"I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Matthew 25:36 Please welcome Billy Burke to this episode of A Man's Need for God. Billy was abandoned by his parents as an infant and left in a hotel room to the care of no one. He was luckily saved, but generational trauma followed Billy until he finally turned his life to God. Billy was eventually adopted, but it became a long road of being expelled from elementary school, in and out of youth detention centers, psychiatric wards, to eventually turning to methamphetamine and ending up in the New Hampshire State Penitentiary system. But one thing that never changed for Billy, from the moment he was conceived, to being left in the hotel room, to now, is that God NEVER left him - he walked with Billy, step by step, until finally, Billy fully joined the Catholic Church last year. God personally did this for Billy. As we head into Martin Luther King weekend, I hope this message is a reminder that ALL people are made in the image and likeness of God, and no matter someone's background, skin color, how they might look, or even their past mistakes, as Billy so humbly shares, these things alone do not define who they are, but rather being a child of God does. I pray in thanksgiving that Billy feels accepted and that he belonged in the Catholic Church, and thankful to God, for Billy's testimony. Please enjoy another episode of a Man's Need for God. 

I am very excited to have Fr. Wayne Belschner, Pastor at St. Mary of the Assumption in Dedham, MA join us for this episode. Fr. Wayne is an incredible man - he has built a thriving parish, with youth, and young and old families alike, because of his authentic approach. Born and raised in Revere,  MA, and one of eleven children (nine brothers and one sister) let's just say Fr. Wayne knows a thing or two about people, the faith journey, and a man's need for God. There are so many things I appreciate about Fr. Wayne, but not least of which is his own desire and longing for God. Often times, people can look at priests and think they're invisible, but they are people just like the rest of us, who need to rely on God for their strength and healing all the same. I hope through this conversation, it helps you understand a priest's need for God, and are able to learn a thing or two from the wisdom Fr. Wayne shares with us. Thank you for listening to another episode of A Man's Need for God podcast. 

(Taken from St. Mary's directly, you can read Fr. Wayne's complete bio here:

Fr. Wayne was born in Revere to the late Robert and Celeste Belschner.  Fr. Wayne has nine brothers and one sister along with twenty-four nephews and nieces as well as three grandnephews and one grandniece.  After attending Revere Public Schools, he completed his undergraduate work at St. John’s Seminary College.  He did graduate studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (1991-1993) and finished his formation at St. John’s Seminary (1993-1995).  Fr. Wayne received a Licentiate in Sacred Theology with a concentrate in history from Boston College in 2011 and his Doctorate from Boston College in 2017 in Medieval history.  While in the seminary, Fr. Wayne served in parishes in Roxbury and Winchester and was ordained to the priesthood on May 20, 1995.  He served as a parochial vicar at St. Charles Borromeo, Woburn (1995-2003); and, as a pastor at Sacred Heart, East Boston (2003-2016).  As a priest, he says that his greatest joys are rooted in the Holy Mass: “My greatest joys as a priest all stem from the celebration of the Mass. Whether it be marriages, baptisms, even funerals, to be gathered together as a family at the altar of God to share in His great gift of His Son is pure joy.”)

https://stmarysdedham.com/about-us/clergy

I am very thankful and humbled for this episode's guest in Devin McCourty - a 2-time All-Pro, 3-time Super Champion, Team Captain, and named to the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. As many know, especially in New England, Devin McCourty is the epitome of what it means to be a Patriot - but, the hope from this episode is that people come to see that he is also an incredible man of faith, and an example of a professional athlete who had amazing success, but yet, always grounded his life in God. I hope and pray, that you take the time to listen to this episode - even if you're just a Devin McCourty fan, there are so many take-aways from this conversation. God bless, and hope you enjoy another episode of A Man's Need for God podcast.