Good afternoon. I'd like to thank Father Ed and the RENEW committee for giving me this opportunity to speak with you and hopefully I have something worthwhile to share today.

When I think of the gift of faith, I believe it to be a continual process of growth and development accepting God's loving call to be in a relationship with Him, learning and growing personally as a faith filled individual, and relating to others as a Christ-like example. Indeed, faith is a process just as life is a process- a continuum of ups and downs, joys and sorrows. Personal faith finds periods of strength and weakness, and what I'd like to talk with you about is my faith formation and the every day challenges I face as a Catholic, so that even though I might be physically younger than some here, you can all somehow draw something meaningful from my experience.

While attempting to analyze my faith life and organize this talk, I determined that there are some specific areas that make up my spiritual life. A huge portion of who I am as a Catholic and the most foundational element is my Catholic education, which began in my home and continued with the parochial school education I received. Another part of having faith is doing service to our Lord and growing in devotion to God. These qualities I associate very closely to my life within the Catholic Church and specifically within this parish of St. James. Furthermore, faith involves participation and activism. Both here at St. James parish and at St. James St. John Elementary School and Bishop Stang High School, I was instilled with the desire and fervor to be an active Catholic, realizing that it strengthens one's faith. And finally I reflected on the most recent stage of my life, that being a college student and I view my experience thus far as the first of many major challenges to my faith.

But getting back to the beginning of things, I believe my family is the single most important source of faith for me. The main reason I say this is because my earliest childhood memories are of being educated by my mother and father as a Catholic. They taught me how to pray, which I believe is the biggest part of developing personal faith. I was taught to pray thankfully at the end of my day for the blessings I had received. My parents taught me to pray to my Guardian Angel daily to protect and look over me. Every time my mom or dad would drive somewhere, I would watch them bless themselves and say a prayer for safe travels for us and for all those on the road. I realized, early on and to the best of my ability that a dialogue with God is crucial in developing into a faithful person. My father would tell me stories about the lives of the saints or of Jesus along with the more infamous bedtime stories about Goldie Locks or Snow White. Along with baseball cards, I was encouraged to collect prayer cards and small statues of the saints when visiting the chapel downtown with my dad. As much as we'd watch Red Sox or Celtics games on TV, EWTN and Mother Angelica's TV program were normal nighttime viewing. My parents incorporated their faith and religious devotion into their everyday lives in a way that could only emphasize to rile how integral and important a Catholic way of life is.

Another thing my parents did for me at an early age was bringing me to Mass. I was still a young child when I was taught that the church God's house and we were to go visit Him and also to have deep respect for the events of the Mass. I was so young that instead of even having the capacity to pay attention to the Mass readings or prayers, I would sit quietly in the pew with a little pad drawing pictures to occupy my time. Sometimes I'd draw pictures of Superman or Batman, but most often I can remember gazing at the stain glass windows in Saint James or at the Stations of the Cross, trying to represent the Crucifixion or Last Supper in my drawing pad the way they looked to me on the church walls. Truly this was a unique and early way to form an understanding of the mysteries of the Church.

My parents decided to send me to Catholic schools, where my education in the Faith continued. An adequate analogy or metaphor to describe the impact of my experiences at St James St John and Bishop Stang is that my parents sowed the seeds of Catholic knowledge through education, and Catholic schooling caused those seeds to blossom and be fruitful. And I believe my understanding of the Catholic Faith went beyond a fifty minute Theology class that I sat through every school day for 12 years. Instead, St. James and St. John Elementary School and Bishop Stang High School continued in the fine example that my parents set for me. My teachers and administrators were always caring and Christ-like. The Catholic faith was incorporated into every aspect of my education- from the playground to the cafeteria, the sports fields to the classrooms. Of course we frequently were escorted to Masses, Confession, and formal prayer services. But more importantly, we were encouraged informally, subtly, but constantly to be participants of our faith no matter where we were or what we were doing. That constant example couldn't do anything but settle deep into my conscious as the model for proper living- constantly thinking, speaking, and acting with Faith as the guide.

To change the focus somewhat, education is worth very little unless it is enacted. That is where St. James parish really assisted me in my formation of faith. In this church, I realized the necessity of service and devotion to God. I learned early on that this is the House of God and that there is no better place to be closer and more comfortable with Him. In this church, as I grew older, I began to understand very fully how faith involves service. From the third grade until senior year of high school I was an altar server. I felt very special being able to put on the special garments and have access to places in the Church that few others had. Being the first to see the Easter candle lit at the Easter vigil, being one of the first and one of the last to leave the Church for the crowded Christmas vigil mass, being the celebrant's right hand man... ringing bells to proclaim the transubstantiation and carrying the cross. All these duties instilled pride and a sense of complete service to God for me. I knew that I was part of something special being on the alter during the Mass and I enjoyed at an early age showing others through my volunteering as an alter server that my faith meant something to me.

The Church has also provided me with some of the best role models in my life- the priests, who are examples of devotion and righteousness, compassion and charity. Again as a young child I can recall a bake sale in the basement where Father Fernandes recommended some sort of cake for me to try. Naturally I made my dad buy the whole thing and even though I didn't like it, I ate almost every slice of it because if Father Fernandes enjoyed it, there was something to be said about that. Watching Father Fernandes celebrate Mass taught me that God deserved intense reverence and respect. I recognized in him a peace and sense of humor that I though was unique and I knew its uniqueness lied in the fact that he was a faithful servant to God. I have learned a great deal from every priest that has served in this parish.

Most recently I can speak of Father Ed, Father Frank, and Deacon Larry. Father Ed makes this parish family his family, of which he is the loving paternal influence. His enthusiasm and willingness to try new things and develop new ways to make this parish a more special place to worship have made me realize that priests give themselves fully, mind, body, and soul, to God and that the Lord rewards them. All you see is happiness in Father Ed's constant smile and from this I have understood that faith involves giving everything to God and trusting that you will be rewarded.

While serving at St. James, Father Frank was a spiritual guide to me and showed me that faith involves reverence and sacrifice. Often I would speak with Father Frank before or after he celebrated Mass, and I could clearly see the weariness in his eyes. He would at some point in conversation allude to the late evening call he received from the hospital requesting him to be at a patient's special need, but then he would change subject matters quickly and talk about the marvelous sunrise he woke up early to witness that morning or the splendor of the previous night's sunset and how incredible God's gifts are to us. No matter how physically tired, Father Frank's eyes always cast the light of a certain joy and serenity he possessed. His complete devotion to his calling and his pride in his order, those lovely Jesuits showed me that faith yields incredible camaraderie, union ship, and the purest form of happiness- selflessness.

I also look at Deacon Larry and can't help but have a twinge of friendly jealousy. Why? As a person still discerning my vocation in life, seeing Deacon Larry with both a wonderful wife and family and the ability to give so much of himself to the Church, along with the free time somehow to get in some rounds of golf- to me that seems like a perfect mix! Thus from him I see that faith must surely mean trusting in God to lead you down the right vocational path, and hopefully down the fairway and onto the putting green too.

From the devotion I witnessed at home, school, and my parish, I have come to realize that faith is something you must act out. Participation is a necessary proponent of faith and I've been fortunate to find opportunities to participate in my faith throughout my life. I was an altar server, as I mentioned, along with a lector for Masses celebrated when I was at St. James St. John School. Those activities continued at Bishop Stang, along with involvement in the Campus Ministry Office that yielded a great deal. I was encouraged to become a Eucharistic Minister, got involved in various retreats, had the chance to do a great deal of community service, and became a catalyst in re-igniting the high school Pro-Life group. I also served as youth representative to the Diocesan Pro-Life Committee and to the Parish Council here at St. James. Obviously this array of opportunities doesn't come around for everyone. But I'm trying to say that if you start small and get involved in a little way, big things can happen. The influence of the Holy Spirit is strong when we allow ourselves to be guided by It. For all of you here today, this is a magnificent way to participate in your faith and the Lord will surely enrich you for it.

Now you might be thinking to yourselves, "The Lord would enrich me if He'd have this kid stop talking sometime soon..." So let me jump ahead and touch upon my college life, as it's the most significant challenge my faith has had. Freshmen year, quite honestly, my faith suffered a great deal. Foremost, with independence comes decision-making and in college there are many pressures to make hasty, usually unhealthy decisions. In the end, my strong upbringing kept me from making many unwholesome decisions I saw my new friends and acquaintances make, but I still slipped on occasion. More challenging to me however, more of an issue than binge drinking or the like, was the sheer issue of time. In college you have so much more free time, yet every waking minute seems filled and precious. God fell low on my list of priorities because I had so many other obligations and concerns. I grew unappreciative and unthankful for the gifts I was being given. At my age, many young people feel invincible and that they can take on the world by themselves. I took God's blessings for granted and though I continued to attend Mass weekly, it seemed that was the only hour per week I'd dedicate to the Lord. Well, the spring came around and I finally headed home after my busy and successful freshmen year, and when I finally got some true free time again, I was lost. I had forgotten how to communicate with God and how to participate in my faith. I slowly recalled my former habits and in thinking towards my second trip to college I wondered, knowing the urgency and necessity of finding an adequate answer, "How can I make more time for God? How can I incorporate am again within me?" I no longer had a Theology class everyday and while spiritual opportunities were available on campus, you had to go looking for them rather than have them come looking for you the way I was used to. My freshmen year was spent at a fine Catholic college (Providence College) and I wondered why the experience had such a peculiar secular feel. I felt as if the big, cruel world had taken me from my protective upbringing and simply chewed up and spit out my faith.

I realized with some time and further reflection that I would have to exert a new level of effort and energy to rekindle my spiritual flame and strengthen my fledgling faith. So sophomore year I returned with that new approach. Not having the time to do all sorts of service or be on various committees, I dedicated whatever I could to God. I prayed in the shower. I would try to appreciate the smallest things around campus, like the fall foliage, and give thanks to God for His blessings. I became a Resident Assistant, and in doing so I tried to be a positive source peer pressure- encouraging good decision-making to young men in the same situation I found myself in. In many little ways, in small portions, I would awaken myself to God's presence and my faith survived through extra attention to detail. I imagine many of you can relate to this- "My life is so busy," you admit, "that it's hard to make time for God. I can barely get to Mass on the weekend." Well, realize that He will always make time for each and every one of us and realize that you can and should incorporate God and your faith, no matter how strong or weak it might be, into every aspect of your life. On Friday and Saturday afternoons at school, I found myself praying for all my peers who would be going out on those nights and getting dangerously drunk- praying for their safety and their best decision-making... praying in the same fashion as I had observed my parents for so many years praying for all drivers on the road. I'd say small prayers of thanksgiving for beautiful morning sunshine while walking to class with the same joy Father Frank would express about his beloved sunrises. Realizing that faith could be incorporated in any aspect of my life saved me from discouragement and doubt that would have otherwise led me astray.