Some of our HFI Members tell the story of their call to the Institute
MEMBERS' CALLS
*** My name is Madeline Palmer. I live in Marble Falls Texas. I am a wife, mother and grandmother. I work as an office manager for a family practice physician. I’d like to tell you about my relationship with the Holy Family institute of The Pauline Family.
I was born to a catholic family. My brother and I received our first communion. We very seldom went to church after that.
When I married my first husband he converted to Catholicism. I myself had been a nominal catholic for years. After about 8 years of marriage a series of events took place and I left the church. Shortly after that my first husband died. For years I drifted with no direction to my life.
I met my now husband who is catholic. Five years after being married in a civil ceremony we were married in the church.
I always knew that I was meant to serve God in some form, but didn’t know what that would be. I had been looking at third orders, something to deepen my spiritual life. One day I was surprised to find an email with information about the Holy Family Institute. It seemed like something that I might be interested in and so I faxed Fr Tom Fogarty the next day.
I received an answer almost immediately and then more information followed in the mail. The more I checked into the HFI the more interested I became.
I have been with the Institute since 2005 and made my first profession from my home parish in January of 2008.
I have found that the HFI has helped me order my life. Instead of spending hours looking for something to help me grow in my faith the Institute provides daily prayers, monthly devotions and a wonderful three day retreat that has brought me closer to our Lord. The people in the institute are all people trying to live a better life in the service of our God, while continuing to live their daily lives with their families.
The Holy Family Institute is just that, and institute that is for the entire family. While my husband has not joined the Institute with me he supports my activities and attends the Triduum with me. The devotions are not difficult and are not time consuming. They don’t take us away from our daily duties. They help us to focus on God in our everyday lives.
The HFI is the only institute that offers consecrated secular lives for married and widowed people and has been approved by the church.
I pray that more people find what a blessing this Institute is and what a great gift from God this is for His people who desire to follow him more closely.
*** Lisa Cooper
I grew up in a non-practicing Catholic home, but was able to convince my family to start attending Mass when my CCD teacher told the class how important it was.
I was educated in very good public schools, but my parents decided that I need to go to Catholic school to end the problems I had with bullying in junior high. This gave me access to many Catholic books. By this time, I understood that my parents did not always agree with Church teaching. I began to question why the Pope thought he could speak for God. Bookworm that I was, I actually studied apologetics and came to believe that the Catholic Church is the one true Church founded by Jesus and has the authority to teach in His name.
By the time I was a sophomore, I began thinking I might have a religious vocation. I was attending daily Mass at school along with a few other students. In junior year, after visiting the Motherhouse a couple of times, I decided on the Daughters of St. Paul. My mother thought I was throwing my life away, but agreed to let me enter after graduating from high school.
It took me almost two years and lots of prayer before I decided that this was not the place to which I was called. My parents let me move back with them and paid for my college tuition.
I began dating my husband, whom I had dated briefly in high school. He had been raised with no religious education, but chose to become a Catholic.
I knew about the Holy Family Institute from the DSPs and even asked for information early in my marriage, but because my husband had no interest in the HFI, I decided not to pursue the matter at that time. About six years ago, I carefully perused the HFI website. Perhaps due to Divine Providence, one of the names on the contact page was that of Una MacManus (she has since moved back to Ireland and I have lost touch with her). I felt a connection with her, because I had read her Heartsong Presents inspirational romance books. So I contacted her and we were in email contact several times. She sent me the audiotape on the HFI as well as the pamphlet “A Short Introduction to the Holy Family Institute” and some other information and prayer cards. She also put me in contact with Helen Helm and Marlicia Fernandez.
After much prayer and soul-searching, I decided to ask Fr. Tom for more information about the formation program and began postulancy. My husband supported me, though he had and still has no interest in the HFI. I was already familiar with Pauline spirituality and had read most of the books by Fr. Alberione. I naturally tend to scrupulosity and have always found it difficult to find balance in my life. The HFI literature and prayers and communicating with other members has helped a lot in that regard.
*** Margaret B.
I tore off the last little tag with info on it about HFI that was attached to a poster in church. Sent away for the info and forgot about it. About 3 weeks later, Steve and I get this package w/ video of HFI (old tape with some of the first members. After watching it, I was very excited about contacting Father Tom, but Steve, who was VERY tired---I made the mistake of watching it with him at night---said, "So?"
We had looked into other groups, including Regnum Christi and never felt called to join. We had 4 young children at that time and didn't like the fact that we would have to leave our kids home to go to meetings. Also, we felt that our family life was enough of an apostalate!
Next day---we watched the video again and WHAM!! Steve said, "This looks GREAT!" That was around 1997. We lived in NJ and told some friends about it and they told friends, etc. We eventually had 6 families and LOTS of kids.
*** Renee M.
I was a cradle Catholic who had grown very lukewarm over the years. There was a span of twelve years where I went to confession every 4 years! In the year 2000 I had a reversion thanks to the catholicity.com
web site and the novels they give out for free. After reading “Pierced by a Sword,” my eyes were opened and my faith started turning around. I decided that I would not read anything that was not good for my soul. I started searching on the internet for “Catholic” web sites and I found the Holy Family Institute web site, http://www.vocations-holyfamily.com/
I read through the entire web site, and sent for information, and here I am today, to be perpetually professed in 2011!
I wrote Father Tom and told him we'd all love to come to the Triduum, but all of us had very young kids and didn't want to leave them home, was it possible to bring them? That was the start of the kids program, according to Father Tom. He got a "babysitter" and the older kids stayed with us for part of the program and then played football, hiked and had fun. Every year, with all of the NJ people having more kids and other members bringing their children, it became obvious that some sort of structure was needed for the older teens. Molly asked Chuck and he graciously offered to organize the teen program.
Life has NEVER been the same since we responded to the CALL. Jesus has given us so very many blessings and has helped us through all of our trials. I thank God for the HFI!
***Gina Peterson
I was raised Catholic. My parents were both Catholic, but my dad did not attend Sunday Mass with us regularly. I am an only child and my parents divorced when I was 12. I attended Catholic school from 1st-12th grade. During junior high, I was thinking it would be nice to become a religious sister. However, that idea was soon forgotten.
After high school, I left Illinois to attend college in New Mexico. During my first semester, I met my husband. We were married when we were both 20 years old. During college, I attended Mass during some
periods of time, but at other times I was exploring other faiths. However, after marriage, I realized that the Catholic faith is the true faith and have remained faithful ever since.
After I realized that Catholicism was my home, I felt called to deepen my spirituality. I was drawn to both the Lay Missionaries of Charity and the Secular Franciscans. While looking into the Lay Missionaries, I found a spiritual director who was a deacon but he did not understand taking a promise of chastity as a married woman. I was planning on attending the Lay Missionaries of Charity retreat in NY, but found out I was pregnant with my first son and then realized that children were not really part of their annual retreat. Then after some time, I attended a Secular Franciscan meeting. They gave me a book about St. Francis to peruse but there was no priest in attendance and there didn't seem to be the spiritual guidance I was looking for.
While I was still considering the Secular Franciscans, a package from the Holy Family Institute arrives in the mail in late 2001/early 2002. I don't remember requesting anything but maybe I did? Or was it a
mysterious gift from God? I liked the guidance offered by HFI and became a postulant. I almost didn't keep pursuing HFI because I liked the spiritually of St. Francis quite a bit. Fr. Tom pretty much said that I should do what I think best. Something about his letter I guess struck a chord with me. I immediately continued my membership with HFI and have not had doubts about my vocation in it except maybe one time.
I can honestly say that I still look forward to my HFI packages each month after all these years. Sure there are days when I don't read any of the Concord or think much about HFI except to pray my prayers.
However, on days that I avidly read HFI materials and listen to the CD and think about HFI and the Pauline Family, I get re-energized again.
I am excited about being part of HFI. I was a little scared right before my perpetual profession, but I am so glad I did it. HFI is a perfect fit for me!
I grew up in a non-practicing Catholic home, but was able to convince my family to start attending Mass when my CCD teacher told the class how important it was.
I was educated in very good public schools, but my parents decided that I need to go to Catholic school to end the problems I had with bullying in junior high. This gave me access to many Catholic books. By this time, I understood that my parents did not always agree with Church teaching. I began to question why the Pope thought he could speak for God. Bookworm that I was, I actually studied apologetics and came to believe that the Catholic Church is the one true Church founded by Jesus and has the authority to teach in His name.
By the time I was a sophomore, I began thinking I might have a religious vocation. I was attending daily Mass at school along with a few other students. In junior year, after visiting the Motherhouse a couple of times, I decided on the Daughters of St. Paul. My mother thought I was throwing my life away, but agreed to let me enter after graduating from high school.
It took me almost two years and lots of prayer before I decided that this was not the place to which I was called. My parents let me move back with them and paid for my college tuition.
I began dating my husband, whom I had dated briefly in high school. He had been raised with no religious education, but chose to become a Catholic.
I knew about the Holy Family Institute from the DSPs and even asked for information early in my marriage, but because my husband had no interest in the HFI, I decided not to pursue the matter at that time. About six years ago, I carefully perused the HFI website. Perhaps due to Divine Providence, one of the names on the contact page was that of Una MacManus (she has since moved back to Ireland and I have lost touch with her). I felt a connection with her, because I had read her Heartsong Presents inspirational romance books. So I contacted her and we were in email contact several times. She sent me the audiotape on the HFI as well as the pamphlet “A Short Introduction to the Holy Family Institute” and some other information and prayer cards. She also put me in contact with Helen Helm and Marlicia Fernandez.
After much prayer and soul-searching, I decided to ask Fr. Tom for more information about the formation program and began postulancy. My husband supported me, though he had and still has no interest in the HFI. I was already familiar with Pauline spirituality and had read most of the books by Fr. Alberione. I naturally tend to scrupulosity and have always found it difficult to find balance in my life. The HFI literature and prayers and communicating with other members has helped a lot in that regard.
*** Margaret B.
I tore off the last little tag with info on it about HFI that was attached to a poster in church. Sent away for the info and forgot about it. About 3 weeks later, Steve and I get this package w/ video of HFI (old tape with some of the first members. After watching it, I was very excited about contacting Father Tom, but Steve, who was VERY tired---I made the mistake of watching it with him at night---said, "So?"
We had looked into other groups, including Regnum Christi and never felt called to join. We had 4 young children at that time and didn't like the fact that we would have to leave our kids home to go to meetings. Also, we felt that our family life was enough of an apostalate!
Next day---we watched the video again and WHAM!! Steve said, "This looks GREAT!" That was around 1997. We lived in NJ and told some friends about it and they told friends, etc. We eventually had 6 families and LOTS of kids.
*** Renee M.
I was a cradle Catholic who had grown very lukewarm over the years. There was a span of twelve years where I went to confession every 4 years! In the year 2000 I had a reversion thanks to the catholicity.com
web site and the novels they give out for free. After reading “Pierced by a Sword,” my eyes were opened and my faith started turning around. I decided that I would not read anything that was not good for my soul. I started searching on the internet for “Catholic” web sites and I found the Holy Family Institute web site, http://www.vocations-holyfamily.com/
I read through the entire web site, and sent for information, and here I am today, to be perpetually professed in 2011!
I wrote Father Tom and told him we'd all love to come to the Triduum, but all of us had very young kids and didn't want to leave them home, was it possible to bring them? That was the start of the kids program, according to Father Tom. He got a "babysitter" and the older kids stayed with us for part of the program and then played football, hiked and had fun. Every year, with all of the NJ people having more kids and other members bringing their children, it became obvious that some sort of structure was needed for the older teens. Molly asked Chuck and he graciously offered to organize the teen program.
Life has NEVER been the same since we responded to the CALL. Jesus has given us so very many blessings and has helped us through all of our trials. I thank God for the HFI!
***Gina Peterson
I was raised Catholic. My parents were both Catholic, but my dad did not attend Sunday Mass with us regularly. I am an only child and my parents divorced when I was 12. I attended Catholic school from 1st-12th grade. During junior high, I was thinking it would be nice to become a religious sister. However, that idea was soon forgotten.
After high school, I left Illinois to attend college in New Mexico. During my first semester, I met my husband. We were married when we were both 20 years old. During college, I attended Mass during some
periods of time, but at other times I was exploring other faiths. However, after marriage, I realized that the Catholic faith is the true faith and have remained faithful ever since.
After I realized that Catholicism was my home, I felt called to deepen my spirituality. I was drawn to both the Lay Missionaries of Charity and the Secular Franciscans. While looking into the Lay Missionaries, I found a spiritual director who was a deacon but he did not understand taking a promise of chastity as a married woman. I was planning on attending the Lay Missionaries of Charity retreat in NY, but found out I was pregnant with my first son and then realized that children were not really part of their annual retreat. Then after some time, I attended a Secular Franciscan meeting. They gave me a book about St. Francis to peruse but there was no priest in attendance and there didn't seem to be the spiritual guidance I was looking for.
While I was still considering the Secular Franciscans, a package from the Holy Family Institute arrives in the mail in late 2001/early 2002. I don't remember requesting anything but maybe I did? Or was it a
mysterious gift from God? I liked the guidance offered by HFI and became a postulant. I almost didn't keep pursuing HFI because I liked the spiritually of St. Francis quite a bit. Fr. Tom pretty much said that I should do what I think best. Something about his letter I guess struck a chord with me. I immediately continued my membership with HFI and have not had doubts about my vocation in it except maybe one time.
I can honestly say that I still look forward to my HFI packages each month after all these years. Sure there are days when I don't read any of the Concord or think much about HFI except to pray my prayers.
However, on days that I avidly read HFI materials and listen to the CD and think about HFI and the Pauline Family, I get re-energized again.
I am excited about being part of HFI. I was a little scared right before my perpetual profession, but I am so glad I did it. HFI is a perfect fit for me!
.jpg)
