April 20, 2020

Longtime broadcaster pens book, ‘Who Moved?’ on feeling distant from God

REGIONAL
Story and photo by Carolee McGrath

HOLYOKE – Denis Dion and his wife Anna May begin and end each day with prayer. Married 59 years, the couple has five children, 10 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Their Catholic faith has been central to their journey. They said as with every marriage, they’ve had their ups and downs, great joy and disappointment.

“For some time, Anna May and I have discussed the question, ‘When you feel distant from God, who moved?’  This one evening we had been talking about this.  We finally went to bed, but I couldn’t get to sleep,” said Dion who began his 47-year career as a radio and television broadcaster in 1959. He retired from Western Mass News in 2004.

“Various situations in my life kept popping up, accompanied by either a Scripture passage or a biblical person that fit the situation. For example, King David. I just kept tossing and turning, until finally, I got up and went to the living room and began writing down these ideas.  It was 3:30 a.m. and I just kept jotting down what was coming to me. I truly felt it was the Holy Spirit trying to tell me something,” he explained.

The result was the outline for his newly released book, Who Moved? When You Feel Distant From God, Who Moved?

 “About an hour later, I had about what could be an outline for a dozen chapters. I went back to bed and the next morning, I got started. Three to four months later, I had a book.”

Each chapter begins with a Scripture verse or Bible story such as the Lost Sheep or the Prodigal Son.

“The parable of the Prodigal Son always inspired me. The story of Ruth and Naomi was another.  What happened, as I was writing the book, I would read a Scripture passage and immediately associated it with a moment in my life and included it in the book.”

In Chapter 10, entitled, “Rock Bottom,” Dion discusses his special-needs daughter Laurie’s medical issues. He describes how God helped the family, introducing teachers and doctors into their lives. He also explains how grateful he is that Laurie has a secure job, which he said is often a worry of parents of adult children with special needs. Anna May also shared in this chapter a deep encounter with Jesus which assured her that Laurie would be taken care of.

“It is because of her (Laurie) I don’t believe in miracles anymore, I depend on them,” he writes in his book. 

Dion, who attended parochial schools, said there were plenty of times when he felt distant from God. He said he came to realize that God never moved away from him. He moved away from God, who was always willing to welcome him back.

Dion and Anna May attend daily Mass with Laurie, who lives with them, at St. Anne Parish in Chicopee. They also volunteer at Chicopee Gardens nursing home, bringing Communion to residents weekly.

Lately, the 80-year-old has been staying home in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. He said while he can’t attend Mass, he and Anna May continue to trust in Jesus.

“Anna May and I are closer to God now than ever. We pray more than ever, and we pray together, as a family more than ever,” said Dion.

“We have discovered Catholic TV and watch the Mass from the Vatican at 12:30 p.m. and the Mass from Boston at 7 p.m. We also say the rosary at 6:30 and the Divine Office at 7:30 p.m.”

Dion said he hopes his book will help people who have drifted find their way back. He closes his book with this: “He welcomes us back with open arms. Remember, nothing is able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The proceeds from Dion’s book will go to the Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford, Conn., run by the Passionist Fathers. The book can be purchased at Spirit Among Us Catholic Bookstore in Ludlow and on Amazon.