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Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin
(USA), OFFICE OF VOCATIONS
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Reconversion story promotes vocations at
Threshold Retreat
By Patrick Slattery
Staff Writer
WINONA – "The pinnacle of the pagan life" is how Greg Michaud describes the way he used to live prior to his reconversion.
But through the graces of the sacraments, as well as the effects of Eucharistic Adoration, his life was transformed, and ultimately a desire emerged in his heart to serve God as a priest. Michaud, who is spending the summer at Notre Dame Parish in Chippewa Falls, was among those who shared their faith journeys at the Threshold Retreat, a vocation awareness gathering for older high school and college age young men.
The retreat was held July 16-18 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary on the campus of St. Mary’s University in Winona. Immaculate Heart of Mary also happens to be one of the seminaries where the Diocese of La Crosse sends its candidates for the priesthood.
A native of Iron Mountain, Mich., the 38-year-old Michaud said he fell away from the Catholic faith while in college, and remained away until age 32.
"Through a failed engagement, I was literally brought to my knees and cried out, ‘Lord, I can’t go on like this anymore,’" he said.
His first step back, he recalled, was to make his first confession in 15 years. "From there it was a roller coaster ride, he said, with progress made followed by reversions to old sinful ways.
His pastor, Father Dan Zaloga, encouraged him to get involved in the perpetual Eucharistic chapel in his hometown, promising it would make a drastic change for the better in his spiritual life.
"Adoration had a big-time effect on me, and without it I wouldn’t have made it," Michaud said. His most recent employment was working as an account executive for a telecommunications contractor. In this line of work he traveled almost weekly to make sales presentations on the East Coast.
"After my reconversion, it became clear to me that I had been so steeped in paganism that I was living in the darkness and didn’t know it," he said. "While the medium of cable television is not bad in and of itself, its driving force, the big money that’s calling all the shots, is pornography, which makes it truly evil."
To break free, said Michaud, he relied on not only Eucharistic adoration but also frequent confession and the rosary.
"A line from a prayer I often recall is to ask for the strength to stay away from the glittery glow of the enemy’s camp. Without the sacraments, the pagan way of life looks so very attractive," he said.
Michaud told the retreatants that he is most fortunate to have come from a strong family.
"I don’t know how many rosaries my mother prayed for me over the years. My dad, who was Lutheran but very Catholic in his outlook, was also a very great influence. He died in 2000, and I suspect his intercession helped to bring me along to where I am today."
At summer’s end Michaud will begin his seminarian studies for the Diocese of La Crosse at the Pontifical College Joseph-inum in Columbus, Ohio. If all goes well, he anticipates being ordained in six years.
"I am now at peace," Michaud said. "I don’t know why God has opened certain doors to bring me here, and I don’t know what he has in store for me tomorrow or 10 years from now. All I can do is trust in the Holy Spirit and daily ask myself this question, ‘What is God asking of me today?’"
Father Joe Hirsch, director of the Office of Vocations, said the Threshold Retreat went well this year, and that the event will be held again next summer on the campus of St. Mary’s.
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2002-2004. Office of Vocations, Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin (USA). Questions and Comments? Contact The Administrator.