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September 2007 Issue
The beginning of a life
journey
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Matt Galloway, 16
and a junior at
West Catholic High
School in Grand
Rapids, explains how his
spiritual journey took a unique
turn at the age of 11. A native
of Rockford, Matt completed
his grade school studies at Our
Lady of Consolation (OLC) in
nearby Belmont, which is also
where he has attended weekly
Mass his entire life.
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"Although my family was always involved in
the church for as long as I can remember," Galloway recalls.
"It wasn't until I was at a sixth grade retreat at OLC that
I became more directly involved in my faith. That was really
the major stepping stone in my life." After the retreat, Galloway
began volunteering at OLC, participating in various activities,
such as bagging food for the "Meals on Wheels" program for
God's Kitchen and helping a woman move from a homeless shelter
into her new home. "I love volunteering and sharing my faith
with others," he said with a slight grin. "It makes me feel
like I am doing what God wants me to do. It's like I've accomplished
something." The retreat helped him realize that faith is a
part of one's everyday life, not just for the hour spent at
weekly Mass.
Galloway continues to live his faith out loud.
The inspiration that he received at his fi rst OLC retreat
prepared him for the chance to inspire others when he entered
high school. His experiences and joys of going through a life-changing
event at a young age would mold him into a leader and "minister"
in the years to come.
A need for something new
As Galloway entered high school, he went through
many of the same changes that all teenagers go through: a
new school, new friends, new smells and sights, and even new
teachers and mentors. But one thing that stayed constant was
his participation in the OLC youth group. Even during the
intense change, Galloway continued to attend the youth group's
weekly worship meetings and even helped organize the middle
school retreats. "I was often criticized during my freshman
year. People couldn't understand why I gave so much time to
God," Galloway said. "But that changed the next year. My classmates
were O.K. with me being cool with my faith and tight with
God."
It was the discrimination that Galloway faced
in his early years of high school that triggered him to act.
He decided to implement a new campus ministry at West Catholic
and created a student club, Catholics in Action (CIA). Galloway
met with West Catholic principal and vice principal, Stan
Spetosky and Jack Young, respectively, to discuss his interest
in starting a student group. "I wrote up a description of
what the group was about and what we would hope to accomplish,"
Galloway said. "Then I had announcements over the PA at lunch
and after school letting the students know when the fi rst
meeting was. That's when people showed up."
Galloway created CIA so that people with similar
beliefs who didn't know where to turn could come together
and share their faith with one another. "There is comfort
in numbers," he adds. CIA is a unique high school organization.
Members eat lunch together once a week and discuss Christ's
teachings. Galloway prepares a presentation for each meeting.
The creation of this group has certainly received attention
from Spetosky. "[CIA] is a nice addition to help carry out
the mission of West Catholic," said Spetosky. "Any time students
take the initiative, it creates a lot of opportunities for
other students to feel more comfortable."
Service to fellow classmates
Galloway has served as a peer minister for
the OLC youth group for several years. This newfound interest
led him to want to become a peer minister at West Catholic
as well. "During my junior year, I will make a commitment,
along with the other peer ministers in training, to stay away
from drugs and other stuff like that," Galloway said. After
Galloway completes his year of training, he will be recognized
as a peer minister. Some of Galloway's responsibilities will
include offering guidance to students who don't feel comfortable
going to teachers or the administration and planning the retreats
for all of the classes. "Matt is an exceptional, faith-fi
lled young man. He has a deep sense of spirituality and compelled
to share his faith," said Cathy Pearce, campus minister and
coordinator of the peer ministry program at West Catholic.
"I look forward to his leadership planning retreats and working
with underclassmen." Helping others is something that Galloway
loves to do. It has changed how he makes everyday decisions.
"Whatever I do, I do it for God," he added.
The "calling" at a young age
In ninth grade, during a youth retreat at
OLC, Galloway would hear some words that would change his
life forever. While Galloway was leading a group in adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament, he noticed a younger boy sitting
next to him. "As I was sitting in the pew, I saw this young
kid looking at me every now and then," Galloway recalled.
"I could tell that he wanted to kneel, but was embarrassed.
Although I am more comfortable sitting in adoration, I decided
to kneel anyway - to make him more comfortable." When he knelt,
he heard God's voice calling him to pursue a priestly vocation,
Galloway explained. "I argued with God for a while. I asked
him 'Why me?' and 'This is not for me,'" Galloway said. Then
he heard one of his favorite songs, "Amazing Love." It was
then that he realized that a priestly vocation may be in his
future.
"We are very pleased to have [Matt] want to
enter the seminary," said his parents, Bryan and Isabel Galloway.
"We will support him all the way. We just want to see him
happy as long as God is a priority." Galloway is unsure of
which college he would like to take his pre-theology courses
at, but among his top choices are Aquinas College and the
University of Steubenville in Ohio. "I just love being Catholic.
There are so many ways to participate," Galloway said. "You
have daily Mass, sacraments, adoration and youth group, just
to name a few. You can never stop learning."
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