Meet the D’Mello Family!

St. Michael's – October 12, 2021 1 Comment

“Family starts at home and extends to the whole God-created world,” is how the D’Mello family lives their Catholic Faith. Mom Deana, dad Warren and daughters Alezandra and Anastasia live very full and together lives at home, in the community and here at St. Michael’s. They most often attend the Saturday 5 pm Vigil Mass, where you’ll find them up front and center, close to the Altar. But, they come early once a month at 3 pm – for confession, family prayer, and reflection. And they are always spiritually involved, praying before and after Mass, serving God and parishioners as Eucharistic Ministers, Faith Formation leaders, and bearing the gifts to the altar as a family. They have experienced immense joy during their 11 years as St. Michael the Archangel parishioners. Take the opportunity to meet them as friends and parishioners.

Deana grew up in Raleigh as a Baptist, and enlisted in the US Navy right out of high school. After her tour of duty, she came back to Raleigh and got her college degree from NC State, where she met Warren and thereafter went to work for a government defense contractor. Deana prayerfully discerned and decided to become Roman Catholic prior to marrying Warren, so that they could raise their family in one unified faith. Family called and Deana answered the call, dedicating herself to raising their daughters – helping them grow and develop their many talents, and lead faith-centered lives. She also continues to grow her own talents doing landscaping, interior decorating, cooking, playing classical piano, and recently obtained her real estate broker’s license. Deana says her favorite Bible story “is about Jesus healing the blind man, because it shows that through faith, trust, patience, and perseverance, all things are possible with God. I think that’s why I feel so inspired by St. Padre Pio da Pietrelcina for his life of bringing God’s love and consolation to so many. All this as he endured great pain and physical suffering over his entire life. In fact, if I were a saint I would want to be a patron saint building support systems for the sick and lowly.” She adds that St. Michael’s community-faith life has helped their family tremendously. “We have grown greatly in Scripture understanding, in wonderful friendships, and in living our Faith, all thanks be to God and our wonderful pastors and priests at St. Michael’s over the past 11 years. True to my musical roots, I especially love and enjoy the Choir Ministry.”

Alezandra is 16, a sophomore at Green Level High School and member of the school’s Dance Team. “I’m the older sister in our family,” she says, “and Anastasia and I are extremely close. We share love of dancing, singing, and baking. This is great sister fun time for us.” God willing, Alezandra would like a career as a dentist with her own practice or to own a bakery someday. She is also a Girl’s Team Leader in the parish’s Challenge and Conquest Faith Formation program. Alezandra describes her love for St. Michael’s and the ministries, “The people are wonderful and we have so many lifelong friends in the parish. I received First Holy Communion and Confirmation here, while growing as a Catholic, and drawing closer to God. I gain strength from Psalm 18:2 – ‘The Lord is my rock, my stronghold, and my deliverer.’” She shares that her favorite saint is her Confirmation saint – St. Therese of Lisieux, “because she persisted in her childlike dedication to God through so much suffering.”

Anastasia, 14 years old and an 8th grader at Mills Park Middle School, confirms that she and Alezandra are very close, sharing their faith life and fun activities, especially baking. She also has three years of dancing experience and enjoys growing her skills. As for career goals, Anastasia says, “I’m still working on what that will be –– but my faith in God will help me figure that out.” For now, she serves the Nursing Home Ministry and gives her talent to the Children’s Choir.

“Trust in God makes you strong like St. Joan of Arc,” she adds. “Even though society then didn’t see women as soldiers, St. Joan trusted that God wanted her to lead France to victory. She inspires me because she trusted and never faltered in her belief that God would always take care of everything. He did and so did St. Joan.” Strong women who accomplished much because of their trust in God motivate Anastasia in her faith life. “I like the Bible story of Judith who remains faithful to God in the midst of great challenges. She defeats the enemy surrounding her because of her complete trust in God. That’s what I feel,” she says. “I love my family faith life and our parish home – St. Michael the Archangel.”

Warren can trace his faith line back pretty much 2,000 years. That’s when St. Thomas arrived in Southwest India with the Good News of Jesus Christ. “The Catholic Faith deepened under Portuguese influence over the centuries,” Warren explains. “In fact, D’Mello indicates my Portuguese heritage.” Warren was born in Mumbai, India (formerly Bombay), the capital of Maharashtra State.

He came to the US 21 years ago to attend NC State. Following graduation, he worked at State for a while, where he met and married Deana. “We got married at a 400-year old Church in Goa, India. Then, we celebrated a second “reaffirmation” US wedding at Sacred Heart Cathedral in downtown Raleigh.” Today, Warren works in IT at a bank in RTP. In his free time, Warren loves watching Formula 1 racing, playing table tennis, fishing, and grilling.

It’s pretty hard to not bump into Warren around St Michael’s. He serves in the Eucharistic and Nursing Home Communion ministries, as well as the Regnum Christi Men’s Ministry. Deana, Warren, and their daughters all plan and work together to ensure that the family convenes daily for the “Bible in the Year” podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz. One of Warren’s favorite Bible verses is Matthew 11: 28-30, about Jesus welcoming all who are burdened. “I am in constant amazement that our God, Ruler and King of the universe, is so humble that He stoops to the lowest depths in order to be in our hearts. I have two favorite saints – St. Faustina for her writings on Divine Mercy and St. Ignatius of Loyola, one of patron saints of the school I attended in Bombay.”

Warren says that, “for many years we were passive participants in the church, but when we started to take an active role in giving back to God and our church, we realized what a joy and 

privilege it is to be part of St. Michael’s Parish and to serve in the ministries. Sharing treasure was easy, but sharing time and talent is what it took for our family to truly feel that sense of purpose, community, and belonging.”

Thank you to the D’Mello Family for being interviewed, and to Frank Norton for conducting it! Would your family like to share your story? Contact us at bulletin@stmcary.org