Br. Richard Mary Dolan, MIC
Brother Richard Mary is Fresh Anointing's college outreach coordinator for the Washington, D.C., area, ministering to young adults from 18-35 but primarily to college-age students. He leads a discussion group and helps out with retreats, catechesis, prayer teams, and a weekly Life in the Spirit seminar. He helps prepare young adults to encounter Christ's love and deepen their understanding of the sacraments and Church teachings by living life in the Spirit, so they can be witnesses of Christ in their daily lives.
He has a Bachelor of Science of Allied Health from Winona State University in Minnesota. In his senior year, he was offered a professional contract to play first base for the St. Paul Saints. At the last minute, God had other plans for him, so he worked in various fields, including an extended period as a physical fitness coordinator and personal trainer.
Though a cradle Catholic, Br. Richard Mary spent some time searching like most young adults. Due to a series of events, his faith in Jesus was reignited by doing a consecration to Mary by St. Louis De Montfort and when he attended a Born in the Spirit Seminar at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, where he obtained a pre-theology certificate. He was actively involved in their missions program, which included ministering to Native Americans on a reservation in North Dakota and spending a summer as a camp counselor with "Young Disciples," a weeklong bible camp and catechesis for K-6 and teens.
It was during this time that God called him to the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. He joined the Congregation in the summer of 2007 and professed first vows the following year. In honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, he petitioned to change his religious name to Br. Richard Mary. Currently, Br. Richard Mary is a theology seminarian at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.
Brother Richard Mary was raised in a large, devout Catholic family on a farm in Minnesota. He credits his parents for planting the seeds for a strong devotion to Our Lady and the Holy Mass by praying the family Rosary and frequently receiving the Holy Eucharist. "It was their loving example that kept me connected to the faith," he said.
He also enjoys rock climbing, biking, baseball, basketball, football, music, praise and worship, and spiritual reading.