“I don’t know what I would do without my faith,” says Fred Quattrone. For a moment, the typically smiling Fred looks serious. The Catholic Church and Miraculous Medal have played a huge role in his life, and he’s not shy about sharing that.

Raised by parents with a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother and her Miraculous Medal, and educated in Catholic schools from his youth, Fred has a firm grounding in his faith. He fondly recalls the day that Fr. Joseph Skelly, CAMM’s founder, walked into his fifth-grade classroom at St. Edmond’s in Philadelphia, and gave each child a Miraculous Medal, which he continues to wear today.

A soft voice echoes Fred’s sentiments. “Where would you be without your faith? It’s so important in life,” his wife, Mary, states. And their lives clearly show that faith is their rock and source of strength.

Fred, a retired attorney for the U.S. Department of Defense, teaches eighth-grade Catechism classes at his parish. As his students prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation, he makes sure to teach them the story of the Miraculous Medal. “I love the rays coming from Mary’s hands and the graces they symbolize,” he says. “The children can identify with that.” He’s noticed that every year, at least 90 percent of his students have never heard about the Miraculous Medal, so his lesson about its meaning and history is more important than ever.

“The Mother of God is the one who tells us to wear the Medal,” he shares with the students. Fred also enjoys telling them about St. Catherine Labouré’s incorrupt body, which always leaves them wide-eyed in amazement.

When the Quattrone family went on a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, 15 years ago, the experience touched them profoundly. The nightly procession and rosary made an indelible imprint on their hearts. Upon their return, a priest encouraged them to visit The Miraculous Medal Shrine. They were enthralled by the Shrine’s beauty and peacefulness, which they believe is as magnificent as the great cathedrals of Europe. Even though they’re residents of New Jersey, Fred and Mary travel to the Shrine several times each year.

For the Quattrones, the Shrine encompasses faith and family. After his father passed away eight years ago, Fred found a Miraculous Medal among his belongings—along with his mother’s 1954 Miraculous Medal Novena pamphlet. These were tangible reminders of how his parents nurtured his faith. And Fred and Mary are following in their footsteps. To continue spreading devotion to Our Blessed Mother, they bring their own children and grandchildren to the Shrine. And, as long-time donors who’ve given consistently and generously to support Mary’s Mission, they’ve also made arrangements to memorialize their family on the Remembrance Wall in the hopes of inspiring future generations to pray for her Maternal intercession.

With his strong sense of connection—to the Blessed Mother, to family, to the youth in his Catechism class—it’s not surprising that Fred is a big believer in bridges. By vibrantly sharing his love for Christ and the Blessed Mother with others, Fred is a bridge. He likes to say he is “Catholic Proud,” and it is clear that he and Mary are beacons of faith that serve as an example of how we can impact the lives of others.