Mark and Ann-Laurie Drogowski never imagined the ways the Lord would invite them to become instruments of his presence and love in the lives of others. As a family physician and a registered dietitian living in the small town of Cheboygan, they appeared to be a typical Catholic couple — raising children, building their careers and faithfully attending Mass. But a series of grace-filled encounters — a neighborhood Bible study, the Cursillo movement and, later, the Encounter School of Ministry — would quietly but profoundly reshape the course of their faith.
Today, the Drogowskis are among a growing number of lay Catholics who are living out their vocation with renewed purpose, integrating prayer, evangelization and spiritual gifts into their everyday lives. Their story is not one of dramatic conversion but of steady transformation — the kind that happens when ordinary people say yes, over and over again, to our extraordinary God.
Growing Up Catholic
“I was raised Catholic but through college was not active,” recalls Ann-Laurie.
Mark reflects, “Likewise, I was raised Catholic and was the more philosophical and intellectual left-brained type, involved in a start-up Catholic campus ministry in college and through medical school. It was not until shortly after we were married in 1988, when two fellow family practice residents and their wives invited us to a Bible study, did I have a change. This was when we were about 28 years old.”
He continues, “Ann-Laurie wanted us to go. I naively and pridefully thought Bible study was for people who did not know their faith…I must have been a deer in the headlights. Not only did I not know the Bible, I was a Pharisee: I knew the rules but not the relationship.
“The Holy Spirit convicted me. Since then, the Lord has made me forever hungry for his word, enough that he eventually had me moderate Catholic Men’s Bible study for 15 some years in Cheboygan.”
Ministries Increase Thirst for Christ Cursillo
In 1992, the couple was invited to go on a retreat celebrated in the Methodist Church called Walk to Emmaus, which was based on the Catholic Cursillo.
Cursillo, which started in Spain, is a three-day weekend of spiritual renewal; it became available in the Diocese of Gaylord in 1995. The weekend, bathed in prayer and the Holy Spirit, not only gives men and women a greater understanding and appreciation of their faith, but inspiration to be an active part of the body of Christ.
The experience transformed their lives, in some ways right away and other ways slowly. “It helped us have a desire to not just be ‘Sunday only Catholics,’ but wanting Jesus to be part of every single day: at home, at work, raising our boys, in our community. It was like someone took the pilot light of our faith and cranked it up,” recalls Mark.
“It was a leap of faith to attend, but we are eternally grateful that we did; we recommend a Cursillo weekend for everyone,” he says.
Encounter School of Ministry
“We had been longing and praying for years for some of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that we experienced in our ecumenical activities to be more present in our Catholic churches. Then Encounter came to our area — in Charlevoix,” states Mark. “I just knew we had to attend,” testifies Ann-Laurie.
Encounter School of Ministry was developed by Father Mathias Thelen and Patrick Reis in 2016 in response to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to unleash the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in our world. It teaches, equips and activates disciples to demonstrate the love of God through the power of the Holy Spirit in their spheres of influence — just like the apostles did.
“Encounter has been transformational,” reflects Ann-Laurie. “It helped me understand that my identity is not who the world says, but who God says I am and helped me understand what that is. I know how much the Lord wants to be part of my life, and other people’s lives through me,” she explains.
Mark attests, “Our time in Encounter helped me to see myself truly as a son of God, and that I do not have to perform or earn his love or approval. This is freeing to know.”
Attending Encounter is a commitment: once a week on a school-year equivalent schedule. The Drogowskis declare Encounter has been worth the time commitment, as it is exciting to see the Holy Spirit breathe new life and energy into every day. They eagerly share how they have witnessed both physical and inner healings from the power of the Holy Spirit.
Christ Strengthens Marriage
“We have found that as a couple grows closer to Christ together, they grow closer to each other,” offers Ann-Laurie.
“Ann-Laurie and I are not always in sync with our growth in Jesus, but we have pulled each other along or supported each other at different times in our 37 years together,” says Mark. “Nurturing our mutual relationship with Christ gives us something more to talk about at dinner than just the stress or weekly plans. We get to ask: ‘Where did you see the Lord at work today?’”
Ann-Laurie reflects, “Every married couple is either growing closer together or drifting apart. The same thing goes for your relationship with God, if you are not growing closer to him you risk drifting away from him. What better way to grow closer in marriage than learning and living the faith together.”
Bringing God to Others
When reflecting on their spiritual journey that has been influenced by the various ministries, Mark shares: “We are not perfect; we have stumbled along the way. But with the forgiveness of our Lord and others, we can continue to do what God wants us to do. I think what is important is that this is not about us. It is simply about living each day for God. Start intentionally with some moments with the Lord and keep our priorities his. We each have ministries the Lord has us doing.”
For Ann-Laurie, “It is about trying to be aware of God’s still, small voice prompting me to pray with someone and then trying to be brave enough and willing to take time to do it.
“In Encounter school, we did an activity where we were told to ask God to speak to us about someone who needed healing. I heard in my spirit ‘young woman, brown hair, left eye,’ so I spoke up,” she recalls.
“A young lady in our class stood up and said, ‘That is me,’ because she had had a ‘lazy eye’ since childhood. So, I prayed with her using the model Encounter gave us and watched the eye move into proper alignment. We were both stunned. The Lord wants to talk to us, and have us listen, so he can do amazing things.”
Mark adds, “It is really about being open to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, like when we were recently in Houghton. While there, I felt a constant burning to go into St. Albert’s Church. So, at the right time, I went in and there sat a young lady looking a bit sad.
“I used the Encounter method to ask the Holy Spirit to guide any thoughts and words, and he did the rest, speaking directly to her situation and blowing her away that God loved her so much to send somebody from far away to speak directly to her heart. Only God knows what that might do in her life now.”
Mark ends: “Being brave to share Jesus’ love with others is how we should all strive to act every day. And with the Holy Spirit we can do that!”
Looking for Ways to Deepen Your Relationship with Christ? Explore…
Encounter School of Ministry, Charlevoix Campus
Encounter School of Ministry started in 2016 with one campus; today there are 38 campuses, in five countries, and an online program. Encounter Charlevoix at St. Mary’s Parish is one of the first rural campuses. Starting in September, the sessions run every Monday night and are packed with worship, teaching and activation (putting into action what you learn). It operates under the obedience and approval of Bishop Jeffrey Walsh and other local bishops. For further questions, contact charlevoix@encounterschool.org or visit www.encounterschool.org/Charlevoix
Cursillo movement
Cursillo, Spanish for “short course,” is a three-day weekend of spiritual renewal. Started in 1949 in Spain to bring renewal to the Catholic Church, Cursillo is led by priests and lay people with a focus on prayer, study and Christian action plus a follow-up program known as the post-Cursillo. In the Gaylord Diocese, Cursillo weekends are held once a year. The next men’s weekend is scheduled March 5-8, 2026, and the women’s weekend is March 19-22, 2026, at the Augustine Center in Conway. For further questions, contact gaylordcursillo@gmail.com or visit the local website,
www.gaylordcursillo.org, or the national website,
www.natl-cursillo.org.
