Who would have ever guessed that the same kid who had refused to be confirmed at the age of seventeen would be kneeling before a crucifix consecrating his entire life to God when he was nineteen?  I sure hadn't.  But God had, and He sure has ways of achieving things!

I guess you could say that it all started with Mary. My parents, who had deepened in their faith after having read a book about Fatima, placed me at the feet of her image on the day that I was born. When I was four, my oldest brother made the courageous decision to enter the apostolic school (he has been faithful ever since, and recently celebrated his first anniversary as a priest). In 1991 the whole family (we're seven all together), headed off to Rome for the 50^th anniversary of the Legion of Christ.  My parents were incorporated into the Regnum Christi Movement by the Founder. A bit later, along with other families, they founded Pinecrest Academy in Georgia. I was one of the twenty-eight founding students.  In spite of being a really restless kid, I was also an active member of the kids apostolic groups throughout grade school.

I graduated from Pinecrest Academy and went on to a local Catholic high school. It was a much bigger school and my classmates mushroomed from 5 to 250. I have always been an outgoing, people person.  I was all about high fives here, there and everywhere. I was thrilled to be elected homecoming representative my freshman year. I was having so much fun that I put everything that I had learned on the back burner and I dedicated myself to living it up. 

But I soon discovered that I had 250 acquaintances, all of whom I cared for, but only a few good buddies. I was in a situation that I had always wanted to avoid: choosing a clique. Joining a group implied rejecting the rest. But I wanted a close knit group of friends and so in my sophomore year I chose a clique. But it cost me big time, because soon after there was a tragic occurrence and the whole traumatized circle of friends left the school, leaving me alone for my junior year. 

I got angry, and even though I had a thousand interests and social life and I went on apparently normal, I had a nagging pain in my heart. I knew there had to be someone who could help me out, and I looked and looked. The last person I thought of was God. I refused to be confirmed when everyone else my age received the sacrament. 

High school had become more than just school subjects, sports and fun. It had transformed into a deep and drastic search for a friend. I had started with 250, then I had just wanted 10, but now I was looking for one. And right when I thought I had found him I swallowed an even bitterer pill than loneliness: betrayal.

But from all that suffering surged much good. I began to discover my real and personal identity as a Catholic. Little by little and on my own, I silently went discovering the beauty of God, and the peace that comes from opening oneself up to Him. I got confirmed. 

Life seemed now to be an open field where I could run free. I formed a new group of friends. Finding myself in a transition stage I was sure of a few things I wanted. In my house, close to the fireplace, my dad kept a photograph book of picturesque Irish landscapes. My first desire, now as a senior, was to find my way there; as a student, or as a shepherd, it didn't matter. My second desire was to study philosophy and theology so as to later become a religion teacher. My third desire, or better said, whim, was just to go on a good week-long ski trip. My final long-term desire was to marry and have a big family. 

It was around that time that Fr. Scott Reilly, L.C. invited me to be a co-worker, to give one year in service for the Church. I immediately put up the defense, I've got my own plans.  "Theres a spot open in Ireland'" he replied. I had told him before about my desires of going there. "Seriously?"  I asked, intrigued.   

The first two months of co-worker training were jam-packed with unforgettable times, cherished side by side with young and fun guys that loved the church and were enthusiastically doing something to help its needs. I knew from then on that I would be happy wherever the true Christian spirit was joyfully lived, so I opened up to being sent wherever God wanted, even if it wasn't Ireland. But when I received the destination letter I was astonished; I had been sent to Ireland after all!  I would be a dean of discipline (of all things) in an Academy with 95 kids (a much bigger family than I would have ever hoped for, and the more the merrier), I would teach religion and in April the whole school would head off to the Swiss Alps for a nice week-long ski trip. Only months after having put my total trust in God I saw my four wishes granted! 

Time went by and my year was going great. Around Christmas time Fr. Martin Connor, L.C. asked me if I had ever thought about the consecrated life. I reacted like I had with Fr. Scott. It's not my lifestyle. After each day at school was finished, when night had already fallen, I used to go and sit down in a tiny and charming chapel on the upper floor. I remember one night especially well. The still figure of Christ on the cross and the flickering flame of the sanctuary lamp seemed to mark the contrast of time that kept ticking even though it seemed to me to have completely stopped. I was looking back upon my life and I saw all of its moments and stages, changes and coincidences, difficulties and doubts, longings and hopes, gifts and givers almost magically piece themselves together like jigsaw puzzle pieces that had before been in a mess on the table. I saw the masterpiece for the very first time. Then I realized that I was before the Artist who just happened to also be the friend that I had so earnestly sought for all through high school. I had found Him!

I realized that the vocation wasn't a question of life style but rather of life friendship. And before the proposal I said yes with all my heart. I knew that it was a big jump that I was taking but I had never felt so sure, so free. As a matter of fact, I decided to represent the jump in a graphic way so I went skydiving. The two jumps were adventures and I have always loved adventures! I was ready to follow Christ wherever He would call me.  The lay consecrated vocation struck me as a potent way of penetrating society with the gospel message. I think that it is impacting to see a man in a suit and tie defending the faith with the same conviction as a man with a roman collar. I thought about all that one could do in the political field, in the mass media, in the legislative area. In a special way I thought about what a consecrated lay man could achieve in the battle against legal abortion.      

I am happy as a person that discovered the meaning of life upon discovering Gods personal love and friendship. My life is now a mission: introduce Christ to all those who, like me, just need a friend.                        

 For more information about Regnum Christi Consecrated Men, please write to: consecratedmen@regnumchristi.org.