I’m Frank Lengel and currently live on a small “farm” in South Carolina. I made my promise in June 2019. I have always been a “Gospel to the world” guy (Mt 24:14), and I have believed for many years that the world wide web, including social media, is a powerful tool for all the faithful to use to share the love of Christ with others. A spark was ignited in me one day when I was visiting a Pauline Book and Media Center (in Charleston) and saw a DVD on display with a priest in a cassock behind a movie camera. It was, of course, Blessed Father James Alberione. Immediately, I asked, “Who is this guy? What’s he doing? That’s what I’ve been trying to do for many years!”   

I am an evangelizer at heart. Daily, I continue to use media to share the Gospel. I work with my wife (Beth) in the Catholic Roads apostolate. My heart is to evangelize Catholics (New Evangelization), but I am fully supportive of sharing the Gospel with everyone in the world. I write and I draw cartoons (mostly caricatures). I am also a catechist, so naturally, I do a fair amount of teaching in the writing we do. To keep it short, we are all about “the pilgrimage” of the faithful from here and now to eternity in heaven. We all travel the Holy Highway (Is 35:8), which goes everywhere in the world for all people (thus, Catholic Roads). And the “chariot” most people ride down that road is their career (job, work, family, and everything else they encounter). Beth and I focus on “Beatitude Career” in our message. It could be summed up as the joy of living and working in God’s Kingdom. It’s about good work and a good life that blesses.    

My words to anyone who may be looking into a “third order” or lay association: “If God is calling you, don’t hesitate. Don’t wait until you have all the answers. Do a ‘Peter’—step out of the boat and see what happens. You won’t drown! You don’t have to be a master at modern technology or a media person to be part of the Pauline Family, though you should have a heart for lost souls and a love for Christ’s Church! You’re going to meet some of the most amazing people!”   

And my name is Beth Lengel. I am originally from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. I became a Pauline Cooperator with my husband in June 2019. We say everything started with “I walked into the Pauline Book and Media Center in Charleston, SC and met Sister Margaret Kerry, and we left knowing about Blessed Alberione and the Pauline Cooperators. The rest is history!”   

My husband (Frank Lengel) and I are career counselors and online trainers by profession and have an apostolate Catholic Roads: Life is a Pilgrimage. As we journey down this road, we encounter “Shrines, Wines, and Interesting People!” Being Catholic is cool!   

Social media is a big thing with us. I went through RCIA three years ago, so I have been so  excited to learn about the Catholic Faith and the beauty of the Church. Meeting the Daughters and becoming part of the Pauline Family has been such a rewarding experience!  It has breathed new life into living our faith every day and opened opportunities for us to do more to use the gifts God has given us than we ever imagined possible. Words I would offer to anyone looking into a lay association: “What a joy it is to be part of this family!  We never knew what we were missing. And many of the Cooperators around the country that we have met (and are still meeting and getting to know) have become great friends and precious parts of our lives.”