Brett Koltuniak    

I first joined the Seton music ministry in 1997. Back then I didn’t know Who I was singing for. A few years later I heard a voice in my head telling me to “go on a retreat.” I ignored it at first, but it persisted, and soon after I found myself on a Christ Renews His Parish Retreat. It was amazing, and then for some reason I signed up to be on the team to help put on the next retreat, and that was even better. I had found a community of people, people that shared some of the same struggles as me but were still trying to live their faith. I didn’t feel quite so alone. I started going to Mass every day and fell in love with Jesus truly present in the Eucharist, and receiving His Body and Blood healed many of my wounds and made other wounds glorious.

With all the love I was receiving from Jesus, I knew my response had to be one of service. So I started volunteering for ministries like Meals on Wheels and the homeless shelter and AIDS shelter downtown. I became an RCIA sponsor and helped with the youth ministry. I served on several ACTS Retreats and joined a couple of young adult ministries. At some point during this time I became so busy and lost my original focus: spending quiet time with Jesus in prayer and letting Him love me. Any service I do must be rooted in prayer and in God. As St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “the fruit of Silence is prayer. The fruit of Prayer is faith. The fruit of Faith is love. The fruit of Love is service. The fruit of Service is peace.”

I continue to realize that I am a work in progress and no matter where I am on my journey, I can still fall and am always in need of God. Accountability has become increasingly important for keeping me on a consistent spiritual track. I recently began the first phase of formation with a lay Carmelite community. I am promising this community that I will pray regularly each day and will try to practice God’s presence.

God is love, and God loves each of you. Your life is a story that has never been told. Your soul is an image of God’s love that only you can share. May we allow God to transform us into the fullness of that image. Amen.