Buffet of Inspiration Served at McHenry County Catholic Prayer Breakfast
Patricia SzPekowski, Observer Correspondent
October 6, 2022
CRYSTAL LAKE—The Eleventh Annual McHenry County Catholic Prayer Breakfast (MCCPB) showcased a multitude of highlights to educate and spiritually inspire its 500 guests in attendance at the Holiday Inn Chicago Northwest, Sept. 24.
The morning began with a concelebrated Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Crystal Lake with Father Christopher DiTomo, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Huntley, and the breakfast’s keynote speaker, Father Donald Calloway, MIC, vicar provincial and vocation director for the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception.
Hard work by the MCCPB board of directors, committee members and special contributors provided impetus to the mission of bringing Catholic clergy and laity of McHenry County together for unity, joint prayer and hope.
Patriotism was forefront with the National Anthem sung by Rachel Jost; the Pledge of Allegiance led by Catalina Lauf, Congressional Candidate, District 11; “God Bless America” sung by Cecilia Adams, who was joined by the guests; and acknowledgment by Jennifer Jost of the clergy, military, government officials and first responders.
Before the meal began with a prayer led by Father Keith Romke, pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Crystal Lake, two distinct honors were presented.
The Good Shepherd Award was presented by Dan Ciwac, MCCPB committee member, to Father David Austin, pastor of St. Mary Parish in McHenry, for revitalizing his parish and school and leading the spiritual welfare of his flock.
“I am humbled and honored to receive this recognition,” said Father Austin. “I have been with the good people at St. Mary’s for eight years. There are many priests who have inspired me and also the late Bishops Arthur O’Neill and Thomas Doran, and our present Bishop David Malloy, who is leading us through this very difficult time.
“Most of all, I want to thank my parents Mack and Connie Austin, who are always there to support me, and our dear Blessed Mother.”
The St. Paul Evangelization Award was presented to James and Cathleen Klocek by their son Andrew Klocek, a MCCPB committee member. The Kloceks were honored for their dedication to prolife ministries and support of political issues to protect all children.
James noted his wife home-schooled their children and sincerely said, “If you have kids, please have dinner together with them every night; that is the best thing you can do.”
Guest speaker John Jost, who grew up in Algonquin, is associate director of admissions for St. Thomas Aquinas College in Massachusetts. He previously worked in Chicago as a business consultant for a Fortune 500 company.
Jost was a high school champion swimmer yet chose to attend Thomas Aquinas College where they did not have a swim team. He is an advocate for Catholic education and spoke of its positive link in a liberal arts education with the Catholic faith as its guide to believe in God and seek the truth about the world.
“The aim of education is a launch pad for worldly success,” Jost said. “A liberal education teaches us how to be free through theoretical ideas. We need grace for moral and practical philosophy. A Catholic and liberal education is greater than the sum of its parts and is the most perfect and complete way. Catholic graduates enter all career fields and are well-balanced with a wide range of abilities.”
Keynote speaker Father Calloway had attendees on the edge of their seats with intermittent bursts of laughter as he told the intimate details of his storied young life of sin and drugs as a high school dropout who was institutionalized twice and thrown in jail multiple times.
“Don’t ever forget that God is madly in love with you,” he said. “I was a long-haired dude with three fathers and always in trouble, even causing an international scene. I was at rock bottom and thought of taking my life.”
His resulting journey and triumph of his conversion began with reading a book about Our Lady of Medjugorje, which his step-father and mother, now Catholic and on fire in the faith, had at home.
Today Father Calloway is the author of 15 books including “Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father.” He told the crowd he is currently writing a graphic novel on St. Joseph.
Attendees were overcome with personal emotions at what they heard, and many stood in line to meet Father Calloway, purchase his books, and even share their own personal stories with him.
Over and over again, guests remarked that this year’s McHenry County Catholic Prayer Breakfast had left them speechless. “This really gives me hope,” said Eva Detloff, “that change is just a prayer away.”
After meeting Father Calloway, Rose Scherb said, “This morning has been incredible hearing his story.
It opened my eyes that it truly is God’s will to heal the broken.”
Shop Religious items at HOLYART.COM |