I’m a husband and a father. I have a vocation, too

Joe Keefler, husband, father, software engineer, Massachusetts

February 1, 2009

Tags: Marriage, Vocation, supernumerary Joe Keefler plays soccer to win. Not because he is especially good at it or because he is paid to do so, but because that’s how he lives his life: by throwing all his effort into his activities to offer them to God.

Joe is a successful software engineer with a great sense of humor. He appreciates St. Josemaria’s teachings on turning ordinary activities into prayer by doing them well.

I wanted a way to be holy and Catholic, without becoming a priest or joining a religious order. St. Josemaria seemed to be the only one speaking to me. He offered me a secular spirituality: one that kept me in society, with no pressure to leave my job and move to Zimbabwe. Other people always talked about “vocations” being only priestly or religious vocations. This type of talk left me (and 95% of other Christians) out in the cold. I can’t be a priest or a monk. I’m a husband and a father. I have a vocation, too.

St. Josemaria’s teachings gave me a roadmap, more structure and more apostolic zeal. I also have a much broader view of the Catholic Church and of Christianity in general. I can dialogue with non-Catholics more effectively because I can see many elements of the Truth in other theologies without being threatened by them.

My wife and I lost one of our six children. I can’t even express in words how difficult it was. No one should bury their own child. But our faith in God never faltered. Somehow by embracing this very difficult cross, we are closer to God, closer to each other and we see everything else as less important. It puts life in perspective.

There’s no question that I am happier after meeting Opus Dei and St. Josemaria. I’m less attached to the things that don’t really matter. I know where to devote my time and energy: my family, my relationship with God and winning souls for Christ through personal friendships. My profession is very important, but it is not an end in itself: only a means to an end. It doesn’t matter where I work or what I do as long as I pour effort into it, do it well and offer it up with the Mass.

Joe Keefler’s account is one of several included in the video “Passionately Loving the World”. For more information, see St. Josemaria Institute.