I AM HERE

Valerie Berry, a long-time active member of Corpus Christi parish in Detroit wasn’t planning to become Catholic until her second-grade son started telling her about his times at church he experienced in Catholic school. Inspired by his love for church, Valerie eventually entered the Church and was encouraged by a friend to take her challenges to the Blessed Sacrament. Although Jesus’ presence didn’t spontaneously solve all of the problems she faced, it did become the source of her strength, what she continues to rely on, and has guided her to serve in the Church in new ways.  

Show notes: 

00:20 We welcome Valerie Berry to the studio, a long-time parishioner at Corpus Christi parish in Detroit. Valerie shares how her son, as a second grader, led her to consider the Catholic faith and eventually begin RCIA and entered the Church. 

04:51 Valerie shares why she enrolled her son in Catholic school in the first place and about her journey through RCIA. She then shares what her experience was like receiving the sacraments at the Easter Vigil, particularly her experience of receiving the Eucharist for the first time. 

10:05 Valerie shares that, while she’d heard about adoration in RCIA, she hadn’t gone until a friend encouraged her to spend time with the Blessed Sacrament when she was going through a difficult time. Fr. Mario comments on the power of one disciple’s witness to another.

11:46 Valerie describes going to adoration for the first time, unsure of what to do, but experiencing peace by simply spending time before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. She explains how she’s learned to go to Jesus, not just in times of trouble, but also in times of joy — a choice she has been making lately.

14:24 Valerie shares how spending time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, along with a spiritual director, have helped her discern to lend her gifts to RCIA, by helping to lead it at Corpus Christi, which she is doing this year. She and Fr. Mario discuss what a spiritual director is and the value of having one. 

19:03 Leah asks Valerie to share what she would share with those who are considering Catholicism and Valerie describes how she has grown to rely on the Eucharist, more so than even shelter and food. She has grown to rely on the Eucharist — the source of her strength — and to see how Jesus works in her life every single day.

22:08 Valerie shares how she spends time in adoration, by mostly conversing with Jesus. Fr. Mario comments on the reality that we leave adoration differently, even when going doesn’t solve all of our  problems.

25:52 Valerie responds to a question from Fr. Mario about how she would speak to someone who  may  struggle to believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. She challenges people to pay  attention to their surroundings and how God may be working, and emphasizing the beauty of God’s grace given freely to each of us. 

A new third grade teacher and parishioner at St. Aloysius, Christine Kim, shares about encountering Jesus in the Eucharist during a particularly low moment, and describes how he had worked in her life previously, to lead her to the conviction that she could go to him in every circumstance. In this episode, Christine shares her experiences of being healed by Jesus after a breakup, exploring the Protestant faith, and finding renewed joy and courage as a college student and young adult.

Show notes: 

00:20 We welcome our guest, Christine Kim, who will share her story. Christine, a parishioner at St. Aloysius, Fr. Mario’s parish, who moved to Detroit a year prior, shares how she sought a parish that had adoration and daily Mass times she could attend. She shares that she will soon start a new position as a third grade teacher at a Catholic school in Detroit. 

03:12 Christine discusses going to adoration after a breakup and how, in her disappointment, she went to Jesus and left feeling comforted, though Jesus didn’t solve everything, but was just present to her. Fr. Mario asks what her practice of going to adoration was like prior to this instance and she share what led to her solid faith and commitment to adoration.

06:42 Christine shares a turning point experience she had on her journey as a college student, when Jesus met her in her brokenness, through Scripture. 

09:17 Leah asks Christine what eventually led her to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist and she shares how Jesus worked in her life through seeking Christian community on her college campus. 

13:30 Fr. Mario remarks that Christine is one of the most joyful disciples that he knows, and she shares how Jesus is the source of that joy, through the gift of self-awareness and his goodness.  

15:21 Christine shares how she grew into a deep love for Jesus in the Eucharist through participation in  an ecumenical group on her college campus. During this time in her life, she found the confirmation she needed to remain in the Catholic Church and that this was the beginning of her growing and flourishing as a disciple.

20:10 Christine shares how she has approached Jesus in a wide array of emotions and shares how Jesus guided her to discern moving to Detroit. She shares how Jesus provided all of the details, even down to having a washer and dryer in her new home. 

24:15 Fr. Mario asks how Christine spends her time when she goes to Eucharistic adoration and she shares that she simply shows up, not necessarily with an agenda, and just enjoys spending time with  Jesus. Fr. Mario notes that journaling can be a  powerful way to pray and encounter Jesus. 

26:30 Leah asks Christine how Jesus responds when she spends time with him and she shares that she  believes he is pleased, remarking that he asks for our presence, as he gives us his.

As a high schooler, Paolo Vitale had yet to make his faith his own. But as he struggled through a difficult time of losing friends and wanting control over his life, he found a peace unlike any other when he unintentionally wandered into a church that was having Eucharistic adoration. In the few years since that moment, through the support of his family’s faith, powerful role models, and Jesus’s Eucharistic presence, the Lord has continued to call the 22 year-old deeper and led him to grow in virtue, devotion, and love, in a way that doesn’t just avoid hell, but authentically pursues Heaven. 

Show notes: 

00:28 We welcome our guest Paolo Vitale, a parishioner at St. Isidore in Macomb, who works as a project manager. We ask Paolo to share a bit about his experience in coming to know Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, which he first shared to be published on iamhere.org. 

01:58 Paolo shares how during high school, which was only a few short years ago (he is 22 now), although he was raised Catholic, he was struggling and his faith wasn’t something he had pursued seriously himself. He struggled to find peace during this time, until he unexpectedly wandered into the church that was attached to his school and found Eucharistic adoration. He shares that this was the first time he had found real relief or peace. However, he describes this as a stepping stone on his journey, because at the time, he didn’t grasp what it meant to be in Jesus’ presence.  

06:10 Fr. Mario comments on the gift that Paolo had received in the faith his parents had passed on to him, and the foundation that was there to help him fall “back or into faith.” Paolo speaks about the powerful role that his grandfather, father, and uncles played in his journey, as they encouraged him to learn from the saints, pray, and surrender to God’s plan.

11:54 Paolo describes the little, day-to-day choices he began to make since that moment that helped him grow in faith, and eventually devotion. He goes on to share an experience when he realized he didn’t want to just try to avoid hell, but that he wanted to pursue Heaven, and the examples of family members and friends helped him grow in virtue and love. 

20:57 Fr. Mario comments on how necessary vulnerability is in prayer, but also in relationships with others, and how powerful it can be to share that with a role model. Paolo shares how he prays during adoration, acknowledging Jesus’ presence, and how that prayer has helped him grow into a relationship with Jesus, understanding that he is not far off, but that his presence is very near.  

24:38 Paolo offers encouragement to young people to go to Jesus in Mass and adoration as often as possible and offers some advice on how he remains focused, prays during difficulty, and manages distractions in prayer.

31:22 Paolo describes how God responded to his prayer for more adoration in an unexpected way, through his invitation to share his story on I AM HERE and increased adoration times at his parish.

You are never alone. In your brokenness, sorrows and frustrations, Jesus wants to say to you, “I am here." Introducing the ‘I AM HERE’ Podcast, where we share the stories of men and women who have found healing and transformation through an encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist. Subscribe today and learn more at iamhere.org.