Posts by St Damien Parish (Page 11)
Know Your Fellow Parishioner: Itzel Rosario
Itzel Rosario can remember a time when she thought going to Mass was simply a cultural tradition, a way to conform to the surrounding society. “You went to church,” she said, “but you didn’t necessarily know what you were doing there.” However, ten years ago, led by her father, her family underwent a spiritual conversion that brought Itzel into a real relationship with God. Now, she knows, “Worshipping God is one of the most beautiful things a person can do.”…
Know Your Fellow Parishioner: Jackie Adams
We have all heard the saying that when God closes one door, He opens another. For one-time soccer player Jackie Adams, the first door slammed hard. A series of sports-related concussions while she was in high school ended her playing career and altered her career plans. But as a second door has begun to open, Jackie is being able to pull others through with her. “Sports have been my whole life, but I can’t play anymore,” Jackie explained. So instead,…
Know Your Fellow Parishioner: Kierstyn Kuehnle
Kierstyn Kuehnle, who was born deaf in one ear and wears a hearing aid in the other, knows that “God does not make mistakes.” “Things happen for a reason,” she said. “He has laid out a life and a plan for each of us.” This sense of mission has allowed Kierstyn to accept the considerable challenges that come with her hearing loss. It also has made this sixteen-year-old a nationally-recognized advocate for the needs and rights of the deaf and…
Know Your Fellow Parishioner: Zack Fox
For Zack Fox, being in the right place at the right time usually means God has something in mind for you. One night, he stopped off at a local supermarket to buy groceries when he noticed an elderly woman who appeared to be a victim of a gift card scam. Zack stopped the woman from spending her money. Then he followed her home and spent two hours removing the scammer’s virus from her computer. “I guess she trusted me,” he…
Know Your Fellow Parishioner: Carmelo Cayentano
For Carmelo Cayetano, the greatest spiritual questions have to do with the mystery of the Cross. “Why did Jesus save us? Do we really know?” he asks. “How can we understand Christ’s suffering for us?” Carmelo has sought answers to these questions in many ways. Carmelo joined St. Damien Parish eight years ago. At first, he was satisfied to attend Mass along with everyone else. Then, he was asked to be a Eucharistic minister. “I did not feel ready for…
Know Your Fellow Parishioner: Bob & Barbara Lautenschlager
Every night, Bob and Barbara Lautenschlager say the Prayer of Spouses for Each Other. “We have our discussions like everybody else,” Barbara explained, but when they conclude the prayer by asking God to Let our love grow to perfection, it is clear that their 60-year-marriage is the fulcrum of their faith. The Lautenschlagers have attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Church since 1970, the year that they moved to Ocean City from Northern Virginia. Their service to the parish has…