By Rick Losey
We all have different journeys and stories with twists and turns, which sometimes cause us to make choices that lead us away from our home, the Church. My journey has recently brought me the pleasure of making a new friend in Mr. Art Major. Art and I met in Deacon Jeff’s recent Bible study group on the Gospel of John, and by God’s intervention we continued to keep bumping into each other at different activities we each had chosen to join. We continued getting to know each other more and sharing stories.
At the end of our Bible study course, the question is asked of you “Now what will you do?” What will you do to be more of a disciple?
Continuing to be called and feeling the Spirit guiding him to do more, Art felt compelled to share his journey while bringing light to the people and ministries that helped to bring him home, to the Church. Art says “I hope that this can be an inspiration to others and demonstrate that their actions can have a profound influence on peoples’ faith, in ways they cannot imagine”. It is Art’s desire to share the “tool kit” available via church ministries and staff that can provide aid to others in their spiritual growth.
Art was born and raised in a devout Catholic family that was very involved in church activities, including 12 years of Catholic schooling. But as Art got older, he just felt like he was going through the motions. In his first marriage, he drifted farther from the Church. During his second marriage, he continued to stay farther from the church. Because of the complicated issues of annulment and conflicting information received, he chose to continue his course of staying away. After his second wife Denise passed away in 2020, he reconnected with an old friend named Monica, who would become his third wife. Monica was truly a saint on earth in the many ways that she lived her life, and she began to bring Art back into a reunion with the Catholic Church. Art made his first confession after forty years of absence from the faith to Father Killian. Father Killian was very understanding and offered follow-up discussions. Thus began the journey home to the Church, with many in the St. Elizabeth Seton ministries leading the way. Among these people, ministries, and activities were:
- Deacon Marty, who assisted with the annulment process
- Home Communion lay ministers
- Anointing of the Last Rites for Monica in home hospice
- Grieving with Great Hope workshop, facilitated by Deacon Jeff
- The first ever Bible Study Group, studying the Gospel of John
- Continuing Bible studies with the class on “The Psalms”, again facilitated by Deacon Jeff
- Joining the Knights of Columbus to develop further fellowship and begin the process of giving back to the church ministries
- Joining the Catholic Men’s Prayer Group to further strengthen the faith journey
- Becoming the leader of SES SOLO Spouse Group, which actively supports others as they continue to recover from their grieving process and rebuild their social networks
Art has been on quite a journey, as many of you have been, and he encourages you to share your story in order to help others on their road home. God gave us two hands, one to reach out to God and the other one to reach out to others. The ministries that are available to you through the St. Elizabeth Seton Family are there to support, nourish and help bring you home. So, please reach out and feel the love as you continue to come home and become more involved with the St. Elizabeth Seton Family and Ministries.
Peace, Love, Prayers
My thanks to Rick for taking the time to write this article to let me share my journey and Monica’s influence. Also thanks to all those who supported me in the various ministries. It’s not mentioned in the article, but Monica passed away due to cancer on 6th of January 2023 after 6 weeks of home hospice.
Art’s wife Monica was instrumental in answering questions I had about the faith when I was searching, but before I had the nerve to ask those questions I could tell she was someone I could ask because she never missed an opportunity to say “Praise God!” whenever anyone at work shared some good news, and she always, always made the sign of the cross and prayed before lunch in the employee break room. Back then in my mid-twenties, she was the only devout catholic I knew. I believe it was God’s providence that we ended up meeting at work. My previous coworkers at jobs would do was right for themselves and do what they could do get ahead, but here was a woman who pulled me aside to apologize about something I was clueless about. She let me know that she thought she had treated me unfairly because she was jealous I was being trained for management, which she confessed she didn’t realize that she even had a desire for until I came along. Who does this in a work environment?! Such honesty and humility! God knew I needed someone like her to break down my defensive barriers to start moving in the direction He wanted me to go. She eventually became my sponsor into The Church. As Monica would say, “God is good!”
Monica was a dear friend of mine and I considered her a spiritual mother. She lived her faith out loud and had a way of speaking the Truth with love. I witnessed her many times randomly helping people in need, whether it was paying for their meal or buying them groceries. She was talented in playing many instruments and had a beautiful singing voice. I first met her singing in the our church’s choir. She also sewed or knitted many outfits for friends . Monica’s life wasn’t easy, living with cancer, but she was always willing to share her Faith and help others.
It was through Monica that I met Art Major. He was such a blessing to Monica, and was exactly who she needed her last few months on earth. My friend and I traveled to visit Monica, but unfortunately she died before our plane landed in Arizona. Art graciously hosted us and allowed us to stay and help with arrangements. At a time of great grief for him, he shared his faith, time, and talent with us. Monica’s and Art’s selflessness and humility inspire me to share God’s love with others no matter what my circumstances.
Wow! Very impressive summation of Art Major’s return to catholic.faith I always knew Art as an excellent, selfless and a dedicated executive leader in Aerospace. I didn’t know the spiritual side of Art. I have never met Monica but based on what I learned today, Monica was a God sent to Art and the rest whom she touched during her earthly life. She is now an Angel smiling above and continuing to guide Art’s path.