I’m Tom from East Boston, Massachusetts, and I became a Pauline Cooperator in October 2014. I became motivated to become a Pauline Cooperator when I was involved in the YHope young adult ministry which was run by Fr. Michael Harrington, a priest in the Archdiocese of Boston. Fr. Mike is a member of the Institute of Jesus Priest, a branch of the Pauline Family. There are various ways I try to carry out the Pauline mission of evangelization as a Pauline Cooperator in my daily life. I try to be faithful to my work responsibilities and remember to pray every day for the needs of my family, friends, and other Cooperators, as well as the needs of the Church and the world. I also have an opportunity to use my voice to sing at Mass as a cantor and participate in community theatre productions and other artistic outlets that try to reflect God’s goodness and beauty.   

For anyone looking into a lay association or desiring to be part of religious spiritual family, I would recommend that they pray and move forward into a community that supports them with prayer and encouragement. “Being part of a faithful association and benefitting from the prayers of a religious spiritual family changes your life and makes it possible to grow by God’s grace.”