Louie Verrecchio

Louie Verrecchio, M.I. (b. August 4 1961) is a Catholic author and columnist residing in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, MD. He is the founder of Salve Regina Publications, Inc., and the author of the highly acclaimed [cite news |title= Cardinal Pell issues endorsement of unique Vatican II study guide |date=January 18, 2007 |publisher= Catholic Online PR Wire | Catholic Online PR Wire|url= http://www.catholic.org/prwire/headline.php?ID=2970] "Harvesting the Fruit of Vatican II" series of conciliar document study materials [http://www.harvestingthefruit.com] which explore the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. He is a regular columnist for The Catholic Weekly, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Sydney, Australia. [http://www.catholicweekly.com.au]

Background

Born on August 4, 1961 in Baltimore, MD, Verrecchio attended St. Joseph's Monastery School and Mount St. Joseph's High School in Baltimore, MD. before attending the University of Maryland from 1979-1981.

Born and raised in the Catholic faith in an Italian American family of seven, he fell away from the practice of Catholicism at the age of nineteen after having attended twelve years of Catholic schooling. He returned to the faith of his childhood with renewed vigor some eighteen years later and embarked on a passionate effort to learn as much as possible about Catholicism.

Largely self taught in the field of Catholic theology, he began Scripture study at St. Francis Xavier in Hunt Valley, MD in 2001, where he served as a group study leader from 2002 to 2005. It was in this capacity that he first began to write Catholic study material. [Christoher Gaul, "Harvesting Fruit of Vatican II", The Catholic Review - Sept. 23, 2004 - pg. A19]

Harvesting the Fruit of Vatican II

In 2003, Verrecchio began work on the "Harvesting the Fruit of Vatican II" series of conciliar document study materials that explore the body of teaching of the Second Vatican Council. His work has received the "Imprimatur" of Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore W. Francis Malooly, making it one of very few publications of its kind. His work has also been endorsed by well known individuals such as George Cardinal Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, Australia; American theologains Rev. Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, S.T.D., Ph.D.; Rev. Fr. Peter F. Ryan, S.J., S.T.D., Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D., syndicated columnist Russell Shaw, and others. [http://www.catholicword.net/endorsements.htm]

Since its publication in 2003, "Harvesting the Fruit of Vatican II" has been used by parish-based study groups and individuals throughout the U.S. and internationally in places like Australia and Singapore. His work has also been featured in the Catholic weekly, Our Sunday Visitor. [Thomas Szyszkiewicz, "Getting to know the real teachings of Vatican II," Our Sunday Visitor - Feb. 13, 2005 - pg. 20 ]

Columnist

Mr. Verrecchio is a regular columnist for The Catholic Weekly, [http://www.catholicweekly.com.au/] the official newspaper for the Archdiocese of Sydney, Australia. The weekly columns, which highlight some of the more misunderstood and timely elements of the Council’s teachings and run under the ‘Harvesting the Fruit of Vatican II’ banner, made their debut in the June 1, 2008 edition. “Mr. Verrecchio is providing readers of The Catholic Weekly with keen insights into the teachings of the Second Vatican Council,” said Managing Editor, Kerry Myers. “The ‘Harvesting the Fruit of Vatican II’ columns state Catholic beliefs clearly and informatively. They are a welcome addition to our publication.”

The columns, which will soon be made available to other Catholic media outlets via syndication, make frequent reference to the Council documents. “One of the reasons for the many misconceptions surrounding the Council is that most Catholics have never even read the documents, mainly because they find the idea somewhat intimidating,” said Mr. Verrecchio. “Readers of the column are going to be pleasantly surprised to discover just how straightforward and approachable they really are. From there I expect many of them will be motivated to explore the documents of Vatican II by the light of sacred Tradition – like we do in our study materials - to gain an authentic interpretation of the Council’s teachings.” [cite news |title= American Author Launches Syndicated Vatican II Column in Australia |date=June 3, 2008 |publisher= Catholic Online PR Wire | Catholic Online PR Wire|url= http://www.catholic.org/prwire/headline.php?ID=4794&cb300=vocations]

Other Catholic Media

Verrecchio has appeared as an invited guest on the subject of Vatican II on the Drew Mariani Show [http://www.relevantradio.com/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?&pid=275] , broadcast by the Relevant Radio network. He has also appeared in a similar capacity with syndicated radio personality Al Kresta of the Ave Maria Radio network. [cite news |title= Kresta in the Afternoon|date=December 12, 2007 |publisher= Ave Maria Radio | Harvesting the Fruit of Vatican II |url= http://www.avemariaradio.net/display_search.php?id=1896&type=2006]

Militia of the Immaculata

In June of 2000, Verrecchio made a formal act of consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary as a member of the Militia of the Immaculata; the worldide evangelization movement founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe - thus the initials M.I. following his name. According to Verrecchio, he uses the initals signifying his consecration to the Virgin Mary in order to give honor to Mary, and to encourage others to investigate Marian consecration as well. ["Harvesting the Fruit of Vatican II - Part I (Salve Regina Publications - 2003) - About the Author - pg. 198]

Current Projects

Verrecchio is currently collaborating with Catholic theologian Steven Ray [http://www.salvationhistory.com/mission/staff/raybio.cfm] on a study of the Book of Genesis for Catholic Scripture Study International (CSS) [http://www.cssprogram.net] - publisher of Catholic Scripture study material that is distributed to parishes worldwide - which is scheduled for release in Fall 2008. He is also creating a series of Vatican II study lessons for CSS, also scheduled for release in Fall 2008.

References

External links

* [http://www.catholicword.net/endorsements.htm Harvesting the Fruit of Vatican II]
* [http://www.cssprogram.net/ Catholic Scripture Study International]