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Ironman finds his strength in God

By Michelle Zotter
of The Micigan Catholic
Published June 4, 2004

BLOOMFIELD HILLS – Whether Brad Seng swims 2.4 miles, bikes 112 miles or runs 26.2 miles in his Ironman competitions, one thing remains constant – his rosary is with him everywhere. During his daily eight-hour workouts and when competes in an Ironman event, Seng, 34, prays the Hail Mary, and has a personal mantra he uses to keep rhythm: "One, two, three … Smooth Jesus is with you."

When he's not competing, he keeps his rosary in his jeans pocket, including when he gives chastity talks at pro-life rallies. He will be speaking at a pro-life conference for teens and young adults June 12 at Mercy Center in Farmington Hills.

Photo by Michelle Zotter Brad Seng shows the rosary he carries with him everywhere, including in the pocket of his Iron Man jersey when he competes.

Growing up in a Catholic and strong pro-life family, Seng, who attends St. Hugo of the Hills, Bloomfield Hills, says he was aware of the sanctity of life early on. His mother worked at the Educational Center for Life and had access to many brochures and pamphlets that she would "leave around" the house, he said.

Two years ago, Seng, who was coaching high school soccer, became involved in the Problem Pregnancy Center in Lathrup Village when his sister-in-law asked him to volunteer. "I had no experience in peer counseling," he recalls, "but it opened up new doors for me. My faith grew tremendously."

He admits his friends were surprised at his deepening interest in his faith and would spend more time at the center rather than going out. Soon the board of directors asked him to launch a chastity program, part of which meant going out and talking to youth. "The center had envisioned this plan, but had no one to run with it," Seng said. "It was God's timing and His will that brought us all together. New doors started to open."

He eventually went from being a volunteer to working there full time. "I'm constantly learning," he said. "Just when I think I've seen it all in crisis situations, then something else comes along down the road and then you see they've been on a different road and have different needs."

He talks about the importance of God in any talk he gives to youth. "I emphasize to them that they can't just wake up and live a chaste life," he said. Rather, it's a lifestyle that has to be achieved, "especially with the graces of God."

Using his perseverance and determination with youth comes in part from his skill as a tri-athlete. He was already a natural athlete – he played soccer since his days at St. Hugo of the Hills Elementary School, and continued at Albion College.

Four years ago, with the encouragement of a friend, he was in a 5K run in Texas, and then became involved in local, short sprint races. This led to his involvement with Ironman competitions.

"It's perseverance and having faith that helps you get through things," he said. The strength of his faith was put to the test three years ago, when Seng was riding his bike through Hines Park. He had just finished thanking God for the beautiful day, when moments later, he was struck by a minivan and was knocked off his bike. "I had no marks, no bruises, but it was a sign to me that it was something I needed to do." Then, he began to concentrate more fully of working his faith into sport.

Before any workout, he says a quick prayer and asks St. Sebastian, patron saint of athletes, to give him strength. "I ask for my health and safety; not to win," he said. "Prayer is a huge aspect for me," motioning to his rosary. So far his rosary has traveled with him on competitions to the Mediterranean, the French Alps and his latest endeavor, Brazil, for which he left May 25.

As a testimony to his faith, he also launched Tri for Life, a charitable organization, last year. Seng said 100 percent of the proceeds from Brazil's competition will go to Problem Pregnancy Center and Casa Vitae, two non-profit, pro-life organizations.

Kim Disalle, a youth coordinator for the past eight years at the Oakland Macomb County for Right to Life Lifespan of Metro Detroit, came to know Seng from attending pro-life events.

"He's a wonderful witness to the faith," said Disalle, a member of St. Hugo of the Hills Parish. "I've seen him grow tremendously, especially in the amount of spiritual and intellectual growth on the topic of chastity and how he shares that in light of the Gospel and what the Magisterium teaches us."

For the past six months, Seng was living in Colorado to train for his Ironman event in Brazil. No matter where he's at, he knows God is with him. "I'll wake up in at the foothills of the Rockies … I'm so very appreciate if of how incredible He is to us.

"He encourages me to be humble in what I do and to appreciate the gifts I have."

Detroit-area teens fight culture of death

By Joe Kohn Of
The Michigan Catholic
Published June 4, 2004

METRO AREA – Sometimes, you're lied to. Sometimes you're kept in the dark. Sometimes, you're hidden from the gravity of a horrible reality.

And sometimes – even when you're young – you've got to stand up for the truth.

That's what some Catholic teen-agers from the Detroit area have learned regarding the way abortion is treated by society. So, on June 12, pro-life groups from a number of Catholic high schools will hold a rally and concert to educate their peers about the evils of abortion, and the importance of heeding God's call to stand up against it.

"This is very, very needed," says Danielle Center, a home-schooled high school student who belongs to St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Madison Heights. "I know a lot of kids that have all these perverted ideas that society has presented them with (about abortion)."

Center is one of the many high school students helping to organize the event, called Building Bridges to a Culture of Life, which will be on held at Mercy Center in Farmington Hills beginning 2 p.m. The event will include a variety of speakers and workshops, aimed to equip young people with tools to fight the culture of death. Key speakers include Jeanne Monahan, formerly of the Cardinal Maida Institute in Plymouth Township, and crisis pregnancy counselor and tri-athlete Brad Seng.

Attendees also will have an opportunity to attend Mass at 4:30 p.m., and, following the conference, can rock out at a concert with Catholic band Crispin and singer Ryan Myers. Though they anticipate a lot of fun and fellowship, a thoughtful examination of the truth about abortion will be at the heart of the day, says James Wilson, a junior at University of Detroit Jesuit.

"This is kind of an issue that a lot of people either support or oppose – but they really don't know why," says Wilson. "It's controversial, but people really don't know the facts about it.

"We want them to educate themselves and engage the culture. They can help transform society, one person at a time."

Last summer, Wilson helped form a Christian Life group, a lay apostolate for Catholic high school and college students aimed at helping them put their faith in action. It was through attending the major pro-life rally in Washington, D.C. that the students involved in Christian Life realized how many of their peers had been killed by abortion, how prevalent the evil still is, and how often society trivializes abortion by brushing it off or treating it as a political issue.

Kim Disalle, youth coordinator for Lifespan of Michigan, for the past year has worked with the pro life groups – which include representatives from such high schools as U of D, Brother Rice and Marian in Birmingham; Catholic Central in Redford Township; Mercy in Farmington Hills; Notre Dame Preparatory in Pontiac; Shrine in Royal Oak; and Troy High School.

Disalle says the students' passion for defending life is real, and vital to the pro life movement.