At the recent Provincial Assembly, Associate Michael Underwood addressed the crowd and told of his own experience of being welcomed into the Viatorian Community.
At the time, he was a Las Vegas policeman, and after a particularly rough day, he sought refuge in his former church, but found it to be locked. Discouraged and still seeking a spiritual respite, he found himself driving by St. Thomas More Catholic Community, and when he stopped and approached the door, he met Fr. Michael Keliher, CSV, who welcomed him inside.
“If Fr. Mike hadn’t opened the door and unlocked the church for me,” said Mike, who now works in security for Wynne Entertainment, “I wouldn’t be standing before you today.”
Viatorian Associate Kathy Underwood
He described it as a benchmark in his life, that eventually led him to join the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) where he met his wife, Kathy, before converting to Catholicism. From there, he — and his wife — became immersed in a variety of ministries, including RCIA, as well as in welcoming back fallen away Catholics and serving on the Parish Council.
Mike went on to study for the deaconate, and in 2011 he was ordained a deacon by Bishop Joseph Pepe, of the Diocese of Las Vegas, and now is a valued member of the pastoral staff at St. Thomas More.
Underlying his active faith life he says, was his decision — and his wife’s — to become Viatorian Associates in 2006. They have re-committed themselves to the Viatorian Community two more times since then, and pledged to witness and celebrate their faith with others.