting, but when he heard about it, and the tremendous outpouring of grief about it he said, “I thought, ‘I’ve got to learn about this guy,’ and the more I learned about him, I thought, ‘this guy’s a modern-day St. Paul,’” “Now I understand he was pretty blunt and he was pretty direct. He didn’t try to avoid any controversy, he didn’t even try to avoid confrontation,” he said. “The difference is the way, the mode, the style that he did it — always with respect (for his opponents) and not only was that a gracious, kind of virtuous thing to do, it’s effective. … I thought this guy can teach us something.” I agree so much with the good Cardinal. The Cardinal went on saying Kirk “wasn’t afraid to talk about the Lord. He wasn’t even afraid to say the name of Jesus,” Cardinal Dolan said, adding, “I heard Billy Graham once say, ‘I will never publicly speak without saying the name of Jesus because that name has power and it echoes through the universe.’ And apparently, that’s what Charlie did.” Dolan said he had spent the previous evening with about 200 students at the New York University Catholic Center and “this is what they talked about.” He said he is seeing a return to religion among young people, who, he thinks, are feeling there’s “something missing … a void,” despite their jobs and success. There’s a “kind of a revival” of “a sense of value and truth and conviction” among young people, he said, “almost an elevation of the role of faith back into the public square where our founders intended it to be from the beginning.” “This overwhelming sense of appreciation for Charlie and the great solidarity that we’re sensing is itself an answer to prayers and is itself a sign of the Resurrection,” he said. “I would reckon,” the cardinal added, “that some people are saying, ‘Well, you’re saying too many nice things about him (Kirk).’ I don’t know him that well, but I am sure if he was a convinced disciple of Jesus Christ, he knew his sins. Jesus knew them.” He praised Kirk’s debate style — respecting those who disagreed with him and those he disagreed with. The focus of healthy debate, the cardinal said, must be “issues not individuals, principles not just politics, principles not people. The weakest of all arguments, you know, is ad hominem, when you begin to attack the person.”

I agree with our good Cardinal. Whether you agreed with Charlie Kirk on his political beliefs, or not, there is no doubt that he led many young people to Jesus and back to their church. I have now watched several of his video appearances and have been amazed at how much he talked about Jesus and his faith. He has done several interviews and has impressed so many people, both religious and not, with his faith.

R.C. Bishop Robert Barron said, “I first met Charlie Kirk about four years ago when I was in Phoenix for a speaking engagement. He reached out and invited me to breakfast. I was deeply impressed by him that day. He was a man of great intelligence, considerable charm, and real goodness of heart I reconnected with him just last year, after I saw him debate twenty-five young people who were, to put it mildly, hostile to his views. I texted him that I was so struck by how he kept his cool and his charitable attitude in the face of some pretty obnoxious opposition. I then asked him to appear as a guest on my interview program, “Bishop Barron Presents,” and he eagerly accepted my invitation. He was scheduled to come to Rochester, Minnesota in about ten days. The last contact we had was two nights ago. After I appeared on one of the evening news shows to talk about the Religious Liberty Commission, he texted me and told me how much he appreciated what I said and then added, “I’m excited to join you on your show soon. God bless you.” That last sentence shows what was most important to Charlie. He was indeed a great debater and also one of the best advocates in our country for civil discourse, but he was, first and last, a passionate Christian. In fact, when we had that breakfast in Phoenix, we didn’t talk much about politics. We talked about theology, in which he had a deep interest, and about Christ. I know I’m joining millions of people around the world in praying that he rests now in the peace of the Lord. The assassination of Charlie Kirk kept him from going on Bishop Barron’s show. I would have loved to see that.

Another Catholic, Alex Jones who is the co-founder of the Prayer app, HALLOW, said that Kirk had contacted him recently and told him that he used HALLOW as a prayer app. Jones said that Kirk “was so kind to me; a brother in Christ.” Jones said that in the week following Charlie Kirk’s death, the HALLOW app saw a 95 percent increase in new users.

Charlie Kirk worked with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, Author and speaker, who said, “I am devastated by the tragic murder of my friend Charlie Kirk. Charlie was not only a fearless voice for America but also a tireless advocate for Israel’s safety and security. We worked together, shoulder to shoulder, as activists committed to strengthening the bond between these two great allies. I’ve been looking back through our many text messages, especially from the days of the first Trump administration, when I strongly encouraged him to ensure that Turning Point USA and young American conservatives fully grasped the threats against Israel. Charlie responded as a devout Christian with passion and conviction, emerging as one of Israel’s leading defenders in the United States. His courage, friendship, and unwavering voice will be deeply missed. America is becoming a sewer of anti-American hatred and anti-Israel violence. Those fomenting that hatred against Jews and their steadfast allies like Charlie Kirk have blood on their hands tonight. May his memory be a blessing.

When Charlie Kirk met with Bill Maher, who was raised in a Catholic/Jewish household and has declared himself an atheist or at least a skeptic, Kirk told Maher, “”The greatest minds of history have been mesmerized by the Scriptures — Isaac Newton, Thomas Aquinas. Isaac Newton wrote more about biblical prophecy than even physics. And so there’s something about the Scriptures that are intellectual, that does push your limits. And that’s what I think is so beautiful about our faith is it can be accessible to everyone, but also infinitely nourishing in exploration.” He went on to say, “In China and, of course, in the Soviet Union, there was an anti-Christian movement. Very hardcore. …What book do you think is best for humanity to live by? I say the Bible. … The entire arc of the Bible is a story of love and a need for humanity’s redemption. …The Bible has wisdom in ways you might not ever imagine. …Humanity will seek to find a book, they’ll seek to find a code to live by.” After Charlie Kirk’s death, Bill Mayer said, “Charlie Kirk and I certainly didn’t agree on much politically, but he sat here, he’s a human being, he’s not a monster,” Maher said. “And I liked him.”

There is no doubt that Charlie, and his evangelical love of God and preaching touched many people. He definitely is responsible for drawing many young people back to Jesus and back to Church. Charlie himself, knew what growth in faith was all about. He was initially brought up by his parents in the Presbyterian Church. They later became Evangelicals and Charlie was definitely an Evangelical Christian. He did, however marry a woman, Erika, who was brought up by Roman Catholic parents and who attended Catholic school. It would appear that she and Charlie shared a deep faith commitment to each other and that a little of each other’s faith rubbed out on each. There are some insiders who say that Erika attends Catholic mass often and there are pictures of Charlie and her and the family at mass. There are pictures of them at mass at St. Bernadette parish in Scottsdale, AZ and at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Charlie told others that the pastor at St. Bernadette’s was a good friend of his.

Edgar Lujano, of Catholic Answers, tells us that a little more than a week before his murder, Kirk attended a pro-life prayer breakfast in Visalia, California, which is in the Diocese of Fresno. The local bishop was among those in attendance and had a brief, private moment with Kirk. It was there that Kirk told the bishop about his Catholic wife and children and how he attended Mass with them. He punctuated this conversation with “I love my Catholic pastor.” As they were parting to attend the more public portion of the prayer breakfast, Kirk mentioned speculation regarding his contemplating entering the Catholic Church, saying: “I’m this close.”

There are some friends who say that Charlie would even pray the rosary on occasion. In one of his video shows he said, “But let me first say, I think we as Protestants and Evangelicals under-venerate Mary. She was very important. She was a vessel for our Lord and Savior.” “I think that we, as Evangelicals and Protestants, we’ve overcorrected. We don’t talk about Mary enough. We don’t venerate her enough. Mary was clearly important to early Christians. There’s something there. In fact, I believe one of the ways that we fix toxic feminism in America is that Mary is the solution.” “Have more young ladies be pious, be reverent, be full of faith, slow to anger, slow to words at times. Mary is a phenomenal example, and I think a counter to so much of the toxicity of feminism in the modern era.”

In an interview with Russell Brand in 2024, Charlie said, “I mean, I’m nothing without Jesus. I’m a sinner. I fall incredibly short of the glory of God. We all do. I gave my life to the Lord in fifth grade, and it’s the most important decision I’ve ever made, and everything I do incorporates Jesus Christ.” On September 6, 2025, four days before his murder, Charlie said, “Jesus defeated death so you can live.”

Pastor Rob McCoy, Co-chair of Turning Point Faith said, “Charlie did not die. Instead, he has begun to truly live. His life was secured eternally by His Savior Jesus Christ. This truth allowed Charlie to face every threat with courage because he didn’t fear death.” I do believe that Charlie is in a better place now. But what about those he left behind. He has a beautiful wife, Erika and two children. Erika is a strong woman, and strong in her faith, and has taken up the role of CEO of Turning Point, Charlie’s organization. She brought me to tears when at Charlie’s memorial service she publically said, “My husband Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life.” She then mentioned how Jesus, while on the cross, forgave those who were killing him and said that they don’t know what they do. She then said, “That young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and it is what Charlie would do. The answer to hate is not hate. The answer, we know from the Gospel is LOVE, and always love, love for our enemies, and those who persecute us.”. It seems that Erika is certainly a great choice to continue what Charlie had started. She has shown the world what true forgiveness as a Christian is all about. It is also interesting to know that membership in Turning Point, as well as attendance at the events they have held since the death of Charlie has grown tremendously.

Thank you Charlie for your faith and the way you shared it, especially with young people. “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen”, “May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen”.

The THIRD GLORIOUS Mystery of the Rosary – The Descent of the Holy Spirit – by Deacon Marty McIndoe

Anxiety and Worry, Blessed Virgin Mary, Charity, Church, Conversion, Discernment, Evangelism, Healing, Holiness, Holy Orders, Holy Spirit, How to be Catholic, Jewish roots, Life in the Spirit, Miracles, Morality, Mystics, Peace and Justice, Prayer, Preaching, Priesthood, Resurrection, Rosary, Scripture, Spirituality, Suffering, Teaching, The Holy Land

It must be mentioned that the third Glorious Mystery tells us about the Descent of the Holy Spirit, primarily at Pentecost. This account is found in scripture at Acts 2: 1-41. However, as important as that descent of Pentecost is, we must realize that the Holy Spirit has descended many times upon the earth, and its people. In Genesis 1: 2 we hear about the Holy Spirit coming at the dawn of creation and hovering over the waters. We recall this during the blessing of the baptismal waters. The Hebrew Scripture, the Old Testament, often talks about the work of God’s Spirit. The psalmist in Psalm 51:11 says, “Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. “ The Prophets and Kings and Judges often talk about the presence of the Holy Spirit and its work among them. There are over 100 mentions of the Holy Spirit at work in the Old Testament.

The New Testament writing often mentions the Holy Spirit at work even before Pentecost. Many times the Holy Spirit is seen descending and at work in Jesus and His miniistry. Don’t forget that during the Annunciation, the angel told Mary that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and because of this she would have a miraculous conception. Because of this, Mary is often known as the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus first began His ministry, John the Baptist poured water on Jesus and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove. Even during His ministry we see the Holy Spirit at work, leading Jesus, and empowering Jesus. After His resurrection, John 20:22 tells us, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is at work in all the scriptures, but, something quite different happened at Pentecost.

The Descent of the Holy Spirit is seen in so much power at Pentecost. This is after Jesus died, and after He spent 40 days instructing His people and building His Church. He knew that He was ready to ascend to the Father and He also knew that the Church needed a special presence to help them. He had told the disciples that they needed to pray for The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to come upon them. The Apostles, Mary and many disciples, went to the Upper Room and prayed for nine days and the Spirit descended upon them in POWER. Acts tells us, “And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” The disciples were now quite changed men and women. They left their shyness and worry to become bold proclaimers of the Good News. The Church was now born. As a matter of fact, some consider Pentecost, with its coming of the Holy Spirit, to be the Birthday of the Church. Just as Jesus received the Descent of the Holy Spirit at the beginning of His ministry, His followers now received it as the beginning of their ministry of spreading the Good News.

But what does the Holy Spirit do for us? It leads us and guides us and empowers us to do what God wants us to do. The Church (and scripture) have identified many gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. The gifts are identified as wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of of the Lord. The fruits are identified as charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity. The Charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit include, healing, tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy and the discernment of spirits. No matter what gift or fruit you look at, it is given to empower us as Christians in the building up of the Church and in doing whatever God asks of us. The Holy Spirit IS at work in His people.

Questions to Ponder:

1 – Am I aware of the Holy Spirit at work in me?

2 – Am I aware of the Holy Spirit at work within the Church?

3 – Do I ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me?

4 – Do I ask the Holy Spirit to empower me to do God’s will?

5 – Do I pray to the Holy Spirit?

6 – Does the way I live my life reflect the fruits of the Holy Spirit?

7 – Do I use the gifts of the Spirit in what I do?

8 – Have I ever experienced the Charismatic gifts of the Spirit?

9 – Do I recognize the close link between the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Spirit?

10 – Do I believe in the Power of God at work through the Holy Spirit?

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,
and you shall renew the face of the earth.

The Second GLORIOUS Mystery – THE ASCENSION by Deacon Marty McIndoe

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This mystery recalls how Jesus, at the end of his earthly ministry, ascended in to heaven and sat at the right hand of God the Father. This occurred forty days after His resurrection. Both the gospel of Mark (16:19 ) and the Acts of the Apostles (1:8-9) mention this in the scriptures. The Church associates the Ascension with Jesus’ call for His disciples to pray for the Holy Spirit to come upon them. This happened nine days after the Ascension on the Feast of Pentecost. We, to this day, celebrate novenas (prayers for nine days) because of this. Also associated with His Ascension is the Great Commission from Matthew’s Gospel, where Jesus tells us, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” This is the mission of the Church.

This second Glorious mystery is so important as it celebrates the very successful culmination of Jesus’ ministry here on earth AND His triumphal return to the Father in Heaven. It also celebrates the elevated human condition of all mankind as Jesus takes His glorified, human body in to Heaven. We, as His human children, will follow Him. Now, and forever, humanity is a permanent part of the Godhead. Think about that….. It is so amazing. God has lifted up humanity to share in His divinity. At mass, in the preparation of the cup, as he pours water in to the wine, the deacon (or if there is no deacon, the priest) quietly says, “By the mystery of this water in wine, may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.” Because of Jesus, we share in the Divinity and the Divinity shares in our humanity. That is quite mind-blowing when you really think about it. The Jesus that we follow and pray to is BOTH the Word (2nd person of the Trinity) and the glorified human born of the Virgin Mary, now and forevermore in Heaven.

Before His crucifixion, Jesus was preparing His disciples for His absence and said to them, in John 16: 7, “Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth: it is better for you that I depart. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, whereas if I go, I will send Him to you.“ As much as the apostles wanted Jesus to stay, He made it quite clear to them that it was better for Him to go. When He went to the Father, He, would send the Holy Spirit to be with them, and to all of us, forever. Jesus’s Ascension to the Father allowed us to receive the precious gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ promise to be with us always, until the end of the world, is kept in our receiving THE power from heaven, the Holy Spirit.

The departure of Jesus in the Ascension led to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, just nine days later. This Holy Spirit empowered the Apostles and disciples of Jesus at the beginning of the Church and has continued to do so to the present day. Jesus, in John 16: 12 said, “I have much more to tell you, but you would not be able to bear it now. But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth”; but more about that next week in the third Glorious Mystery.

Questions to Ponder:

1 – Do I honor all humanity by recognizing it sharing in the divinity of God?

2 – Do I respect, and help others to respect human life from conception to natural death?

3 – Do I really believe in the power of prayer?

4 – When is the last time that I prayed a novena?

5 – Do I rely upon the power of God’s Holy Spirit to lead me and guide me.

6 – Do I try to live out the mission of the Church by trying to “make disciples” by teaching others the Christian Way through my words and the way I live my life?

7 – Do I encourage others to seek the Christian baptism?

8 – Do I read and study the scriptures on a regular basis?

9 – Do I pay attention to all the words of the mass?

10 – Do I feel the presence of Jesus through the Holy Spirit and through the Church?

The 3rd LUMINOUS MYSTERY: The Proclamation of the Gospel – by Deacon Marty McIndoe

Baptism, Blessed Virgin Mary, Church, Communication, Conversion, Eucharist, Evangelism, Forgiveness, Holiness, How to be Catholic, Penance and Reconciliation, Prayer, Preaching, Relationships, Rosary, Sacraments, Scripture, Spirituality, Teaching

Both Matthew and Mark tell us of the first words of Jesus in His public ministry. They each differ slightly, but since bible scholars tell us that St. Mark wrote His Gospel before St. Matthew, I will start with his. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus starts His ministry by saying, “The time has come, the Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the Good News!” St. Matthew shortens is by saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand”. Both indicate the proclamation of the Kingdom. Throughout His ministry, Jesus often proclaims the Kingdom of God and as a matter of fact mentions it about 126 times within the Gospels. Matthew, being a good Jew and writing for Jewish readers uses Kingdom of Heaven instead of the Kingdom of God (Jews did not like to write the word, GOD). The Kingdom is most definitely a central theme of the Gospel message. Jesus lets us know about the riches of the Kingdom but also calls us to repent (conversion), so we can obtain it. This represents a significant shift from the Old Testament.

In the Old Testament (the Hebrew Scriptures), the emphasis is on the covenant that God made with the Jewish people and their call to follow it. In the Gospels, and the rest of the New Testament, the Kingdom now includes ALL peoples, not just the Jews. Jesus did place an emphasis on preaching to the Jews, but also indicated that ALL people would be included within the Kingdom. When the Apostles and followers of Jesus went out to proclaim the Kingdom, they were sent by Jesus to ALL the world. Before His Ascension in to Heaven, Jesus said in Matthew 28: 19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” This is known as the great commission from Jesus. Each and every one of us is called to proclaim the Good News.

The interesting thing about what Jesus proclaims to us about the Kingdom is that it is something for us to wait anxiously for, YET, it is here already. The fullness of the Kingdom has yet to come, however, we are receiving many of the fruits of the Kingdom right now. I personally see that in the presence of the Church. The Church is here for us now giving us abundant graces, yet it has not reached it fullness. Another example could be seen in how the night can be so dark, and then when at dawn the sun starts to come up, light is seen. Later on, when the full sun is seen, we have the fullness of light. We are now in the dawn of the Kingdom anxiously awaiting its fullness. Let us know reflect on this:

1 – Do I see myself as part of the Kingdom of God?

2 – Do I see the Church as the current representation of the Kingdom?

3 – Am I anxiously praying for the fullness of the Kingdom?

4 – Do I share with others the way God works in my life so as to proclaim the Kingdom?

5 – How am I doing in repenting of my sins?

6 – Do I regularly go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

7 – Have I consistantly supported those who are looking to have their children baptized?

8 – Have I encouraged non baptized and non confirmed adults to seek out their parish OCIA program?

9 – Do I regularly receive the graces given me by the Church (especially the Eucharist)?

10 – Do I try to preach the Good News to those people around me?

MYSTERIES of the ROSARY the First Joyful Mystery the ANNUNCIATION – by Deacon Marty McIndoe

Anxiety and Worry, Blessed Virgin Mary, Charity, Church, Conversion, Discernment, Fasting, Holiness, How to be Catholic, Lent, Miracles, Relationships, Rosary, Scripture, Trust, Uncategorized, Women

THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY – PRAYING THE ROSARY WITH FULL MEANING

Introduction Paragraph (repeated each session)

As we begin the Lenten Season, the Church asks us to use this time, in a very special way. to grow closer to Jesus and to all that He has for us. It tells us that there are three main “Pillars” to help us accomplish this; Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. After considerable reflection, I believe that the Lord wants me to write during this Lent about PRAYER, and one specific form of prayer, the ROSARY. Now there are many types and forms of prayer, but I truthfully believe that the ROSARY, when properly done, is one of the most powerful forms of prayer that we have. In my own walk with God within the Church, I have grown in my love of the rosary and in my knowledge of the power of the rosary prayer. One of the problems with people praying the rosary is that they do not always meditate on the mystery itself. This takes so much away from the prayer. It is not just enough to go through the hail marys and our fathers, we also must look at the specific mystery and reflect on that while we pray. The mysteries are very bibical and go through the life of Jesus. For that reason, during Lent, I am going to take one mystery at a time and talk about it so you can use it more when you pray the rosary. There are four separate mysteries of the rosary and each one has five parts. I will do them in the order of the life of Jesus, starting with the JOYFUL, then the LUMINOUS and the SORROWFUL, ending with the GLORIOUS. It has been a tradition to do the Joyful on Monday and Saturday; the Luminous on Thursday; the Sorrowful on Tuesday and Friday; and the Glorious on Wednesday and Sunday. I would suggest that you read each scriptural reference for each mystery and meditate on what was accomplished. I will also include ten (corresponding to the ten hail Marys of each mystery) points to ponder and pray about. These points are used to think not only about what the mystery celebrates, but also what it means to you in your life.

THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES – The First Mystery, THE ANNUNCIATION

This mystery recalls when the Angel Gabriel visited Mary and announced to her that she would be the mother of Jesus. It is based upon Luke 1: 26-38. and John 1: 14

In this mystery, we are called to reflect upon how the Word was made flesh. Luke tells us that during the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, an angel appeared to Mary. When the angel appeared to this young girl ,she was a virgin waiting to be married to Joseph of the House of David. The Angel Gabriel greeted her by saying, “Hail, favored one” (or blessed one) and this caused Mary to be “greatly troubled”. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for a very young woman to have an angel appear to her, let alone be told that she was highly favored by God. It must have caused considerable confusion and astonishment to Mary. She had no idea what this appearance and greeting might mean. The Angel Gabriel told her not to be afraid and then said to her something quite remarkable. He told her that because of her favor with God, she would conceive and bear a son to be called, Jesus. Mary quickly repsonded by saying that she had not yet been with a man, and how could this be possible? The angel then said to her, “the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” Even though this must have been so much for Mary, she responded with her big YES to the Lord, “be it done to me according to your word”. With that, the angel left her.

Questions to ponder:

1 – How would I respond to a “call” from God to do something?

2 – Do I even listen to God enough to perceive a call?

3 – Would I be willing to do something God asks of me, even if it interferes with my plans?

4 – Do I consider myself too young, or too old, or too uneducated to be able to do God’s request?

5 – Do I truly apprecitate what Mary’s YES means to me and to world salvation?

6 – Do I really believe that Jesus was truly human and truly divine?

7 – Am I trying to learn more about the Incarnation (God becomes man)?

8 – Do I believe that angels are still ar work in the world today?

9 – Do I honor and respect marriage and family life?

10 – Do I understand that a baby, any baby can grow up and can change the world?

CONVERSION and LENT – by Deacon Marty McIndoe

Charity, Church, Communication, Community, Conversion, Discernment, Eucharist, Forgiveness, Holy Spirit, How to be Catholic, Lent, Liturgy, Penance and Reconciliation, Prayer, Relationships, Rosary, Sacraments, Scripture, Service, Spirituality

On January 25th I wrote about the conversion of St. Paul and how he went from being a good Jew who persecuted Christians to being a Christian himself. This was a major change and a significant conversion experience. For most of us, our conversion is not as dramatic as St. Paul’s. However, I do believe that we are all in need of continual conversion and Lent is the perfect time to do this. By continual conversion (or ongoing conversion) I mean that we recognize that conversion is an ongoing process where we hear the call of Jesus to be more like him. We don’t do this all at once, it takes time and effort to even try to be more like him. As Christians, we have the responsibility to follow our Lord Jesus and to try, to the best we can, to be Christ-like. I cannot think of any better time than Lent to try to accomplish this.

The last three weeks we have looked at the three pillars (or disciplines) of Lent; Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. Keeping in mind that these are essential to our growing close to the Lord, and thus being more like Him, we must keep these as our base. There are many other things that we can do to become more like Jesus. I would suggest that we take a look at these and try to put them in to practice also. Lent is definitely a time for us to turn away from sin and to be faithful to the Gospel message of Jesus. The Lenten season is filled with many graces, or gifts from God, to help us accomplish our goal. Here is a partial list of ways to obtain these gifts, or graces, from God. By doing these, we can’t help but to draw closer to God and to become more like Jesus.

1 – Read the scriptures: I would suggest using the Church’s readings of the day. This is easy to do, especially if you have access to a computer or smart phone. There are many smart phone apps to bring you the daily readings, and some that offer a commentary. Even an easy Google search for readings of the day can be done. Try to start with ones from Catholic sources like the USCCB (US Conference of Catholic Bishops); EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) founded by Mother Angelica; Vatican News; Catholic Online and others. Reading the scriptures and reading their Catholic commentaries will give you a familiarity with Jesus, so you can get to know Him and follow Him.

2 – Attend Mass as often as you can. The mass has two parts: The Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In the liturgy of the Word we concentrate on the scriptures and in the Liturgy of the Eucharist we concentrate on the Pascal sacrifice and actually receive the Body and Blood of Jesus. We partake of His very presence and He leads and guides us to grow closer to Him. There was a famous nutritional quote from a nineteenth century Frenchman made popular in the US by author Adele Davis, “You are what you eat”. I personally think that this fits so well to the Eucharist. It helps us to become Jesus present to others.

3 – Attend a retreat. I you have the time and money to go to a retreat house for a week or more, that would be tremendous. However, if you do not, most parishes offer some kind of local 2 or 4 day retreat. If your parish doesn’t, don’t be afraid to attend a nearby parish that does. A retreat gives us the time to get away from distractions and to concentrate on Jesus and what He is asking of us.

4 – Spiritual reading. There are so many good Catholic books out there that can help you to grow more in your faith and to grow closer to Jesus.

5 – Do something Christ-like. Great examples of this are to help out in a Parish Outreach or some other organization that helps the poor. You can also visit people who are in nursing homes, hospitals, prisons, or shut ins within their own home. If you are an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, bring hosts with you to give to them (Catholics).

6 – Spend time alone in prayer. Jesus tells us to go to a place of quiet and to pray. The more we do that, the closer we get to him. Prayer can be anything from complete silent meditation to praying the rosary or chaplet of diving mercy.

7 – Spend time with other people who you know are living out the faith. The role of community, where like minded people of faith gather, is of extreme importance. This could be anything form having coffee with a friend, to attending a large prayer group.

8 – Be fillled with gratitude for all that God has given you. So ofter Jesus started His prayers by thanking the Father. The more we are filled with a sense of Gratitude, the more we will be like Jesus.

9 – Repent. Take a good look at your life and see the things that are not of God and determine to turn away from these things. Jesus started His ministry with the word Repent. The Sacrament of Reconciliation can be a big help with this, especially when there is serious sin in your life.

10 – Follow God. Make it a point to try to do what God wants you to do. Hopefully the more you are in prayer and follow the above steps, you will see what God wants from you. When you do find out, do it.

11 – Practice Humility. Jesus makes it pretty clear that He does not like people who think of themselves too highly. He loves people who are humble. His very life is all about humility. Think about how the Almighty, Powerful God humbled himself to become a man. We need to embrace this humility.

12 – Play religious, worship music. Music lifts the soul to new heights. When we play religious music, it lifts us up and helps us to embrace all that God has for us. Try it, you will like it.

Certainly there are many other ways to grow closer to God and to be more Christ-like, but since the scriptures love the number 12, I will stop there. Remember that God wants us to be His presence to others. Our call is to be more like Him. Our conversion needs to be ongoing.

FASTING: The Second Discipline of Lent – by Deacon Marty McIndoe

Church, Conversion, Easter, Fasting, Holiness, Holy Week, How to be Catholic, Jewish roots, Lent, Liturgy, Miracles, Prayer, Relationships, Scripture, Service, Spirituality

Last week, on Ash Wednesday we heard the gospel telling us how Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving are at the heart of our Lenten disciplines, and I wrote about Prayer. This week we will look at the Second Discipline, fasting. It appears that fasting has become very popular in today’s culture for health reasons. HEALTHLINE says that fasting does many things to help the body. It promotes blood sugar control, fights inflammation, enhances heart health, boosts brain function, aids weight loss, increases hormone secretion, extends longevity and can even be an aid to cancer prevention. That all sounds, and is very good. However fasting can also help us in our Spritual Life.

Throughout history, many different religions have promoted fasting. Besides Christianity, it is used in Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, Judaism and Taoism. For the Catholic it is mandated for adults on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and is recommended for all of the Fridays of Lent. Note: abstaining from meat is also mandated for the Fridays of Lent. In Catholicism, fasting usually means reducing the amount of food that you take in, so that the whole day is not beyond one meals worth. In contrast, in Islam, fasting usually means staying away from all food, drink, and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset for the days where it is required. They also devote one month, their month of Ramadan, to 30 days of fasting.

As Catholics, we fast in order to build our self-mastery, to embrace God more fully in our lives. During Lent, fasting (along with prayer and almsgiving) helps us to better prepare for the JOY OF EASTER! We even “fast” from singing ALLELUIA during Lent so that our EASTER ALLELUIA means more to us. We “fast” from singing the GLORIA and ringing the bells during mass. Our altars “fast” from having beautiful flowers on them. This is all to help us truly celebrate the heart of the Christian message which is the EASTER ALLELUIA, THE LORD IS RISEN.

Fasting should make our prayers more meaningful, more serious. It should show us how denying ourselves something physical can strengthen us in our spiritual life. It should teach us more about making a commitment to something, namely God and His mission for us. Fasting should also help us in detachment, namely giving up something that we may have become too attached to. When we have too many attachments, our life gets too cluttered and there is little room for God. Fasting helps us get back to what really matters in our life, our spirituality, our relationship to God.

The scriptures are filled with verses about fasting, both in the Old Testament (the Hebrew scriptures) and in the New Testament (the Christian scriptures). Our roots are in the Hebrew Scriptures so I would first like to include some to help inspire us in the need for fasting.

Joel 1: 12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;

Ezra 8:23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

Exodus 34: 28 So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

Nehemiah 1: 4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

2 Samuel !: 12 They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the LORD and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

Esther 4: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

The New Testament also has many verses on fasting.

Matthew 6: 16-18 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Acts 14: 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Luke 2: 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

Luke 18: 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

Luke 4: 2-4 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

Fasting is good for our bodies and for our spirituality. It can also be good for others. We will talk about that next week when we look at the third Lenten discipline, Almsgiving.

The Conversion of St. Paul – by Deacon Marty McIndoe

Apologetics, Church, Conversion, Converts, Diaconate, Early Church Fathers, Evangelism, Holy Spirit, How to be Catholic, Jewish roots, Lent, Life in the Spirit, Marriage, Saints, Scripture, Spirituality, Vocation

Before his conversion, Saint Paul was known as Saul. He was a Pharisee who was born in to a devout Jewish family and he was well educated in his faith. He described himself as being “of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee”. Saul, to say the least, was a good Jew who loved the Jewish law and followed it. He loved being a Jew and he saw Christianity as a threat to his religion, a threat that had to be eliminated.

The scriptures tell us that Saul persecuted the Christians and would enter homes looking for them, drag them out, and put them in to jail. He is even listed as being at the death of the first Christian Martyr, the deacon Saint Steven. The early Christians feared Saul and saw him as one of their primary persecutors. Saul hunted down Christians in Jerusalem and even received permission to go to Damascus to hunt them down. On his way to Damascus, something amazing happened. The risen Jesus appeared to him.

Acts Chapter 9 tells us; “ 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.” In Damascus, Jesus sent Ananias to heal his sight and to baptize him and to teach him the good news. Saul, after his conversion, became Paul. He would soon become probably the greatest Christian evangelizer ever. Paul experienced a profound conversion. He went from being a zealous persecutor of Christians to being a vessel of God’s grace and intense sharer of the Good News of Jesus.

Conversion, in the Christian sense, is turning away from what is not Jesus and turning towards Jesus. Conversion can be a very profound thing like Saul/Paul experienced, or it can be as simple as turning away from tv and reading more scripture. Throughout our lives, God is continually calling us to conversion. We are called to turn away from what is not leading us towards Him, and turning to things that do lead us to Him. We are called to transform ourselves in to the very image of Jesus.

Conversion can also be seen in the large sense of turning form someone who is not Catholic, to someone who is. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a program within the Church to help non-Catholics do that. Over 50 years ago, I went through the RCIA program, and my life was changed forever. I was brought up as a Methodist and during my younger years attended Sunday School and Church. As I got older, I started to question my faith and by the time I was in college, I thought that religion was not important and that God was only a force that held the universe together. I married a good Catholic girl and was actually quite unkind as to what I said to her about her faith. After almost three years of marriage, we were quite unhappy. We knew that we loved each other, but there was something not right (my lack of faith). We were close to separating when God stepped in. Through some miraculous events, we were brought in to a Life in the Spirit Seminar. In the seminar, I experienced people talking about God as if He was someone who they knew and talked to. I still questioned that type of God, but I wanted a faith like they had.

The Life in the Spirit seminar is a series of weekly talks which talk about God’s love, his gift of Salvation, the need for repentance, the gift of His Spirit and it prepares the person to ask God to touch them and fill them with His Spirit. I still remember the fifth week night when my wife and I were prayed with to experience God and His Spirit. I had a remarkable experience of God loving me. For the first time in my life, I saw God as a person who loved and cared for me. There was no bright light or voice of Jesus like St. Paul had, but it was so very real for me. It changed my life forever. I had a real desire to know Him better so I began reading scripture and spiritual books. Since this all happened in a Roman Catholic church, I decided to look in to that faith. I started reading the documents from Vatican II and decided to become a Catholic. I went through the RCIA program and became Catholic. Our marriage was made anew and later on I received the call to become a deacon. God did so many marvelous things in our life. I still find God calling me to more conversion in my daily life.

For the season of Lent, which begins soon, I will be doing more articles on the call to continuing conversion. Right now I want to celebrate my major call to become a Roman Catholic. It has fulfilled me so much. In line with this celebration I would like to mention some famous people who have become Catholic. There are thousands more.

  • Actors: John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Jim Nabors, Faye Dunaway, Vincent Price, Susan Hayward . Patricia Neal and many others
  • Academics and intellectuals: Hadley Arkes (Amherst), Mortimer Adler (Great Books), Robert Bork (Yale) and G.K. Chesterton
  • Royalty; King Charles II (Great Britain)
  • Artist : Peter Paul Rubens
  • Heroes of the Old West: Kit Carson, Buffalo Bill and Doc Holliday
  • Musician: Dave Brubeck
  • Famed coach: Knute Rockne (Notre Dame)
  • Playwrights: Tennessee Williams and Oscar Wilde
  • Novelists: Ernest Hemingway, Evelyn Waugh, Sigrid Undset and Dean Koontz