About You:
Living Faith: Describe your vocation in life.
Justin McClain: I am a husband to my better half, Bernadette, and dad-joker to our six wonderful children. I am also a lay member of the Order of Saint Dominic (“lay Dominican”).
LF: Do you reach out to readers online via a website or social media?
JM: Personal X page.
LF: Share a little about your ministry or daily work. (A day in the life looks like…?)
JM: I am a proud husband to Bernadette and dad-joker to six. I teach theology full-time at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland (within the Archdiocese of Washington).
LF: How long have you been writing, or when did you start?
JM: I began consulting and writing within the Catholic publishing world in 2014.
LF: What is the most difficult part of your writing process?
JM: Trying to identify my target audience and then reach everyone within it.
LF: How many books have you written, and which is your favorite? If you haven’t written a book, name a favorite that you’ve enjoyed.
JM: I have written eight books, and my favorite is Called to Teach: Daily Inspiration for Catholic Educators (Ave Maria Press, 2016).
LF: Where do you live today, and is that different from where you grew up?
JM: My family and I live in Bowie, Maryland, which is about twenty minutes north of where I grew up in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. So, I am a lifelong resident of Prince George’s County and the DC metropolitan area.
LF: Three words your best friend would use to describe you.
JM: Grammatical, dedicated, fun.
LF: One additional thing you would want a Living Faith reader to know about you that we haven’t covered above. (A hobby, something silly or fun, an accomplishment, or an interesting fact?)
JM: I am an avid wildlife enthusiast. I grew up in a rural area and studied all of the creatures that I could find. I therefore wanted to be a veterinarian for much of my youth. To this day, I do reptile shows and birthday parties for kids (and adults), colloquially referred to as the “Maryland Snake Man.” My friends and neighbors know to call me when they need a snake, lizard, spider, etc., relocated from their garage. But I tie it all into faith, encouraging people to appreciate God’s gift of wildlife, although humanity remains the pinnacle of his Creation.
About Faith:
LF: When did you first know that God loved you?
JM: When I met my future wife Bernadette in 2007.
LF: Describe a prayer practice that is meaningful to you.
JM: I run every day and pray my daily Rosary then (using my available ten fingers instead of rosary beads ,although I still always keep my Rosary with me).
LF: What’s something you’ve learned from the Bible or from the Mass or the Sacraments that has always stayed with you?
JM: That the Mass is like heaven on earth (thank you, Dr. Scott Hahn and his classic The Lamb’s Supper)!
LF: What excites you about being a Catholic?
JM: Belonging to the Church that Jesus founded (per Matthew 16:18), and knowing that the Church will always guide us, even in the midst of a weary world.
About the Bible:
LF: What’s your favorite Bible story, psalm, proverb or parable and why?
JM: The image of Jesus the Good Shepherd from John 10 because this is personally the most powerfully succinct understanding of who Jesus is.
LF: Do you have a favorite Gospel? If so, which one? Elaborate if you wish.
JM: Matthew. As a veteran teacher, I remain in awe of Jesus the Master Teacher, with Matthew’s Gospel in particular emphasizing Jesus as the Teacher.
LF: If you could spend a day with a person mentioned in the Bible (besides Jesus), whom would you choose?
JM: Saint Joseph (of the New Testament); I would finally be able to hear something from the Silent Saint for a change!
About Living Faith:
LF: How long have you been writing for Living Faith?
JM: For three years.
LF: Do you ever get to meet your Living Faith readers? What do you talk about?
JM: Not in person (yet), but I have corresponded with Pat Gohn on writing projects over the years.
LF: What is one thing you love about Living Faith?
JM: The accessibility of the writing and the fidelity to Church teaching.
*The interview was edited for clarity and conformity to style. No meaning was altered in the process.
