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.”
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