A Journey Back to God

CWM
Dec 3
2 min read

In this episode of All Kinds of Catholic, host Theresa Alessandro welcomes Blake from Georgia, USA, for a moving conversation about faith, suffering, service, and vocation. Blake shares how a serious accident in his youth and his father’s life-threatening illness became a turning point that deepened his prayer life and awareness of God’s presence. His journey includes mission trips to impoverished communities in West Virginia, years as an EMT confronting both physical and spiritual pain, and eventual burnout that led him to search for deeper meaning.

Blake later found new purpose teaching English—first planning to go abroad, then unexpectedly serving Ukrainian refugees in Atlanta, where he met his wife. The couple now awaits their first child, a joyful milestone in their shared faith story.

The conversation then turns to Blake’s work with Catholic World Mission, a nonprofit that connects donors with priests, sisters, and communities in need around the world. He explains the organization’s “bridge” mission to address both material and spiritual poverty, from building churches in rural Ghana to supporting parishes in places where access to priests, healthcare, and education is limited.

Through stories from the field—including communities worshiping under trees and children living with severe disabilities cared for with dignity—Blake reflects on the peace that flows from a life rooted in Christ, especially through Eucharistic adoration.

Rooted in Scripture, particularly the story of Nehemiah, the episode highlights courage, trust, and the call to rebuild—not only cities, but hearts. Theresa and Blake conclude with reflections on faith in the modern world, encouragement for listeners, and an invitation to deeper involvement through the podcast community and newsletter.

LISTEN THE INTERVIEW