“I will never forget what you have done for my family.”

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“It was 4 years ago and I received an anonymous text message wishing me Happy Father’s Day. I asked who it was. A young lady responded that her husband attended TMIY. She said, ‘You are the reason that my husband is here with me and my children. He went to TMIY and our relationship has never been the same. I will never forget what you have done for my family.’”

Four years prior to that moment Tommy Benasco’s coworker introduced him to TMIY. He was working with a man who went to a different parish that had attended TMIY. He shared about the program, and Tommy was immediately intrigued. “TMIY was what I had been looking for. I needed to bring it to my parish.”

Tommy decided to contact Paradisus Dei and get TMIY started. When he called he was informed that the deadline to start the program had already passed. He was very determined to get TMIY started. That day he reached out to a friend who had the pastor’s cell phone. As soon as he called, the pastor gave his blessing and Tommy hit the ground running. He knew he was already behind schedule, did not have a core team or anyone to attend, but he was excited and determined. “I called every single contact in my phone to get the group going.”

“TMIY has completely changed my life, and I know it affects others as well.”

Today, Tommy’s group has been going strong for eight years with a stable core team. He even started another group which meets in the evenings because he saw the impact it had on people’s lives. “TMIY has completely changed my life, and I know it affects others as well,” Tommy shared. “We have probably impacted 300 men through TMIY. I have men’s wives from the TMIY group approach me at the store and thank me.” Though it was challenging to get started so late, “God had a plan!” said Tommy.