User:Pray4peace4ever/Father Donald Calloway

Father Donald H. Calloway, MIC (born on June 29, 1972) is a convert to Catholicism and is now a priest in the Congregation of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception (MIC). Fr. Donald has completed advanced studies in Mariology (at the International Marian Research Institute, in Dayton, Ohio, in 2005) and strives to share his own love and devotion to Our Lady with the world. Currently Fr. Donald is the House Superior of the Marian House of Studies in Steubenville, OH, and Vocation Director for the Marians. His autobiography, No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy, was published on January 15, 2010, by the Marian Press, and recounts his life story and conversion to the Roman Catholic Church.

In his own words, he describes his personal conversion in No Turning Back, which happened after he read the book Queen of Peace Visits Medugorje by Father Joseph A. Pelletier, Augustinian of the Assumption, in February 1992. Though today he is a devout Catholic Marian priest, Fr. Donald's early years were no indication of what was to come. Before his conversion to the Catholic faith he was a high school dropout who had been kicked out of Japan, institutionalized twice, and thrown in jail multiple times. After his radical conversion he earned a B.A. in Philosophy and Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH, M.Div. and S.T.B. degrees from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC.

Fr. Donald is now a well-known conference speaker and passionately speaks on topics of the Divine Mercy, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his own conversion story. In addition, he is the editor of the books The Virgin Mary and Theology of the Body and The Immaculate Conception in the Life of the Church. In his book, Purest of All Lilies, he explores Saint Faustina's rich relationship with Mary – from her love of Mary, growing up in Poland, to her life as a nun.

Early Years
In his early years Donald was raised in the back woods of West Virgina, growing up without any religion or a father figure to look up to. Eventually he was Baptized in the Protestant faith as a ten-year-old boy, but never received any formal instruction on Christianity. When his family was relocated to Southern California Donald slipped into "MTV lifestyle" and began to immerse himself sex, drugs, and rock n' roll in his teen years. His rebellion only intensified when his family relocated again, this time to Japan.

After some time Donald ran away from home and became involved in a life of crime. He and his friends were always on the move and soon became connected with the Yakuza (Japanese Mafia). Meanwhile, Donald's family converted to Catholicism during the time he was away from home, roaming around the island of Honshū. His mother fervently prayed for her fifteen-year-old son to return home and trusted that God would reunite them and touch his soul with repentance.

When the Japanese police caught Donald he was then kicked out of the country and forced to move back to the United States with his family. Once he was home Donald went to many drug rehabilitation centers that failed him miserably. He resorted back to petty robbery time and again, but eventually he reached a breaking point in his life.

One night, in 1992, he discovered a book about the apparitions of Our Lady of Medjugorje. After reading the entire book throughout the night, nonstop, he was introduced to new concepts of Heaven, hell, purgatory, repentance, and sin from the messages of the Blessed Mother. This was only the beginning of his conversion, which led him to a life of faith and eventually a call to the priesthood.

Background

 * Birth Name: Donald Crock
 * Born: June 29, 1972
 * Place of Birth: Dearborn, Michigan
 * Priesthood Ordination: May 31, 2003
 * Education:
 * B.A. Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH
 * M.Div. Dominican House of Studies, Washington, DC
 * S.T.B. Dominican House of Studies, Washington, DC
 * S.T.L. International Marian Research Institute, Dayton, OH


 * Books:
 * No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy
 * The Virgin Mary and Theology of the Body
 * The Immaculate Conception in the Life of the Church
 * Purest of All Lilies


 * Occupations: House Superior and Director of Vocation, MIC
 * Website: www.fathercalloway.com

Interests

 * Favorite Saints/Angels
 * Blessed Virgin Mary
 * St. Joseph
 * Guardian Angel
 * St. Michael the Archangel


 * Favorite Devotions
 * Holy Mass
 * Rosary
 * Divine Mercy


 * Favorite Books
 * True Devotion to Mary - St. Louis de Montfort
 * The World's First Love - Fulton Sheen
 * Diary of St. Faustina - St. Faustina


 * Favorite Hobby - Surfing

Speaking Schedule
Appearance and speaking schedule for Father Donald Calloway is listed below. For more information go to the official website http://www.fathercalloway.com/appearances/.