Dear readers, Catholic Online was de-platformed by Shopify for our pro-life beliefs. They shut down our Catholic Online, Catholic Online School, Prayer Candles, and Catholic Online Learning Resources essential faith tools serving over 1.4 million students and millions of families worldwide. Our founders, now in their 70's, just gave their entire life savings to protect this mission. But fewer than 2% of readers donate. If everyone gave just $5, the cost of a coffee, we could rebuild stronger and keep Catholic education free for all. Stand with us in faith. Thank you. Help Now >
You can't duck when God's hook is cast
FREE Catholic Classes
By Mary Regina Morrell
Catholic Online
"Let your hook be always cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be a fish." - Ovid
Several years ago, when gathered with some friends for a fall "retreat" experience (aka party) my friend Rich taught us all a little about the unexpected ways we can be "hooked" by God.
Dressed in costumes, the why of which I have no memory, we were sitting around in a circle talking, eating, drinking and laughing when Rich, who was dressed as a fisherman complete with hook-ladened fishing hat, leaned back in his fold-away cushion chair and flipped over backwards.
That in itself was enough to send us into stitches, but when he got himself up righted and announced to us that he couldn't get his hat off, we thought he had had too much to drink.
He kept mumbling about it, we kept laughing, until finally he said, "Really, I can't get my hat off. It's hooked to my head."
Well, you can imagine the hysteria that ensued.
The home-surgery, the attempt to film for America's Funniest Home Videos, the hours of laughter, will go down for all of us in the annals of best party ever!
But in our more retiring, and kindly, moments, the incident also led to many discussions of Jesus and fishermen and being reeled in by God.
None of us were surprised, then, when Rich entered into the diaconate program several years later!
So, when I had my own "hooked" experience recently, I could only drive away smiling - and a bit apprehensive.
I was leaving Lavalette in the evening after providing a workshop to parish catechists and driving over the bridge into Tom's River. Below me, as I neared the end of the bridge, was a shoreline with a number of boats docked in the bay. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something coming toward my windshield. I thought it might be a rock and braced for the impact. Still, when it hit, my insides felt like they were going to jump out of my throat! I was shaking as I inspected for damage but, amazingly, saw none.
As I continued to drive on I could hear something hitting the side of my car. I couldn't imagine what it might be but it was loud enough to cause me to pull into an empty parking lot to check.
There, wrapped around my side view mirror, was a fishing line, complete with sinker, lure and hooks. It was nearly impossible to untangle and the fishing line seemed to drag on endlessly behind my car. Finally, after a few minutes of coiling, I bit the line in two.
I could only imagine that some poor fisherman had cast his line only to have it caught up by the wind and tossed over the bridge. I hoped that he did not lose his pole as well, but was glad it didn't find its way to my car!
Visions of Richie tugging on his hat came to mind and I started to laugh - that was until I realized the implications of being hooked - by God.
I took a deep breath as I gently placed the lure and hooks on the floor of my car, thinking, I could just wrap it all up for Rich and tell him, 'I think these were meant for you. It was dark, after all, and God's not getting any younger."
Then again, since it's never possible to fool God even if I could fool Richie, maybe it would be better if I just invested in a good pair of hip boots. I have a feeling I could be spending some time out in deep water.
Contact
Diocese of Metuchen
http://www.diometuchen.org
NJ, US
Mary Regina Morrell - Associate Director, Office of Religious Education, 732 562-1990
mmorrell@diometuchen.org
Keywords
hook, fisherman,God
More Catholic PRWire
Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716
A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain
Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul
A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell
My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz
Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell
Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online
Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online
Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online
State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online
Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online
2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online
Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online
Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online
Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online
Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online
Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online
Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online
Full Circle
Robert Gieb
Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite
Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony
Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell
World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online
Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA
Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online
A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe
Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly
Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard
The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely
Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow
A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow
Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea
Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard
Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol
Edging God Out
Paul Sposite
Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow
George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online
Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell
Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey
Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite
Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol
Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol
Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online
Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online
Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online
Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online
Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online
Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online
Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol
Come Grow With Us
Sign up and walk the Catholic journey with millions around the world.
Receive inspiring emails on saints, daily readings, and free faith-building resources—no cost, ever.
Sister Sara Has One Message for Every Catholic Family This June
- Easter / Lent
- 5 Lenten Prayers
- Ash Wednesday
- 7 Morning Prayers
- Mysteries of the Rosary
- Litany of the Bl. Virgin Mary
- Popular Saints
- Popular Prayers
- Female Saints
- Saint Feast Days by Month
- Stations of the Cross
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. Michael the Archangel
- The Apostles' Creed
- Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
- Pray the Rosary
Copyright 2026 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2026 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.