A passionate Catholic priest

I have not often discussed my religion, my feelings about the teachings of the church or for that matter, evangelized in any sort of manner. Today, I am changing that.

I am what is often referred to as a "Cradle Catholic", that is someone that was Baptized and perhaps even catechized and made First Communion and Confirmation. Some even went so far as to be married in the church. Then at some point fell away from the church. Myself, I was Baptized and made First Communion at St. Teresa of Avila in Grants, NM. I was Confirmed at St. Vivian's in Milan, NM and spent the last several years of my youth attending San Rafael Parish in San Rafael, NM.  AS a working teenager, there came a point where I was working on the weekends and it just seemed "easier" to focus on work and not church. At first it was once in a while, then progressed to be more often and even got to the point where attending mass was the exception, not the rule. I am not altogether sure when it happened but one day I realized that I had not been to mass in several weeks. Then it was months and then years, about 30 or so.Yes, I had become a heathen.

In all those years, though I did not go to mass, confession or communion, I still referred to myself as being catholic whenever the topic of religion ever came up. I just always did consider myself as catholic, not really accepting what it meant to be catholic. I married a man that had been previously married, not once but 3 times. We were married by a protestant preacher of some kind. The preacher came as part of the package deal at a "Wedding Chapel" business in Irving, Texas. Never saw him prior to the wedding or afterwards. I took my vows with my now husband Mike as real and lasting as I believe he did as well.

About 2005, as a truck driver running between Dallas, And Laredo, Texas, I started listening to Catholic Radio on XM satellite radio. First just when I couldn't find much else that seem interesting or intriguing, then as time went on, I listened to more shows. I found it interesting how much I remembered about the church and how much more I had forgotten if I had ever learned. I also heard many words of encouragement, welcoming words, accepting words. After kicking around the idea of returning to the church on several occasions over several years, I finally did on January 18, 2009, my mom's birthday.

On that morning, I sat in my truck a little while contemplating going in or leaving. After all, I had been here a few times before and just left. This time was different. It was the 8 am mass at Holy Family of Nazareth in Irving, Texas. A woman, later found her name was Patricia, came over to me and greeted me as did the priest, Father Jerry. I nearly fell into Patricia's arms weeping, overcome with emotions. What a Blessing it was that she was there to receive me and comfort me. She held me as I wept through the entire mass, as best as I can recall. After mass, she took me to the cafeteria, the Parish has a school as well. They had coffee and doughnuts and visiting. Father Jerry, having seen me during mass, came over and also was a great comfort. He asked if I would like a private time to meet and discuss (confess?) anything, and I made an appointment. I truly believe that if it had not been for these two particular people, I may have went in, been anonymous and left, probably never returning again.

My faith journey seems to me to be unique, perhaps it is not, I don't know. It seems we Catholics don't often "tell our stories"or share our faith. I started attending church every week, even bidding on schedules that allowed me to either attend mass or attend meeting of a group referred to as "Re-Membering Church". A group, by the way led by Patricia, who became and still is a dear friend. Unfortunately my job was such that I could not make schedules that allowed for both. The Re-Membering Church class was a sort of refresher class for those that had been away for a long time. Similar to the RCIA program (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) it was geared for adults that may have been away for a short time or like me , a very long time.

In September of 2013, I retired and moved back "home" to New Mexico. I am only a mile from my old Parish of San Rafael (by the way, my birthday is on the Feast of San Rafael). I started attending either San Rafael or St. Vivian's or St. Teresa's, all within a few miles. Just depended on what was planned or what time it was. Now I am pretty much established in San Rafael and very happy. Our old church is an old Spanish mission style , beautiful architecture, stained glass windows and statuary. Some of the things I did miss while attending Holy Family, a newer building in the new style many churches are now.

Now, that is my history, on to the topic of this page, the passionate priest. I had always thought Father Alberto at St. Teresa's was zealous and very animated in his homilies. Then I saw Father Mike and his enthusiasm not only for the Word of God but for his flock, us. I have seen a change in his homilies of late and applaud this change. He has become more adamant about how we as Catholics need to "live our faith" not just give "lip service" on Sunday and forget the teaching of the church the rest of the week. Father Mike is unafraid to mention politics from the pulpit, to discuss how current laws and political views are almost to the point of trying to override our faith and our church. How we as parishioners must also stand up and let our voices be heard and vote, keeping our faith in mind as we do so. Father Mike's homily this past Sunday stirred me to the point I had to restrain myself from standing up and applauding his courage, his strength, his passion. Passion for the unborn child murdered in the womb, passion for the murdered child beaten at the hands of his parent, passion for the medical care that is going to be "determined" by a board, not a doctor and patient. Father Mike's homily made me realize that I, too am passionate about such topics, yet a follower, not a leader. Someone that is happy to sit in the background unnoticed. He also made me realize that I cannot in good conscience continue to be uninvolved.

In my opinion, Father Mike is what a flock like us needs, a leader, someone that is willing and able to nudge, no, push us in the direction we need to be going. Push us in the direction the Bible tells us we should be going. Push us in the direction we know in our hearts we should be going. I only hope that I can say and do more to help to not only push the issues that we need to in the presence of our politicians but to also push our beliefs through sharing with family and friends that are open to discussion.

Father Mike's flame of passion has ignited a spark in me to be nurtured and fanned to help spread that same passion. I hope that I have not overstepped any lines or bounds by posting this. I in fact hope that I may cause someone to rethink their passions and how they can share those with their family and friends.