Father Donald Calloway’s Conversion Story – From Drug Addicted Pagan To A Priest Of Mercy.
GOD’S MIRACLE IN THE CONVERSION OF
A REBELLIOUS TEEN, DRUG ADDICT TURNED PRIEST.
A True Conversion Story. Dear friends, let us not lose hope, neither with ourselves nor with others. Through the loving intercession of Our Lady, let us ask God’s infinite mercy for the conversion of many people, beginning with ourselves. Let us not forget that CONVERSIONS DO HAPPEN WITH GOD’S GRACE, OUR LADY’S INTERCESSION AND MAN’S CORRESPONDENCE!
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Heroine, cocaine, opium, marijuana, excessive alcohol, not to mention hallucinogenic drugs like mushrooms (psilocybin) and LSD – he consumed most of these before the age of 18, many before he turned 14, the addictions growing stronger as the existential emptiness deepened. What sounds like an introduction to a Hunter S. Thompson novel actually constitutes the autobiography of a Catholic priest. Fr. Donald Calloway of the Virgin Marians of the Immaculate Conception retells his dramatic and heart-wrenching life story in No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy.
As a destructive youth, Calloway spent his adolescence succumbing to temptations large and small, from sins of the flesh with constant promiscuity, to crimes against the law with thousands of dollars of grand theft in stolen merchandise, as well as nightly partying with friends consuming all forms of drugs and addictives while listening to heavy-metal music.
At one point, Calloway became a follower of the rock band the Grateful Dead, inspiring entrance into a psychedelic culture which—among other things—left him with a big Grateful Dead tattoo on his arm. To this day he has it, as a remembrance of the past he lived. The past he left. To this day he doesn’t have a clue how that tattoo got there, being stoned to oblivion during the night of its implementation.
During his youth, Calloway was such an angry and rebellious kid that he names a chapter in his book “Animal” in describing himself, his early mentality, his vicious ways. His family (especially his parents) suffered great emotional trauma as a result of their son’s behavior. For a while, they lived on a military base in Japan, for Calloway’s stepfather was an officer.
This didn’t last too long. Running around with Japanese gangs, stealing tens of thousands of dollars in merchandise—from electric guitars to cars—got young Donald Calloway arrested and deported from the country. He was escorted through the airport by military guards with chains and shackles around his hands and feet, while he spat at his captors and threw out verbal obscenities to surrounding pedestrians, angrily cursing his way onto the plane.
Although, like any angst-filled adolescent, Calloway developed a strong hatred for his parents—notwithstanding their efforts to help their struggling son, praying for him and checking him into rehabilitation facilities numerous times—a guilt-stricken consciousness still haunted him about his younger brother, where a stronger bond existed. Fr. Calloway describes his feelings poignantly:
The only bond that I had left with my family was with my little brother, Matthew. When it came to him, I felt terribly, almost inexplicably conflicted. Ten years younger than I, he would often plead, ‘Brother, play with me.’ A part of me wanted to stay home and be the big brother I wanted to be and thought he needed. But I was so preoccupied with my girlfriends and drug buddies that I didn’t want to commit to anything domestic.
Although, like any angst-filled adolescent, Calloway developed a strong hatred for his parents—notwithstanding their efforts to help their struggling son, praying for him and checking him into rehabilitation facilities numerous times—a guilt-stricken consciousness still haunted him about his younger brother, where a stronger bond existed. Fr. Calloway describes his feelings poignantly:
The only bond that I had left with my family was with my little brother, Matthew. When it came to him, I felt terribly, almost inexplicably conflicted. Ten years younger than I, he would often plead, ‘Brother, play with me.’ A part of me wanted to stay home and be the big brother I wanted to be and thought he needed. But I was so preoccupied with my girlfriends and drug buddies that I didn’t want to commit to anything domestic.
when the family moved to California. Drugs, sex, smoking, and drinking -- all by the age 11. "It escalated to the point of getting out of control," he now recounts. "We moved near Los Angeles. Then to Japan. That rocked my world."
After returning from Japan and checking into an ineffective rehabilitation clinic inPennsylvania, things did not get any better. For years the drugs continued, so did the promiscuity, the theft, and another arrest. In terms of his growing addictions, Calloway describes vividly what a poisonous rabbit hole he fell into, hitting rock bottom in what reads like a distant and dreary space.
“On one occasion, I even found myself in a crack house, crawling around on the rug on my hands and knees looking for any cocaine that might have fallen on the floor. There were cockroaches running around and maggots in the sink from all the unwashed dishes. A crying baby could be heard, unattended in a back room. Yet there I was on the floor, right along with the baby’s mother, searching frantically for white specs on the floor.
If we found anything white, we’d put it in the bowl and smoke it, even if we didn’t know what it was.”
So, what on earth could have turned this rebellious youth, this struggling addict, this “animal” (as he later described himself), into a devout Catholic priest, not to mention into an eloquent author of books on theology and Mariology?
It all began one night in March 1992 when, to the surprise of his friends, Donald decided not to go out partying, as was the usual routine, but to stay at home for the night. He felt immensely depressed, a longing and emptiness occupied his very being. “I found myself sitting there alone in my room with nothing to do and no one to turn to. My existence was laughable.
My life was a waste, and I was hoping it would somehow come to an end.
My life was a waste, and I was hoping it would somehow come to an end…I hated my life. I was restless and anxious about everything.” Looking for a way to fill the time, he began browsing his parents’ bookshelf, not to find anything to read but, preferably, land on a National Geographic for the pictures. Instead, his hand landed on something else, an odd book about a subject so alien and obscure to the teenager that it was intriguing enough to read. The book was called The Queen of Peace Visits Medjugorje.
Essentially, it was the story of the Marian apparitions in Medjugorje which brought on the crisis of his conversion. He was only one of the first of a long line of Christians who were to fall under the spell of the mystical Bosnian village, embracing that land of mystery.
“This book showed me a side of things I had never really heard of or experienced before, but I certainly could relate to the radical nature of the message…It wasn’t long before I realized this book was presenting me an offer to change my life and surrender to something greater than myself – to believe in God and be different. It was a revelation that required a revolution in my thinking. Could this be the way out I was looking for?”
He spent the whole night reading the book, until the early hours of the morning. In the process, the inner beings of his soul were transformed from the anxiousness and restlessness he previously experienced to a deep serenity and peace that radiated and pervaded his spirit. The messages of Medjugorje touched him on a higher level, the return to prayer, peace, fasting, a reconciliation with God and the need for conversion. For the first time, something offered him hope from his abusive past, from his life of sin and despair.
My life was a waste, and I was hoping it would somehow come to an end.
My life was a waste, and I was hoping it would somehow come to an end…I hated my life. I was restless and anxious about everything.” Looking for a way to fill the time, he began browsing his parents’ bookshelf, not to find anything to read but, preferably, land on a National Geographic for the pictures. Instead, his hand landed on something else, an odd book about a subject so alien and obscure to the teenager that it was intriguing enough to read. The book was called The Queen of Peace Visits Medjugorje.
Essentially, it was the story of the Marian apparitions in Medjugorje which brought on the crisis of his conversion. He was only one of the first of a long line of Christians who were to fall under the spell of the mystical Bosnian village, embracing that land of mystery.
“This book showed me a side of things I had never really heard of or experienced before, but I certainly could relate to the radical nature of the message…It wasn’t long before I realized this book was presenting me an offer to change my life and surrender to something greater than myself – to believe in God and be different. It was a revelation that required a revolution in my thinking. Could this be the way out I was looking for?”
He spent the whole night reading the book, until the early hours of the morning. In the process, the inner beings of his soul were transformed from the anxiousness and restlessness he previously experienced to a deep serenity and peace that radiated and pervaded his spirit. The messages of Medjugorje touched him on a higher level, the return to prayer, peace, fasting, a reconciliation with God and the need for conversion. For the first time, something offered him hope from his abusive past, from his life of sin and despair.
The Virgin Mary was saying things that were so clear
The Virgin Mary was saying things that were so clear and captivating that I found myself moved and literally experiencing emotion in a deep way. This was a kind of emotion I hadn’t experienced since I was a little boy who really loved his mother and wanted to make her happy. And yet the Virgin Mary was saying that she was my mother, that she was the mother of those who had gone astray and was calling us back to God, to Jesus. She made it clear that she was not God, but she was pointing to her Son and saying He is the Messiah, the Savior of the world. I found myself totally falling in love with this mother, this woman.”
The aesthetical quality was sublime. He was experiencing a beauty he hadn’t felt in a very long time. In this Woman, the Virgin Mary, he found a beauty that was not poisonous and sinful—like his past encounters with women—but pure and refreshing, an immaculate gentleness that offered a ray of hope and emanated a radiant light into Donald’s darkened world. Spiritual and sublime, this attraction led Donald to a small prayer of the heart, in which he revealed his longing for this mysterious presence in front of him.
As I continued to read, I said to her in my heart, ‘I want to believe.
As I continued to read, I said to her in my heart, ‘I want to believe. I really do. You are piercing the little bubble of my world and offering me something more than I ever heard. I need this.’”
This inner need, this spiritual longing, was being satisfied. As he continued reading, a strange, but wondrous, rebirth from death to new life occurred. “Although I was in serious despair about my life, as I read the book, I felt as if my heart was being melted. I hung on to each word like it was transmitting life straight to me.”
Whoever this Virgin Mary was, I believed what she was saying – that she was my mother and came from heaven for me.
Then a new day came. “Early in the morning, when I closed the book, I said, ‘The message in this book is life-changing. I have never ever heard anything so amazing and convincing and so needed in my life.’ One might say that this was my first prayer. Whoever this Virgin Mary was, I believed what she was saying – that she was my mother and came from heaven for me.”
Instantly, after telling his overwhelmed mother about the experience, Donald—though not a Catholic yet—ran off to Mass for the first time in his life, speaking to a priest afterwards, confessing his entire past to the man. When he came back home, Donald began throwing out all of his filthy possessions from his past life, from drug paraphernalia to pornographic magazines ranging from his Playboy and Penthouse collections, to his heavy metal records, and his water bongs and pipes. Six 30-gallon bags were the result.
Donald knelt and deeply desired to go into prayer. But he didn’t know how to pray.
After clearing his space of all distractions, Donald knelt by his dresser and deeply desired to go into prayer. But he didn’t know how to pray. As he recalls, “Until earlier that day, I had never said a prayer in my entire life.” This did not stop him, however, from falling into an overbearing ambiance of deeply healing and purifying tears. His past was still very prominent in his mind and the remorse, the regret that was felt was overwhelming – the need for forgiveness encapsulated his entire being.
After clearing his space of all distractions, Donald knelt by his dresser and deeply desired to go into prayer. But he didn’t know how to pray. As he recalls, “Until earlier that day, I had never said a prayer in my entire life.” This did not stop him, however, from falling into an overbearing ambiance of deeply healing and purifying tears. His past was still very prominent in his mind and the remorse, the regret that was felt was overwhelming – the need for forgiveness encapsulated his entire being.
In fact, I started crying so hard that I could hardly breathe.
“In fact, I started crying so hard that I could hardly breathe. I had to literally gasp for air because I was crying so uncontrollably. There were torrents of liquid coming out of my eyes. Before long, the clothes I was wearing were soaking wet.”
Hours of such excruciating crying led to inexplicable tears of joy and, all of the sudden, Donald felt an immense peace in his heart, a tranquility that surpassed understanding. “I started to feel almost bubbly and giddy, almost like a child being tickled by his father. Suddenly, I was animated. I had life again and felt so much different. My body tingled all over. I was so wrapped up in Jesus that I became aware of how much I was loved.”
This purifying peace led to something inexplicable, a mystical—if not downright supernatural—experience. Like thousands of patients who have reported undergoing near-death experiences, Donald left his body.
“But all of a sudden something below me and within me – this is very difficult to explain – knocked me out of my body.
I literally felt as if I had left my body. My physical form remained on the couch, but my soul or spirit had left.” The experience paralyzed him, as he gradually saw his body farther and farther away from him, his spiritual presence being slowly removed from the physical. Out of desperation, he led out a penetrating, spiritual cry to that person who had just touched his soul. “Mary!” What happened next was phenomenal. Donald was “violently slammed back” into his body.
It said, ‘Donnie, I’m so happy.’ I knew this was the voice of Mary, the Blessed Virgin Mary !
After I got over the shock of the impact, a feeling of peace overwhelmed me, a peace that was tangible.
Mother, why are you so beautiful ? read more
Then I heard a voice, the most pure feminine voice I have ever heard and ever will hear. It was within me, it was outside of me, it was like liquid love being poured over me. It was pure maternal love.
It said, ‘Donnie, I’m so happy.’ That’s all I heard, but I knew who it was. Nobody called me Donnie but my mother. Nobody. I knew this was the voice of Mary, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
I was so at peace that I felt like a little boy snuggled close to his mother’s breast. I was so at peace, so loved, and so at rest that I went into a deep sleep. I hadn’t slept like that since I was a young boy.
The phenomenon that Donald experienced, in addition to leaving his body, is called an interior locution (locution cordis), the mystical grace of hearing a spiritual presence – in this case, Our Lady – in an interior way through the depths of the soul.
After his profound spiritual experiences, an official conversion to Roman Catholicism followed. What also followed was the desire for the priesthood. Not just any priesthood. Donald wanted to become a Marian priest, both for Our Lady and for the reason that the Marians of the Immaculate Conception are the official promoters of the Divine Mercy devotions of St. Faustina Kowalska, the Polish nun and mystic who experienced visions of Christ in the 1930s. Donald saw himself, through his past, as the poster-boy for Divine Mercy. For, through the grace of God, he received the greatest mercy after a life of sin.
Becoming a priest meant going back to school. For this high school dropout, this wasn’t the easiest task. Notwithstanding, through his subsequent education and efforts, Donald was able to encounter some of the most eminent Catholic intellectuals and scholars in the world. After earning his GED and spending some time in community college, the Marians sent Donald to study at the Franciscan University inSteubenville, Ohio, where he earned his B.A. in theology and philosophy. It was at Franciscan that he encountered some of his favorite professors, including the prominent Catholic intellectuals Scott Hahn and Mark Miravalle.
Donald admits that Professor Hahn had an influential impact on his studies, implementing a deeper love of God in his mind.
Professor Miravalle, a theologian and Mariologist, is a leading figure in the Marian movement, and also played a great influence on Donald. Miravalle is the president ofVox Populi Mariae Mediatrici, a movement within the Catholic Church that hopes to gain papal approval to deem Mary as the Co-Redemptrix, becoming the fifth Marian dogma. Interestingly, Miravalle’s own connections to Medjugorje are not small.
He has written numerous books on the subject and, when he was a doctoral student in Rome, his dissertation was called, The Message of Medjugorje: A Postconcilar Formulation of Lourdes and Fatima.
The dissertation showed how the messages of Medjugorje align with Chruch tradition, ranging from the Gospels to the teachings of the early Church Fathers in their foundational elements and, of course, to Vatican II and other approved apparitions. The thesis was successfully defended in the Pontifical University of St. Thomas (Angelicum) in Rome in 1984.
Beyond inspirations like Professors Hahn and Miravalle at Franciscan, Donald went on to study with other greats. He received both his M.Div and S.T.B. at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., and then earned an S.T.L. at the International Marian Research Institute in Dayton, Ohio. At the Institue, Donald studied with such prominent theologians and Mariologists as Fr. Luigi Gambero and Fr. Eamon Carroll. Most remarkably, Donald took the last class that the great French theologian and Mariologist Rene Laurentin taught at the Institute.
Laurentin himself has been one of Medjugorje’s greatest supporters for years, with countless of books on the apparitions.
Donald’s S.T.L. dissertation concentrated on the Mariology in the diaries of St. Faustina Kowalska, combining his love for Our Lady with his love for the Divine Mercy devotions. The dissertation was over 200 pages long, contained over 700 footnotes – in Latin, French, Polish, Italian, and Spanish – and, years later, was published into a book called, Purest of All Lilies: The Virgin Mary in the Spirituality of St. Faustina. He even graduated summa cum laude with his S.T.L.
The former drug addict, convicted criminal, and high school dropout graduated summa cum laude with an advanced degree, studying with some of the most renowned theologians in the world, and publishing his work into a book about the Mother of God. Today, Father Calloway is the House Superior for the Marians of the Immacluate Conception and their vocations director. He preaches his story throughout the world, reaching countless of hearts. His life story is an example of grace and divine mercy in motion, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and particularly her continuing work in Medjugorje.
No Turning Back constitues a powerful and poignant testimony about one man’s journey, being led out of a tunnel of darkness and despair into the radiance of hope and belief in something purer, truer, and warmer than the temptations of contemporary culture – what the human soul longs for, spiritual sublimity and meaning in one’s existence.
Testimonies
https://fatherdonaldcallowaysconversionstory.wordpress.com
Read more: https://divinemercy3.wordpress.com/
SAINT FAUSTINA KOWALSKA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRP6pJtli84
Testimonies father Donald Calloway
Book on Mary turns runaway youngster immersed in drugs and crime into a prieststory of Father Donald Calloway
Testimonies
https://fatherdonaldcallowaysconversionstory.wordpress.com
Read more: https://divinemercy3.wordpress.com/
SAINT FAUSTINA KOWALSKA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRP6pJtli84
In 1992 my life changed dramatically," says Father Donald Calloway. "I had a profound conversion experience after reaching rock bottom."
Rock bottom indeed! Now a 31-year-old priest who serves as assistant rector at the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, Father Calloway had been a runaway youngster who was immersed in everything from drug abuse to theft.
"I had gone through all a boy could do up to the age of twenty," he says. "My mother had been married three times and we had no religion. The family was very hedonistic. There was a downward spiral in my life."
It started in Virginia Beach -- where his stepfather was based in the military -- and continued when the family moved to California. Drugs, sex, smoking, and drinking -- all by the age 11. "It escalated to the point of getting out of control," he now recounts. "We moved near Los Angeles. Then to Japan. That rocked my world."
Uprooted so continuously from friends and his environment, young Donald Calloway had decided to teach his parents a lesson. As soon as they got to Japan, he became a "living hell" for them. He tied in with the wrong crowd and started doing "unbelievable" quantities of drugs -- opium, heroin, alcohol every day, even inhaling the fumes of gasoline.
That escalated to where he ran away from the military base and fled around the foreign country, committing felonies -- stealing "massive amounts" of money, cars, mopeds. He even got involved running errands for the Japanese "mafia."
"I had no concern about anything or anybody," says Father Calloway, whose mother had a breakdown, ended up consulting a priest, and became a Catholic -- something young Donald knew nothing about. She was also forced to return to the U.S. without him. Police even tapped phones to the military base to try to get the youngster, and finally did apprehend him. When they did, Calloway spat in the face of one of the military cops. By now he was 15 with long hair and a profane mouth -- so wild that he was shackled and deported.
"I had gone through all a boy could do up to the age of twenty," he says. "My mother had been married three times and we had no religion. The family was very hedonistic. There was a downward spiral in my life."
It started in Virginia Beach -- where his stepfather was based in the military -- and continued when the family moved to California. Drugs, sex, smoking, and drinking -- all by the age 11. "It escalated to the point of getting out of control," he now recounts. "We moved near Los Angeles. Then to Japan. That rocked my world."
Uprooted so continuously from friends and his environment, young Donald Calloway had decided to teach his parents a lesson. As soon as they got to Japan, he became a "living hell" for them. He tied in with the wrong crowd and started doing "unbelievable" quantities of drugs -- opium, heroin, alcohol every day, even inhaling the fumes of gasoline.
That escalated to where he ran away from the military base and fled around the foreign country, committing felonies -- stealing "massive amounts" of money, cars, mopeds. He even got involved running errands for the Japanese "mafia."
"I had no concern about anything or anybody," says Father Calloway, whose mother had a breakdown, ended up consulting a priest, and became a Catholic -- something young Donald knew nothing about. She was also forced to return to the U.S. without him. Police even tapped phones to the military base to try to get the youngster, and finally did apprehend him. When they did, Calloway spat in the face of one of the military cops. By now he was 15 with long hair and a profane mouth -- so wild that he was shackled and deported.
Thrown out of Japan, Calloway returned to the United States, where he told his mother he hated her but agreed to enter a rehabilitation center. In short order he ran away from there too and went back to drugs on an even grander scale. Heroin, crack, LSD, uppers, downers. And there were the girls. "There came a point where I started following the 'Grateful Dead' and living in places like a tree trunk," recounts the priest. "In Louisiana, I ended up in jail. It was an absolute mess."
He was a drop out, his hair down to his belt. He was tattooed. It was "a life cycle of death." There was another attempt at rehabilitation, but of course, that fell short again. In fact, the drug use got even heavier.
"Then one night in 1992 I knew that my life would radically change, that something was going to happen in my life to cause a radical change," he says. "I knew something was going to happen. Something was coming."
It was this peculiar, sudden, and powerful intuition that changed his life -- a feeling so powerful that he turned down the calls from friends to come out to party as he did on a nightly basis. He still has trouble explaining exactly what happened. The prayers of a mother?
For a while Calloway remained in his room waiting for this unknown "something" to arrive, then went to the hall looking for a magazine or book to read as he waited, guided by an amazing internal feeling. "I wanted to look at some kind of magazine with pictures while I was waiting, something like National Geographic, with pictures, and I went out there and there was a book that caught my eye," he says. "On the binding it said, The Queen of Peace Visits Medjugorje."
It was a book about the apparition site in Bosnia-Hercegovina by Father Joseph A. Pelletier and Calloway couldn't comprehend what the words meant. He wondered if his parents had taken up a foreign language! Looking at the pictures, he saw six children staring up into nothing. It was the seers during an apparition -- something he had never even heard about. He read the caption and it said they were looking at the "Blessed Virgin Mary." He was so poorly versed in religion that he didn't know who the Blessed Mother was. "I thought Jesus was like Santa Claus," he recalls. "I was a blank slate." Looking at more of the pictures, he saw other words like the Rosary, Communion, and the Eucharist that he had little idea about.
There was all this Catholic lingo, but he began to avidly read it. He couldn't put it down. "I read that whole book by 3:30 or 4 a.m. in the morning," he says. "I ate that book like it was life. I consumed it. And I said to myself, 'That is true. Everything in that book is true.' She was saying that Jesus was God, and I thought, anything she says is true. She seemed so beautiful and flawless. She captivated my heart. And I said, 'I give myself totally to this woman.
The young man went to his mother the next morning and told her he wanted to see a priest. She was shocked. He knew there was a chaplain on the base, and that's where he ended up going -- skipping with joy like a little boy, his long hippie hair flowing past marching Marines.
When Calloway caught up with the Navy chaplain, the priest told him to go to church and sit in the back while he said Mass, and then they would talk to him. Donald did as he was told, waiting as a small group of Filipino women recited a repetitious prayer -- which of course was the Rosary. Then came the moment that changed his life. The priest came out with robes. Calloway thought it was some kind of performance. He had no idea what was going on. "I was amazed. All these ladies were kneeling and standing at the same time."
But it just clicked. All of a sudden, this young man -- this drug abuser, this runaway -- "knew" what was happening, that what was transpiring was a "real" re-presentation of what had happened 2,000 years ago, and that it was being poured out again. "Time ceased," he says. "I saw myself at Calvary with the faithful beholding the sacrifice of the lamb." Everything about it captivated him. He felt the Presence of Christ -- knew He was there -- as the priest held up the "white circle."
He was twenty, going on 21, and "all I knew was that I was madly in love with God and Our Savior."
So touched was he by the Mass that Calloway was ready to go door to door to tell everyone about it. The enthusiasm exploded. After Mass he went home, tore down all his posters, grabbed several big black trash bags, and threw away just about everything in his room -- replacing it all with a picture of the Pope and another of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which the priest had given to him (along with a Crucifix).
"I don't remember ever having said a prayer in my life," he says of his return to his room. "I looked at the book, the six children, who were on their knees with their hands folded, and I did the same thing and just looked. I had no idea how it worked. I didn't know what was supposed to happen next. My eyes focused on the picture of the Sacred Heart and as I looked at that image something within me knew that was the God-Man hanging on the Cross -- and that everything the Blessed Virgin Mary said was for people like me.
"I cried profusely. You could have filled a bucket. I was so remorseful for the things I had done. Everything came on me at once. It was like every fluid in my body was coming out of my eyes. Yet at the same time I knew there was hope, and I was crying tears of joy. I was almost laughing. I knew that this Jesus died for me and loved me.
"After a long time I laid on the bed and for the first time in years I felt free. An unbelievable peace came over me. Something happened to me that I don't know how to explain. Right on the verge of sleep, something came from behind me and knocked me out of my body. My soul or spirit or whatever was leaving my body. I couldn't say anything, I couldn't move. The only person I knew to cry out to was Mary, and I cried out spiritually. I was terrorized with fear.
I screamed with everything I had, "Mary' -- and all of a sudden I was pushed back into my body with the force of a universe come crashing down upon me and I heard the most beautiful feminine voice I have ever heard and will ever hear say, 'Donnie, I am so happy.'
Thrown out of Japan, Calloway returned to the United States, where he told his mother he hated her but agreed to enter a rehabilitation center. In short order he ran away from there too and went back to drugs on an even grander scale. Heroin, crack, LSD, uppers, downers. And there were the girls. "There came a point where I started following the 'Grateful Dead' and living in places like a tree trunk," recounts the priest. "In Louisiana, I ended up in jail. It was an absolute mess."
He was a drop out, his hair down to his belt. He was tattooed. It was "a life cycle of death." There was another attempt at rehabilitation, but of course, that fell short again. In fact, the drug use got even heavier.
"Then one night in 1992 I knew that my life would radically change, that something was going to happen in my life to cause a radical change," he says. "I knew something was going to happen. Something was coming."
It was this peculiar, sudden, and powerful intuition that changed his life -- a feeling so powerful that he turned down the calls from friends to come out to party as he did on a nightly basis. He still has trouble explaining exactly what happened. The prayers of a mother?
For a while Calloway remained in his room waiting for this unknown "something" to arrive, then went to the hall looking for a magazine or book to read as he waited, guided by an amazing internal feeling. "I wanted to look at some kind of magazine with pictures while I was waiting, something like National Geographic, with pictures, and I went out there and there was a book that caught my eye," he says. "On the binding it said, The Queen of Peace Visits Medjugorje."
It was a book about the apparition site in Bosnia-Hercegovina by Father Joseph A. Pelletier and Calloway couldn't comprehend what the words meant. He wondered if his parents had taken up a foreign language! Looking at the pictures, he saw six children staring up into nothing. It was the seers during an apparition -- something he had never even heard about. He read the caption and it said they were looking at the "Blessed Virgin Mary." He was so poorly versed in religion that he didn't know who the Blessed Mother was. "I thought Jesus was like Santa Claus," he recalls. "I was a blank slate." Looking at more of the pictures, he saw other words like the Rosary, Communion, and the Eucharist that he had little idea about.
There was all this Catholic lingo, but he began to avidly read it. He couldn't put it down. "I read that whole book by 3:30 or 4 a.m. in the morning," he says. "I ate that book like it was life. I consumed it. And I said to myself, 'That is true. Everything in that book is true.' She was saying that Jesus was God, and I thought, anything she says is true. She seemed so beautiful and flawless. She captivated my heart. And I said, 'I give myself totally to this woman.
The young man went to his mother the next morning and told her he wanted to see a priest. She was shocked. He knew there was a chaplain on the base, and that's where he ended up going -- skipping with joy like a little boy, his long hippie hair flowing past marching Marines.
When Calloway caught up with the Navy chaplain, the priest told him to go to church and sit in the back while he said Mass, and then they would talk to him. Donald did as he was told, waiting as a small group of Filipino women recited a repetitious prayer -- which of course was the Rosary. Then came the moment that changed his life. The priest came out with robes. Calloway thought it was some kind of performance. He had no idea what was going on. "I was amazed. All these ladies were kneeling and standing at the same time."
But it just clicked. All of a sudden, this young man -- this drug abuser, this runaway -- "knew" what was happening, that what was transpiring was a "real" re-presentation of what had happened 2,000 years ago, and that it was being poured out again. "Time ceased," he says. "I saw myself at Calvary with the faithful beholding the sacrifice of the lamb." Everything about it captivated him. He felt the Presence of Christ -- knew He was there -- as the priest held up the "white circle."
He was twenty, going on 21, and "all I knew was that I was madly in love with God and Our Savior."
So touched was he by the Mass that Calloway was ready to go door to door to tell everyone about it. The enthusiasm exploded. After Mass he went home, tore down all his posters, grabbed several big black trash bags, and threw away just about everything in his room -- replacing it all with a picture of the Pope and another of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which the priest had given to him (along with a Crucifix).
"I don't remember ever having said a prayer in my life," he says of his return to his room. "I looked at the book, the six children, who were on their knees with their hands folded, and I did the same thing and just looked. I had no idea how it worked. I didn't know what was supposed to happen next. My eyes focused on the picture of the Sacred Heart and as I looked at that image something within me knew that was the God-Man hanging on the Cross -- and that everything the Blessed Virgin Mary said was for people like me.
"I cried profusely. You could have filled a bucket. I was so remorseful for the things I had done. Everything came on me at once. It was like every fluid in my body was coming out of my eyes. Yet at the same time I knew there was hope, and I was crying tears of joy. I was almost laughing. I knew that this Jesus died for me and loved me.
"After a long time I laid on the bed and for the first time in years I felt free. An unbelievable peace came over me. Something happened to me that I don't know how to explain. Right on the verge of sleep, something came from behind me and knocked me out of my body. My soul or spirit or whatever was leaving my body. I couldn't say anything, I couldn't move. The only person I knew to cry out to was Mary, and I cried out spiritually. I was terrorized with fear.
I screamed with everything I had, "Mary' -- and all of a sudden I was pushed back into my body with the force of a universe come crashing down upon me and I heard the most beautiful feminine voice I have ever heard and will ever hear say, 'Donnie, I am so happy.'
"No one called me Donnie but my mother," he notes. "It was unbelievable."
And so was what was to come next:
Instantly, Calloway had lost his craving for all his vices -- from impure thoughts about women to cigarettes. There was no more desire to do anything he had been doing! "God had simply changed me, and it was unbelievable," he says. "Christ just overwhelmed me with His love. I started 'living' in the church, saying the Stations of the Cross until I was worn out, even slept in the pews. I began reciting the Rosary, wearing a scapular, reading everything I could on the saints."
He says he experienced a supernatural "infusion of knowledge" about the faith and became a Catholic within nine months.
Shortly after, he joined the Marians of the Immaculate Conception and discerned a priestly vocation.
Last September, he finally made it to Medjugorje -- where he delivered the homily as forty other priests joined him on the altar. "All I knew was that I loved Jesus," he says. "I loved every minute of Medjugorje. I'm going back in March. It's the edge of Heaven, wonderful." At the seminary, he says, most of his peers had also been there. "Our Lady is building up this army, this whole new generation, layer by layer. Rank by rank they are coming out of seminaries to take their places. There's a whole generation of priests coming, and they're just like me. No nonsense. I always tell people, get ready, because it's coming to a parish near you.
We've only known one Pope, and he's a saint. We've been formed by the Blessed Virgin Mary and her apparitions. So many of the guys I knew in the seminary, they loved things like Medjugorje or Betania or Amsterdam or Kibeho. They don't have a problem with it. They bite onto truth like a shark, and they're going to be the guys in the seminaries teaching. They're going to be in the parishes. One cardinal said if it were not for Medjugorje, he would have hardly any seminarians. I compare it to Guadalupe."
Hell broke open in the Church, Calloway opines, due to a lack of emphasis on both Mary and the Blessed Sacrament. "You take away the Eucharist, and you take away a priest's passion, his understanding of who he is," he says. "And when Mary was deconstructed -- made just a sister -- it tore priesthoods apart. I attribute a lot of the problems to feminism. We need to go against that."
Homosexuals in the church are the result, he believes, of "the devil twisting" priests and seminarians. "With no Mary, there is a lack of tenderness and they seek in a new way," he asserts. On the current culture, says Father Calloway: "It's not the kingdom of Heaven. We're going back to Sodom and Gomorrah, and we're there. And we better get ready for the Father's discipline. He loves us, and because He does, He's going to chastise us." With youth, the biggest problem is indifference, he notes -- the attitude of "whatever." Everything is okay.
What is the most important thing parents can do?
"The best thing that a kid can see in the parents is for a man, a father, on his knees," says Father Calloway. "That is strength. When a man is on his knees, that is stability. When a kid sees that, it's a confessional statement. It speaks volumes. And when they see a mom and dad being kind and loving to one another, that's also important -- showing kindness to each other."
As for his conversion, Father Calloway notes: "There are no accidents in life. Everything happens for a reason, because of God the Father's plans." And as for Our Lady of Medjugorje: without her, he says, "I might be dead."
https://fatherdonaldcallowaysconversionstory.wordpress.com/father-donald-calloways-conversion-story/
http://www.medjugorje.ws
And so was what was to come next:
Instantly, Calloway had lost his craving for all his vices -- from impure thoughts about women to cigarettes. There was no more desire to do anything he had been doing! "God had simply changed me, and it was unbelievable," he says. "Christ just overwhelmed me with His love. I started 'living' in the church, saying the Stations of the Cross until I was worn out, even slept in the pews. I began reciting the Rosary, wearing a scapular, reading everything I could on the saints."
He says he experienced a supernatural "infusion of knowledge" about the faith and became a Catholic within nine months.
Shortly after, he joined the Marians of the Immaculate Conception and discerned a priestly vocation.
Last September, he finally made it to Medjugorje -- where he delivered the homily as forty other priests joined him on the altar. "All I knew was that I loved Jesus," he says. "I loved every minute of Medjugorje. I'm going back in March. It's the edge of Heaven, wonderful." At the seminary, he says, most of his peers had also been there. "Our Lady is building up this army, this whole new generation, layer by layer. Rank by rank they are coming out of seminaries to take their places. There's a whole generation of priests coming, and they're just like me. No nonsense. I always tell people, get ready, because it's coming to a parish near you.
We've only known one Pope, and he's a saint. We've been formed by the Blessed Virgin Mary and her apparitions. So many of the guys I knew in the seminary, they loved things like Medjugorje or Betania or Amsterdam or Kibeho. They don't have a problem with it. They bite onto truth like a shark, and they're going to be the guys in the seminaries teaching. They're going to be in the parishes. One cardinal said if it were not for Medjugorje, he would have hardly any seminarians. I compare it to Guadalupe."
Hell broke open in the Church, Calloway opines, due to a lack of emphasis on both Mary and the Blessed Sacrament. "You take away the Eucharist, and you take away a priest's passion, his understanding of who he is," he says. "And when Mary was deconstructed -- made just a sister -- it tore priesthoods apart. I attribute a lot of the problems to feminism. We need to go against that."
Homosexuals in the church are the result, he believes, of "the devil twisting" priests and seminarians. "With no Mary, there is a lack of tenderness and they seek in a new way," he asserts. On the current culture, says Father Calloway: "It's not the kingdom of Heaven. We're going back to Sodom and Gomorrah, and we're there. And we better get ready for the Father's discipline. He loves us, and because He does, He's going to chastise us." With youth, the biggest problem is indifference, he notes -- the attitude of "whatever." Everything is okay.
What is the most important thing parents can do?
"The best thing that a kid can see in the parents is for a man, a father, on his knees," says Father Calloway. "That is strength. When a man is on his knees, that is stability. When a kid sees that, it's a confessional statement. It speaks volumes. And when they see a mom and dad being kind and loving to one another, that's also important -- showing kindness to each other."
As for his conversion, Father Calloway notes: "There are no accidents in life. Everything happens for a reason, because of God the Father's plans." And as for Our Lady of Medjugorje: without her, he says, "I might be dead."
https://fatherdonaldcallowaysconversionstory.wordpress.com/father-donald-calloways-conversion-story/
http://www.medjugorje.ws
The Life of Our Lady in Pictures: A Conversation with Fr. Donald Calloway
Pages from Mary of Nazareth: The Life of Our Lady in Pictures — click to enlarge
About a year ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Fr. Donald Calloway in person. I remember our meeting because it occurred at a very special occasion: the premier of the beautiful movie Mary of Nazareth. During the day, Fr. Calloway and I each had the opportunity to interview the film’s star, Actress Alissa Jung. That night, we sat next to Alissa and watched the film. I was transfixed… I believe that Father was as well!
Now, to continue the movement of this beautiful film into the hearts and homes of viewers, Ignatius Press has launched a lovely new book penned by Fr. Calloway. Mary of Nazareth, The Life of Our Lady in Pictures takes readers to an even deeper level of devotion to Our Lady:
Based on the highly successful theatrical motion picture, this beautiful volume combines inspiring commentary and meditations by the very popular Marian priest, Fr. Donald Calloway, with over 65 lovely photos from the movie. The insightful text and captivating pictures tell the moving story of the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, from childhood through the Resurrection of her son, Jesus Christ.
Acclaimed for the beauty of its stunning photography, the film Mary of Nazareth won high praise from both attendees and film reviewers. One film reviewer, commenting on the beauty of the photography, stated that “It seemed to me to be a living, moving Caravaggio painting-with its rich color palette and the subtle interplay of light and shadows.” This book captures that deep beauty of the film images with its many striking photos.
Fr. Calloway, a Marian scholar well-known for his great love of Our Lady who has written extensively about her, presents in this volume short but profound insights and meditations about Mary, her unique life, her deep relationship with Jesus Christ, her special role in the story of salvation, and her importance to all Christians.
This book is a wonderful companion volume to the DVD of the popular film, as well as a work that will bring inspiration and insight to all readers about the mysterious life of love, faith and sacrifice of the woman God chose to be the Mother of the Savior of mankind, Mary of Nazareth.
Today, I’m happy to share my conversation with Fr. Donald Calloway. I endorse this book as a lovely gift not only for Christmas, but truly for any time of the year!
Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC
Q: Please briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Fr. Donald Calloway and I’m the Vicar Provincial and Vocation Director for the Marians of the Immaculate Conception in the United States and Argentina. I’m also an author and speaker on topics dealing especially with Our Lady and Divine Mercy. My area of specialization in theology is in what is called Mariology, that is, the study of topics dealing with Our Lady. Shortly after my ordination to the priesthood in 2003 I earned a pontifical Licentiate degree (STL) in Mariology at the International Marian Research Institute in Dayton, Ohio. The Marian Library in Dayton has more books on the Virgin Mary than any other library in the world, including Rome. Currently, I live in Steubenville, Ohio where my religious community has a formation house for our seminarians.
Q: Fr. Calloway, forgive me if I have this wrong but I believe our first meeting was at the Mary of Nazareth premier in San Francisco. You and I shared that evening along with Alissa Jung, the beautiful actress who portrays Mary in the film. How did you become involved in this beautiful book and why?
I became involved with the Mary of Nazareth book after having been asked by Ignatius Press to review the Mary of Nazareth movie and offer my thoughts. I was so impressed with the film that I gave it the highest praise and promised Ignatius Press that I would do all I could to make it known at my speaking events and public engagements. Really and truly, the Mary of Nazareth film offers the best presentation of the Virgin Mary in film to date. I have watched it 6 times now and continue to be in awe. As a result of being so behind the promotion of the film, I was quite humbled when Ignatius Press asked me to put together a companion book that would be comprised of beautiful images from the film. I knew I had to do this project for Our Lady so that more people could understand why she is so important.
Q: This book contains not only luminous photography from the film, but also quotes from saints and scripture and your own insights. How did working on this book deepen your already strong passion for our Blessed Mother?
I’m super in love with Our Lady, especially in light of the reality that I’m a convert to the faith and it was primarily Our Lady who brought me to Jesus and the Catholic Church. Thus, in writing meditations to go along with the beautiful images in this book, I also wanted to retrieve from Catholic tradition statements from popes, saints, and blesseds that would offer profound insights into the particular themes covered. Many people might find such a task hard to do and very time consuming, but since my specialization is in Mariology, I have a ton of books on Our Lady and was able to go through them and select amazing quotes that the readers of the book are going to be so inspired by. I prayed to find just the right quotes to go with each picture and I really believe Our Lady and St. Joseph helped me. My meditations are nice, too, but I consider my meditations secondary to the deep insights of the saints.
Q: Please say a few words about how this film and this beautiful book can be effective tools in the New Evangelization.
The New Evangelization is about bringing hearts back to Christ and his Church. Mary most definitely has a major role in this effort. The beauty of the Mary of Nazareth film and book is that it has the potential to make people think afresh about the logic of Our Lady’s place in the life of Christ and in our lives. Think about it: Without Mary, we would not have Jesus. Without Mary, we would not have the New Testament. Without Mary, we wouldn’t even have the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of everything in the Christian life. Therefore, when lukewarm or fallen-away Catholics see this film or read this book, I believe it is really going to make them realize just how important Mary is and help them to fall in love with her. Also, for those who are not Catholic, this film and book bring out the loveliness and beauty of Our Lady so perfectly that I really believe that for non-Catholic Christians who might have misconceptions about Our Lady, the film and the book is going to make them understand the importance of Mary and even wonder if they have been missing out on one of the greatest gifts that Jesus offers us – his own Mom.
Q: What’s next for you with your writing and speaking?
My main work right now is my Vocation work for my religious community. We currently have 26 men in formation and we are experiencing major growth! I love doing this work and hope to be allowed to continue to do it for many more years. My secondary work is what I do with writing books and speaking. I already have 9 books out and almost all of them are on Our Lady. Currently, I am working on three books: two of them are on the rosary, and the other is on St. Joseph. Also, I’ve been allowed to lead pilgrimages to amazing places all throughout the world, and it is definitely one of the most amazing things that I do. People can check out all the awesome places I go to and find out how to come with me by going to my website:www.fathercalloway.com
Q: Are there any additional thoughts or comments you would like to share with our readers?
I think one important thing for people to know about the Mary of Nazareth film is that there is a longer version and a shorter version. The important thing to know is that I only endorse the shorter version which is the version put out by Ignatius Press. The longer version contains some immodesty and confusing theological issues regarding Mary Magdalen. At one point Netflix was offering the longer version and people saw that one and got upset wondering why I would endorse it since it had inappropriate scenes. But that is not the one that I endorse. I only endorse and promote the edited version put out by Ignatius Press. In their wisdom, Ignatius Press obtained the North American copyrights and edited out all the inappropriate stuff. And, of course, none of the immodesty or other confusing scenes appears in my bookMary of Nazareth: The Life of Our Lady in Pictures.
http://catholicmom.com
https://fatherdonaldcallowaysconversionstory.wordpress.com
The Life of Our Lady in Pictures: A Conversation with Fr. Donald Calloway
Pages from Mary of Nazareth: The Life of Our Lady in Pictures — click to enlarge
About a year ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Fr. Donald Calloway in person. I remember our meeting because it occurred at a very special occasion: the premier of the beautiful movie Mary of Nazareth. During the day, Fr. Calloway and I each had the opportunity to interview the film’s star, Actress Alissa Jung. That night, we sat next to Alissa and watched the film. I was transfixed… I believe that Father was as well!
Now, to continue the movement of this beautiful film into the hearts and homes of viewers, Ignatius Press has launched a lovely new book penned by Fr. Calloway. Mary of Nazareth, The Life of Our Lady in Pictures takes readers to an even deeper level of devotion to Our Lady:
Based on the highly successful theatrical motion picture, this beautiful volume combines inspiring commentary and meditations by the very popular Marian priest, Fr. Donald Calloway, with over 65 lovely photos from the movie. The insightful text and captivating pictures tell the moving story of the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, from childhood through the Resurrection of her son, Jesus Christ.
Acclaimed for the beauty of its stunning photography, the film Mary of Nazareth won high praise from both attendees and film reviewers. One film reviewer, commenting on the beauty of the photography, stated that “It seemed to me to be a living, moving Caravaggio painting-with its rich color palette and the subtle interplay of light and shadows.” This book captures that deep beauty of the film images with its many striking photos.
Fr. Calloway, a Marian scholar well-known for his great love of Our Lady who has written extensively about her, presents in this volume short but profound insights and meditations about Mary, her unique life, her deep relationship with Jesus Christ, her special role in the story of salvation, and her importance to all Christians.
This book is a wonderful companion volume to the DVD of the popular film, as well as a work that will bring inspiration and insight to all readers about the mysterious life of love, faith and sacrifice of the woman God chose to be the Mother of the Savior of mankind, Mary of Nazareth.
Today, I’m happy to share my conversation with Fr. Donald Calloway. I endorse this book as a lovely gift not only for Christmas, but truly for any time of the year!
Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC
Q: Please briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Fr. Donald Calloway and I’m the Vicar Provincial and Vocation Director for the Marians of the Immaculate Conception in the United States and Argentina. I’m also an author and speaker on topics dealing especially with Our Lady and Divine Mercy. My area of specialization in theology is in what is called Mariology, that is, the study of topics dealing with Our Lady. Shortly after my ordination to the priesthood in 2003 I earned a pontifical Licentiate degree (STL) in Mariology at the International Marian Research Institute in Dayton, Ohio. The Marian Library in Dayton has more books on the Virgin Mary than any other library in the world, including Rome. Currently, I live in Steubenville, Ohio where my religious community has a formation house for our seminarians.
Q: Fr. Calloway, forgive me if I have this wrong but I believe our first meeting was at the Mary of Nazareth premier in San Francisco. You and I shared that evening along with Alissa Jung, the beautiful actress who portrays Mary in the film. How did you become involved in this beautiful book and why?
I became involved with the Mary of Nazareth book after having been asked by Ignatius Press to review the Mary of Nazareth movie and offer my thoughts. I was so impressed with the film that I gave it the highest praise and promised Ignatius Press that I would do all I could to make it known at my speaking events and public engagements. Really and truly, the Mary of Nazareth film offers the best presentation of the Virgin Mary in film to date. I have watched it 6 times now and continue to be in awe. As a result of being so behind the promotion of the film, I was quite humbled when Ignatius Press asked me to put together a companion book that would be comprised of beautiful images from the film. I knew I had to do this project for Our Lady so that more people could understand why she is so important.
Q: This book contains not only luminous photography from the film, but also quotes from saints and scripture and your own insights. How did working on this book deepen your already strong passion for our Blessed Mother?
I’m super in love with Our Lady, especially in light of the reality that I’m a convert to the faith and it was primarily Our Lady who brought me to Jesus and the Catholic Church. Thus, in writing meditations to go along with the beautiful images in this book, I also wanted to retrieve from Catholic tradition statements from popes, saints, and blesseds that would offer profound insights into the particular themes covered. Many people might find such a task hard to do and very time consuming, but since my specialization is in Mariology, I have a ton of books on Our Lady and was able to go through them and select amazing quotes that the readers of the book are going to be so inspired by. I prayed to find just the right quotes to go with each picture and I really believe Our Lady and St. Joseph helped me. My meditations are nice, too, but I consider my meditations secondary to the deep insights of the saints.
Q: Please say a few words about how this film and this beautiful book can be effective tools in the New Evangelization.
The New Evangelization is about bringing hearts back to Christ and his Church. Mary most definitely has a major role in this effort. The beauty of the Mary of Nazareth film and book is that it has the potential to make people think afresh about the logic of Our Lady’s place in the life of Christ and in our lives. Think about it: Without Mary, we would not have Jesus. Without Mary, we would not have the New Testament. Without Mary, we wouldn’t even have the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of everything in the Christian life. Therefore, when lukewarm or fallen-away Catholics see this film or read this book, I believe it is really going to make them realize just how important Mary is and help them to fall in love with her. Also, for those who are not Catholic, this film and book bring out the loveliness and beauty of Our Lady so perfectly that I really believe that for non-Catholic Christians who might have misconceptions about Our Lady, the film and the book is going to make them understand the importance of Mary and even wonder if they have been missing out on one of the greatest gifts that Jesus offers us – his own Mom.
Q: What’s next for you with your writing and speaking?
My main work right now is my Vocation work for my religious community. We currently have 26 men in formation and we are experiencing major growth! I love doing this work and hope to be allowed to continue to do it for many more years. My secondary work is what I do with writing books and speaking. I already have 9 books out and almost all of them are on Our Lady. Currently, I am working on three books: two of them are on the rosary, and the other is on St. Joseph. Also, I’ve been allowed to lead pilgrimages to amazing places all throughout the world, and it is definitely one of the most amazing things that I do. People can check out all the awesome places I go to and find out how to come with me by going to my website:www.fathercalloway.com
Q: Are there any additional thoughts or comments you would like to share with our readers?
I think one important thing for people to know about the Mary of Nazareth film is that there is a longer version and a shorter version. The important thing to know is that I only endorse the shorter version which is the version put out by Ignatius Press. The longer version contains some immodesty and confusing theological issues regarding Mary Magdalen. At one point Netflix was offering the longer version and people saw that one and got upset wondering why I would endorse it since it had inappropriate scenes. But that is not the one that I endorse. I only endorse and promote the edited version put out by Ignatius Press. In their wisdom, Ignatius Press obtained the North American copyrights and edited out all the inappropriate stuff. And, of course, none of the immodesty or other confusing scenes appears in my bookMary of Nazareth: The Life of Our Lady in Pictures.
http://catholicmom.com
https://fatherdonaldcallowaysconversionstory.wordpress.com
╬ Clara’s vision of Annette in Hell – TESTIMONY
╬ Does This Railroad Lead To Heaven ? This is a true story
The miraculous story of Claude Newman & his purported conversion
http://www.mysticsofthechurch.com
A True Story: The “Hail Mary” of a Protestant is Powerful
http://www.catholicconvert.com
http://ocistec-purgatory.weebly.com/medjugorje---vision-of-heaven-purgatory-and-hell.html
http://ocistec-purgatory.weebly.com/the-divine-mercy--saint-faustina.html
http://ocistec-purgatory.weebly.com/does-this-railroad-lead-to-heaven.html
GOD’S MIRACLE IN THE CONVERSION OF
A REBELLIOUS TEEN, DRUG ADDICT TURNED PRIEST.
A True Conversion Story.
Who’s that guy with the long hair in the picture Fr. Calloway is showing? It was he himself as a young adult immersed in the worldly pleasures!
Dear friends, I came upon this video which I think is a MUST WATCH as it is a demonstration of God’s love, mercy and goodness through Our Mother Mary’s loving intercession!
Fr. Donald Calloway tells us about his conversion story. He used to be a rebellious teen, having tried different types of drugs on the streets. Growing up in a non-Christian environment, Fr. Donald had a worldly life as a teen and young adult, having committed a lot of “shameful” actions as he himself testified.
As a teen living in Japan, he got into trouble with the Japanese authorities who kicked him out of the country. In the meantime, his mother met a Filipina in Japan. The Filipina Catholic friend introduced her to the Catholic faith and taught her the doctrine. Fr. Donald’s mom finally got converted to the Catholic faith.
Back in America, he entered various rehab clinics which seem to have not straightened him in life. Desperate and hopeless in the crucial point of his life, the young Donald picked a book about the Virgin Mary in his parent’s house. It was then when his process of conversion began.
Fr. Donald funnily recalls some hilarious encounters with the Filipinas he coincided with in the Church and also has some words of praise for the powerful faith, piety and example of the Filipina Catholics whom he met.
Dear friends, let us not lose hope, neither with ourselves nor with others. Through the loving intercession of Our Lady, let us ask God’s infinite mercy for the conversion of many people, beginning with ourselves. Let us not forget that CONVERSIONS DO HAPPEN WITH GOD’S GRACE, OUR LADY’S INTERCESSION AND MAN’S CORRESPONDENCE!
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vwq_5pBE-o
SENZA MEDJUGORJE NON AVREI POTUTO INTERPRETARE IL RUOLO DI GESU' NEL FILM
A REBELLIOUS TEEN, DRUG ADDICT TURNED PRIEST.
A True Conversion Story.
Who’s that guy with the long hair in the picture Fr. Calloway is showing? It was he himself as a young adult immersed in the worldly pleasures!
Dear friends, I came upon this video which I think is a MUST WATCH as it is a demonstration of God’s love, mercy and goodness through Our Mother Mary’s loving intercession!
Fr. Donald Calloway tells us about his conversion story. He used to be a rebellious teen, having tried different types of drugs on the streets. Growing up in a non-Christian environment, Fr. Donald had a worldly life as a teen and young adult, having committed a lot of “shameful” actions as he himself testified.
As a teen living in Japan, he got into trouble with the Japanese authorities who kicked him out of the country. In the meantime, his mother met a Filipina in Japan. The Filipina Catholic friend introduced her to the Catholic faith and taught her the doctrine. Fr. Donald’s mom finally got converted to the Catholic faith.
Back in America, he entered various rehab clinics which seem to have not straightened him in life. Desperate and hopeless in the crucial point of his life, the young Donald picked a book about the Virgin Mary in his parent’s house. It was then when his process of conversion began.
Fr. Donald funnily recalls some hilarious encounters with the Filipinas he coincided with in the Church and also has some words of praise for the powerful faith, piety and example of the Filipina Catholics whom he met.
Dear friends, let us not lose hope, neither with ourselves nor with others. Through the loving intercession of Our Lady, let us ask God’s infinite mercy for the conversion of many people, beginning with ourselves. Let us not forget that CONVERSIONS DO HAPPEN WITH GOD’S GRACE, OUR LADY’S INTERCESSION AND MAN’S CORRESPONDENCE!
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vwq_5pBE-o
SENZA MEDJUGORJE NON AVREI POTUTO INTERPRETARE IL RUOLO DI GESU' NEL FILM
