Hajja Salesjana

They care more about doing good than getting the credit. When they are not working, they are likely to be spending quality time with their families, serving others in the community or on their knees in prayer. They provide a powerful witness in the simplest of actions. What prompted this post? In the past few weeks, I encountered three people who I had the good fortune to see, maybe for the first time, as everyday Catholic heroes. I have known who they are for years, but I was struck recently by how each of them were such good role models for me and most people I know. Tom, a senior sales leader devoted to the Church and his family, selflessly gives his time to a local homeless shelter and organizes our parish community to support it. He is a prayer warrior who loves the Rosary and can always be counted on when you need help. Paige, a senior executive with an Atlanta based company, is a devoted Catholic wife and mother who finds time to carry out her business duties, run a jobs ministry at her parish, teach PSR and selflessly help anyone she meets to find everything from stronger faith to a new job. Finally, there is Judy, a lady in my parish who is heavily involved in pro-life ministry and is one of the most faithful Catholics I have ever met. She is always smiling, talking about her children and grandchildren and setting an Feeling let down by politicians and public figures who say they are Catholic, but their words and actions are often contrary to the teachings of the Church? Do we seek good examples for ourselves, our children or our grandchildren to emulate because we hope they will demonstrate in word and deed what it means to be authentically Catholic? Perhaps we are looking in the wrong places. Maybe for too long we have placed the wrong people on pedestals. It is entirely possible that we need look no further than our own parishes, workplaces and communities for good examples, or as we may want to call them, “regular Catholic heroes”. They are all around, but we may fail to notice them as it is easy to overlook the faithful, virtuous, humble and selfless among us. We are not drawn to them because they go about serving Christ and His Church in often quiet ways, avoiding the spotlight whenever possible. WHO ARE THE “REGULAR CATHOLIC HEROES” AMONG US? by Randy Hain (Living the Faith, Surrender & Strength) Top photo by Joshua Earle - Unsplash.com Photo by Kitera Dent - Unsplash.com 32 April-Ġunju 2024 hajja