Skip to main content
Fr. David DeJulio is the pastor of the very vibrant St. Mark the Evangelist Parish in Tampa, Florida. His message is about helping all of us to realize the gifts that God has given us and encouraging us to use these gifts for the betterment of the world. He graciously agreed to participate in my blog survey and responded to the seven question survey. His very inspiring answers are below. If you want to participate, please answer the seven questions and send them to me at fellmananthony@gmail.com. Please pray for Fr. David's ministry.

1. What is the biggest challenge to your faith that you have faced so far? The biggest challenge is the fact of the housing crisis in my parish. There are many families who are facing foreclosure, with no job prospects, who are trying to keep up hope. I seem powerless to their needs and I find it difficult to inspire hope to them when their houses and jobs are being taken away. I realize that evil is present in this world and God is not the cause of the angst that people are experiencing, but I simply wish that God would do something?

2. What scripture do you find yourself turning to most often? These days it is Matthew 6:25-34 regarding God's care for us by telling us not to worry about our life. It truly gives me great comfort.

3. How do you think God is revealing his presence to us in the world today? I think God reveals his presence to us in many and varied ways. Just look at the goodness of people this time of year to the less fortunate and I see the power of God's presence being revealed. I see the exuberance of a little child running to me for a blessing and I see God's presence in that child's love and joy. I also experience God's presence in the stillness of the dawn and in the dusk of the day.

4. Do you have a book that you would recommend to people trying to develop their spirituality? One spiritual book that I would recommend is The Holy Longing: the Search for a Christian Spirituality by Ronald Rolheiser.

5. Why do you think that bad things happen to good people? Bad things happen to good people due to sin in the world. Because God has given us all the gift of free will, there are some people whose bad choices will affect us in a negative way, those around him/her. I think when a good person comes down with diseases like cancer, etc., the sin of others (unhealthy pesticides, greed, etc.) caused the good person to be affected. God in no way causes these things; it's caused by the human capacity to sin.

6. What have you found is the most effective way to introduce the Word of God to a nonbeliever? The most effective way to introduce the Word of God to a nonbeliever is to first find out about their life experience. Who are they, what brought them here, what are they most concerned about in their life? I may offer some advice or wisdom that comes from Scripture without them knowing it. Building the relationship is the most important part and everything else follows.

7. Do you have a favorite saint and if so, why? I think my favorite saint is St. Theresa the Little Flower because of her dedication to bring God's love to all she met. Once she realized that love was what she was created to do, she simply lived it despite the difficulties she faced with some of God's people. I would like to think I could also learn from her and repeat what she did. It's difficult at times, but the rewards are so great

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Praying With The Five Wounds Of Jesus

I am just beginning to dive into the beautiful, ancient devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus, and I wanted to share a bit of the journey with you. It can feel a little overwhelming at first to look at the Crucifix this closely, but I’ve found such a gentle guide in St. Bernard of Clairvaux . In his Jubilee Rhythm on the Passion, Bernard doesn't treat the wounds of Jesus as distant historical facts or sights to be avoided. Instead, he approaches them with the tenderness of a friend, speaking directly to the feet, hands, side, and face of our Lord. For someone like me who is just starting out, his rhythm teaches that prayer isn't just about reciting words; it’s a holy hide-and-seek. Bernard invites us to literally hide ourselves within these wounds, seeing them as clefts in the rock where we can find shelter when our own lives feel turbulent or heavy. As I start this process, I’ve been practicing what I call gazing and greeting. Following Bernard’s lead, I look at the Crucifix an...
Post a Comment
Read more

From Fisherman to Foremen: Peter’s First Act as Shepherd

In the immediate aftermath of the Ascension, we see a profound transformation in Peter, moving from the impulsive fisherman who once fled in the garden to the courageous shepherd of the early Church. By standing up in the heart of Jerusalem to deliver his first great "sermon" at Pentecost, Peter is not merely offering an inspired speech; he is stepping into the primordial role of the Papacy. He was specifically commissioned by Christ on the shores of Galilee to "feed my sheep," and here we see that nourishment take the form of the Word. He takes control of a frightened and confused community, providing the definitive interpretation of the Resurrection and anchoring the fledgling Church in the truth of the Gospel. This moment in the Acts of the Apostles reminds us that the authority of Peter was never about personal power, but about the sacred duty of unity and guidance. By taking the lead in the upper room and before the crowds, Peter demonstrates that the "key...
Post a Comment
Read more

Just War and the Gospel: How Christ and the Catholic Church Define Moral Conflict

The Catholic understanding of a just war begins not with violence, but with the teachings of Jesus Christ, who calls His followers to love their enemies, seek peace, and act with mercy. In passages such as the Sermon on the Mount, Christ elevates forgiveness and reconciliation as the highest ideals of Christian life. At first glance, this seems to stand in tension with the idea that war could ever be morally justified. Yet the Church, drawing from both Scripture and reason, acknowledges that in a fallen world marked by sin, evil can threaten the innocent in ways that demand a response. Rooted in Christ’s command to love one’s neighbor, the just war tradition insists that any use of force must ultimately serve the protection of human life and the restoration of peace. Over centuries, theologians such as St. Augustine of Hippo and St. Thomas Aquinas helped articulate the moral framework that guides Catholic teaching on war. Their insights, later developed in the Catechism of the Cathol...
Post a Comment
Read more