Jason Gale

As a Ford mechanic in Texas, I was challenged in my faith by my roommates. We had great conversations and I had taken up the position that the Catholic Church was right. I just had to figure out how to defend it. As I dug into what the Church actually taught, I found it to be not only reasonable, but true. Eventually I returned to school to study theology, philosophy, and catechetics and earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville.

As I emerged from school, I enter the world of catechesis and found it to be still wrought with fundamental problems. In this process, I discovered a love for modern catechetical history and theory. This led me to see clearly the intrinsic link between philosophy, theology, and catechetics. Erroneous philosophy led to bad theology which handed on a distorted and anthropocentric faith. Having worked in a large metropolitan diocese and a smaller rural diocese, the issues regarding faith and catechesis were similar all around. This also led me to further my education. I went on to receive a second graduate degree and an Ecclesiastical License of Divinity (in Catechetics) from the Maryvale Institute.

In much of my work, I constantly encounter people who want to learn more about their faith. This is one reason we founded Catholic Studies Academy. For many parishioners, it is truly, “faith seeking understanding.” Some want to be able pray better while others want to bring their friends and family back to the Faith. Encountering erroneous philosophies and problematic catechetical and evangelical endeavors, many faithful are needing a fuller formation not just in theology, but in philosophy and the other religious sciences as well.

Having five children, I know the responsibility, joy, and struggles of raising children today. Establishing a habit of prayer and right worship is essential to our life as a family. My favorite maxim as a husband and father is usually attributed to St. Ignatius, “Work as if everything depended on you and pray as if everything depended on God” or as it is translated in Texas, “die with our boots on.”  Our work as Catholics never ceases but we need good guides to see us through life.