Ava Marcarelli, new administrative assistant at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Parish in Jackson, introduced herself to the parish in a letter published in the Oct. 11 bulletin.

Originally from outside New Haven, Connecticut, Marcarelli originally came to Michigan with her family when her father got a job in Ann Arbor, though she has lived as far afield as Korea, she stated in her letter. Yet her spiritual journey has taken her much further.

“Growing up Catholic in Connecticut; I attended church every Sunday, participated in youth groups and went through the motions believing it made me a ‘good Catholic,’” she said. "I never realized that there was more and that God wanted to give me more."

It was actually that first move to Michigan, and moving away from her friends and everything she knew that first drew Marcarelli closer to God.

“I’ll never forget the first time I attended Mass at Christ the King in Ann Arbor,” Marcarelli said. “I was shocked that it seemed as if the people at Mass actually wanted to be there.”

From her experiences as a child, Marcarelli said she was mostly exposed to fellow Catholics who either only gave lip service to their faith or who were so devout they never even watched TV. She had little experience with people whose faith was simply an integral part of their lives.

“Upon moving to Michigan, I saw that those weren’t my only options,” Marcarelli said. “I learned that saints didn’t have to be boring.”

She first began to participate in ministry as a counselor at Pine Hills Girls’ Camp. 

“Despite my insufficiencies, the Lord has worked through me and in me," Marcarelli stated. "He transformed my life and set me free. I didn’t even know I wasn’t free!”

She concluded by reminding the congregation that “no matter where you are in your journey, Jesus is walking with you. Keep running towards him!”