A former football hooligan from London who lived a turbulent youth has become a follower of Jesus Christ, thanks to a Roman Catholic lay community founded by an ex-gangster.
In an interview with Vatican Radio, Niall Slattery shared how he found God in Saint Patrick's Community, through the help of his devoutly Catholic mom and the community's founder, international best-selling author with a dark past as a gangster, John Pridmore.
Interviewed by Father Joseph Balmer from Scotland, Slattery recalled how he stopped going to church at the age of 12 and left school when he was 15 years old. He said he had a lot of anger and fear in his heart at that time, partly due to his parents' separation.
Slatter turned his attention to football, but he ended up with the wrong people.
"I came to watch the games every week, but I ended up becoming part of a gang who went to the games to pick up a fight with the opposing team. Deep down inside, I knew the way I was living was wrong, and I was always drinking too much and getting into some sort of trouble. There was a massive emptiness then," the former football hooligan shared.
He got hit by a aseries of illnesses during his mid-20s. At that time, he realised he needed to seek help. He turned to his mom, a woman of faith, who gave him a simple advice: pray.
"I'll never forget it. As I was speaking, she just started to cry and told me, Niall, you got to start to pray. You got to ask God to help, otherwise, I can see you dying," Slatter recalled.
His mom also brought him back to church, where he first encountered Pridmore. He instantly related to his experience as a former member of a gang.
"As he was speaking and sharing her story, I felt an immense hope within me. I knew that something very special was happening," Slatter said.
Pridmore let Slatter join his retreats and school visitations, and eventually got very much involved with the community's projects. Slatter also started going to confession as he found his way back to God.
"I knew God was real. I also knew that even if we get it wrong sometimes, even badly wrong, God never gives up on us. He has a very great plan with our lives," Slatter said.
