It’s kind of tough doing a testimony when you don’t like to speak in front of people. Everyone knows I can talk with the best of them. I am an outgoing guy, yet I never talk about my faith.  I try and go to church every Sunday. I am a father of three boys and you could imagine what they want to wear. My mother in law is usually the one that meets me at mass. She fusses at me to get the family there. My wife is a pharmacist who works almost every weekend, and she is the saint of the home. When mom gets home the world is right with the boys. But this isn’t about my personal life, it’s about my life with God.

       My life with God began at a very young age, being baptized at an only Spanish-speaking church, St. Theresa of Avila in New Orleans. Spanish was my first language, though I was a kid who was born at Lakeside Hospital (like everyone else was). I can remember every Sunday going to church, and my mom and dad praying so much. I don’t know what they prayed for, but I know that they wanted us to succeed.  (They didn’t know that a brother and sister would come along.)  Maybe they prayed for more children or for me to be a good father, or just a good man. When Sundays came along they always woke us up, and said it’s time to go to church, which is a burden when you are a kid. We went and just hoped it wasn’t the long reading and homily. Times were simpler and we had that moment for family time. We went and ate lunch and those simple times are the best memories that I have: five of us riding in a F100 bench seat, no seatbelts, three on the column.  I never had to do anything in my life as a child; Mom always took care of us. I tried my hardest to be the man my Dad was and I used my brain.

      I’m writing this testimony about the Men’s Conference that was held at SCS a few weeks ago. This was a wake up call about my faith. I’ve always tried to be a good Catholic, but with the life everyone lives it is quite difficult. Mom works and Dad works, dinners go passed by, struggling to do homework, prayers, baseball (which my whole family misses) . . . maybe we all need to step back and slow down. Hearing the men who spoke at the conference and seeing Archbishop Aymond’s face was amazing. We men are leaders of our households. Our children look up to us for answers for everything from the easiest math problems to the biggest life issues. Our wives look to us for guidance.  It might just be about family dinner, but she is looking at us as men.
 
     I know many who will read this know Jennifer Collins. I ran into her while riding my bike.  We hung out for a while (over a cocktail) and she told me that she has been praying that men will put their best foot forward in our parish. I listened to the words at the conference and heard God tell me to get a prayer group going. I’ve started that with my friends who are local and my military buddies. The importance of a small prayer group is it doesn’t have to be formal, it can be just kicking back and hanging out. I decided to see if anyone would bite if I brought it up. I sent two text messages on two separate group texts, one to the tweens and one to my military buddies. I was quite surprised that it got a positive result.  I am still in the planning phase and seeing how everyone can meet since the Covid-19 pandemic and making sure everyone has the resources to meet. Guys don’t be scared to send that text message or make that phone call. I promise you no one will laugh at you for wanting to share your faith with them. Make that call. You can do it!

     In closing, Renee you are my rock and without you I would be a lonely sailor. Marcello, Gianni, and Cristiano, my boys, I love you. To my Mom, I continue to pray for you and saw how you kept the faith and continue to keep the faith once Dad passed. I love you.
                  God is good. St. Catherine of Siena, pray for us!