Southern Nebraska Register
Nationally recognized Catholic speaker Paul Zucarelli will give presentations in four diocesan parishes this fall.
He will speak about his extraordinary near-death experience, along with his wife Beth. The presentations will be held at Pius X High School in Lincoln Sept. 26, at St. Cecilia Church in Hastings Sept. 27, at St. Mary Church in David City Sept. 28, and at Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Falls City Oct. 1.
“I’ve heard it said that the word ‘hope’ is an acronym for ‘Hearing Other People’s Experiences’ and that it’s hard to have ‘faith’ without hope,” explained event co-chair Paul Keating, a member of the Cathedral of the Risen Christ Parish in Lincoln.
“Let your faith arise as you hear (Paul and Beth) give their testimony,” he said.
Keating explained that Zucarelli suffered nine cardiac arrests over two days, and was healed on Pentecost Sunday in 2017. He now lives to witness to God’s love, healing and mercy.
“Here is one man’s extraordinary near-death experience and how it transformed his life,” Keating said. “But it’s more than merely an incredible account of a successful businessman’s brush with death and his miraculous recovery. This is also a story of hope – a credible testimony of God’s presence and grace-filled activity in our lives. No matter how great the difficulty or daunting the challenge, God is with us and uses our suffering to draw us more closely into relationship with Him.”
People in the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln will have a special interest in hearing how Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted was involved in Zucarelli’s experience. Bishop Olmsted was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lincoln in 1973. He was ordained a bishop in 1999, as coadjutor in Wichita. He was later installed as Bishop of Phoenix in 2003, where he served until his retirement last year at the age of 75.
“God’s plan brought Paul from near-certain death to a restored life,” Bishop Olmsted said. “God is now using Paul’s story to build up His kingdom through Paul’s witness to a living Jesus Christ. I hope you are encouraged by Paul’s story as I have been.”
The first talk will begin at 7 p.m. at Pius X Tuesday, Sept. 26. Tickets are $10 each and go on sale Friday, Sept. 1. Tickets are available for purchase at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ parish office and online. Seating is limited, so early purchase is encouraged.
No tickets are required for the events in Hastings Sept. 27, David City Sept. 28, and Falls City Oct. 1, though free-will offerings will be accepted. Each event will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a question and answer session.
Zucarelli’s book “Faith Understood” will be available for purchase after the presentations.
“This book will inspire you; it will also change your life if you let it,” Keating said.
