Sharing stories of their faith

Keynote speakers for the upcoming Parish Convening, "Prophetic Leadership: Swimming Upstream," shared the names of those whose faith stories have inspired them in their own ministry:

* Rev. Chris DeGiovine picked both a famous saint and a priest he knew in the seminary as his role models in faith. "St. Francis of Assisi has been the historical model for me of solidarity with the poor, openness to the world, reverence for nature and the environment," he said. "His vision and life have been key to mine."

Rev. Al Giaquinto was a spiritual advisor at the Theological College of Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and Father DeGiovine said his life was very similar to that of St. Francis. "He embodies a lot of that Franciscan simplicity of love of holy poverty, reverence for people, gentleness and kindness. He has been a critical model in my life."

* Margaret Vamosy chose Rev. Luciano Lopez, a pastor with whom she worked in Honduras, as someone who has inspired her in faith. He died when he was only 30. Mrs. Vamosy chose him because "he had an ability to translate the Pope's directives for new evangelization in the Americas into concrete terms for rural Honduran people," she said.

* Jeanne Schrempf's biggest role model is her late mother Alice, who was a school teacher before she married. Alice and her husband were foster parents who were honored for their work one year by Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Syracuse. When she died at 80, she was still a Eucharistic minister and participated in a small faith-sharing group.

"She absolutely, unconditionally loved children, lived her faith and touched people's lives, not so much by words but in her tremendous outpouring to the sick or those suffering loss or death," Mrs. Schrempf said. (PQ)

(10-14-99) [[In-content Ad]]