WITNESS TALK - BILL PYE

Good morning. My name is Bill Pye. Some of you know me from my work with the Saint Vincent DePaul Society. Mary Gallagher has asked me to relate to you how the Holy Spirit has influenced me in my life. If I start at the beginning, we will be here all day, so I will try to be brief and to the point. Speaking to a group is not one of my strong points. Usually I am the one in the back making a ruckus about the fellow up front trying to deliver his message. I hope that those fellows slept in this morning!

Religion, up to a few years ago, was not one of my strong points either. My relationship with the Catholic Church began when my wife Nancy and I were married 50 years ago. This is where I first felt the Holy Spirit enter my life. We were married in St Edward's Church in Brockton and it was agreed that the children would be raised in the Catholic faith, even though I was Protestant.
For the next twenty years it was my wife's responsibility to see that our four children were raised as good Catholics. For a very long time I was like many others and went to church on Christmas, Easter and perhaps for a wedding or a funeral. When the grandchildren started arriving, I did start going to church a little more often at my wife's insistence. I had no idea as to what it was all about, but I stood when everyone else stood and sat when they sat and gave the appearance that I knew what I was doing. Oh, I believed in God alright. The good Lord and I had a great relationship. I would not bother him unless I really needed him, and when I did call for his help he has never let me down. Not once did he ever fail me. I must admit there were a few times that he answered my prayers, but not quite how I had envisioned. I have learned to be a little more careful in my prayers. Our youngest daughter, Maureen, the one I found out did not go to all of her CCD classes, married into a family deeply involved in the Catholic Church. She gave us a grandson named Adam Zachary. I don't know if you can, but I see the Holy Spirit at work here. They live in Pennsylvania and when we visit we go to church as a family. One Sunday after they had all returned from receiving communion he asked my why I did not receive communion like the rest of the family. I told him I was not a Catholic and could not receive.

A child's mind is very uncomplicated. His reply to me was, "Why don't you get to be a Catholic, Grandpa?" Upon returning home I began to think about that 9 year old's question. Why didn't I become a Catholic? In 1996 I enrolled in RCIA classes at St. Margaret's church in Brockton. The Holy Spirit was not done with me yet. I was confirmed and received first communion at the Easter Vigil in 1997 and have missed but three Masses since. I retired in 2000 and became more involved with the church by volunteering for various events, attending parish council meetings, helping with collections, and joining the St Vincent DePaul Society. Two years ago we moved to Middleboro and at first we divided our time between the two churches alternating Sundays.

There is a saying that the Lord doesn't close one door that he doesn't open another. In August of last year, St Margaret's closed and with it the St Vincent DePaul food pantry. One month later we here at Sacred Heart started discussions about opening our own St Vincent DePaul Conference. Sacred Heart is now our spiritual home.

The Holy Spirit has moved me to become deeply involved with the St Vincent group. I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit continues to guide me in doing God's work. I also pray that you will feel the Holy Spirit in your hearts and that with help from one another, we will all learn what it is the Holy Spirit is prompting us to do.

Thank you and God bless.