GREENSBORO — St. Paul the Apostle Church in Greensboro held a parish-wide retreat in January led by well-known theologian, author and speaker Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio (known on TV and radio as “Dr. Italy”).
The two-day event began Friday evening with a covered dish dinner, followed by D’Ambrosio’s keynote address, “How To Get More Out of Mass.” He challenged his audience to think about how Jesus is really present in the Eucharist and he offered real world, practical ways to “unlock the power of His presence so as to make each Mass a life-changing experience.”
Saturday began with a pancake breakfast hosted by the parish’s Knights of Columbus Council 13236. The day’s discussions were divided into adult sessions given by D’Ambrosio, and teen sessions given by D’Ambrosio’s twin sons, Anthony and Marcellino. Both young men are youth ministers, worship musicians and evangelizers. Grade school sessions, taught by parish staff, were also available.
Pictured: Anthony and Marcellino D’Ambrosio perform with members of St. Paul Church’s Youth Choir during the concluding Mass at a two-day retreat designed for the whole family. (Annette K. Tenny | Catholic News Herald)
D’Ambrosio started off by discussing “The Family as Domestic Church.” While this is a familiar theme to many Catholics, D’Ambrosio deepened the discussion with stories of the ups and downs of his own Catholic upbringing. As a father of five, he was also able to relate his and his wife’s experiences in the trials and joys of creating their own domestic church.
While parents and grandparents were getting tips on how to build their family church, the teens were listening to the D’Ambrosio twins share their faith challenges. Titled “Let Me Live: The Story of How God Walked Into My Grave and Called Me Up Into His Resurrection,” the young men spoke passionately about their personal conversions and the need to be open to the call of Holy Spirit. Developing a close relationship with Jesus Christ, they said, requires not just one act but countless actions each day. Life in Christ, they told their young audience is anything but passive.
In another session, D’Ambrosio encouraged parents and grandparents to keep lines of communication open and to talk to their kids about many subjects, not just religion.
It’s imperative to restore the “centrality of the table,” he said. Family relationships harden, he told them without frequent communication. Bring back the family dinner, at least one night a week. Make sure everyone contributes to the conversation, no matter the subject. Nourish yourself with scripture and sacraments and you will be able to nourish your family when the opportunity presents itself. Above all, he reminded the attendees, remain humble and have a sense of humor.
“Pray for your family, pray for what they need,” he said, “not for what you want.”
D’Ambrosio said he hoped retreat participants would walk away with two things: excitement and inspiration that there is “more than what they’ve experienced so far in their Catholic life,” and “…one practical suggestion where they can change the pattern of their life.” Whether it’s the way they pray, the way they approach the Eucharist or confession, he said he hoped they left with a practical way to change the way they live their faith.
In other programs during the retreat, Anthony and Marcellino D’Ambrosio and the parish’s youth ministry encouraged teens to see the saints through a new lens, as well as to see how God is already working in their lives.
The retreat at St. Paul Parish was a pleasure, D’Ambrosio said, as he and his sons don’t often travel and minister together. The parish asked specifically for all of them.
“The twins’ ministry has evolved into parish consultation, writing and producing film and digital evangelization content,” he noted.
They also have a music worship ministry and with a younger brother and other band members, travel to conferences.
D’Ambrosio’s ministry is evolving as well. After many years of parish, radio and television evangelization, he’s feeling called to write more but also to produce podcasts and short video teaching, on You Tube, for example.
“I’m looking forward to working with the twins on new projects and new ways of evangelizing,” he said.
— Annette K. Tenny, correspondent