Opening I have to say I am JACKED UP excited to be here right now.
I am pumped
I would like to start with a short prayer.
Please Lord guide me here today that I cause no offence when I speak and I pray that I can share Joy,
Excitement and Truth.
Heavenly Father, I ask that your spirit be poured out to those that are here today and those who are not able to be here, as a special blessing in our Easter Celebration.
I ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen Good Morning Everyone – Still Excited -
I really want to thank all of you for this opportunity to share with you my Journey of Faith. I want to thank Father Ron and Mike Murphy for their guidance preparing for this.
Things look a lot different up here I tell ya!
First - I would like to take you on a journey of a little boy –
When I was 7/8/and again at 10 years old, I was invited to children’s Bible groups and Sunday Schools through friends from school. We learned about the bible - The flood of Noah, Moses and Egypt and about what Christ had done for us.
I don’t remember many of the specifics from that early age but I know that I really liked going and what I was learning. These first seeds were planted.
Skip ahead to 18 years old Youth Encounter In my late teens I met my future wife - Anita. She was brought up in the Catholic Church and many of my friends at the time were Catholic. I was then invited to a weekend retreat - a Youth Encounter for teens. Even though I was not catholic, I was allowed to go. I was planning to stay quiet and sit back and learn but I was made Captain of my table. Anita was also at that table – go figure. I ended up being fully engaged in the information and discussions with the group and again thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Another Invitation, Another Message.
Mary I had Catholic influences in my life from my wife’s family. Mary Ann Lucas, my wife’s mother was a shining example of an Ambassador for Christ. She taught me, by her example and how she lived. She had such a good heart.
I can’t help but smile when I think of her. Over several years I attended a variety of churches with a variety of different doctrines and interpretations of passages and scriptures. I was looking for what suited me best. I had a real zeal for learning and I studied, cultures, customs and A history of various religions but I hadn’t really found anything that suited me.
I prayed – still had bible studies – and got together with Christian Friends
MY MOTHER In my family, we never really spoke about faith in God.
I knew my mother Believed because she read her bible and made notes – sometimes she would make little comments like maybe you should pray about that.
My mother passed away suddenly 7 years ago and I remember sitting in my car and felt BROKEN. My very close friend Phil had come over to help support me. I was upset that I did not get to really share my true beliefs in God and Christ with my Mom. I know she believed in Christ yet we never really spoke about it.
On the verge of tears I said “I don’t know what to do”
No kinder words were spoken to me when Phil said, “Dale, you will have all of eternity to spend with your mother.”
I want to take a second to pause on this statement.
You will have all eternity to spend with your mother. It is what helped me through.
This had helped me to heal. Part of why I think I was so hurt is that I didn’t get to share and witness with my Mother
Another Message, Another Witness. JAMIE I would like to take you on another Journey of a little boy, Jamie. Born April 3 2015 on Good Friday Easter weekend. Jamie is our 2
nd grandson.
Jamie was born with a heart defect he was quickly stabilized and was transported by air ambulance to sick kids in Toronto. He was diagnosed with Trans position of the Greater Arteries.
Essentially, what this means is his heart and lung plumbing was all backwards. He had his first heart surgery that night to implant a stint to keep blood flowing to his brain, heart and lungs.
His main surgery had to be put off many times due to infection and trouble with his lungs functioning. His one lung collapsed and then the other – the struggle for life continued . . . we did not know what the future held for him and for us.
Jamie was hooked up to several tubes wires electrodes and I V’s The only place we could touch him was a small spot on his cheek and one spot on his foot. He was clinging to life.
As a family, we gathered around him and prayed. We were told he needed to have the surgery, they could not wait any longer.
Messages were sent to family and friends at home and Alice Hrysky, (
another person who makes me smile when I think of her) who is very close to our family got on the prayer line.
Lord bless the prayer line . . .
While Jamie was up in the Operating Room – having his major surgery, people in the Sault,
who did not know our familyor who this little boy was, sent a strong and clear message to God through prayer.
My Wife, Son and Daughter in law were very stressed and afraid.
I felt no fear and was calm – I believed - and had been given faith that everything would be OK despite all of what was happening and what our grandson had to endure.
So please hear me when I say--- I truly believe God was instrumental in my family’s lives during that time. Jamie (our little heart warrior) is a miracle given to us. Happy Healthy Little boy – fightin’ with his brother- playing laughing -like brothers do. Another strong message, Another Witness,
MIKE ALPHA
Shortly after this - Mike Murphy asked me if I wanted to attend ALPHA at the Church –
I immediately said “yeah absolutely” What’s ALPHA?? Mike was a bit evasive in his answer saying you
Kinda’ have to go to understand it – it’s hard to explain – just come I know you will enjoy it.
I then attended the ALPHA program last year. I felt so much joy and calmness and peace in my stressful life while I was attending.
On the first night - One of the things that really hit me was a sign
It said Welcome Home – this really stuck with me - I am involved in the men’s meetings now. I pray every day for God to give me peace and strength and for many others in their struggles
I asked to Join the prayer line.
And Now I am currently in the process of becoming Catholic and joining this Church.
Another Message, Another Testimony and another Witness
From the depths of my heart
I Thank all of you here for what you have done for me and my family --this is A Most Special Parish I Am Home Thanks Happy Easter