The Rev. Tom Walden, the parochial vicar of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Celebration, shared a reflection in the July 26 weekly church bulletin. 

Walden wrote that the church was celebrating three great saints during the week, outlining what the saints are connected to in our lives. 

“On Wednesday, July 29, we celebrate St. Martha,” Walden wrote. “Martha was the sister of Mary and Lazarus who showed great hospitality to our Lord. Today she is the Patron Saint of Restaurant Servers. On Friday, July 31, the Church recognizes the Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola. Ignatius was the founder of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, and wrote the Spiritual Exercises. Then on Saturday, Aug. 1, we begin our new First Saturday Mass at Corpus Christi. Come celebrate the Feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.”

The Rev. Tom Walden | Facebook

Walden recounted that shortly after moving to Florida, his mother had passed away back in Pennsylvania. While Walden was not at that time pursuing a life of ministry but rather had a job a Disney, he was moved by the service that he experienced at his mother’s funeral at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. 

“His comforting words and assurance of Eternal Life put my family at ease,” he wrote. “Within a week, I returned to Disney and life went on.”

Walden had a similar experience 10 years later when his brother died. The same priest presided over the funeral and Walden was moved to the point he chose to seek out a life of ministry. 

“As they say, long story short, within a few months I spoke to my pastor in Orlando at Holy Cross, Fr. Bob Kurber, and after much more discernment, I entered the seminary in 2006,” Walden wrote. “God takes tragic events and allows a greater good to come from them. This is something we should all remember, especially now, considering the events in our world and country in 2020.”