Please share a moment, ministry or experience at St. Francis Xavier that had a lasting impact on your faith or your family?
The sacramental importance of two of my daughters, Nina and Sami, being married in St. Francis Xavier, in addition to Sami and my son Johnny receiving their first Holy Communion there, has had the greatest spiritual and faithful impact on my family. With each child, the prayerful preparation and dedication of the lay teachers involved, and the pastors at St Francis has left each of my family members with a strong foundation of practicing the Catholic faith.
On a personal note, the Men’s Fellowship Group at St Francis has profoundly helped me in strengthening my relationship with Jesus Christ. 10 years ago, following the death of my younger sister, I found myself searching for spirituality and meaning during a difficult time. Noticing my grief after mass one Sunday, Tom Brinkley asked me if I’d be interested in joining this ministry. I did. And in the St. Joseph’s room, surrounded by brothers in faith, I have found a sanctuary of strength, prayer, and understanding that kept me anchored.
Through our shared experiences, scripture, and prayer, I was brought closer to the Lord. This fellowship didn’t just help me survive my grief—it transformed it, bringing me into a much deeper, more intimate relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The strength I draw from Christ through this brotherhood has made me a more present and loving husband, a more patient and spiritually grounded father, and a more dedicated parishioner eager to give back to the community.
Why do you believe St. Francis Xavier is important to Mountain Brook and the surrounding communities?
SFX Parish is unique in the Birmingham Diocese, in that it is comprised of families and parishioners of wide-ranging backgrounds and ethnicities. As such, we as a parish, through our various ministries, serve the needs of the poor, underserved, the homebound, and anyone in need of spiritual assistance, material aid, guidance, and fellowship. St Francis Xavier has been a vital part of the community for over 70 years, with a long multi-generational history of educating the youth of the community with a strong Catholic faith-based primary education. SFX ministries have shaped countless disciples of Christ through both service and prayerful fellowship. The imprint it has had on the faith and spirituality of the community is indelible, and the Parish is poised to continue and grow this impact in years to come.
What traditions, ministries or values of our parish do you hope will continue for years to come?
I will continue an active role as a presenter in the Men’s Fellowship group, and hope to bring some of my family or friends in to participate. My wife and I plan to continue to lead a Small Group in the “Arise” Fellowship, in addition to becoming more involved with St Vincent de Paul as I transition into retirement. Lastly, I will continue to serve as a lector, and Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist.
What excites you most about the Capital Campaign and the projects it will support?
I am proud and excited to be a part of this effort, which will have a lasting impact on the parish for decades, if not longer. The facility improvements it will create will give the parish the environment needed to more completely and joyfully fulfill its mission of spirituality, service, faith formation, and education.
How do you hope these improvements will benefit future parishioners, families and students (school and PSR)?
These improvements will provide a more comfortable and adequate space for meeting, education, discussion, and socialization, with the necessary resources and equipment to serve the parish. These spaces will be available and utilized by the school and PSR classes, fellowship and bible study, parish meetings, social events and the like, benefitting the entire parish.
If you were speaking to another parishioner who is on the fence on whether they should support this campaign, what would you tell them?
I would explain that this is a unique opportunity to make a lasting, meaningful, and visible impact on this parish that has served us and our families so well over the years. It will strengthen the ability of the parish to continue and enhance its mission, which will have a faithful impact on countless individuals for years to come.
Complete this sentence: “I support the St. Francis Xavier Capital Campaign because...”
I want to have a part in this important effort to bring the parish, through needed facility improvement, to a state where it can accomplish it’s mission in the best way possible. It will have a long-term effect on the strength of its faith formation and spirituality of the Parish locally, and on the Diocese of Birmigham as a whole. I am honored and privileged to be a part of it. Thanks be to God!
