Striving for holiness, one day at a time: Drexel Hill, PA to Albany, NY to Stockbridge, MA

This past June I got an exciting phone call from a former roommate (and FOCUS teammate at UW-Madison) Gabriel Cillo. The best way to describe Gabriel is by where he grew up. That’s right on the beaches of Ft. Lauderdale, FL…well, maybe that isn’t the best way to describe him, because he didn’t like water and always wore jeans and flannel…Your typical Floridian right? Gabriel had called to catch up and tell me about his last year in the religious community with the Marians of the Immaculate Conception (Check out their website at http://www.marian.org) and let me know that he would be taking his first vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience on August 15 at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, MA.

After getting off the phone with Gabriel, I asked Lauren what her thoughts would be if we tried to go up to Stockbridge for Gabriel’s first vows. She responded with complete excitement, especially since reading St. Faustina’s book, Diary of Divine Mercy, Lauren had always wanted to visit the Shrine in Stockbridge. We were going! There was no question about it now!

After reflecting upon the experience more, I was moved by how the Providence of how God plays out in the life of us ordinary people. Gabriel and I lived in a house of 9-10 men (2 priests, 5-6 college students, and us) in Madison. We had prayed many days together for God to show us our vocation and help us fulfill his Will for our lives. Here we were in beautiful Stockbridge, MA; I, a month married and Gabriel living out his call with the Marians. Lauren and I were both in awe of how God continues to lead us His little children each day, encountering Him in moments like these, spent with friends, with eyes fixed on our true end, to serve, love and know God! Please pray for Br. Gabriel and all the Marians that are studying to be priests.

Below are pictures of Albany, NY. We stayed in Albany, outside of Stockbridge, MA because the hotels nearby were all booked. This gave us an opportunity to explore Albany.