Name:
Anthony W. Antolic
E-mail:
anthonyantolic@msn.com
Location: Vancouver, Washington
Birthday: 6 October, 1973
Bio:
My family is second only to God in my life. They are my friends and confidants. I love them and they are always in my prayers. With out my Friends and family, I may not have made it throw this past summer. I stay in touch with all of them, and will even past the hour of death.
I have only had one girl friend in my life. Her name is Suzanne M. Cunningham was to be my wife. We were together for 7 years she was to be my wife. But I fund my self pulling away from god and that scared me. But the reason for our brake up was a combination of my refusing sex until marriage. In witch case she cheated on me, and her lack of faith that I found disturbing.
I work with a man named Joe Palomino Every day we talk about Theology, and different beliefs. I look forward to toughs talks every day.
Father Airhart was the most influential man other than my Grandfather in my life. I learn from both of them a love for the Euchres. I grow up Irish Catholic and have never wavered. My relationship with god is that of two best friends sitting down for coffee. Over this summer was the hardest of my life. Suzy and I broke up, my business failed, and I was living out of my car. I did not want to burden any one with my problems so I turned to the only man that I new could help. I walked into Saint Joes to pray it was 7pm on a week day I did not think that any on would be there. But instead they had a guest speaker. I was in the bulletin that Sunday but I for got about it.
I walked in just as Ray Cleveland was talking about the need for Priests. Suddenly I remembered all the things that Father Airhart did for me growing up, and I felt and need to talk to Father Olson. After the mass it asked to speak with Father Olson, I need to mention that I have never told any one about the desire to become a Priest, but that night I made the commitment to God that is guiding my hand as I write this. I don?t know what it was that made me go that day but I had been pounding the pavement of 3 months straight looking for a job with no luck, I was living out of my car. The next day a man named Dan Kunze drove up beside me as I was walking to my car and gave me a job on the spot. Now that just synched the deal for me. My faith has never wavered but this just straightened it.
The Priests of today need to face all of the old problems and many new ones. Internet pornography is an industry that finds its way on to your computer much of the time with out you even knowing it. They can come in the form of an Email bomb, or worm virus that corrupts your files with just a click of a mouse.
Joe Palomino has been a beacon of hope for me. I work with him every day, and we may be from deferent domination but we share a love for Jesus that has served as a bridge for our friendship. I go to his Bible studies and we have something to talk about for the rest of the week. I think of his family as my own. It is hard to remember sometimes that he is my Boss. Joe is not even Catholic but he respects my desire to become a Priest. He has helped me realize that this is what God want for me.
A life time commitment to my values just means that I have a life time to build up the body of my Parish. I mean that I well have many opportunities to be there for my congregation. Father Airhart died before I could thank him for being all that he had done for me. I may have seemed ungrateful but I was just a kid with a chip on my shoulder. If I can just reach one person like he reached me in my life time then the sacrifice will be worth it.
Every morning, afternoon, & evening, I pray for the good of my community, welfare of my family and friends. The power of prayer is infinite, and I have always considered Jesus my oldest and best friend. I see the work of our Lord becoming a reality every day.
My uncle is a Protestant Minster at the Bread of Life Church in Woodland Washington. We have not always agreed when it comes to doctrines, but our God is one in the same, and this we have never argued. He hand a hand in my formation growing up. It was his example that put me on the right path.
I have always found my self in a position of leadership in every thing that I have done. But Teaching Karate for years has given me the ability to work well with kids. I love children, are the hope for our future. But supervising the youth group is the most rewarding work that I have done.
I take it upon my self to go out onto the streets and help the youth get off of the streets. Some times they have had bad experiences with the government systems. I am one of them so they relate to me, and they trust me. I bring them food or find them a place to stay for the night. This is just the beginning. Over the years the neighbor hood kids have grown up and gotten off of the streets, they have continued the tradition. But this network only works if the younger kids can trust that you will not contact the authorities. If the child feels safe at home we try to mediate between them and the parents, and the child. The child always has a reason to run away, if this is not addressed he or she well only run away again.
Please understand that social services are not always the answer. A lot of the time the kids are abused but do not want to talk to adults because they don?t trust them. We are only one generation older then they are in a lot of cases, and we have been there our selves. In my case I just always moved around so I felt at home in a church or around the neighborhoods that I moved to. I was never out on the streets my self but a lot of my friends are.
Some of the best Priests that I ever met spent more time out in the community that they serve.
I love to play Chess after a hard day at work. C.J. & I can go at it for hours.
Interests:
Blog Created: Wednesday, 10 December 2003
Last Updated: Friday, 9 April 2004 - 10:26 AM
Blog Entries: 38