I am a secondary teacher teaching Religious Education and involved in the organisation of Year 7–10 retreats at Aquinas College.
My wife Therese and I have three children – Joshua five and a half, Jacob four and Marie Grace almost two.
I am involved in the Society of Catholic Teachers Australia and the Catholic Men’s Fellowship in Perth.
I am aware of the need to allow more time for prayer in my life than I already do. I see prayer mostly as an opportunity to connect with God and try to find a balance between making petition and thanksgiving.
The first thing I try and be conscious of is my need to make my morning offering. I do this in union with my patron saints, but especially with Our
Lady who has truly been a mother to me in my spiritual life. The morning offering reflects my understanding that nothing should be wasted in our lives – our daily toils, fears, joys, struggles and hopefully the attitudes of trust and desire for forgiveness that I hope the Spirit inspires me with.
United with the sufferings and love of Jesus I believe my smallest action can be of value in the world. Even my many sins can be transformed into grace through His mercy, which I rely on each day.
When I am struggling or when I need to ask for a significant grace I find the Divine Mercy chaplet very powerful – it inspires me and has resulted in amazing graces in my life, so much so that I can’t deny its power.
Calling upon the blood of Jesus to transform a situation makes all the difference and highlights that we can do nothing unless we are united with Christ’s redeeming sacrifice.
I feel more and more called to make Scripture the centre of my prayer life. I really enjoy Lectio Divina when I finally take the step and practice it – it really brings Scripture alive for me.
I struggle with the Rosary but when I do pray it I find I need the support of images and Scripture to help with the meditations. When I remember to thank God I try to use well-known scripture passages to help me show my thanks.
Perhaps above all I pray best through song. I used to be a cantor at Mass and enjoyed singing the responsorial psalm. When I hear the psalms sung well at Mass I find that deeply spiritual.
As parents, my wife and I use song to pray with our young children using jingles that are both traditional and more contemporary. Sometimes it is better to pray in the fashion of the Wiggles than not at all.
I have been inspired by the witness of holy and wise people, past and present – from Abraham to modern day saints, whether canonised or building God’s Kingdom in their educational institutions or in the work of social justice.
They remind me of what God has been trying to teach His people throughout history – to accept His love and mercy; to say yes to the perennial question God is asking us throughout history: Do you trust me?
My faith is my rock of safety – without it life would be less rich and would have less meaning especially in times of difficulty and struggle.
It helps me to see the bigger picture and reminds me that those I love are in the arms of a loving God, especially my wife and children and that God can overcome our weaknesses and failings.
The best experiences of God I’ve had are my conversion at the age of 16, answered prayers, God-incidences – signs of God’s power and healing working in my life and the lives of friends and family members.
In great part they have inspired me to begin the writing of a book entitled A Legacy of Grace which I hope to publish in the next few years, God willing.
Faith means truly believing from the heart. As Catholics we try and place our trust in the Lord and walk on water like St Peter, hoping that fear won’t enter and take that trust away.
We are afraid of trusting in God’s goodness in the midst of the storms of life and afraid to trust the truth He has entrusted to the teaching authority of the Church as it often requires heroism and can be counter-cultural.
We are blessed with role models such as St Mary of the Cross and Blessed Pope John Paul II and his amazing witness to life.
I have a great appreciation for Catholic educators and apologists such as Scott Hahn, Jeff Cavins, Tim Staples and the like.
Their work and love for the faith is inspirational and they remind me that our faith can only survive as long as our passion for it remains.