FIRE BURNS BRIGHT

Dan Jason is using the fire within him to light a flame in others.

Jason, a parishioner at St. Pius X Church in Loudonville for the last eight years, has written the book “FIRE Burning Within” encapsulating his time doing missionary work as well as other personal experiences, all with God as a driving point of inspiration. His narrative seeks to inspire others, while evangelizing through his own knowledge and testimonies involving faith.

“We’re all facing coronavirus; there’s a lot of uncertainty, a lot of negativity, a lot of doom and gloom per say because of the things happening in the world, and my hope is just to bring some light to that darkened place because God certainly has that,” Jason said.

Born in Germantown, Jason has been a part of the Albany Diocese his entire life. His mother, Carol Ann, taught Sunday faith formation classes, while his father, Rick, was involved in various ministries, setting the precedent early on for a faith-filled life. Despite this, like many young adults, Jason struggled with depression throughout his high school years. Flooded with negativity and self-doubt, he felt himself spiraling downward and began asking where God was in his seemingly silent and lonely life.

Then there was his saving grace, the Holy Eucharist.

“Every Sunday at Mass for a few minutes my soul was flooded with peace when I received the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament,” Jason said. “Christ filled my heart and told me that I could carry on.”

Jason admits after returning home from Mass he would feel the darkness re-enter his life, although after reflecting on his struggles and ultimate journey, he says it became evident Jesus carried him through it all. The title of his book, “FIRE Burning Within,” is rooted in the belief that by discovering the faith and fire deep inside oneself, people can overcome any obstacle life throws at them with God’s help.

By witnessing how transformative faith can be not only in his life but in the lives around him, Jason aspires to give others hope.

“As much as people get so much out of every time they go to Mass and hear priests and sermons, it’s also important for them to hear from the laity, too, and from people who may be in their position,” Jason said.

Traveling the world, Jason became involved in various missions, from Hope of the Poor in Mexico City and on Native American reservations to serving the homeless community in Albany through Capital City Rescue Mission. Jason also involved himself in prison ministry in Coxsackie, worked as a basketball coach at Camp Veritas, a Catholic summer camp for teens 12-18, and became a journalist and planning board member for Baseball Miracles Inc., a non-profit organization filled with instructors who teach boys and girls with economic and environmental disadvantages around the world how to play baseball and softball.

After traveling, he taught English at KIPP Tech Valley Charter School in Albany for eight years, helping inner-city children have a “choice-filled future.”
“Working with at-risk youth was something I always wanted to do,” said Jason, who currently works at NOVUS Clothing Company in Albany. “I didn’t realize that God would afford me the opportunity to do so early on in my teaching career and it was a great experience for the years that I was there.”
While “FIRE Burning Within” is filled with personal narratives, something Jason deemed necessary in order to establish a sense of authenticity, he also touches on an array of faith-filled topics, including the power of prayer, divine connections, trusting in God and forgiveness among many more.

“I realized there’s a real urgency and also value in being vulnerable and I know it’s not easy for a lot of people to share some things, but we all are broken human beings in some sense,” Jason said. “God can lead us to becoming the full version of yourself, the most beautiful version that we possibly can be.”

The book “FIRE Burning Within” is available at amazon.com, and to learn more about the nonprofit Baseball Miracles, head to http://www.baseballmiracles.org/