Discovering Christ Witness Stories- 2021

A life situation intrigued me to consider ChristLife. Although I am a devout Catholic and believe that God is constantly with me and a part of my life, I wanted to have a deeper understanding and relationship with God.

The best part about the experience is the faith-sharing opportunity within the Group and especially the small breakout groups. Hearing the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of the other members made me feel I was not alone in my journey(s); and that we all share the same path where trials and crosses are present in tandem with the joys and happy times. It was especially meaningful when members provide insight into how they dealt with their circumstances which in turn bolstered my faith and opened my eyes to a different view of what I was also going through.

Joining ChristLife has provided me with the strength to cope with a life situation. Firstly, it afforded me a safe space to interact with a group of people who not only share in my beliefs but also showed much empathy for me and others within the group. Secondly, the faith sharing and camaraderie gave me the confidence to look within myself and think about how I can be a contributor to the group, the community, my family, and others; thirdly, and not of all least, ChristLife has helped me to have a deeper relationship with God. While my faith has always been there, it has not always been consistently strong. I am plagued with doubts, especially when going through a rough patch. ChristLife has reminded me that God is always with me and there for me.

Last fall I read an email regarding a program called CHRIST LIFE being offered through St. Mary’s church which I have to admit now that I barely remembered reading at the time. Although I felt something was missing in my spiritual life I was not exactly focused on determining what that something was. Strangely, several days after reading that email I heard a voice inside urging me to join the program. I resisted at first but there was a driving force inside that guided me to the sign-on page and before I knew it I was a participant. What I did not realize at the time was that CHRIST LIFE was about to change my life forever. It would act as the catalyst to solidify my relationship with Jesus Christ, form a new and enlightening relationship with the holy spirit and bless me with the addition of twelve new family members who participated along with me.

Through Darrin Nelson our program facilitator, I was guided in weekly group discussions on key spiritual topics coupled with video presentations by thought-provoking speakers & priests. During each meeting, we broke up into smaller groups to drill down into a topic before regrouping as a whole to further discuss it. The opportunity to hear others' viewpoints on a particular subject offered a whole new perspective to contemplate which only fueled my desire to grow closer to Jesus Christ and the holy spirit. I found it liberating and often comforting at times to hear similar thoughts and feelings, yet intrigued to hear those of different opinions and perspectives. At times the answer I was searching for came from another’s thoughts and words. Working in a group setting allowed me to relax, open up my mind, my heart, and my ears to hear the words of our Lord and the holy spirit for what still seems like the first time.

As a result of the CHRIST LIFE experience, I have begun to develop a closer relationship with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. I have started to read daily scripture and reflect upon its significance/message, set time aside daily to spend with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and feel their presence deep inside my soul. My relationship with them is growing and lately, my hunger never seems satisfied nor my thirst quenched. CHRIST LIFE has also driven me to improve upon myself to be more understanding, more forgiving, more loving, more accepting, and less judgmental. If you feel there is something spiritually missing inside; a void you can’t identify, a feeling there must be something more, I encourage you to strongly consider joining the program being offered this fall. The personal impact on your life and relationship with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will undoubtedly be life-altering. Yours in Christ,

Al Germaine

If your spiritual life is not moving in the right direction, then usually something is amiss or at least that has been my experience.

I joined Discovering Christ last year during the lock down, I had joined a Holy-hour group over Zoom once every two weeks, and that started to fill my longing to kickstart my relationship with Jesus, in the context of a community, with fellow parishioners. So, when I received an invitation to join many of the same people to do a weekly Zoom call with this program called Discovering Christ, I immediately signed up. I had no idea what I was getting into... It was wonderful!

I know now it was an answer to my prayers. I believe we are made with kind of a hole in our hearts that needs to be filled, and our tendency is to try to fill it with things of this world: pleasures, indulgences, power, material things, etc. and when that doesn’t work, we usually double-down. But it seems we are just making that hole bigger. I believe that hole can only be filled with Jesus, and that’s why we have that longing, that need, that desire for a lot more. It’s like God put a “Spiritual GPS” in our hearts, with the destination set to Jesus, sometimes we follow it, but many times we just ignore it. Yet we know it's always there, and in my case, it often says: take the next exit (or jug-handle) and do a U-turn!

Our spiritual life is crucially important and it’s a life-long journey. Discovering Christ helped me understand this and got me heading again in the right direction. After a very difficult chapter in my life, that I could not have gone through without humbly putting myself in God’s hands completely, I was left with a “what now” daze for many months. It’s not that I was going in the wrong direction, I just didn’t know where to go. So, I prayed intently to our Lord to show me the way…

If you feel like your life has somehow become more challenging and problems seem more daunting, come and join us in Discovering Christ, and see how setting your path to Jesus will help you navigate life’s difficulties with joy and in peace.

Jesus didn't say that life would be easier if you follow Him, but he said we can always count on the Love of the Father. Come and see what this means. Most Catholics believe that Jesus suffered and died for our Salvation, but many Catholics think that only comes into play when we die. Yet, our Salvation is here for us, in our lives…now!

Join us in this Discovering Christ program and start moving your spiritual life in the right direction. We will go through a process that helps us in that most crucial and important thing, which many lifelong Catholics don't yet have, which is a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus. And how wonderful that is for us in our lives here on this earth!

- Rick Urdaneta

Many stories begin with, "where shall I start"? This is how I would like to start mine. Where shall I start? How did I find myself in Discovering Christ gatherings? It's really beautiful actually. I found myself in a scary place in my life. Debilitating grief of many loved ones, hopeless of helping myself or others, lonely even though I have a family. Family struggles ... I could continue on with more negative things that were happening all around me, I was very scared.

I know now that Jesus called me and put me exactly where I needed to be! With a wonderful group of people in Discovering Christ. I have tried a few different avenues to help myself and my loved ones, but nothing holds a candle to the experience I received in Discovering Christ. When I first started, I was a bit reserved, but as the weeks went by I found myself looking forward to our meetings with this group. They became my spiritual family. You see, not only did this group help me with everything I was facing, but I found serenity and peace during our discussions like I've never felt before, and a loving, close relationship with Jesus Christ.

The beautiful thing about my story is, Jesus led me to this group and little did I know he was protecting me and surrounding me with so much love! As I look back now and unfold my story, Jesus is truly amazing! He worked with me, through me and around me. His work is beautiful! Discovering Christ was nothing less than life changing. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to be a part of something so beautiful. I love my faith and I have Jesus to thank for that!

When I follow the Lord, I am never alone!

When I was introduced to the Christ Life program “Discovering Christ”, I was motivated to participate because I wanted the journey that I started several years ago with “Be My Witness”, to continue. “Discovering Christ” is not only a pathway for continuing my journey of coming to know God and our Lord, Jesus Christ in a more profound way, it is also a catalyst for those who wish to begin their own journey.

I loved “Discovering Christ” because it is more than a program; it is an event that offers the opportunity to enjoy food, fellowship and faith sharing with other parishioners as we journey together toward a closer relationship with and a deeper understanding of God and his Son, Jesus Christ.

“Discovering Christ” has greatly impacted my personal faith journey. Despite having an active and happy life, there were many times when I experienced a feeling of being lost. I wondered what my purpose was and often felt a lack of fulfillment. I realize now, after experiencing a greater understanding of God’s love and mercy, that the purpose of my life goes beyond achieving my original expectations of happiness and pleasure. Both of which can never be fully realized except through the love and mercy of God. I read scripture now seeking to understand how God wants me to live. I meditate on God’s words and how they relate to my life here and now. I have come to trust that my life is unfolding as it should and that God is leading me. I feel that I have found my way.

If you are feeling a need or lack of something in your life, “Discovering Christ” is a great way to begin your search. As written in Matthew’s Gospel 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; Seek, and you will find; Knock, and it will be opened to you”.

By bringing the life, love, and truth of Jesus into the light, “Discovering Christ” can truly change people. It certainly has changed me.

Valerie DeVito

I am a “cradle Catholic”. I received a Catholic education from K through Graduate School and I worked full-time in Church Ministry for more than 30 years.

When Christ Life was first offered at St. Mary’s, I signed up thinking I might have an opportunity to share ideas with other parishioners that they might find helpful. However, I was not prepared to have my knowledge of our Catholic faith transformed from a mostly theological understanding to a more personal and loving relationship with Jesus.

All of the components of Christ Life—the prayers, videos, faith sharing, and discussions, served as catalysts in my deepening spiritual growth as a disciple of Jesus. Looking back today, I realize that the greatest impact I experienced through participating in Christ Life was in my personal prayer life.

I no longer spend time in prayer—I spend time with Jesus. My prayer no longer consists of a listing of my wants and needs—I learned to cherish silence and listen for the myriad ways Jesus is present to me throughout one single day. I no longer think of others as friends or foes—I see all people as Icons of God with whom I can laugh, cry, serve and pray.

The Holy Spirit has awakened within me the desire to know, love, and serve God by better getting to know, love, and serve my fellow parishioners and our community at large.

God has great plans for His People! I invite all of you to consider joining us this September by signing up to participate in Christ Life. It will be a decision that you will not regret! -

Pat Dorsi

When I started seeing the emails last fall for Discovering Christ, I was intrigued, but not really sure. It was constantly on my mind, but I really was confused. I thought I had a close connection to the Lord but maybe something was missing. I decided to sign up and give it a try knowing I could always leave it. Strangely enough, I never left. It was everything I hoped it would be and more.

The video presentations were exceptional. I started watching them over on my own and felt as though I had really been missing so much in my relationship with Christ. I loved our small group discussions; everyone had such interesting viewpoints discussing the topic of the film. It was amazing how helpful that was. Each week we were becoming a family growing in our faith, our journey together. It was a great feeling and I looked forward to the next week. I could feel the closeness to the Lord and I was loving it.

Discovering Christ was the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. It really has changed me in so many ways. I can’t get through a day without reading scripture and having private time with our Lord. I can feel Him with me all the time and I constantly talk to Him. He is my best friend. I hope to keep growing stronger in my faith. I hope that you will give this a try. You will become so much happier and fulfilled. You have nothing to lose, but everything to gain.

Joan SanGiacomo

To be honest, I participated in Discovering Christ because I longed for the fellowship of the parishioners that I worship with and I long for the body of Christ. I got more than I expected and not only in the relationship with my fellow parishioners but also with my relationship with Jesus Christ and the body of Christ. Most of all what I experienced, was what I learned about myself and my faith journey.

What I also found very impactful were the conversations with my fellow parishioners in this formation that were like ambrosia to me. The realizations that we all loved to hear from one another and how they strengthened us. It became so personal to share the special moments in our faith, in our thoughts, and the love we shared as a group.

Discovering Christ changed my life and made me focus more on what was important to me in practicing my faith. It made me grow and understand more than I could have ever imagined. I came to realize that before I participated in Discovering Christ, I had become complacent in how I was practicing my faith as a Catholic. I was too comfortable and wasn’t allowing Christ to really challenge me with the Gospel message.

I highly recommend this formation to all the Saint Mary’s parishioners. Young, old, new or longtime practitioners. I can promise this to you; it will change your life and give you more understanding and in return your Faith will be stronger, your heart will be fuller to your fellow parishioners and your understanding of our Catholic faith will be more beneficial to you than you can ever imagine. I urge you to give this gift to yourself and be part of Discovering Christ. If you would like more information, feel free to contact me. Email: ddangermaine@optonline.net Daniel A. Germaine

Many years ago through a Life in the Spirit seminar, I surrendered my life to Jesus and experienced a new life in the Holy Spirit. Much grace and love-filled my life. Last year at St. Mary’s I went through the Discovering Christ course. I experienced a renewal of the Holy Spirit giving me more joy, peace, and a sense of God’s presence in my life. I am now part of a Prayer Team praying for all who will be participating in Christ Life starting in September. May the Lord bless you with open hearts as you sign up for this journey with Jesus.

Nelie Tucker

 I joined Christlife because of the prior experiences I had in other groups from St. Mary’s. My journey toward a better relationship with Jesus started about 6 years ago when I joined St. Mary’s Senior Group. There we all began reading and discussing the scripture for the next mass. In doing so, we all began sharing our stories and I started realizing how connected we all became to each other. I also became more aware of how much Jesus had been a part of my life as God’s plan unfolded for me. I felt a sense of community and belonging. I now knew some of the people that I was sitting with at mass. I felt I was part of a church family. I knew a program like this should be available to the younger population of our parish.

The opportunity for that type of program occurred a few years later with the Be My Witness program. I joined at first as a participant and then as a facilitator. This program further developed my relationship with Jesus and an even stronger sense of religious community with a more diverse group of parishioners. Now I knew even more parishioners as I participated at mass having developed strong bonds with the members in my groups. However, there still needed to be a program that could take us further, and as good as the Be My Witness program was, some of us felt we needed more.

Along came Christlife, which gave us a great opportunity to learn more about developing a relationship with Jesus, how to follow Him as you go about your daily life, and how to share what you know about Him with others. In Christlife, I am faith-sharing with parishioners of all ages and backgrounds. Through sharing our stories, we not only bond with each other, but we also begin to realize that Jesus has been there for us all along, so now we are more aware of His presence. Jesus is now a part of my daily life as I try to show His love to all by how I live my life and how I interact with others. “What would Jesus do” guides my actions, words and deeds as I feel He is always by my side. I am not hesitant as I once was about talking about Jesus, God, or the Holy Spirit in my daily interactions with others. Because of this, I seem to attract and be attracted to others who have a desire to “love one another as I have loved you”. There is a joy and happiness in my life that increases daily, as I am able to share that joy and happiness with others.

Linda Hyland

When I read in our bulletin last year that our parish was having a program entitled Christ Life, I registered to attend the introduction session. At that session, there were parishioners who had attended the Christ Life Program the previous year. They educated me on the value of attending. They told me it was a journey, and the sessions were the pathway. After listening to their enthusiastic sharing about this program, there was no doubt in my mind that I would register to attend.

What a Blessing. The sessions enlightened me on our faith, and the group enlightened me on life. Clarity, integration, and prayer, were what I received from this dynamic program. It brought a deeper meaning to my Catholic Faith, and integration of the Old and New Testament enhanced my prayer life.

Christ Life also demonstrated so clearly, that every time I go directly to God, He keeps pushing me back to people, this is what Jesus taught us. He went to the people to teach. It was His journey…

Another fact for which I feel grateful is that during the Covid Pandemic I could attend this program online. It enlightened and enriched my daily life and enhanced my faith.

Darrin Nelson, our Vibrant Lay Minister conducts each session in a welcoming manner and invites our participation. Each week I looked forward to another meeting with Darrin and our group.

I feel grateful that Monsignor Benwell brought this enrichment program to our parish. Christ Life blended the Old and New Testaments and emphasized the coequal humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ. This program highlighted that Jesus accomplished His mission through people, e.g. The Apostles, Mary Magdalene, Jews, Romans, and followers from all walks of life.

I encourage you to register and attend this program. Christ Life had a major positive impact on my spiritual life.

Eileen Lutz

 Christlife is coming to St. Mary’s this September. There won’t be any blaring trumpets or marching bands, just a series of announcements in the Bulletin, and a few nervous folks standing up after mass to talk about how they experienced God’s love being poured out on them through the course and the team.

Don’t think of it as just another “program” though. Think of it as another “chance” for you to personally respond to God’s call to grow closer to him, renew your faith, maybe find something that was lost.

When I first heard about Christlife, part of me said “why bother?” I attend mass on Sundays and often during the week, get to confession and even try to pray daily and say a rosary. Happily, another part of me said “why not?” Fortunately, the “Why Not” part won.

As I look back on what Christlife has come to mean to me, the scripture verse “Seek First The Kingdom” comes to mind. It’s from Matthew, chapter 6. When you look it up, start at verse 31, where Jesus is challenging us to not worry about what we will eat or drink or wear and adds “Your heavenly father knows all that you need. Seek First His Kingship over you, His way of holiness, and all these things will be given you besides.”

I Realized I had managed to let other things get in the way of my seeking God, not through any plan on my part, just by not paying attention. Becoming part of the team has given me the opportunity to get my focus back where it belongs.

I know God the Father is very fond of me. I didn’t get a telegram or memo, but the signs of His love are there if I remember to look for them; my wife of 55 years, our six kids and eleven grandkids. Especially the gift of faith I received by becoming Catholic.

It’s a constant challenge not to have all the bits and pieces of my life push God off His throne in my heart. It’s worth the effort, though, as I hear getting Home to Heaven is way better than anything we have here. Hope to see you in September. God Bless.
 
Dave Tucker