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Just to reiterate, the purpose of the new “Man of the Month” thread is to highlight different Catholic men in all walks of life who deserve a little recognition for their Catholic identity and service to the Church. If you would like me to highlight a certain gentleman (he doesn’t have to be famous), let me know.

Mario St. Francis is a model and actor who just so happens to spend his free time as a Catholic lay evangelist. 

Once upon a time, Mario was named one of America’s most eligible bachelors (Cosmopolitan Magazine ‘99) and one of Pittsburgh’s 25 Most Beautiful People. 

After an injury that landed him in the hospital only 30 minutes before signing his biggest contract Mario “began questioning the use of the fame he was seeking after.”

After a series of events that would follow over the next year, combined with a priest’s talk he attended, Mario’s life was flipped upside down and inside out! Never to be the same, Mario left it all behind and began a new work, as a “modern St Francis,” a Catholic still very public and in the spotlight. He works, speaks and travels in the public eye and is evangelizing using modern means such as the internet, television, film, radio, and whatever else “works”.  His hope is that other “lost sheep” will come back Home to God.

I picked Mario for the first ever Modestia “Man of the Month” because I was touched by his conversion story that seems to be so similar to mine as well as the majority of Catholics I know working in the entertainment industry. It is TOUGH to stand up for truth in the land of smoke and mirrors…and for this, Mario we salute you and we will pray for you!

Below is an interview with Mario about his conversion. You can visit Mario’s website here. You can also book Mario to speak at your youth group or conference at CMG Booking, a really great resource for Catholic speakers and musicians.