My name is Antonietta Marcogliese and I am Catholic. I am 56 years old, a wife and a mother of
three boys and one girl. I have a strong belief in my religion but I would like to talk to you about
my son Claudio who is a Falun Dafa practitioner.As he was growing up he lost his faith in
region and turned to drugs and alcohol. I could not talk to him about spirituality and that made me
sad and disappointed. I blamed myself, thinking that I did not bring him up the right way. I never
lost hope for him in seeking a spiritual life.
One day he told me that he was searching for something. I was very happy to hear that from him. This
change in him made me think that one day he will live a life away from drugs and alcohol. In this
searching he found Falun Dafa at Concordia University. I was not too happy when I first heard that
he turned to Falun Dafa. As he started practicing Falun Dafa, he stopped drugs and alcohol. His
aspect of life changed in a positive way. He was motivated in life, stopped swearing. He was more
social with the family. My faith pushed him to seek a spiritual life. It was his turning point.
I am happy because he turned to be a better person (don't get me wrong he was always a good person
but he was doing harm to himself). He will have a better journey in life and if he has a family one
day he will be a better husband and better father. Four big words can describe his accomplishment,
Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance and Faith.
Claudio says that I should not push people to change. The reason is that I do not want their lives
to be destroyed and I love them too much.
Antonietta Marcogliese
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
The Turning Point of A Canadian Young Man
November 28, 2002