Catholic interview

A 972 Word Interview with Thomas Salerno about His Debut Children’s Book

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Thomas Salerno, via phone call on February 7th, 2024. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

What drew you to write about Blessed Nicolas Steno?

I’ve known about Nicolas Steno for a while. In college, I took a lot of geology classes and came across him in my textbooks. The textbooks rarely mentioned he was a priest. He is not well known even in Catholic circles. He’s not as familiar to people as Gregor Mendel. But Nicolas has been a hero of mine and I wanted to write about him. 

Because he is still “just” a blessed he doesn’t get as much “air-time” as a fully canonized saint. 

If you could sum up Nicholas Steno’s life in a couple sentences for my readers?

His life represents a relentless pursuit of truth. He came into the Catholic Church from a Lutheran family. No matter what subject he was studying, he was never afraid of where that journey towards truth would lead him. 

How did  you balance making complex geological concepts accessible to young readers while maintaining scientific accuracy?

That’s a great question. I tried to keep the book as jargon-free as possible without “dumbing” it down. I thought about it as if I was a 10 year old again. How would I process these concepts at that age?

Image courtesy of Word on Fire.

Your book connects scientific discovery with religious devotion. Could you share a particular moment in Steno’s life that you found most compelling in demonstrating this harmony between faith and reason?

I think it would probably be during his conversion story. Steno initially tried to reason his way to the faith by studying the Church Fathers. On All Souls Day, he had a very powerful experience when he perceived God personally telling him to join the Catholic Church. It was through an ordinary experience: he was about to make a wrong turn on the street and a passerby told him to go the other way. In his heart, Steno was wavering on “which way to go” (that is, whether to stay Lutheran or become Catholic) and he took those words as coming directly from God. 

As someone writing for children about both science and faith, how do you approach explaining the relationship between understanding God’s creation through scientific inquiry while maintaining a sense of wonder and reverence?

Another great question! I really try to communicate in my writing that scientific inquiry is a way for God to help us learn about His creation. It’s a way to give praise back to God and to give thanks for creating the beautiful, diverse, and complex world He has made. 

The title mentions “Tongue-stones” – could you tell us about the significance of these fossils in Steno’s work and how they became a gateway to his broader discoveries?

“Tongue-stones” is a name that people from centuries ago in Europe gave to fossils of sharks’ teeth. Steno was originally an animal anatomist. So when he dissected a shark, he noticed how their teeth were identical to tongue-stones; they were essentially petrified shark’s teeth. This allowed him to marshal evidence that fossils were actually what they were evident to be: remains of organisms from long ago. 

During your research, what surprised you most about Blessed Nicolas Steno’s journey from scientist to Catholic bishop?

Two things surprised me. Firstly, that he was still able to keep practicing science while performing his duties as a bishop. And the other thing that surprised me was how much trouble he got himself into in both the Protestant and Catholic areas. He was a reformer at heart so he didn’t have a whole lot of support from his congregations. At one point he was receiving death threats simply by opposing corruption in his diocese. 

Your book includes field-guide sketches and a glossary. How did you decide which visual elements would best help young readers connect with both the scientific and spiritual aspects of the story?

To be honest, I left that in the hands of my design team at Word on Fire. One thing I have learned in this experience is how much of a team effort it is putting together a children’s book. 

As a Catholic writer addressing scientific topics, what advice would you give to parents and educators who want to nurture both scientific curiosity and religious faith in children?

I think that the best advice I can give is to not be afraid to learn about these things with your children. If your child shows an interest in science or nature, nurture that interest, but also find out why they are interested and show celebrate that passion. Ask questions and be engaged with your children’s interests. 

I dedicated the book to my mom because she allowed me to be interested in my study of paleontology and fossils. She took me to museums and we collected various things from outside like rocks and minerals. She let me chart my own path of learning. 

Any last words of advice for my readers about how to grow in your Catholic faith? 

Two things recently have deepened my faith: Spiritual reading and a dedicated daily prayer routine. The Church provides a wealth of different types of prayer, but if you can establish that daily prayer time with God it will be a game-changer. 

Learn more about Thomas and his book by visiting: his Word on Fire interview.

About Thomas:

Thomas Salerno is a museum educator, author, freelance essayist, and podcaster from Long Island, New York. Thomas has a degree in anthropology from Stony Brook University and is the author of the debut children’s nonfiction book, The Riddle of the Tongue-Stones: How Blessed Nicolas Steno Uncovered the Hidden History of the Earth.

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A 896 Word Interview with Theresa Ambat from Saint Sprites

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Theresa Ambat, Founder of Saint Sprites, via phone call on January 27th, 2024. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given. All the images about Saint Sprites, along with the headshot, are provided by Theresa and she allowed usage in this article.

Blessed Carlo Acutis clearly had a profound impact on your work. What aspects of his life and spirituality particularly resonate with you, and how do they continue to influence your artistic choices?

I first heard about him back in October 2020. I was first drawn to him because he played video games. Reading more about his life, he was so young and exemplified the love of Christ in all aspects of his life. He is similar to Saint Therese the Little Flower in how he loved everyone so deeply. 

The way Carlo used these tools (the Internet and digital art) for the good of others was inspiring.  People love games and speak to them really strongly. To point people toward God through video games is a powerful thing. He is the first saint to really use the Internet for evangelization. I found how he channeled the love of Jesus through the Internet inspiring. 

Your work bridges two seemingly different worlds – traditional Catholic spirituality and retro gaming aesthetics. What inspired you to combine these elements, and what do you think this combination offers to modern Catholics?

I think with video games it’s such a different form of media from books for movies. You are in the middle of the story. We see a part of ourselves when we play these games. I think that’s why so many people find video games so impactful. Hopefully, they are pursuing something good in the game.

When Carlo was beatified I thought it would be so cool that there would be an RPG of the life of the disciples. Video games are interactive and immersive. I don’t have the skillset (yet) to make a video game. But I hope that others can make such video games. 

I see that video games can act as a bridge to help people learn about the faith. To have an RPG about Maximilian Kolbe or Joan of Arc would be amazing! 

How did you settle on the name “Saint Sprites”?

Originally, I was going to do Pixel Saints, but I think that name was already taken on Instagram.

A sprite refers to a singular piece of art in a video game. Individual pieces of pixel art. And there’s alliteration with it. 

When you create a new saint sprite, what’s your creative process like? 

Good question! Typically, I’ll look up the sprite on Google, do some research on the saint, seeing if there are any objects associated with them. Working with a 32 x 32 pixelboard limits me, but it pushes my creativity.

For example, a lot of the religious sisters look similar. Both Hildegard and Monica looked similar so I have the former hold a Gregorian chant piece. Trying to figure how to show their character is fun too. I gave Saint Therese rosy cheeks, and St. Paul a wrinkle on his forehead. More modern saints are a bit easier because they had a more standard outfit than more ancient saints. But so far, I feel like I have been able to put enough detail and make it work to distinguish while working within the 32 by 32 board parameters. 

With the Marian devotions, I like to have a bit more pizazz (she is Mary after all!). I have Our Lady of Guadalupe on the Moon. 

What keeps you motivated to grow in your craft as it relates to Saint Sprites?

Well, I think when I see that this is impacting people and reminding them of God it pushes me to keep going. It motivates me to make more saints and improve my products. I love reading my reviews on Etsy (shown below).

These words of encouragement motivate me. 

I find parents and godparents buying these stickers for their children’s First Communion and how it impacts their faith. So something as simple as a piece of paper that sticks on another piece of paper to help people connect to God is humbling. Ultimately, knowing this project is a way to bring people to God is what motivates me. 

Among all the saints you’ve portrayed in your pixel art style, do you have a particular favorite piece or saint that you especially enjoyed creating? What made this one special?

I think I’m coming up on 82 saints. That’s a good and tough question.

Probably Maximlian Kolbe, he is one of my favorite saints, he was one of the first saints I made and was proud I was able to include so many details in that sticker. He is one of my more distinctive looking saints. For similar reasons, Saint Faustina. I was really pleased to include the Divine Mercy symbol. And thirdly probably Saint Therese. She gives me so much joy. When I put the rosy cheeks on her I knew that THIS IS Therese and she is one of my favorite saints. Those three would be my favorite (it’s soooo hard to pick!).

Any last words of advice to any readers who are also artists?

My biggest piece of advice is to invite the Lord into everything you create. He is the Original Creator. Every little sticker I make is God’s gift to me. Creation is so much more of a joy when you involve the Original Creator. This involves a strong prayer life and inviting the Lord into your workspace. Having a collaborative perspective when creating is an important part of being an artist. 

About Theresa

Theresa Ambat is a 26-year-old Catholic entrepreneur based in Seattle, Washington. Theresa, first interested in music and sound design for video games, eventually found herself creating pixel-art drawings of Catholic saints in her free time. She was inspired by the beatification of Carlo Acutis and over the last four years developed a love for evangelization through Catholic pixel-art reminiscent of retro visuals from the NES and Gameboy. Thus, Saint Sprites was born.

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An 1141 Word Interview with Matthew Estrade from Catholic Aging

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Matthew Estrade via phone call on September 20th, 2024. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

What inspired you to start Catholic Aging, and how does your faith inform your approach to dementia care?

Before I started Catholic Aging, it was really my family that got me into gerontology. My grandfather on my mom’s side had dementia and that started my journey on the dementia side. Since 2015, seeds were planted on what the Catholic Church says about dementia. I came across Saint Dympha and I found a couple books on Dementia and Catholicism. But they didn’t contain practical advice and tips from a Catholic lens on how to deal with Dementia. While I am a cradle Catholic and attended Catholic school through college, I didn’t really understand redemptive suffering.

Since I wasn’t finding what I was looking for on the subject of dementia and Catholicism. In early 2018, I started a draft which eventually became my book Peace with Dementia Rosary. It was published in 2019.

How does “The Peace with Dementia Rosary” book uniquely address the spiritual needs of caregivers?

The first thing I think of is that it points someone to the Holy Rosary. It’s a way to point people towards the Blessed Virgin Mary and not to focus on the crisis they are going through. I tried to blend what was going on with the Mysteries of the Rosary and the dementia journey. For example, the First Joyful Mystery (The Annunciation) I connected with the initial diagnosis of your loved one having dementia. Just like a diagnosis is a revealing of a medical condition, the Annunciation is a revelation and this news/diagnosis could be fraught with fear and uncertainty.

How can young Catholics better support older members of their parish who might be living with dementia or caring for someone with dementia?

One of the biggest things is treating them like anybody else. It’s similar to how we would treat anyone else with a disability by including them in activities and evening being proactive in reaching out to them. These individuals are still a treasure to your parish and we want to keep them involved. Dementia is really a family disease. You see the caregiver being impacted by not wanting to socialize or going to Mass due to the stress of care-giving.

What are some practical ways that young adults can prepare now for potential care-giving responsibilities in the future?

I’d say to be open to conversations with our parents and grandparents about how they see themselves aging. It’s key to have a plan in place for when your loved ones age and how to adapt. For example, all of us will have to cease driving due to various reasons at some point. And that could be one of the toughest conversations to have, as driving represents independence. In a similar way, you will have to have a conversation with your parents and grandparents before that day arrives. Make sure you have a plan of how to get to Mass and go on errands.

What are the three common myths about aging or dementia that you frequently encounter in your work?

One of the biggest myths is that dementia is a normal part of aging. That it’s going to happen to everybody. A lot of people think that cognitive decline is immediately a sign of dementia. If the memory or thinking challenges are disrupting life, that’s when it’s not normal aging and it would be time to consult a medical professional.

A second major myth is that dementia only impacts the memory. Dementia is really a cognitive or thinking impairment. Symptoms could involve a decline in sound judgment or having trouble following a sequence (ex: brushing your teeth or using the washing machine.) Frontal temporal dementia impacts language more so than memory.

The third myth is to say that palliative care is the same as hospice care. Palliative medicine is symptom management and is broad. It aims to alleviate pain and seek a cure. It is really about an extra layer of support besides your primary care physician. On the other hand, hospice care is only at the end of life. Hospice is comfort care, but it’s not curative. Hospice is typically provided in the last six months of life and is prescribed by a doctor.

How can parishes better integrate and support individuals with dementia and their caregivers in church life?

I think something that is impactful is the outreach that a parish provides to its aging population and dementia by having a caregiver support group. It’s rare to have a specific group for caregivers of those loved ones with dementia. It would be great to have it once a month or a quarter.

Another thing would be to have a parish bring in a speaker to educate on dementia. Awareness. Education. Support. That’s what parishes can do.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a young adult who has just learned that a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia?

To know that whatever symptoms they are experiencing that your loved one is still the same person (ex: they are still your grandfather or parent). It’s important to stay involved and visit. It is a challenge and something you have to learn to adapt. Care-giving is a different type of cross but you will receive the grace from Jesus to carry it.

How can young Catholics use social media to raise awareness about dementia and support caregivers in their community?

I think it’s powerful to share experiences. If someone is open to sharing what they are learning it is helpful. Share their personal journey and the resources they found helpful (articles and/or support groups in their local communities).

Could you share a brief success story of how your ministry has positively impacted a family dealing with dementia?

This is an ongoing situation. I continued to talk with a care-giver whose parent has dementia. This care-giver doesn’t have any family help as her siblings don’t want to help and are out of town. The care-giver has chronic conditions herself and is trying to take care of her mom by herself. She is having trouble navigating the medical system (ex: getting the right medication). What I’m able to do in my ministry is keep in communication, to pray, and bounce ideas off each other. We look for blessings and lessons in this situation. We use both coaching and have an opportunity to see these blessings/challenges interpreted in light of our Catholic faith.

Where can my audience learn more about your ministry?

By visiting CatholicAging.com.

Any last words of advice or encouragement to my readers who might be going through the trials of aging or being caregiver?

It can’t be overstated the power of redemptive suffering. Doing what we can (medically and adaptation) and conforming our will to God especially as it pertains to aging and seeing this cross from a Catholic lens.

Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.

—Saint Augustine

About Matthew:

Matthew Estrade is the founder of Catholic Aging and author of “The Peace with Dementia Rosary: Education, Intentions, Community” in both English and Spanish. He helps Parish and Diocesan ministries include and serve aging Parishioners and their caregivers more effectively. Matthew does this through improving awareness and education through speaking, training, and consulting. As a gerontologist with MyCatholicDoctor.com, Matthew conducts family and caregiver meetings to help make sense of the challenging journey.


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An 811 Word Interview with The Catholic Cartoonist

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Joshua Masterson via phone call on August 5th, 2024. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

How did you get into drawing cartoons?

I have been drawing my since I was little. Mainly drawing cartoons. My dad and my grandma are both artists. My dad specifically, taught me how to draw cartoons when I was around six years old.

Which artists/cartoonists do you model your style after?

Yes, definitely! It’s multiple people I drew inspiration from. One of the big ones is Norman Rockwell. His artwork was day-to-day life and there was so much detail in his work. For cartoon-work, I am specifically inspired by Bil Keane (The Family Circus), Charles M. Schulz (Peanuts), and Dean Young (Blondie).

My grandma was always telling me: “you can do cartoons! You would be a great cartoonist!” So she was that inspiration for me to pursue cartoons beyond a mere hobby. She also enjoyed reading the Family Circus cartoon and her love of that cartoon led me to being drawn to Keane’s work.

Who are your patrons saints you look to for inspiration?

The number one is Saint Therese of Lisieux. She’s been my favorite saint since I was 8 years old. I read her biography (children’s version). What stuck out to me in her story was that it was the first time I was able to relate to a saint. She was an ordinary person. There were details about her life that shared her struggles and it just seemed like she was a normal person. From that moment on, I wanted to be a saint like her.

Describe your cartoon creation process.

A lot of it is looking at my day-to-day life. Artists paint or draw what they see around them. I’m looking at life around me. I’m involved enough at my parish (altar serving, volunteering). I’ll obviously exaggerate some goofy situations but the cartoons are ultimately rooted in my experiences and my parish life.

How do you balance humor and reverence when creating cartoons about religious themes?

This comic strip and comics are typically funny. While this comic has a premise of being funny (i.e. Sunday funnies). I want this comic to show “Catholic life”. Just like in a regular life there’s times we spend in prayer (more serious) and other times we have fun and enjoy time with others. Sometimes I feel the need to bring a more serious and prayerful element to the comics. So I made up a character (Cordelia) who helps to bring that seriousness to the comic. She was an inspiration from God and came from my heart.

The nice thing about developing characters is readers can associate with them and know what to expect. Cordelia was that character who I created to help bring my readers to gaze upon the glory of God.

What has been the most challenging aspect of maintaining a consistent output of Catholic-themed cartoons?

The main challenge I’d say would be more practical things like writer’s block. On a more spiritual level this comic I like to consider it as God’s cartoon, but sometimes I can get my pride mixed in when looking at the metrics/numbers of views. My own ego can be a challenge sometimes. I know that God can still make good come from this.

Have you ever received pushback or criticism for your work, and if so, how do you handle it?

Actually one of the many blessings, the general audience is wholesome. So it’s rare to see negative comments. In the rare cases I have made a joke that didn’t go over well, my audience let me know and I’ve looked at the feedback I get and that steered my content to mirror that family/parish life focus.

Are there any particular Bible stories or Catholic teachings that you find especially inspiring or conducive to cartoon representation?

Saint Therese is a huge inspiration to me, again with the character of Cordelia I implement a lot of her philosophy and childlike faith. I have a tough time comprehending the writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas, but I can easily understand the Little Flower’s teachings.

For the Bible, I do try to incorporate various Bible verses and the psalms into the comics.

What is your favorite comic strip you drew?

This one was special to me as I grew up praying the Rosary together with my family.

What place does art have in passing on the Gospel in the 21st century?

I’d say it has a huge importance. Growing up in the 21st century, I have grown up with comics and I think that with social media it’s much easier to share art. Art is really powerful, a picture is worth a thousand words. All these ways of sharing art make it important to put good, beautiful art out to inspire people and draw them closer to God.

Thank you for taking time to chat about the faith and your cartoons.

Absolutely, it was a pleasure! God bless.

About The Catholic Cartoonist (Joshua Masterson):

My name is Josh Masterson and I’m the fifth of ten kids and was homeschooled. At my parish, I altar serve as often as I can at the Mass and also help train the new servers. Serving at Mass, helping out at the parish, and interacting with our priests have all served as my inspiration for making comics that show the beauty of daily Catholic life at a small parish. I have been drawing cartoons my whole life and so decided that this was a great opportunity to share the beauty and truth of the Faith through this obscure medium. I hope to continue drawing Catholic comics to bring joy and truth to the world.

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A 978 Word Interview with Deacon Andy Weiss

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Dcn Andy Weiss, Deacon in the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, via phone call on February 10th, 2024. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

Tell me a bit about your faith journey.

I was born and raised Catholic. I was in the Air Force and had a temporary stay in Spain, but those I listened to had anti-Catholic sentiment and this caused me to leave the Church when I was 20. For three and a half years, I was an anti-Catholic Protestant. I bought the King-James Bible and got to a point of crisis. At his point, I told God to explain to me or I will leave organized religion. I opened the Bible to the book of Romans and this was what helped keep me in organized religion.

Coming back to the Catholic Church was a long journey, but because of my experience with reading the Bible and listening to various arguments from Protestants. I would study the arguments using a bible dictionary, concordance, Bible, notepad. I would do a word study to look up all the references to better understand what that meant.

In the 1990s, I met my wife in a “chat-room” on Catholicity. And after we got married, my wife and another Catholic we also met online “ganged up” on me and said that I should be a deacon. In 2009 the formal process started, I had a desire to preach and bless things. I got ordained in 2015.

How has the sacrament of Holy Orders impacted your marriage?

It’s a balancing act. We must make time for one another. You can get sucked into the ministry. We were taught in our studies that my primary vocation is marriage and to my family. The diaconate is my secondary vocation.

I have to be conscious of my schedule. In addition to the diaconate, I also design websites. We have a Shroud Museum in our city, and I made the website. I must organize my time and ensure I make time for my wife and daughter. The permanent diaconate has made me more conscious of my time and how I spend it.

Describe the fruits of the permanent diaconate in your life.

It started in the program itself, I could have taught a lot of the classes but I was there to learn. The diaconate is about forming you into a person.

One of the important aspects of the diaconate is our devotion to Mary. The last part of Church teaching was Mariology, and I didn’t understand at this time. We wrote an article about our relationship to Mary. It was then that I realized that I couldn’t be a good diaconate without Her help. I formally gave myself to the Blessed Virgin Mary in January 2018 using the book “33 Days to Morning Glory.” I scheduled to have the book end on January 1st, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. During my homily, I said, “It’s like I’m looking at my Mother for the first time.” This was a deep experience for me.

What do you see as the fruits of the permanent diaconate for the Catholic Church?

What happened to me was a transformation. The Church ordaining men who have one foot in the secular world and one foot in the faith world, leads to transformation. I noticed when I wore my clerics while doing ministry people would assume I was a pastor. It gave me an opportunity to explain I was a Catholic deacon.

The deacon models to the laity what it means to be a servant for the Church. While the priest stands In persona Christi (in the Person of Christ), the deacon represents Christ the Servant. Paragraph #1570 of the Catholic of the Catholic Church says: 

“Deacons share in Christ’s mission and grace in a special way. The sacrament of Holy Orders marks them with an imprint (“character”) which cannot be removed, and which configures them to Christ, who made himself the “deacon” or servant of all.”

Well said, the diaconate is like a bridge to God. What’s the most misunderstood aspect of the diaconate?

I don’t think Catholics are catechized well. One day I had my alb on and a fellow parishioner said, “Hello Father.” I clarified I wasn’t a priest. It’s interesting to see the laity’s relationship with deacons.

The diaconate opens opportunities to ask questions about the faith. People feel more comfortable reaching out to us when we are out in public (i.e. the store, etc). The permanent diaconate opens a channel to extend the ministry of the priest. We are there to assist the priest. Even while at the store, we are extending his pastoral mission.

Who’s your favorite saint-deacon?

Probably Saint Ephraim. He likely saw the Shroud of Turin. He was a great preacher and a Doctor of the Church. Of course, I can’t leave out Saint Francis of Assisi, he would be my number two.

What advice would you give men discerning the permanent diaconate as a vocation?

Have a regular prayer life. Once ordained, deacons have to pray as a minimum Morning and Evening Prayer. Then they should talk to their priest.

The laity are known for their devotional life: praying the Rosary, the Chaplet, etc. But I think if the clergy kept a better devotional life we would have a better clergy. We have to use our own personalities in our faith and work.

Could you tell me about your Facebook profile picture?

That’s an interesting one. I’ve been working for the Air Force for 43 years. There’s an organization within the Air Force, the 49th Materiel Maintenance Group, Base Expedition.

I’ll leave you with a few last thoughts. In my honest opinion, the greatest fruits of Vatican II are the permanent diaconate and the Mass of Paul VI. The New Mass has the more active participation in the liturgy with the vernacular and the role of the deacon.

About Deacon Andy Weiss:

Dcn. Andy Weiss is a Deacon in the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, assigned to St. Jude’s parish. He is a husband and father, an IT professional, and volunteer speaker and webmaster, creating http://ShroudNM.com, a non-profit New Mexico Corporation dedicated to the study and popularization of the Shroud of Turin.

Weiss has a Masters in Religious Education from Loyola University, New Orleans through their LIMEX program. He has been interviewed several times by the hosts of the podcast StrangeCatholics.

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A 584 Word Interview with the Founder of the Lego Church Project

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed J.M. Kraemer, founder of The Lego Church Project via phone call on January 29th, 2024. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

It’s great to have you back J.M.! Refresh my audience how did the Lego Church Project begin?

Growing up I was always into Legos. My friends were building spaceships and I wasn’t good at that. I started building buildings and it slowly developed into me building churches and a ministry.

I’ve had a mild form of cerebral palsy, in this ministry I’m showing others that God can still use your talents.

How many blocks do you use on a project (on average)?

Between 25,000 and 30,000. There’s a lot of interior details. I have one feature at the altar that has over 150 pieces.

Do you ever keep a build constructed?

I tear down the Lego Church every year. It takes about 3 days to deconstruct.

How do you organize the Legos?

Normally, by color.

Did you ever imagine the Lego Church Project would reach the 25th year mark?

Honestly, no. To realize where I’ve been and where I’m going has been a surprise. Our society is not geared towards those with disabilities. This project has helped bring awareness and led to conversations that people with disabilities have a place in the Church.

How often do you think about the future of this project?

I think about the future all the time. I trust in the Lord’s wisdom and timing. As long as I’m doing this ministry for the right reasons, I trust the Lord will guide me. I’m open to the fact that God may shift plans.

Where do you get your supplies?

Bricklink.com

Do you put figurines inside the church?

Yes, and this season I’ll have close to 300.

Do you grow your collection of mini-figures?

I have an Amazon wishlist. People also gift me various Lego sets, and I use those min-figures.

Has Spider-Man attended Mass?

Not yet, but I do have a mini-figure of Optimus Prime. I have an R2D2 (he’s in an easy to find place for kids to notice). I like to show that if these interesting figures can be at church then there’s a place for them (the kids) at Mass too.

You mentioned last time your favorite saint was Blessed Solanus Casey. How has his intercession helped your faith life the past few years?

He has given me wisdom in ways I could not have anticipated. His intercession is more subtle. Not like a trumpet blast but like a whisper.

What’s your favorite quote of his?

I’ve found this quote impactful: “Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger people. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, pray for powers equal to your tasks.”

Another quote I find insightful is:

“Worry is a weakness from which very few of us are entirely free. We must be on guard against this most insidious enemy of our peace of soul. Instead, let us foster confidence in God, and thank Him ahead of time for whatever He chooses to send us.”

Where can my audience find your work?

https://prayingbricks.substack.com/

https://www.facebook.com/LegoChurchProject

About J.M. Kraemer:

JM Kraemer is the the builder of the annual Lego Church Project. A disability focused ministry that is based in Saginaw Township, Michigan.

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A 524 Word Interview with the Founder of Mission Blueprint

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Glen Gauer, founder of Mission Blueprint via phone call on January 19th, 2024. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

What led up to the creation of Mission Blueprint?

It started in 1988. I was searching for the truth. I went to Mass my whole life. When I joined the army and went to basic training and all those Baltimore catechism questions came up. Two weeks before basic training, my girlfriend’s aunt visited Medjugorje. I was skeptical. “If Mary was really appearing, then God is real.” In the middle of basic training, I went through the five proofs of Thomas Aquinas. I started a relationship with God during my time in the military.

In 1989, I made a SEARCH weekend. All the questions I had about God I understood based on the testimony I heard at the retreat.

I gave my life to Christ as a Catholic in 1990. 93-94 I did NET Ministry. Later, I worked for the Diocese of Rapid City as the Director of Youth Ministry from 1996-1999. Taught at Saint Thomas More High School (2001-2005) and got married in 2005. I was a Campus Team Director for FOCUS from 2008-2017. Started Mission Blueprint in 2017.

What led you to shift your focus from FOCUS to Mission Blueprint?

I was sitting in Eucharistic Adoration: I asked him: Do you want me to start this ministry? It wasn’t an audible word but it was very clear. “GO!” was his message to me about Mission Blueprint.

My back went out when I was in Atlanta. God was clear He wanted me out of FOCUS and to start a new ministry.

Tell me more about the name Mission Blueprint.

We hired a former FOCUS missionary to help us with branding. The word blueprint is related to our Blessed Virgin Mary. “Create a website that comes from Mary’s pen,” I told the brander. On March 25th, 1990 I had three Catholics pray over me. The power of the Holy Spirit fell over me and it was a life-changing event.

My goal is Mission Blueprint is to help people have an experience the power of God.

What are some ways to go about achieving this goal?

Hosting conferences is the main way we do this. Between 2017-2019 things were trending well. Then 2020 hit and halted a lot of our efforts. We started more praise and worship nights. We have a Men’s Conference, a conference called Revival, a couple’s Conference called Tighten the Knot, and a Women’s Conference.

What is your favorite Marian devotion?

The Rosary. I pray it daily. Sometimes more than once. Our Lady of Good Success is our intercessor for Mission Blueprint.

I’ve never heard of that particular Marian title. I’ll be sure to check it out.

What is your hope for Mission Blueprint in 2024?

“That’s a great question! I want us to explode as a ministry. Like a micro-Pentecost. Because of what’s happened the past few years we have been stuck on idle. It’s time to go AND grow.”

How can my audience contact you?

Go to Mission.blueprint.org

Thank you for your time Glen! It was great chatting with you about your ministry.

Of course! It was great. Remember you are loved and may God strengthen the bars of your gates.

About Glen:

Glen came from a small farm near Ipswich, S.D. After a year with N.E.T. Ministries in 1993 and graduating from Franciscan University in 1996, his career began in the Rapid City Diocese
first as Director of Youth Ministry, then High School Religion teacher.

He married in 2005, joined FOCUS in 2008 and started Mission Blueprint in 2017. He and his wife Jamie have five children: Judah, Gideon, Jakobi, Ezra and Ave Maria.

Thank you for sharing!