Introduction · Web view2019/07/01 · But, by far, my most favorite holy Catholic moment was when...

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ContentsIntroduction 4

Why Do You Love Being Catholic? 5

Angel Calhoun 5Bill White 6Joseph Guillory 6Brandon Lomasney 8Beth Simon 8Clare Restrepo 10Deborah Rivault 11Dee Laux 12Janice Krantz 12Doug Waddell 13Ed Bassler 14Guiann Carpenter 15Karen Arnold 15Jeri Ferrara 16Jessica Ragas 16Jo Ann Ligon 17Kaenan Marquette 18Kathy Decareaux 18Linda Beshoner 19Ellen Marino 19Michael Mire 20Pam Ecuyer 21Paul Springer 22

Sandra Martin 22Sean Caffery 22Steve Phillippi 23Vernon Sprawls 23Christine Karl 24Thad Vorozilchak 24

What Is Your Favorite Memory as a Catholic? 26

Jane Maniscalco 26Ron Caruso 26Deacon Stephen W. Sperier 27

Conclusion 28

Dynamic Parish 28

Introduction

Why do you love being Catholic?The answer might come easily to you or it might take some time for reflection. Either way, it’s one of the most important questions you can answer for yourself, those you love, and your parish.There’s something about rediscovering why we love being Catholic that re-energizes us in our own Catholic faith and strengthens our commitment to God. This is particularly important in a time when it can be difficult to be Catholic. Your ‘why’ is meaningful for those you love because your story is inspiring. No matter how ordinary or uneventful it may seem to you, your story holds within it the unique power to engage, inspire, and encourage others in their own faith life. For your parish, knowing why you love being Catholic and sharing it is a massive contribution to the development of a vibrant, faith-filled community. Imagine for a moment if you went to Mass next Sunday knowing why the person next to you loves her faith. How powerful would that be? What follows are the stories of some of the bold and generous parishioners of Most Holy Trinity. Some of these reflections were offered in writing, while others were given as oral testimonies prior to Sunday masses. These are the men and women of your community. They are just like you. They spend their days working and striving to love God and those around them as best they can. And these are their authentic and deeply personal stories. May their stories encourage you and inspire you to know your ‘why’ and to generously share it with others.

Why Do You Love Being Catholic?Angel Calhoun

This is a question I am hardly asked. When I think about my faith, there is not a pinpoint moment where I started to believe; my faith has been a part of me since I can remember. My mother raised us Catholic; we said Rosaries in front of her collection of Virgin Mary statues every night, went to every Mass, including daily Mass when we could.

I altar served for over 8 years and have been teaching CCD and/or children’s liturgy for almost 10 years. However, all of these things added up are not the reason why I love being Catholic. Although they contribute to my love and admiration for my faith, they are not at the core center of reasoning.

Why I love being Catholic comes from my mother! My mother is the strongest individual that I know. I not only admire her, but I try to emulate her every day, and that includes her devotion and love for her faith. Her grandmother was bedridden with two strokes and Alzheimer’s, and when she passed, I would ask my mom why God let her suffer for so long, and she would always smile and tell me what her grandmother would always tell her: “God gave her that cross to bear, and she would bear it with love knowing that God was with her.” She devoted her life to the church and passed that devotion on to my mother, who has instilled it in me.

My mother built my faith foundation and instilled in me a strong love and devotion, and God has given me the tools and strength to continue to build for the rest of my life. Like many, I have turned to God heavily in a time of need, but my mother has taught me that you do not just turn to him in need, but you turn to him always and every day to thank him for what you have, and not just to ask for what you are without.

I truly believe that without my mother, I would not have a strong faith that I have today, and I would not love being Catholic as much as I do today. When I have lost faith, my mother helped to remind me why I should continue to believe. God has always been there for me no matter how far I have gone astray, and I believe that he gave me my mother to help guide me to him always.

My mother taught me to pray and take time out of your day to speak to God and thank him for your blessing, which is one of my favorite times of the day! I cannot imagine my life without Catholicism, and I cannot imagine

my life without my mom there to help me love my faith more and more each day. However, I know that one day God will take my mother home to be with him.

Although that thought seems unbearable, I take heart knowing that I will still love being Catholic, because I know that God will give me that cross to bear and that I will do so knowing my mother is with him, looking over me. Why do I love being Catholic? Plain and simple, my mom!

Bill White I’ve been asked to tell why I love being Catholic. There are two

problems with this, as my 7th grade CCD class can tell you. First, I will choke up several times during the telling... and that the story will go on forever. So that we will not need to make room for the 9:00 crowd that follows this mass, I’ll stick to the little that I have written….(I hope). I was raised in a good Catholic family: Mass every Sunday, know your catechism, do good.

So, promptly at the age of 18, I left my parent’s house and became nothing. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe in God. I just thought that Jesus and I could be friends. (It doesn’t work.) I fashioned a life for myself—a life without God. Ten years down the road, my mom says to me, “Honey, I want to go to a special Mass tonight. You don’t want me going alone, do you?” Who can say no when a mom asks such a thing?

She invited me to the first Medjugorje Peace Mass held at St. Cletus Parish. I wanted to go just to hear about the rosaries that turned to gold and the miracles, but, truthfully, I have no idea what went on at Mass that night. I was taken somewhere else and shown the smallest drop of God’s Love. I like to say that Jesus’ mom took a holy baseball bat and beat the hell out of me. That night I was filled with such awe and joy and love that I thought that, if I were given any more, I would die. We went home, and I was still exhilarated from experience.

Then it was the most amazing thing. I woke up the next morning, and my whole world was back to normal as if nothing had happened. I knew at that moment that I had to make a choice between the horrible life I was living and the wonderful path that God had shown me the night before. I gave my heart to God, and he gave me a wonderfully blessed life that I do not deserve.

Joseph GuilloryI was born during WWII during a statewide blackout, July 6, 1943, to

Joseph Yves Guillory, Sr. and Elizabeth Mc Derby Guillory in Ville Platte, La. My mother was Baptist, who converted before my sister and I were born. My father was French, and he didn't learn English until he was in first grade. My mother was born in Tioga, La of parents from Michigan and Kansas. She became Catholic to avoid confusing us children. She was a practicing Catholic until her death in 1989. She was a believer in the Rosary, as was my older sister, Betty. Much later in life, I picked it up, and my wife Mary Ellen and I have said the Rosary nightly for many years now. Her parents were German and Irish, so we got some Catholic influence there, too.

I'm a cradle Catholic, who left the Seminary after a short 6 months. I wanted to go to LSU, but my Mother thought that Spring Hill, a Jesuit College in Mobile, AL, would be more appropriate for an ex-seminarian. I got to Spring Hill in February 1962 and went to a Biology Class of 17 girls and me. My professor suggested I borrow notes from the first semester from one of the young ladies I sat next to. That young lady and I were 18 at the time. She said OK to borrowing the notes and a few years later married me. We will celebrate 54 years of marriage this December 28. Yes, I'm Joseph, and she's Mary. Our children are Ann Elizabeth and Michael Joseph. I know you were probably thinking of another name for our son. We have two granddaughters, Carolyn 16 and Elyse 7. I only went to Spring Hill for a year and moved back to Ville Platte for a year's hiatus to work in a local Radio Station as a deejay. After much pressure from my Mom, I went to USL, now ULL, in January 1964. Mary Ellen and I kept in touch for that time, and she later moved to Louisiana to marry me. She started teaching school in Lafayette while I finished and graduated from USL in 1967.

For many years, I became a very shallow Catholic who begrudged going to Mass, but later in life, while living in Florida, I saw a "Catholics Come Home" ad on TV in Ft. Myers, in the Diocese of Venice, FL. That lead to buying tickets to a Matthew Kelly presentation in Clearwater, FL around maybe 2010. I actually met him and shook his hand. After reading his book "Rediscover Catholicism," I did.

Since then, I've been a more responsible practicing Catholic, joined the Men's Club at Resurrection Parish in Fort Myers, FL, and was an usher too. We moved back to Louisiana in June 2017, and, through the MHT bulletin, I asked to become active in the Knights of Columbus, and our KC Friend, Mr. John Calico, God Rest His Soul, contacted me a couple of times, and I

became active again. I've since become a 4th Degree KC and do a lot of work with the Knights. So I love being Catholic, because if it were not instilled in me at an early age with 12 years of Catholic School nuns, family, and later Matthew Kelly, maybe I would have continued to drown out the voice of our Lord, and I would not be standing here before you today professing my faith. Thank God for Catholicism and MHT, Praise our Lord, Jesus Christ, God Bless our great country, America, and God Bless you my fellow MHT parishioners, and our clergy, deacons, my brother Knights and community. Please pray for our Pro-Life Movement and me and my family. Thank You!

Brandon LomasneyI have been a parishioner of MHT for nearly 10 years. For those who do know me, especially those who know me best, you know that I am, well… let’s say less than perfect, which happens to be perfect segue way for what I love about being Catholic…the sacrament of Reconciliation. Reconciliation offers us the opportunity for forgiveness of sins, and in doing so, we naturally become closer to God. It doesn’t matter how large or small, how minor or grave the sin is, it is forgiven…unconditionally…forever...or until the next time. Wow! It offers us a do-over, a second, a third, a hundredth chance as we strive to get it right, and all we have to do it go.

Let’s think about this for just a second—unconditional forgiveness, regardless of the offense. While many of us may or may not be aware of who has not forgiven us for something that we did or didn’t do, most of us struggle to forgive in some form or fashion. For instance, for me personally, there are two or three referees and a certain NFL commissioner that I have not yet forgiven, not that I won’t, but I just can’t…My point is to think about how hard it is to forgive and how difficult it is for others to forgive us…truly forgive us. Yet God gives us this opportunity to hit the reset button any time we want. All we have to do is ask. The questions is…do we ask, do we ask often enough, and if we don’t, why the heck not.

With that, and in closing, thank you for the opportunity to share what I love most about being a Catholic. Hopefully, it has inspired a few of us to take advantage of the awesome opportunity God has given us.

Beth SimonMy “Why I love being Catholic” story probably begins much like most

of yours: Born and raised in New Orleans and surrounding areas, it’s in my veins, my culture, my surroundings. Others have referred to us here as “Catholic Disneyland,” and few would argue with that.

Catholic or not, we honor St. Patrick with parades and St. Joseph with altars, (and to the chagrin of Father, we bury him to sell our houses.) Our most iconic celebration, Mardi Gras, originates from our observance of Lent. We all show up for ashes and feast on seafood during Lent. Our “counties” are called “parishes.” Tourists visit our Catholic cemeteries. Drive 10 minutes in any direction, and you’ll find another Catholic church. Even our beloved football team is named in honor of our Catholic heroes.

But that strong Catholic enculturation failed me when, after a few solid years of Baltimore Catechism as a youngster, I hit the thin catechesis of the 1970s. We learned—only—that “God is love.” We made collages to show that “God is love.” We listened to music that told us that “God was love.” All true, but wasn’t there more?

So when my young daughters were old enough to start their religious education—something I placed great value in—and I wanted to become involved, I found myself woefully unprepared. What were these Old Testament Bible stories that I was supposed to be teaching preschoolers? What were the “4 marks of the Church” that I was to teach to the 4th graders?

Embarrassed to be a Catholic who knew so little, I took it upon myself to learn, first through parish-based classes, and then with a more formal degree program. It was demanding, but I thought, at the end of my life, how can I explain to Christ that I had time to do everything else in life, but no time to learn about him?

And the things that I discovered in my studies are really “Why I love being Catholic.’’

Church history taught me that we are THE church that Christ founded. All others fell away. I learned that, as a human institution with human frailties, we are still able to preserve the truth Christ taught—and even apply that truth in today’s confusing world—because Christ’s Spirit himself resides within our Church!

I learned that no pope has ever taught, in his official capacity, a doctrinal error. (How does that happen, except through the presence of God’s spirit in the Church?!?) I proudly learned of the contributions of the Catholic Church to the advancement of civilization: We founded the university system; our scientific contributions are too numerous to list here; we are still the largest social aid organization in the world.

Study of liturgy and the Sacraments showed me that we and we alone understand and fully express how the Old Testament is fulfilled in Christ. It promised me that, at Mass, we are united with the whole Church, natural and spiritual, and that I can “commune” with my departed loved ones through the liturgy.

I learned that, when I have acted without first seeking Christ’s truth through the teachings of the Church, I have paid the (sometimes painful) consequences. But our Church also offers us an “onramp” back on the right path—through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

And I learned, perhaps most impactfully to me, that the Catholic Church—alone—communicates fully and correctly Christ’s view of our salvation: that we are not merely “seen” as saved, but that, through the grace and merits of Christ, communicated through the sacraments He left us, I can actually be transformed, be changed, become closer to what Christ wants me to be. Is there anything more hopeful than that? To know that we can begin to “kingdom build” here and now? In anticipation of what’s to come?

And yes, in the end, I came to understand that “God is love,” Father, Son, and Spirit. Everything he instructs, everything he commands, everything he wills for us…truly IS out of love, for our own good!

The Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen said—and I paraphrase—that he’d never met a person who was opposed to the Catholic Church, only those who were opposed to what they thought the Catholic Church was. For me, learning more about “what the Catholic Church really is” has made me love her even more. And that love makes me desirous of wanting others to know and love her as well.

So I hope and pray for all of us—those in the Church or out, or somewhere in-between—that all can come to know the truth and beauty that is Christ’s Church, the Catholic Church, so that we can truly know and experience God’s love for us.

Clare RestrepoI love being Catholic because—it is who I am. My ancestry is Acadian,

being born and raised in southwest Louisiana. I can trace my family back many generations. The Acadian people did not have an easy life, being exiled from France, then Nova Scotia, but through their many struggles, they never gave up their Catholic faith. The culture of the faith has been handed down through generation after generation of my family. So being Catholic for me is sort of a genetic thing.

After high school, I left the church for many years. I was not reading the Word of God, and I was doing things my own way because I felt that I did not need God. But after 30 or so years of this life, and after a series of 6 funeral masses of very close relatives in one year, I began listening to the words of the liturgy in the funeral masses. I could feel the prayers of my deceased family members pushing me back into the faith. I can still remember gathering up the courage and humility to go to confession one Saturday afternoon, and because I was late, I had to chase the priest down in

the parking lot to come back and hear my confession. It was worth the chase.

I attribute the prayers from all of my old relatives with encouraging me to start cooperating with grace and realize that the fullness of the means of my salvation is found in the Catholic Church. Jesus Christ founded the Church to preserve the truth that he gave us, and it has been handed down through the centuries. It was handed down to me through all of my relatives and friends.

I love belonging to something bigger than myself. I love the fact that I can go to Mass all over the world, and it is the same Mass, in the same way, with the same liturgy, just maybe in a different language. I love belonging to the communion of saints, having the sacraments, the liturgy, benediction, sitting in front of the Blessed Sacrament, the rhythm of the liturgical calendar, the Old Testament, New Testament, etc. etc., etc. I feel extremely blessed to be a part of it all. And please do not underestimate the power of your prayers.

Deborah RivaultWhen I was asked to speak to you and give a bit of testimony on why I

love being Catholic, one word immediately resonated with me: Family. My hometown is Baton Rouge, and I come from a large Catholic family, in that my extended family numbers 32 first cousins. My LeBlanc family has been in the Church for centuries, and our faith has always been most prominent through the generations. We were a close family and shared many Catholic celebrations and sacraments together so it seemed only natural that when I was married and started my own family, that all those aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents were there for us, to support us and guide us; however, when we moved to the North Shore 18 years ago, it was difficult leaving that support system and all of our family behind. It seemed only natural to seek out our Catholic Parish family near to our home. That was first Our Lady of the Lake and then, nine years ago, became Most Holy Trinity. We found comfort and support among our new Catholic parish, and it is our parish home. We have made many new friends and now count y'all in as our family members.

As Jesus tells us in 1 John 4:19: "We love because he first loved us." The first love most of us feel is from our family. Our family shows us God's love. Recently, we celebrated our high school graduates at a special mass. My son, Miles, was among the high school group, and my oldest son, Hayes, was also a graduate from LSU. Father Rodney gave blessings and a special reminder that ALL are welcome to come back HOME whenever they may need some support or guidance or just that comfort that comes from being among FAMILY—their Catholic Family.

Lastly, I appreciate that this family is universal. I can travel on vacation and still find my Catholic family. It is reassuring that, although I step into an unfamiliar church and not see any familiar faces, I still feel right at home because our Catholic family is right there in those unfamiliar pews. Recently, we attended mass at St. Sylvester parish in Navarre Beach, Florida. After the final blessing, the deacon spoke directly to any visitors saying that he was glad to have us and appreciative that we made their parish our "home away from home." In the Compendium to the social teaching of the church, it states that "God, in Christ, redeems not only the individual person but also the social relations existing between men." The love of our families and of all of us comes with us. So I would like to thank all of you for being my Catholic family, and I am proud to call y'all my Most Holy Trinity cousins!

Dee LauxI love being Catholic because it lets me sing to God, "I love how You

love me!" Being Catholic, for me, means always discovering more ways to connect with God. I love how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit incorporated me into their Trinitarian life by Baptism, and how the Trinity keeps me empowered with the sacraments. I am grateful to the Church, which has given me the Bible, God's loving Word for me to ponder. I love the Mass because it engages me in Christ's worship of the Father and affects the world's salvation. I love the Liturgy of the Hours because I can pray with the universal Church her song of love to God. I love that the Church encourages us to use sacramentals—blessed objects like statues, holy pictures, and rosaries—because I can place them in my home, car, office to remind me God is waiting for me to come to Him.

I am enriched by and committed to the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church, and I enjoy the Communion of Saints, that caring family of the Church in heaven, in purgatory and on earth. I cherish Mary, our Mother, whom Jesus gave me from the cross, and the ever-growing numbers of canonized saints that show me what God can do with people who are humble of heart. I love that I can help the souls in purgatory get to heaven and that, when I am in purgatory, I can count on the Church on earth to help me out of purgatory with every Mass that is offered. I am ever grateful that both my parents' families were ordinary people who lived their Catholic faith and passed it on to me. My friends and I have so much to share because we are Catholic. Wherever I happen to be, every time I go to Mass, I belong to a prayer family, no matter in what language that Mass is being offered.

I love being Catholic because this enriched life is what Jesus wanted for me from all eternity. I love that He wanted me to know the bountiful truth of what He stands for through the pope and the Magisterium of the Church. I love that I can confidently listen to the Church and let Jesus form me in faith and morals, preparing me for a life of knowing and loving Our Father in heaven. I love that we have the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the riches it opens up for me. I love being Catholic because it lets me sing to God, "I love how You love me!"

Janice KrantzI am a Catholic, but let’s be clear. I was not raised in a Catholic

household. My mother was a devout and spiritual Lutheran, and my father,

although raised in a strict Catholic family, did not practice the Catholic faith. As a result, my exposure to Catholicism was limited to mass once a week for an hour as I sat in the very last row of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church with our neighbor who was kind enough to get me there and back. To compound my confusion, I was Confirmed at the end of my fourth-grade year. I was too young to realize what I still did not know, but for the next twenty or so years, I continued performing the motions, silently reading along in the missalette.

Circumstances eventually led me to my guardian angel on earth, Kathy Huff, who taught me to believe in myself, fostering my love for teaching and being the voice God used to call me as a lector to stand before the parishioners of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. Then, as now, I would pray for God’s grace before each Mass I participated in. There’s a peace that transforms you when you stand before your friends and neighbors and allow someone else to use your eyes to read and your voice to speak. With that peace comes understanding. My life was beginning to make sense, and then Katrina took it away.

Though I felt as if God had abandoned me, he was always there through the next several years, always watching, waiting for me to acknowledge him. While on a goodwill tour to Rome, I was humbled by the unexpected request to serve as a lector for the morning mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. Standing in the pulpit, sharing His word, I felt the overwhelming grace of God’s healing power, opening my heart, and, eventually, leading me to Most Holy Trinity. But something was still missing until January 29, 2017, when Pam stood in front of the congregation and asked for a volunteer—somebody, please—who was willing and in any way able to serve as a lector.

Many of you were here that morning as I hesitantly raised my hand. What you don’t know is that that was our 40th wedding anniversary, and I was processing my own disappointment that there were no plans for any type of celebration. God gave me the greatest gift of all that day, the celebration of his grace, calling me back to his altar to serve him and his community. I love being a Catholic because that just means I get to be myself. God has a way of knowing who we are and what we need and where we fit in his plan. We just have to be willing to raise our hand.

Doug WaddellMy wife and I and our four children have been a member of this parish

since the Roquette Lodge days. (Which if any of you are wondering where

that was, on Hwy 22 in the lobby of the lodge, before the days of Mr. Fish!) It has been a huge inspiration as a Catholic, to see the growth that this parish has had! I can tell by this growth that there are a lot of you who love being Catholic! Let me share with you why I love being Catholic.

15 years ago, I was asked to partake as a drummer in a Life Teen praise and worship band in Ponchatoula, St. Joseph Church. We played for the 5 o’clock Mass and did that for 12 years. What an experience! I saw the congregation grow from 150 people at Mass to 400! What a spiritual event that was to witness.

After that ended, we continued to do: youth and adult retreats, adorations with monstrance exposed, healing services with Fr. Anthony out of Luling, La., and an outstanding experience watching him pray over people, especially a woman who could not conceive a baby after 4 miscarriages and an almost fatal ectopic pregnancy, who shared her testimony of meeting with Sr. Maria Dulce who prayed over her, and a Life in the Spirit Seminar with the Marian Servants and experience from all walks of life and their life-changing spiritual testimonies that have happened to them as Catholics. And last but not least, Sangria & Salsa, here at Most Holy Trinity was a fantastic celebration of community fellowship.

What I realized was that there are ALL kinds of Catholic opportunities or events that can help you as a Catholic embrace our faith and grow. These are my examples of why I love being Catholic. Oh and by the way, the woman who went to the healing Mass and had Sr. Dulce pray over her…is my daughter, who is now 3 months pregnant! Thank you, and may God bless you.

Ed BasslerI am a parishioner of Most Holy Trinity. Easter weekend the parish

distributed copies of Why I Love Being Catholic after each Mass. I have been asked to share with you why I love being Catholic. First and foremost, I love the Mass! When I attend Mass each week, I feel as if I am getting a spiritual “tune-up” from the One person who knows the owner’s manual better than anyone else. Also, only in the Catholic Church do we get the TRUE Jesus during Mass in the Eucharist. Where else can you get the true Jesus at church?

And if the Liturgy of the Eucharist wasn’t enough to “feed my soul” during the Mass, we also have the Liturgy of the Word. There are times that I have listened to the Word and have been moved to tears imagining I was

there when it happened. What I also love about my Catholic faith is the JOY (and inspiration) that I receive from my Catholic church family. I once heard in a homily several years ago that you can have JOY in your life if you put Jesus first, others second, and yourself last. I have been so blessed to be a part of the Most Holy Trinity faith community. I see my fellow parishioners living out their vocations and going above and beyond in our church community. This, my MHT parish family, is what I love about being Catholic!

Guiann Carpenter I am a parishioner here at Most Holy Trinity Church. Terri Derbes asked

me if I would speak for a couple of minutes on why I love being Catholic. The first thing that came to my mind was the Eucharist. The Eucharist is so special to me that sometimes when I think about it, it brings tears to my eyes—the thought that I am truly receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, the same Jesus that walked the earth and died for me 2,000 years ago. When I receive Him, He is in me. I have him all to myself—just the two of us. How awesome is that! No other Churc can offer me that gift. I couldn’t see myself being anything else but a Catholic and meeting Him every time that I go to Holy Communion. What a miracle and a gift from our God! That is one of my reasons that I love being a Catholic. It would take me a lifetime to tell you all of the reasons that I love my faith. Thank you.

Karen ArnoldAs I get older, I have become wiser and more grateful that I am

Catholic. I was baptized as an infant; made my first Communion and Confirmation at the appropriate age. After Confirmation, I truly enjoyed being a soldier in the Lord's army. I read the story of the Little Flower, Therese of Lisieux, as my Confirmation Saint. Later I read about Padre Pio, which also made God more real to me. As I went into my teenage years, I was to go on to a great Catholic high school with the terrific Daughters of Charity nuns, which guided me into my nursing career.

There were many highs and lows in my nursing career; however, I always enjoyed taking care of patients. Even today, I attempt to help people who tell me about their physical needs. As my life went on, I met my previous husband, and as he wasn't Catholic, my belief waned and, thinking our relationship was enough, I was out of church for about a year. I felt something was missing in my life. The reason we came back to the Church was the priest said he could not baptize my daughter because we were not married in the Catholic Church. We came to an agreement that I would promise to return to the Church. I promised to continue going to Church on Sundays. I have only missed Sunday Church due to illness. I love being Catholic in this church community, especially going to different parishes at different times in my life. MHT has been a total inspiration with its more than 35 ministries run by devoted parishioners, a fantastic church office, terrific deacons, and fabulous priest leaders. Looking back over my whole life, I know and realize Jesus has always been my protector and always provided me with someone to guide and help me when in distress—like the night my

car stalled at 10:30 p.m. and I was very alone. A nice truck driver on the way home stopped and took me back to his service station, found the part the car needed to fix it, and wouldn't accept anything but a thank you from me.

Due to the adult formation scripture classes here, daily Mass, and serving holy communion as a Eucharist ministry, I have learned that Jesus is my friend, my redeemer, my protector, my father, and most of all my Savior. This is why I enjoy being Catholic.

Jeri FerraraI love being Catholic. I can't remember a time that I didn't love being

Catholic or of a time when I didn't want to attend Mass. But when I was 10, one Sunday Mass left me unmoved. We were in Ordinary Time, and Mass felt... ordinary. The next Sunday, I again felt it lacking. After much thought, I went to my mother and apologized that I had lost my gift of faith, the birth gift she and Dad had given me. She calmly responded that some people only find faith by questioning it. She told me to bring all my questions to her, and she would help me. So over the next few weeks of summer, Mom and I talked. She had an answer for every question, until one day she didn't. She said. "I can't answer that. But can you believe it anyway?"

To escape her eyes, I looked away. As I did, my eyes fell on a light switch. Instantly I realized that I didn't know how it worked, but I knew that it would. So, I faced her and said, "Yes, I believe." Mom's response was, "There you have it. That's faith: being unable to explain something, yet believing it anyway."

I did have faith, and I couldn't wait until Sunday to return to Mass. So the next day, I began what became a regular occurrence: weekday Mass with my Dad. Soon I noticed that the men who were regulars took turns as altar servers. I felt it was unfair that I couldn't do something special too. Dad corrected me. He offered that I could be an active participant. He said, "Now this is more than singing, standing, kneeling and not everyone does it." Did I want to accept this role? Well, sign me up! Here is what I was to do:

● to listen to what special message God has for me;● to thank Jesus for all He did to redeem me, and● to accept grace from the Holy Spirit so I can be of service to others.

I always leave Mass with all my needs met. Only the Catholic Church has The Liturgy of the Word, The Liturgy of the Eucharist, Heaven on earth. I love that. I love being Catholic.

Jessica RagasHonestly, there are concrete answers that make a lot of sense to me.

For example, we can trace every pope back to St. Peter, and we know that Jesus appointed Peter to be the first pope when He said, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,” (Matthew 16:18. Fun fact, the name “Peter” means “rock” in Latin). But besides the Truth that I believe the Catholic Church is, I’ve never experienced more authentic love than in the Sacraments, and in the community I have found. Some can say they have a community in other religions, but in the community that I have found within the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, there’s an intimacy we all strive for with God through the Sacraments.

The Sacraments, especially Holy Communion and Reconciliation, were given to us by Christ himself, to be a part of His church, to receive His love and mercy tangibly. If it weren’t for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, I would not know Christ’s love and mercy. It’s one thing to walk into a confessional, confess your sins, and walk out to just get it over with, but there was one confession I will never forget. Don’t worry, I won’t tell you about my sins. It was last fall while I was in Wichita, KS. I went into confession, feeling so ashamed and embarrassed. I was crying before I could say anything. I put my face in my hands; I couldn’t look at the priest because of my shame. As I talked through my tears, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the priest was leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, and he never took his eyes off of me.

When I finished talking, he said, “Jessica, look at me. I love you, and Christ loves you.” He saw me. Christ saw me in my shame. He called me by name, and He didn’t love me less. In fact, it grew more intensely because He knew I was broken, and He wanted to heal me. I’ve never forgotten that gaze. I go back to it continuously in prayer. We must allow ourselves to be seen by Christ. We must forgive ourselves and allow Christ to heal us as He desires. I am so incredibly grateful for that priest who allowed Christ to use him to love me.

Jo Ann LigonI love being Catholic because there is always somebody there for you.

Someone who puts your spiritual well-being ahead of their own personal

problems and troubles and concerns. The church has always provided a priest to be there for me in my life…always.

I think back on the beautiful inspiration that I received from priests in the Catholic Church. I remember Good Fridays at Mater Dolorosa with Fr. Joseph. “Don’t come late and don’t leave early,” he would say. “I can’t bless the back of your head.” As a teen, I found those services to be so touching and moving. I love being Catholic.

Kaenan MarquetteWhenever I wrote this speech, I figured I should answer the question

“Why Am I Catholic or Why Do I Love Being Catholic?” The typical answer for any of us kids is “because my parents are, and they take me to Catholic churches.” However, I do love being Catholic. The Catholic Church is one big community that we are all part of, and I found my sense of community with the Most Holy Trinity Youth Group.

The Youth Group, specifically the Jr. High group, helped me feel more connected to the church like I am part of the church, a feeling I have never had before with other churches. I used to refer to the church as “a church,” but now I refer to it as “our church” or “my church.” It gives me a sense of ownership, and the Youth Group helped me tremendously with that because being a part of a church-related group made me feel like a part of the church as a whole and not just as a random person in a pew.

I also like the beliefs of the Catholic Church. We believe in God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit. We believe in Mary, our mother. We believe in saints, who are ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Plus, we Catholics have tons of cool holy sites to visit. How cool is that? It looks like I’m out of time, so if you are a 5th grader or above and feel like you do not yet have the sense of Catholic community I just described, give the Youth Group a try. I have to leave you with these parting words: Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things.

Kathy DecareauxI was recently posed with the question, “Why do I love being Catholic?

What are my first thoughts”? Well, my first thought was—that is a good question, and I have not really sincerely thought about it. The next thought is what touched my heart. I LOVE the Sacraments! Then memories started flooding in, the high points in my life from early childhood on, recalling the Baptism of my little sister, my First Communion, my Confirmation, and then celebrating with those that I love who were receiving their Sacraments. These events were a BIG deal in my family and my life. Then, due to my own fault of sin, I was at a point in my life where I could not receive the Eucharist and was feeling separated from Jesus. This was a very difficult time. However, the beauty in this is that my Catholic church has taught me about the mercy and forgiveness of our Lord.

Through the prayers of others and myself, and doing what I needed to do, I was brought back to a very important Sacrament, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and therefore, able to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage and, once again, able to receive the Eucharist. What a joyful day that was, being able to receive the precious body and blood of Jesus and the grace that comes with that. My Catholic faith has taught me to allow myself to be open to receiving God’s love. HE NEVER gave up on me and always nudged me to return to HIM. He gave me this beautiful gift—the Sacrament of Reconciliation showing me HIS DIVINE MERCY AND LOVE. That is why I LOVE being Catholic.

Linda BeshonerWhat a question! I’m a Catholic because my parents were Catholic. I

was Baptized a Catholic. I was raised a Catholic. I went to Catholic school, etc. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that’s why I WAS a Catholic, not why I AM a Catholic now. It’s the church founded by Jesus Christ. It’s the church that has the True Presence of Jesus Christ here for us all the time...day and night. I grew up knowing that Jesus is present—body, blood, soul, and divinity—in the Eucharist. I am of the Baltimore Catechism generation. My head understood that. It wasn’t until I attended a Baptism 10 years ago in another Christian church that my eyes were opened to what that really means. It was a beautiful and moving ceremony. It was amazing to hear the words and see the water poured over that beautiful child.

The pastor spoke eloquently. He was inspiring. As I sat there, as wonderful as it was, I felt something was missing, and it took me a while to realize what that something was...that it was Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament on the altar. It was, as they say, an AHA moment. It was the beginning of a journey to explore more of my Catholic faith. I started taking Faith Formation classes here. The more I studied the Bible, the more pumped up I got, and the more I wanted to learn. I knew that the Mass went back to the biblical times but had absolutely no idea why we do and say the things we do and say. Every single thing has meaning...every word and every action. Everything Jesus fulfilled in the New Testament was foreshadowed in the Old. The Mass is all of it. The Mass is heaven on earth. So “why am I Catholic?” Because I can’t imagine being anything else!

Ellen MarinoWhat a wonderful opportunity to share with My Most Holy Trinity

Family why I love being Catholic. I hope you each received your Easter Book and, if not, please pick one up on your way out today. The book shares little stories from Catholics around the country about why they love being Catholic, favorite memories about growing up Catholic, and hopes for the future.

I was blessed to grow up with six siblings. I am right in the middle and have many wonderful memories of Catholic moments we experienced growing up…Baptisms, Communions, Confirmations, and getting everyone ready for Mass. As kids, we played Mass a lot. We used our little Mass books like the ones you got when you made your first Communion. I remember smashing white bread for communion. Now, as an adult, I actually am blessed to be able to give the Real Body and Blood of Christ to my fellow parishioners.

I also remember organizing Holy Cards in my missal. We even did a little trading—always on the lookout for the perfect card. I love that, wherever I am when traveling, I can attend Mass and know that I will feel welcomed and what the liturgy will be. I am able to receive the Body of Christ with my brothers and sisters all over the world. How amazing.

My Mom’s go-to prayer was the Hail Mary. A few years ago, when she was dying, most of my siblings were with her, and we knew it was near the end. We held hands and said a Hail Mary. When we said “Now and at the hour of our death, Amen,” She took one last breath. We all looked at each other and knew. How wonderful that Mary was with her and us at that moment.

I am sure you have some wonderful Catholic memories, reasons why you love being Catholic and your hopes for the future. You can write yours and put them in the Blue basket in the Narthex, or you can use the link on MHT webpage and enter them online. We hope to publish our own MHT Why I love being a Catholic booklet. How wonderful that we get to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday together. Hope your day is amazing.

Michael MireI am a Parishioner here at Most Holy Trinity, along with my wife Susan

and our sons Joey, Noah, and Christian. This morning, I would like to share with you some of the reasons I love being Catholic.

To begin with, I love being part of the “true” church that Jesus came to establish over 2000 years ago. He was born of the Virgin Mary, He became Flesh and Dwelt among us. He chose 12 Apostles to grow His church and spread His message across the World. He gave us the Eucharist, where we are able to receive Him, Body and Blood, and He will dwell among us and in us. Just think for a moment, the same Jesus that came years ago, performed miracles, and suffered and died for us, wants to live in US. His Presence is felt whenever we receive HIM. I feel such peace when I am in His presence. I can speak to Him and Listen to what He says to me in the silence of my heart.

I also love the Mercy He has for us. Jesus wants us to be with Him in paradise. Here, today, at Mass, we will experience the peace of what Heaven is like. He has given us the Sacrament of Reconciliation to repent for our sins and strive to do better. He has also given us our community—you, my brothers and sisters. Being able to speak to you and hear of your struggles and challenges in your own life, some, similar to my own, lets me know that I am not alone. Hearing how you deal with things helps me improve, as we journey on this road together. The Church has been persecuted since it was founded, yet, by the power of God, has continued to flourish and bring others to the faith. We are part of that family that has educated, fed, and cared for more sick people here and around the world than other institutions and governments.

I love how, whenever I travel and find another Catholic church, I am blessed to hear the message, anywhere in the world. Our Catholic family is not just here, but throughout the world. I love how the church has methodically put together the readings of the gospel and how we can see the connection with the Old and the New Testament. Today, we will celebrate the Ascension of our Lord into heaven, where He is now seated at the right hand of God. In His going, He prepares the way for the Holy Spirit to come to us. Oh, how wonderful it is to seek His guidance and blessings in my life. Thank you for hearing from me this morning. I hope and pray that each and every one of you appreciates the blessing of being Catholic. I thank you for being part of my family and continuing on this journey with me. God Bless.

Pam EcuyerThis is totally out of my comfort zone. When I was asked to do this, my

first thought was: “They are getting to the bottom of the barrel!” Why do I love being a Catholic? We all have so many reasons. For me, it has always been two reasons: 1) feeling that I am part of a large family and, 2) most importantly, being able to receive Holy Communion.

Both of my families have always been so important. Let’s compare: At Grandmother’s house, I was always welcomed with open arms. When I walk into this house, I am welcomed with these open arms (gesturing to the large crucifix above the altar). I had my Aunt Wilma, who would always have something to say about what you were wearing. Here, we have Fr. Rodney. I had Uncle Louie, who always had a joke. We have Father Dean. My Grandma would tell the best stories about growing up and her life in the country. Here, we have some of the greatest stories ever written. Then it was time to pray and share the best meal. Here, with this family, we say our prayers and take part in the greatest meal there ever was. When I receive communion, God always gives me the strength to accept His will. These are some of the reasons I love both my families. Having y’all as family, and having the opportunity to be in communion with y’all is why I love being Catholic.

Paul SpringerFirst of all, I love being Catholic because we have a two-thousand-year

history of believers, and though we’ve had some dark periods, there have been plenty of shining lights to inspire us, even up to today—people in our own lives who witness to the Way of Christ. Second, we as the Catholic community are big enough to speak to nations and to the culture of today about truths found in the Gospel and the moral issues confronting our modern world. And we’re small enough to touch our neighbors.

Third, and best of all, I love being Catholic because Christ is not through with us yet. For the past fifty years, we’ve been struggling to redefine ourselves and realize who we are based on the Gospel and our early Christian roots, and the documents of the Church. We believe that the Holy Spirit is leading us forward in the modern world and a worldwide institution, as local communities trying to live Christ’s Way, and as individual believers deepening our spiritual relationship with Christ and one another through prayer and action. This is why I love being Catholic.

Sandra MartinCatholicism brings me into a new life in Jesus Christ. I am able to

"abide" in him (Eucharist) because I have been "born again of water and the spirit" (Baptism and Confirmation). Life in the Spirit now and for all eternity is mine! No matter what is going on in this world, the Spirit of God enables me to "rejoice and be glad" (Divine Providence and Divine Mercy). Mass, the Rosary, the Liturgy of the Hours, prayer with scripture—all fill my soul each day. I cannot imagine what life would be like without these ways to keep my "branch" affixed to His "vine."

Sean CafferyI’ve been a part of this parish since the time I thought the Church was

just a cool place to nap and eat cheerios in the back. I’ve been an altar server for as long as I can remember, and have loved every minute of it. There are many reasons I love being Catholic. To name them all would be to name everything about the Catholic faith. One of the main reasons is the fact that the Church shows time and time again that it doesn’t matter what age you are. No matter what, you can make a difference.

We’ve all heard many times that God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called. No matter how old you are or how young you are, God has a specific calling for you. I’ve always loved this idea that I’m not just standing idle. I’m constantly working towards the plan that God has for my life. Although I don’t 100 percent know what God has planned for me, I know that everything right now is leading up to that plan.

Another main reason I love being Catholic is all of the excellent role models that we have to show us what living how God intended looks like. From Jesus Christ himself to Mary, the Queen of Heaven, to all the Saints, modeling our lives off of any of these will bring us into such a deep love of Jesus. God loves us so much, and He gives us everything we need, and all He asks is that we trust Him and follow Him. In a few moments, we will all pray the vocation prayer, and I ask that you pray that you can more deeply understand your calling in life, and pray that all those around you may also understand their calling.

And that is my last favorite reason for being Catholic—the community. Thank you so much. I hope you all have a blessed Sunday.

Steve PhillippiI love being Catholic because it has brought me to not only know about

Jesus but to know Him and develop a deep relationship with Him. I look forward to seeing Him and receiving Him in the Eucharist and knowing that when I really need to talk or question or vent, He is there.

The Mass provides an intimate closeness to Him. Through the Mass, I have come to appreciate our Catholic community and how much they care about each other. At daily Mass, it is noticing who may not be there and concern that there may be a problem and a need for prayers during a problem for resolution, and afterward in thanksgiving. It is a feeling that we are family, caring, working, and supporting each other. I have come to love the diversity of our Catholic Church, whether conservative, liberal, or emphasis of different devotions, but all leading in the same direction. I know there are many rooms in our Father’s house.

Vernon SprawlsI Love Being Catholic because of all the experiences it has afforded me.

Receiving Holy Communion, Sacrament of Confirmation, Adoration of The

Blessed Sacrament, and special time at Mass have been very important. Daily prayer has helped me to be closer to the Holy Spirit. Praying the Rosary and prayers to the intercession of our Saints for my family, friends with special needs, and the Souls in Purgatory.

But most of all, I love being on retreat for four days at Manresa. I look forward every year to attend the retreat for the time it affords me to have a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit and the peace it gives me. All of these experiences are the reasons I love being a Catholic.

Christine KarlI am blessed with being the eldest of 8. I remember family prayer of

the Rosary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help Novena, attending Mass as a family and receiving the Sacraments.

I hold dear learning to love the Holy Eucharist and scripture.Having had the privilege and gifts of experiencing Cenacle retreats,

Marriage Encounter, TEC (Teens Encounter Christ), and HEC (Handicapped Encounter Christ), and becoming an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist to the homebound and Hospice.

My biggest blessing is my husband of 45+ years who is committed to our Church and parish.

Thad VorozilchakThere are so many reasons to love being a Catholic absolutely, but as I

prepared for my few minutes to share, I realized that my love for being a Catholic is rooted in LOVE itself, because throughout the history of the World, there’s never been a greater example of love than God’s pilgrim church on Earth. You see, Our Church was created in love itself; as the Catechism explains:

God’s very being is love. By sending his only Son and the Spirit of Love in the fullness of time, God has revealed his innermost secret: God himself is an eternal exchange of love, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and he has destined us to share in that exchange (CCC, 2210). That love and destiny are why Christ taught us his commandment from the last supper to “…love one another as I love you,” and then showed us what he meant by offering himself completely in his passion. From that moment to now, the Catholic Church has been filled with examples of His love—a love that is freely given;

is selfless, sacrificial; is concrete, and offered to all. And that love and destiny of Catholics has changed the world.

Through the institution of the Sacraments (outward signs of the hidden reality of God), which have nourished, healed, and fulfilled the lives of so many—love. The apostles, saints and martyrs of the early Church who gave their lives to bring Christ’s message to Jews and Gentiles alike—Love. Forward in history—Countless examples of advances to humanity brought about by the Catholic Church and her priests, such as universities, hospitals, and areas of mathematics and sciences such as astronomy, geology, physics, logic and on and on.

Their gifts were borne of Love of God, belief in the common good, and of human dignity. Modern examples—the lives of St. Teresa of Calcutta and St. John Paul II—were spent selflessly, sacrificially, and freely given in concrete acts of God’s mercy and charity— Love

And today as our Catholic Church stands for the dignity of the human person and sanctity of life in the face of an onslaught of moral relativism—Love. Yes, I can confidently share with you that it’s God’s LOVE exemplified by the Catholic Church that makes me proud to say I LOVE her and I LOVE being a Catholic.

What Is Your Favorite Memory as a Catholic?Jane ManiscalcoA Catholic Memory

Growing up as the youngest of seven, it was not easy getting one-on-one time with either parent. However, there is one special memory I share with my father that is still one of the most important moments of my life. We attended Mass together early on Sunday mornings. Spending that hour with my dad, watching him praying, singing joyfully, and receiving Holy Communion are memories that I still hold on to today, almost 50 years later. That hour that we spent together taught me how important our Catholic Faith is, and I still feel like my dad is sitting with me, singing joyfully and praying with me throughout the Mass.

Ron CarusoAmazing Grace

I grew up in a Catholic family, graduated in 1966 at St. Stanislaus in Bay St. Louis, and went to Loyola University to study music. Now, I felt free to live my own life the way I wanted to; that is, seek my own pleasures and ambitions. Now, the year was 1968. I am 21 years old and have a date with my girlfriend to go to the Warehouse in New Orleans to listen to music and party. However, this Friday night she wants to go to the Poor Clare Monastery to attend a prayer meeting that her philosophy professor, Pat Bourgeois, told her is a group of people where God is real and present. Then, after the meeting, we would go to the Warehouse, etc. (James 4:4)

I really was not interested. The meeting was for 7:00 p.m., and I knew she did not like to be late. So, I arrived at her home in Harahan at 7:00 p.m., hoping she would give up on the idea of the prayer meeting. She was very upset but insisted that we go there before going to the Warehouse. On the way over, I told her that if a little old nun comes smiling up to me with a tray of cookies, “I am out of there.” I have been through all that Catholic stuff before. Needless to say, we arrived late at about 8:00 p.m. There was a small group sitting in a parlor, praying together. They stopped and welcomed us two hippies, and we sat down on the floor. Nothing was happening, in my opinion, and then I thought it was over, but they took a break to share with each other. (Matthew 18:20)

Then it happened: Sister Joseph came up to me with her smile and a tray of cookies. But to my surprise, the presence and love of God entered into me. I knew God was real and loved me. His peace and warmth had melted my heart. Amazing Grace! We gathered together to pray again. Jolly Father Cohen was there. I had already had it out with him on the campus. He was asking for prayers for his ministry as a priest. Now, I saw the humble man who loved God and knew that God loved him. (1 John 4:16; John 15:9)

Both of us were “zapped” with God’s love, so when we left that gathering, we did not go to the Warehouse to listen to music. We went back to her home and prayed and shared about what we experienced. The end result was that our “relationship” with each other was over. God had become number one in our lives. (Romans 5:5) There were other prayer meetings that took place in the upper room of Mignon Wolf’s House. It was there that I gave my life up and took Jesus as Lord of my life. I no longer live, and now Christ lives in me. The small group prayed over me to receive the power of the Holy Spirit. I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, and my new life began. (Galatians 2:20)

I am so glad that my mother prayed the rosary for me every day. I would come home early in the morning from a night out, and my mom would hear me come stumbling in and asked if I was alright. Later on, I found out she was praying her rosary for me. When I told her about the prayer meeting and what I did, she asked if adults could come to the meetings. (Luke 1:28). Praise be to God! Amazing Grace! God is Love!

Deacon Stephen W. SperierThe Original

Coke Cola, Levi’s blue jeans, Harley Davidson motorcycles. We love originals. That is why I love being Catholic. It is the original faith started by the original, one and only Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Our Catholic faith is the originator in a world of many imitators.

Two of my most favorite Catholic holy moments have been standing at the altar taking the hand of my beautiful bride, Lori, in Holy Matrimony, and the Baptism of my two beautiful, God-given daughters, Ella and Emma.

But, by far, my most favorite holy Catholic moment was when I lay prone on the floor of the altar in St Louis Cathedral as Archbishop Aymond called down the Holy Spirit upon my classmates and me when I was ordained

a Deacon of the Catholic Church. These moments will be with me all of my days, and this is why I love being Catholic!

Conclusion

This book may be short, but it’s not over. Now it’s your turn. Why do you love being Catholic? What is your favorite memory as a Catholic? Take a few moments of reflection and write the answers down. The words on the page will be like imprints of hope on your heart, encouraging you along your journey. When you’re done, consider taking your answers to prayer and asking God to show you one person in your life who needs to hear your story. Then go, live your life, and wait for that quiet whisper of the Holy Spirit telling you who to share the story with and when to do it. The impact will be powerful.

Dynamic Parish

In December of 2018 it was announced that, out of the 15,000 parishes in America, Most Holy Trinity was one of 21 parishes selected as part of an initiative called Dynamic Parish. Started by author and CEO of Dynamic Catholic Matthew Kelly, Dynamic Parish is a five-year partnership to learn what it takes for a parish to become truly dynamic. In collaboration with key members of your parish, each month Dynamic Catholic is sharing a resource with you and your fellow parishioners. The resources vary from events and retreats, to books and journals, to inspirational videos and programs. But they’ve been created with the same goal in mind: to help you and those you love to take the next right step toward God. Dynamic Parish is here to serve you in powerful ways. But we can’t do that without your feedback. If you have an area we can improve or if you simply want to learn more about Dynamic Parish, email us at [email protected].

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