A Real Life Moment with Tommy and Katie McGrady - By Chris Padgett
I was at an event in Louisiana and somehow found myself in a car of a young theology teacher. She was so excited about God. She was well spoken, had a heart for ministry, and a car filled with religious artifacts that would cause the Vatican museum to be pleased. Her name was Katie back then, and interestingly enough it still is. What a joy to be friends with someone who has never been afraid to be fully herself. This little powerhouse young woman has established herself very quickly in a male dominated national speaking ministry. Just recently, her speech in front of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) has left an important mark. As an author of two books, Katie’s ministry is only growing stronger.
Tommy McGrady is the perfect match for Katie. Tommy’s experience in ministry may be very different than his wife’s, but it no less extensive. When the couple first started dating, Tommy was working for the Diocese of Scranton PA.
Even though there are many reason for us to love this dynamic couple, the one fact that Catholic FAM appreciates the most is there true and authentic honesty about the struggles and joys of being a newly married couple and young family. They shared their engagement journey on their blog, www.curlyweds.com, and have just recently started their own podcast, The Electric Waffle. Overall, this is a couple to watch.
We hope you love watching and reading bout them as much as we loved putting it together for you.
1. What made you want to share your faith in a public way?
I think both Tommy and I have been consistently called, even when we weren’t expecting it, to witness to our relationship with Christ, and in some very neat ways, been led to do that for others on stages, at retreats, in classrooms…And, when Jesus calls you again and again, it just kind of gets hard saying no after a while. In all seriousness, though: we both have had a strong desire to witness to the great joy of Jesus in our lives, and that’s something that can’t be contained and has to be shared.
2. Katie, you taught religion for several years before going into full time lay evangelistic work. What do you miss about the classroom? What are you happy you don’t have to deal with?
I miss the day-to-day interaction with the same group of teens. It was always so great to build relationships with a group of students, learning their personalities and what’s going on in their lives. It was a great way to stay grounded in ministry, and keep myself sharp with how to express and articulate the faith. That being said, traveling full time for speaking and writing has been a real joy and definitely where the Lord wants me right now. I love the freedom that comes with traveling and the opportunity it’s afforded me to stay home with Rose when I’m not on the road. I certainly do NOT miss grading (the purgatory of teacher life) or the hum-drum complaining of some folks (often times for no reason). But I doubt any current teacher likes that stuff either…
Tommy McGrady is the perfect match for Katie. Tommy’s experience in ministry may be very different than his wife’s, but it no less extensive. When the couple first started dating, Tommy was working for the Diocese of Scranton PA.
Even though there are many reason for us to love this dynamic couple, the one fact that Catholic FAM appreciates the most is there true and authentic honesty about the struggles and joys of being a newly married couple and young family. They shared their engagement journey on their blog, www.curlyweds.com, and have just recently started their own podcast, The Electric Waffle. Overall, this is a couple to watch.
We hope you love watching and reading bout them as much as we loved putting it together for you.
1. What made you want to share your faith in a public way?
I think both Tommy and I have been consistently called, even when we weren’t expecting it, to witness to our relationship with Christ, and in some very neat ways, been led to do that for others on stages, at retreats, in classrooms…And, when Jesus calls you again and again, it just kind of gets hard saying no after a while. In all seriousness, though: we both have had a strong desire to witness to the great joy of Jesus in our lives, and that’s something that can’t be contained and has to be shared.
2. Katie, you taught religion for several years before going into full time lay evangelistic work. What do you miss about the classroom? What are you happy you don’t have to deal with?
I miss the day-to-day interaction with the same group of teens. It was always so great to build relationships with a group of students, learning their personalities and what’s going on in their lives. It was a great way to stay grounded in ministry, and keep myself sharp with how to express and articulate the faith. That being said, traveling full time for speaking and writing has been a real joy and definitely where the Lord wants me right now. I love the freedom that comes with traveling and the opportunity it’s afforded me to stay home with Rose when I’m not on the road. I certainly do NOT miss grading (the purgatory of teacher life) or the hum-drum complaining of some folks (often times for no reason). But I doubt any current teacher likes that stuff either…
Get Out of the Boat - Lisa Perron
How can it be July already? In the United States, July is the month to celebrate independence. Just as those who sacrificed and fought for our independence as a nation, we spend our childhoods fighting for our own independence. We can’t wait for the day when we can make our own decisions and not be told what to do. Once we reach adulthood, we realize that absolute independence is a myth. We may be able to make our own decisions, but we also have to live with the consequences of those decisions. We realize that we weren’t created to be totally independent.
I Go Where You Go- By Linda Padgett
The year was 1991 and Chris and I were on our honeymoon in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The movie that ran away with all the Oscars that year was Dances with Wolves, and we saw it twice during our week long trip.
For those of you completely out of touch with this great movie, Dances with Wolves, staring the young Kevin Costner, is a period drama of a civil war soldier who develops a relationship with a tribe of Lakota Indians. He ends up leaving his soldiering behind to join the simple life of these natives. Along the way, Costner, known to the tribe as Dances with Wolves, falls in love with a white woman who has also found refuge among the natives.
For those of you completely out of touch with this great movie, Dances with Wolves, staring the young Kevin Costner, is a period drama of a civil war soldier who develops a relationship with a tribe of Lakota Indians. He ends up leaving his soldiering behind to join the simple life of these natives. Along the way, Costner, known to the tribe as Dances with Wolves, falls in love with a white woman who has also found refuge among the natives.
Bob's Obsession of the Month
This month Bob talks about the importance of loving one another and treating people with dignity and respect.
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