Book of the Month Club
This month’s featured selection:
“No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy” By Donald Calloway, MIC

Reviewed by Kay Cozad

“No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy,” by Donald Calloway, priest of the Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception (MIC) is Today’s Catholic’s book of the month selection.

Have you ever wondered what sort of personal history a man brings to the priesthood or how he received his calling? Most stories reflect typical boyhood experiences with support and guidance from parents, Catholic religious and laity. Not so for Donald Calloway, the author of this month’s book selection.

This engaging autobiographical tome, written in first person, is a difficult book to review, packed as it is with the melodrama of the author’s deviant young lifestyle. It is a book that must be experienced. In it Calloway offers a detailed account of his own life journey from innocence to a life of crime and deceit with an intense conversion experience thrown into the mix.

We first meet the 15-year-old Calloway during a failed attempt to escape the Japanese and military police as they arrest him for robbery in Japan, where he and his military stepfather, mother and younger brother were stationed. The near-unbelievable real-life drama that unfolds has the reader weaving back and forth through Calloway’s misguided youth of drugs, alcohol, heavy metal music and women.

Early in his youth, following the departure of his biological father, Calloway and his mother were very close. But after his mother suffered another failed marriage to an abusive alcoholic and a move to California, this young man became jaded to the possibilities of decent living. Calloway’s mother finally married a military man who would love her and support her children, though Calloway himself was so immersed in his own turbulent life that he was unable to embrace the grace of this new family.

With no apparent guidance or influence, the young Calloway rejected any semblance of law abiding behavior, even after his mother and stepfather converted to Catholicism. The young surfer boy, wearing heavy metal T-shirts and long hair, who had no foundation in any religious tradition, had no knowledge of the Bible and its truths when his conversion took place.

The antics of the young rebel, from stealing and lying to failed rehabs and running away from home, fills the pages almost to exhaustion. But if the reader stays with the book, an inspired turn finally clears the path. Through all the experiences of deceit, drug and alcohol abuse, and more, the author’s quest for fulfillment culminates in the truth of the Gospel.

His conversion story is an amazing tale, even with that compulsive element that pervades this man’s life blood. Becoming enthralled with a Catholic book on the Blessed Mother he stumbled upon in his parents’ home, Calloway began his journey toward the God who loved him in spite of his past. His encounter with the Blessed Mother, the Church and the Eucharist all led him to purge his life of reminders of the past. Prayer became foundational in his developing faith and he eventually investigated several religious orders in hopes of joining a fraternity of priests.

After much study and service Calloway, now with a college degree, was ordained into the priesthood of the Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception in May of 2003 and continues his ministry of retelling his conversion story to audiences that include prisoners, alcoholism conference attendees and more.

The beauty of Calloway’s tale is his admission that his conversion is ongoing. He believes that his mother’s prayers were finally answered in his conversion and his gratitude for his family’s support speaks volumes in the final chapters. A final note from the author’s mother will bring a sense of grace to any heart. The book closes with color photos from the author’s life that offer an interesting illustration of his painful journey to joy.

Questions for reflection
• Calloway was a callous, long-haired rebel in his youth. Would you have had the tenacity and patience with him that his mother did? Why or why not?
• Calloway led a destructive life before his conversion. Can you identify in any way? If so, how did that keep you from your faith in God?
• Calloway’s conversion started with a book but is reported to be ongoing. What is your conversion story? How has it developed over the course of your life time?

Summer reading
The following are recently published books that have been sent to Today’s Catholic that can touch the fancy of Catholic and non-Catholic readers alike. Each book is reviewed using publishing house press releases and includes publisher name and ISBN number for ease of purchase.

“Very Valentine” and “Brava Valentine” by New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani, 1981 alumna of Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, are the first two novels in a trilogy. These books delight readers with the comical dynamics of the Catholic Roncalli and Angelini families. Trigiani’s characters flourish in colorful descriptions of Manhattan and the hills of Italy. Both books are celebrations of young love and senior love, loss, the joys of family life and include Trigiani’s trademark references to Saint Mary’s College. HarperCollins Publishers, ISBN: 978-0-06125-705-6 and ISBN: 978-0-06125-707-0

“Saint Clare: Beyond the legend,” by Medieval scholar Marco Bartoli is a critical study of this woman who grew into her own as her understanding of the Gospel and how to live it out deepened. The author reconstructs the personality of Clare using the “Legend of Saint Clare the Virgin,” written by the pope’s order on the occasion of Clare’s canonization. St. Anthony Messenger Press, ISBN: 978-0-86716-950-8

“Experiencing God: The Three Stages of Prayer,” by Thomas H. Green offers an easy-to-read guide with advice on how to deepen one’s relationship with God through prayer. The book provides three chapters including getting to know God, from knowing to loving and from loving to truly loving that lead the reader to the heart of prayer. Ave Maria Press, ISBN: 978-1-59471-245-6

“Abandonment to Divine Providence,” by late 17th century French Jesuit priest Jean-Pierre de Caussade is a great classic work relevant to any age. De Caussade’s belief in the sacredness of the present moment offers insight into how one finds holiness and God’s will in every day situations. Expert commentary by Dennis Billy accompanies the text. Ave Maria Press, ISBN: 978-0-87061-253-4

“Never Give Up: My Life and God’s Mercy,” by John Janaro is a book filled with insights, prayer, humor and God’s fidelity for those who may relate to the author’s journey of human suffering. Servant Books, ISBN: 978-0-86716-929-4

“Ethics of the Word: Voices in the Catholic Church Today,” by James F. Keenan, SJ, offers a look at the power of the Word in the Catholic Church. The blend of Scripture, stories and theology expresses the importance of listening and speaking with the language of love. Sheed and Ward Books, ISBN: 978-0-7425-9957-4

“Come Home: A Prayer Journey to the Center Within,” by Sister of St. Joseph Marie Schwan, is a small and powerful book packed with Scripture, thoughtful reflections and guidance in prayer that offers practical tools for returning “home” to the center of your being — where God lives. Ave Maria Press, ISBN: 978-1-59471-229-6

“Unlikely Spiritual Heroes,” by Brennan R. Hill, the third volume in his Heroes series, profiles eight unlikely candidates for the great things they did in life. Each chapter gives an in-depth view of men and women like Sister Dorothy Stang, Father Maximilian Kolbe and Pope John Paul II. St. Anthony Messenger Press, ISBN: 978-0-86716-924-9
“How to Pray With the Bible,” by Page McKean Zyromski is a delightful little book filled with unique and practical ways to use the Bible to pray with. Reading this book gives one the sense that the author is speaking directly to you — a cherished friend. Each chapter offers experimental exercises and reflections to take the reader through a variety of approaches to praying with Scripture. Paraclete Press, ISBN: 978-1-55725-691-1

“To Be Like Jesus: Inspiration from the Book of Luke,” by Sister Ann Shields is filled with Scripture passages and reflections that are written to guide your journey into a deeper understanding of God’s purpose in your life. Sister Shields recommends this book be read one chapter each week in preparation for pondering and applying the Scripture to daily life. Servant Books, ISBN: 978-0-86716-951-5

“Rebuild My Church: God’s Plan for Authentic Catholic Renewal,” by Alan Schreck speaks to the personal and wider-Church renewal that is possible by an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The author examines the nature of renewal and the history of Church renewal as well as inspiration to participate in God’s plan for the modern Church. Servant Books, ISBN: 978-0-86716-947-8

“Beloved and Blessed: Biblical Wisdom for Family Life,” by Kimberly Hahn is the third in a series of Bible studies based on Proverbs 31. The author offers tools to help strengthen marriages and raise children in love. Study questions, a family budget graph, and recommended resources add to the Scripturally based material in this book. Beloved and Blessed is also available on DVD. Servant Books, ISBN: 978-0-86716-945-4

“Weaving Faith and Experience: A Woman’s Perspective,” by Patricia Cooney Hathaway is the final volume of the award-winning “Called to Holiness” series. The author offers food for thought on the relationship between faith and the human experience during a woman’s middle years all within the context of the whole life cycle. Chapters are enriched with questions, reflection and prayer. St. Anthony Messenger Press, ISBN: 978-0-86716-904-1

“With an Attitude of gratitude: A personal/Professional Memoir,” by Donald Charles Lacy is a daily journal in the life of this 70-something Methodist minister, who begins each passage with a prayer. This 187-page tome gives the reader a glimpse into the business of the man who has ministered to God’s people for over 50 years and speaks positively of Catholics. Providence House Publishers, ISBN: 978-1-57736-431-3