Jim and Alice Benisek

Child: Stephen
Home Parish: St. William of York

Jim is a candidate for the Class of 2011. He resides in Stafford with his wife Alice and son Stephen. The Beniseks are members of St. William of York in Stafford. Jim has worked in the field of law enforcement for the past 25 years and is employed as a Special Agent with the DEA. Jim and Alice homeschool their child using the Seton Home Study Program based in Front Royal, VA.

During the years, both Jim and Alice have lived in Chicago, Miami, El Paso, and Bangor before relocating to Stafford. Both have been active as Lectors, Catechists, and Pro-Life ministry coordinators.

Jim recently completed an M.A. in Theology for Catholic Distance University and also holds an M.A> in Criminal Justice from New Mexico State University. Jim and Alice are both active in the loal home schooling group in Stafford.Jim is the volunteer Director of Religious Education (DRE) at their parish. Alice has been instructing Grade 8 Confirmation class students this year.

Al and Linda Caporaletti

Children:

Tricia & Kim

-Tricia married Jose Lopes in 1995

-Kim married Robbie Poynter in 2005

Grandchildren:

-Marisa Kachadoorian - age 13

-Gabreilla Lopes - age 10

-Marcos Lopes - age 8

-Eric Poynter - age 2

Home Parish: Sacred Heart, Manassas, VA

I was born on December 30, 1947 in Alexandria, VA where I attended St Rita’s School and finally finished 8th grade at St Thomas More school in Arlington, Va. I graduated High School at Wakefield in Arlington, VA in 1967, and was drafted, and joined the US Marines, served 3 years. I spent a tour in Southeast Asia, and returned to the states in 1969, where I stationed at the Marine Barracks, 8th & I St., Wash, D.C.

In 1969 I met Linda who is a native of White Marsh Maryland, who also served in the US Marines and stationed at HQ Marine Corps, Arlington, VA where we met and married Feb 7, 1970. We have been married for 38 years.

After serving in the Marines I joined the US Air Force and retired July 1, 1989. I’m currently a Police Officer with US Capitol Police where I’m assigned to Plain Clothes, and conduct Physical Security Surveys, Risk Assessments, and Vulnerability Assessments for US Congress/Senate on and off the Hill. I’m retiring May 31, 2009.

I currently sit on the Parish Council and I’m an Extra Ordinary Minister of Eucharist at Sacred Heart Parish in Manassas, VA.

Paul & Laurie D’Antonio

Home Parish:

St. Patrick’s, Chancelorville, VA

In true Italian-American form, I was raised in a very traditional Catholic family - big on the traditions and culture and weak on substance. My catechesis was typical 60’s “God is love” and if I haven’t murdered anybody this week, I probably don’t need to go to Confession. So unbeknownst to me, I was pretty “luke warm” – proud of being Catholic and the associated traditions, but Jesus, Scripture, and Tradition were very distant concepts…I was in the classic – “didn’t know, what I didn’t know” situation. I grew up as the oldest of four children. My father was a career US Marine and we moved constantly – I was born in Kodiak, Alaska and I went to a different school from 2nd grade till 9th, mostly transferring in the middle of the year. Ever since I was 5 years old, when my Dad was a Drill Instructor at Parris Island, I wanted to be a Marine.

When we finally settled down in the same location for more than a year - I was in HS. I had a typical experience – college prep academics (Dad said, “go to college and be an officer, don’t do like I did – enlist without finishing HS”), lots of sports and fun with friends. I saw college as a necessary but irritating gateway/delay to my ultimate goal of being a US Marine.

My college experience was NOT typical having attended the Virginia Military Institute. I thought this would be best for my career as a Marine Officer. VMI was 1 of only 5 all-male colleges in the country with VA having 3 of them and 2 being in Lexington. I loved the VMI experience and graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering; I reported to the Marine Corps for duty the next day having finally achieved my goal!

My Marine Corps career lasted nearly 26 years and it was extremely satisfying. I spent most of my time in tactical units avoiding Washington, DC assignments until retirement in Oct 07. I was a helicopter pilot and spent a lot of time on ships travelling the world and seeing many, many places and cultures. I participated in nearly all combat efforts the US undertook including Desert Shield/Storm, Somalia, Kosovo, and Iraqi Freedom. As a civilian, I struggle to find that post-retirement job that will bring me the satisfaction I had as a Marine.

Early in my career, Laurie and I were married. I pulled her out of her parent’s house in Moscow, Pa dragging her to our first home in Hawaii and it’s been like an amusement ride ever since. We began with a wedding in her family’s church. The Pastor gave us a “pass” on pre-Cana because we lived 5000 miles apart – he was just really happy because we weren’t living together and were 26 and 25 years old. We will be married 22 years this April and our journey as Catholic Christians has been a road travelled together. That journey is highlighted by 2 periods in our lives. First - after 3 children and a steady but luke-warm existence as Catholics, a Navy Chaplain turned us on to an apologetics tape (what’s that father?...) by Scott Hahn and an NFP course. NFP provided us the launching pad for much personal conversion and fire for the faith. We have been promoters and a teaching couple for many years. Secondly, a 3 year tour in Italy where we not only experienced the beauty and excitement of living in Europe, the nearness to the Holy See – St Peter’s Basilica, John Paul the Great, Benedict XVI, but a very close relationship with the Seminarians at the Pontifical North American College in Roma. These awesome men had a huge impact on our family and our faith. They are one of the most significant reasons that I am in formation for the Permanent Diaconate.

We have 4 children (all boys) here and 2 in heaven. Paul is our oldest and will be off to Franciscan U in the fall, John (14), Mark (12) and Joseph (5). We (primarily Laurie) have been homeschooling our children for the past 9 years. We spend most of our time at St Patrick’s, teaching NFP, or Boy Scouting. We strive and pray that our sons will have a much better catechesis than we did and that they will remain open at all times to the Lord’s call in their lives. Maybe one day I can call one (or more) of my sons “Father.”

Jim and Barbara Hepler

Children:

-Daniel James (3/6/93)

-Conrad (7/8/97)

-Nicholas Christian (9/26/05)

Home Parish:

St. Timothy Church, Chantilly

Jim was born August 23, 1960, raised in Falls Church, Virginia, and is the fifth of nine children. Jim and Barbara began dating in 1986; both had graduated from Falls Church High School and each of their families were members of St. Philip’s Catholic Church. They were married on October 17, 1987. Their marriage has been blessed over the years with three beautiful and healthy sons (of reasonable intelligence) who continue to keep them busy and on their toes.

After graduating from high school, Jim joined the Fairfax County Police Department as a cadet in 1979. Jim spent two years in the Coast Guard Reserves in the first years of the marriage. Barbara works as a legal assistant at Blankingship & Keith, a law firm in Fairfax. She has been there since 1990, working part-time since the birth of their third son, Nicholas in 2005.

The bulk of Jim’s career years were spent working for the Fairfax County Police Department. He served as a patrol officer in the Falls Church area for the early years; was one the first bicycle officers; a Field Training Officer for new cadets; and served as a detective in several areas of investigations before settling into teaching for seven years at the Criminal Justice Academy. In November of 2006 Jim retired after 27 years of service and the very next day began his second career teaching Criminal Justice at the Marshall High School in Falls Church. In 2005 Jim completed a four year program by the Education for Parish Service Program (EPS) at Trinity College in Washington, D.C.

Over the years Jim has and continues to serve the Church as follows: Fifth Grade CCD Teacher; Eucharistic Minister during mass and serves by regularly taking the Holy Eucharist to a local elder care facility; Head Usher for Saturday night mass (Danny gets the credit for bringing him on board here as he was invited to become the youngest usher at our Church two weeks before his 8th birthday and has served ever since); and is a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Dennis (Denny) and Patricia (Patty) Holley

Children:

-Denicia – Age 26

(married to Tim in June 2008)

-Colleen – Age 24

-Peter – Age 22

Home Parish:

Saint John Neumann Catholic Community, Reston, VA

I was born at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, New York on August 7, 1953. Our family lived in a small northern New Jersey township called Mahwah. I had one sibling, a brother, Bill, who was born two years after me. My father was a railroad conductor and my mother a housewife.
My family attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Mahwah, NJ where I was baptized and received my First Holy Communion and Confirmation.

In 1975, I graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Public Administration from the University of Arizona in Tucson and in 1976 obtained my Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Arizona State University in Tempe.

In 1977, while working in the San Francisco Bay area I met Patty. While house sitting for my boss I learned that she was the emergency number! Two years later Patty and I were married at St. Anselm’s Parish in San Anselmo, CA

With my job we moved to several different locations to include: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Mission Viejo, CA; Santa Barbara, CA; Centreville, VA; Manlius, NY; and currently reside in Oakton.

Patty and I have been very active in each of the parishes that we lived and have been involved in many different capacities to include: Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, Minister of the Word, Parish Outreach organizer, Parish Council member, Finance Council member, Religious Education Instructor, etc.

Now that Patty and I have become empty nesters, we have become increasingly active within our parish, the Saint John Neumann Catholic Community. The parish is staffed by the Oblate Community who has now become our extended family. Both Patty and I have been Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, RCIA sponsors and currently are members of the Salesian Discipleship Leadership Team. In addition to the above activities I am a Minister of the Word and have been tasked to facilitate future altar server training. I have also had the opportunity to attend a Cursillo which was a life changing experience for me.

As part of our focus on Social Justice, Patty and I have introduced the “Just Faith” social justice formation program to our parish and are members of the Diocesan Just Faith Council. I have been the parish coordinator as well as program facilitator. Patty is the Catholic Charities and Virginia Catholic Conference representative for the Parish. She also has been on the Catholic Charities Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Catholic Relief Service Task Force and is now on the grants committee. Patty is a graduate of the Leadership Institute for Applied Catholic Social Teaching at Washington Theological Union. She is also the parish social justice advocacy committee leader. Patty is employed as the CFO for Fairfax Area Christian Emergency and Transitions Services (FACETS) which is a non-profit agency founded to respond to the diverse and multiple needs of homeless and low-income people living in Fairfax County.

I have been a Federal Law Enforcement Agent for thirty-one years. In 1977, I began my career as a Special Agent with Naval Investigative Service (NIS) and in 1983 transferred to the United States Secret Service. Throughout my career with Secret Service I performed a myriad of protective and investigative duties as a field agent and subsequently as a manager before retiring in January of 2004. The next day after retiring I began working for the Transportation Security Administration - Federal Air Marshal Service as a Supervisory Special Agent. In my current position I have been charged with developing and managing the International Liaison Section. I am responsible for oversight of all international relations between our agency and foreign governments. In addition I am the primary negotiator for worldwide international air marshal agreements and assist foreign nations with the development of air marshal programs within their countries.

John and Faith Jarvis

John and Faith Jarvis

Faith and I have been married for 27 years. I have been the owner or partner in a lobbying firm for the past 22 years. Faith came into the Catholic Church in 1990, and we both became Maronite Catholics officially in 2007 when our request for a change of rite was approved. In 1996 it was suggested that if I wanted to serve the Church, I would need more education, and so I pursued both a Bachelor and a Masters degree.

I received a Masters degree in Theology from Ava Maria University. Faith and I have been active in our local parishes, both in the Latin Rite and Maronite Rite. Faith, after serving in several volunteer capacities, was asked to start a new liturgical ministry at St. Francis de Sales in Purcellville where she served as liturgical director for several years. We both directed the RCIA program at St. Francis and currently are assisting in the directing the RCIA Program at St. James Church in Falls Church. I also visited Loudoun Valley Hospital for over five years as part of their Chaplaincy team.

Don and Deb Libera

Home Parish:
St. John the EvangelistWarrenton, VA

Don was born in 1952 at Georgetown University Hospital, in Washington, DC, to an Irish mom and Polish dad (both from Minnesota). Raised in Northern Virginia, he attended St. Agnes (Arlington) and St. John (McLean) elementary schools and Bishop O’Connell (Arlington) High School. He coached and played on baseball teams while in high school, was a trainer for the football team, and also enjoyed basketball, skiing and other sports while growing up. Don also taught 8th grade CCD classes, initially during high school when his dad was DRE, then later after college. Don graduated from the University of Virginia in 1974 with a BA degree in history. During college, Don was blessed with an opportunity to become involved with the Encounter with Christ retreat program that was sponsored by the Office of Campus Ministry for the Richmond Diocese. He also tried his hand at being a disc jockey at the college radio stations. During Don’s senior year, he injured his knee playing sandlot football (during what should have been a short break from studying!) and had to have major knee surgery.

Shortly after graduation, Don “landed” a job collecting delinquent loans for a local bank. Eight months later he began his career with the Federal government, in the financial management area, where he has worked for almost 33 years.

Most of Don’s adulthood was spent at All Saints parish in Manassas, where he served as lector, Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, religious education teacher, and altar boy trainer/scheduler. He also was active in the youth ministry program; coached the youth softball team; served on the parish council; taught classes on praying the Liturgy of the Hours; and instituted the “5-Car Raffle”, in which proceeds are shared among participating diocesan parishes.

Also a native Virginian, Deb was born in Winchester, but spent most of her childhood in Warsaw, in the Northern Neck area of Virginia. She spent several years living and working in Richmond before accepting a new position and moving to Northern Virginia.

Don and Deb met on a “blind” date in 1994, and following a long courtship, married in 1998. We found many areas of common interest, including hobbies, outdoor activities, and a strong faith. It was the strong faith that turned out to be the biggest obstacle that had to be overcome in our relationship. Deb was raised Baptist and happy to continue being Baptist. She also found some of what Don shared about his Catholic faith difficult to accept. But God’s special grace gave Deb a desire to learn more about Catholicism, fully expecting that her research would prove Don wrong. It was those little Knights of Columbus pamphlets about various Catholic doctrines, which Deb found in Don’s house, which piqued her curiosity and began her two-year journey toward Catholicism. She entered the Church in 1998 at the Easter Vigil, and is forever grateful to God for that “blind” date with a “Catholic” boy!

Following our wedding at All Saints, in July 1998, we began looking for a place to call “our home”, and found the perfect spot just outside of Warrenton. We moved into our new home in March 2000, and began transitioning from All Saints to St. John the Evangelist parish. Becoming involved with the parish blessed us with many new friends and helped us feel very much at home in our new surroundings. Last year, we completed our 3-year term on the parish council. Don currently serves as a lector; teaches classes on how to pray the Liturgy of the Hours; and is a 4th degree Knight of Columbus. Deb is an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, and an unofficial lector at the 6:30 a.m. daily Mass. We also have served on the interior design committee related to our church expansion, and organize the parish’s annual Corpus Christi celebration that includes a Eucharistic procession through the Town of Warrenton.

Our spiritual lives have been enriched, and our marriage has been blessed in special way through Our Lady’s Missionaries of the Eucharist (O.L.M.E.), a Public Association of Christ’s Faithful dedicated to the spiritual development of the laity. We are both very active with OLME, Don as a member, and Deb as an associate member.

Within the past few years, our desire for children began a journey of prayerful discernment and pursuit of both international and domestic adoption. God answered our prayers with an opportunity to take four foster children (ages 13, 12, 10 and 8) into our home on December 9, 2006, the Feast of St. Juan Diego. We were blessed in many ways during our 11 months as foster parents.

Dave and Kathy Maurer

Home Parish: St. Mary of Sorrows, Fairfax, VA

Dave was born and raised on Long Island in a Catholic home. I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in naval architecture and marine engineering in 1979 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). I moved to Virginia in 1979. I am presently the Chief Naval Architect of the Washington Office of Gryphon Technologies.

Kathy is a native of Northern Virginia (well, she was conceived here, born in Berkeley, CA while her father was attending graduate school, and returned before the age of one). I met Kathy when she was interning with my company during her senior year at Emory and Henry College in southwest Virginia. While at Emory and Henry, she joined the Methodist Church. As things grew more serious in our relationship, Kathy’s insistence on being open about our faith challenged me to first articulate, and then to explain why I wanted to stay connected to my Catholic faith. This began a shared journey of learning and growing ever more deeply committed to following Christ.

We were married in July 1983 and Kathy entered the Church the following Easter. We have six children: Anna, Gerard, Susie, Sarah, Peter, and Mary Rose. We have home schooled all of them from the time Anna entered 1st grade. Anna graduated with honors from George Mason University in May 2008. Gerard is at the Franciscan University in Steubenville. Susie is completing an associate’s degree and certification in American Sign Language interpreting and will pursue a bachelor’s degree in communication at George Mason. Sarah is in 11th grade, Peter is in 9th grade, and Mary Rose is in 6th grade.

We have been active in Catholic Engaged Encounter, Cursillo, and in many roles at our parish of Saint Mary of Sorrows. We provided for the catechism of our children at Saint Mary’s in the Family Group program, meeting in the homes with several other families and sharing the teaching. I have also taught seventh and eighth grade Confirmation classes at the parish. We are also both extraordinary minister of Holy Communion and are active with the parish youth ministry. I am a volunteer contractor for the Diocesan Work Camp. Kathy and I have a keen interest in vocations; we are charter members and have served as officers of the Serra Club of Arlington.

Christopher “Chris” and Kathleen “Kitty” Ryan

Children:

-Patrick “Pat” (born 2/19/89)

-Aidan (born 3/7/95)

-Maura (born 5/30/97)

Home Parish:

St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Alexandria, VA

I was born in St. Johnsbury, VT (Diocese of Burlington, VT) on January 19, 1960, a cradle Catholic. I graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy in 1978 and Harvard University in 1982.

I have worked for the past 15 years as a senior legal assistant specializing in telecommunications and FCC work at Wiley Rein LLP, a downtown DC law firm. I enjoy golf, bowling, chess, vegetable gardening, and watching The Three Stooges (I favor Shemp over Curly but figure that in the permanent diaconal tent, there is room for both Curly and Shemp fans).

I have been very active at St. Mary’s School coaching CYO basketball and track in recent years. In the past I have been an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist at GW Hospital, have taught GED classes at Walpole State Prison, and continue with regular preparation of meals for the homeless at Christ House Shelter in Old Town Alexandria.

Kitty was born in Los Angeles (Encino, CA) and raised in a High Church Anglican parish in California. She graduated from California State University Northridge and received her law degree from American University. Kitty works as an attorney at the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, DC. Kitty went through RCIA during the 1994-95 year and became a Catholic at the Easter Vigil at St. Mary’s Church in 1995 (one month after Aidan was born). She is the consummate wife, mother, and the glue that holds the family and our various schedules and school work all together.

Our son Pat is currently a senior at Bishop Ireton and a varsity letter winner in football, wrestling, and track. He hopes to study Russian at Saint Anselm College next fall. Aidan is a 7th grader at St. Mary’s School and is a Boy Scout and avid CYO basketball player. Maura is a 5th grader at St. Mary’s School and swims during the summer at our local pool. She also plays soccer and CYO basketball.

Mike & Phyllis Strain

Children:
-Denise Vaughn (32)
-Angela Kennedy (28)
-Christopher Strain (Deceased)
-Bridgette Thornton (23)
-Elena Strain (20)

Grandchildren:
-Alyssa (12)
-Halie (9)
-Reanna (8)
-Corey (2)
-Ethan (2)
-Audrey Noelle (3 months)
-Ethan (2)
-Audrey (Due Aug 08)

Home Parish: St Matthew Church, Spotsylvania, VA
I was born on 26 November 1954 in Memphis, TN, to Patrick Reese and Mary Luigs Strain. On my second birthday, 26 November 1956, my brother Tim was born. My brother Danny came along on my Mother’s birthday, 31 January, 1958, and on 23 August, 1959, my sister Kathy was born. As 1960 came, my family consisted of my parents, me, two brothers, and a sister.
We lived in Memphis until the summer of 1963 when we moved to Orange, TX because of a job opportunity for my dad. Three years later, my parents decided to move back to Memphis. In Memphis I attended St Michael’s school for grades 1-3, Holy Rosary School for grades 7-8, and Memphis Catholic High School for grades 9-12. I attended St Mary’s school in Orange, TX for grades 4-6.

After graduating from high school, I attended Christian Brothers College for a year as an engineering student. After my freshman year, I was no longer interested in going to college, and instead turned towards joining the military. I signed the enlistment papers for the Marine Corps on 5 October 1973, and left for boot camp on 4 February 1974.

I graduated from boot camp on 3 May 1974, and returned to Memphis to attend military training at a Navy installation just north of Memphis to learn to fix jet aircraft. During my stay in Memphis for training, I met Phyllis, and 10 days after our first date, I asked her to marry me. She said yes, and four months later (4 April 1975), we were married at Christ the King Catholic Church in Southaven, MS.

About 18 months after our wedding, I left home to attend Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Quantico, VA receiving a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps on 29 April 1977. I continued to advance in the Marine Corps over the years, serving in a wide variety of assignments until I retired in September 2000 with 26 ½ years of service. I now work as a Department of the Navy civilian as a Program Manager at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, VA.

Phyllis and I have five children, born over a period of 12 years. Denise was born during our first year of marriage. Angela was born in 1979 while I was in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Her birth was the only birth I missed.

Christopher, our only son, was born in May of 1982. Bridgette was born in January 1985, and our youngest, Elena, was born in February 1988. In June of 1989, our son Christopher was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy. For 14 years, we were called to care for our son, watch him slowly deteriorate. But his spirit and mind were alive. The light of Christ shown in his eyes and in everything he did. His death on 7 May 2003 shook all of us, even though we knew this would happen. At the same time, though, we also knew that God had called Chris home. In his book, The Applause of Heaven, Max Lucado describes a scene where a loved one arrives at Heaven’s gates, and there is a crowd waiting for him/her. They begin to applaud and step back, greeting the newcomer and at the same time, drawing him/her further into Heaven. As the crowd unfolds, there is Christ, standing there with open arms and a smile, welcoming another brother/sister home. That is how we saw Chris. He gently accepted what God laid before him, saw the best in all of us, never complained, and new that God would take care of him. I learned a great deal from living with my son, and I thank God each day for the time Chris spent with us on earth.
God has blessed us with five great children, six super grandchildren, and they continue to brighten our life, and keep us young, at least at heart.

Throughout our married life, we’ve served in a variety of roles within the Church. We’ve been part of Catholic Engaged Encounter for the last 25 years, presenting weekends to engaged couples, working to share with them the wonders and trials of the vocation of marriage and the Sacrament of Matrimony. We’ve served as high school CCD teachers for about 10 years, performed prison ministry for a couple of years, and worked as coordinators for a city-wide ecumenical homeless shelter program. In Alabama, I was the only male allowed to visit, or even know the location of a shelter for abused spouses and children. I was the handyman for the shelter.

I’ve served on Parish Councils, been a Parish Council President as well as treasurer, did the detail accounting work for a parish in Kansas, participated as a sponsor in the RCIA program, participated in Cursillo, as well as serving in the Knights of Columbus. I’ve also served as a Lector/Reader, and as an Extraordinary Minister of Communion in many of the parishes we have been a part of over the last 33 years.

J.D & Christy Williams

Children:

-Samantha

-Jo

-Cody

-Johnny

-Mary Cate

-Grace Maire

Home Parish:

Saint John the Evangelist-Warrenton, VA

I was born a poor Share Cropper’s son. Oops, I am saving that one for when I run for Congress.

Actually, I was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1959 to Paul and Marilyn Williams as dad was about to begin his junior year at the University of Georgia. Dad went on to be ordained as a Southern Baptist Minister and in 1967 he re-entered the Navy as a Chaplain. Life as a Navy dependent afforded me the opportunity to see and experience plenty. Every three or four years we would transfer from Virginia, to California, back to Virginia, etc.

In 1977, I graduated from Twenty-nine Palms High School in California’s Mojave Desert, and left home to join the Marine Corps. After three months in the swamps of Parris Island, S.C., and a couple of months at Fort Sill, Oklahoma for Artillery school, the Corps sent me back to Twenty-nine Palms where I was assigned to the 1st Field Artillery Group (Force Troops), and later with the 4th Battalion, 11th Marines. Two years later, I was transferred to the 3rd Marine Division (aka Okinawa) where I was assigned to 3rd Battalion 12th Marines. This was my first time overseas and it was a great experience.

After a year on the rock, I was assigned to the Marine Detachment aboard the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower. This was best two years I had ever had and I was able to visit numerous ports throughout the Caribbean and the Mediterranean Seas.

I finished up my life as a Marine at Camp Lejeune, N.C. in 1984 after having attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.

The next phase of my life began in Blacksburg, Virginia where I attended Virginia Tech, majoring in Animal Science. While there, I met and fell head over heals in love with a young Horticulture student named Christy Garneau. I was a Baptist and Christy was a Catholic and we did not know what to do, so we punted and were married by the Justice of the Peace in Christiansburg, VA in 1987.

Upon graduation, we returned to Christy’s home in Fauquier County and built a house. Eventually, I sought a local church for us to attend (and an opportunity to save Christy by having her convert to being Baptist). I prayed that this would happen and just when I thought I could get Christy to make the change, God showed up. On the Sunday I thought we would join the local Baptist church, the pastor was out sick, and a substitute minister filled in for him. The guest minister dedicated his entire sermon to criticizing the evil Catholic Church and telling anti-Catholic jokes.

Christy was crying and I felt ashamed. Later that week, I told Christy to take the kids to St. John’s. I didn’t have to tell her twice. After a few weeks I started to go with her, and with so many questions, I began attending “Inquiry” with Deacon Bernie Ragan on Monday nights and eventually joined the RCIA program. In December 1998, Christy and I had our marriage blessed in the Catholic Church. In 1999, I was received into the Church and Christy was confirmed. Our two oldest kids were received into the Church in 2000. Since then we have added three “Cradle Catholics.” Christy and I are Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist. Christy is the President of the Junior Legion of Mary at St. John’s and our kids are active with the different youth groups.

Today, I am in my 10th year as a Police Officer with the Federal Protective Service of the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security.

Class-2011

Candidates-Directory
Diocese of Arlington, VA.