Vince Famularo (pictured at right) spent over a month in the hospital severely ill with COVID-19 and was not expected to live. He and others at St. Mark Parish believe intercessory prayers to Father Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, helped in his sudden recovery. Famularo, 72, has been a Knight for nearly four decades and is in his second term as Grand Knight at Council 12654 in Huntersville. (Photos provided by Amy Burger)HUNTERSVILLE — Nature called Vince Famularo in the wee hours of a January morning this year, but instead of reaching the bathroom, he found himself on the floor of his bedroom, unable to move.
Famularo, 72, has been a Knights of Columbus member for nearly four decades. He is in his second term as Grand Knight at Council 12654 in Huntersville.
The ensuing series of events that morning included a 911 call by his wife Joan, a harrowing trip to Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center at 1:30 a.m., and a diagnosis of COVID-19.
Famularo’s condition quickly deteriorated in a matter of days, and the medical staff instructed family members to be ready for the worst.
“The doctor didn’t think I’d make it through the night and that they should be prepared for my passing,” he said.
Fellow Knights then turned in prayer to Father Michael McGivney, a powerful intercessor and founder of the Knights of Columbus. It’s been nearly a year since McGivney’s beatification. Pope Francis previously approved a decree recognizing a miracle when a terminally ill child recovered after his family asked for McGivney’s intercession. There was no medical basis for the recovery. One more miracle needs to be attributed to McGivney before he can be canonized.
The well-attended prayer vigil for Famularo took place Jan. 16 at St. Mark Church in Huntersville. Prayers included the rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet and the prayer of Father McGivney. Shortly after that, something incredible happened.
“Literally, the next day I started making a recovery without any change in medicine or anything,” Famularo said. “It’s really just an amazing story about the power of prayer. I can’t believe how many people in the parish were praying for me, and some people that didn’t even know me personally. To this day, I’m still thanking people for their prayers.”
The question, of course, had to be asked. Did Famularo think this was a miracle?
“I was too humble to say those words at first, but now that I’ve had time to reflect, it was definitely a miracle of prayer,” he said. “Many people have passed away in that (state), but for some reason I was spared. I’m sure it was the intercession of the Blessed Mother, who I prayed to a lot in the hospital, and the prayer vigil with Father McGivney that allowed me to recover.”
Famularo is pictured distributing Holy Communion at Mass.It’s worth reiterating that there were no changes in treatment nor any additional shots administered to Famularo. There was only one thing that changed – and that didn’t occur in a hospital. It took place at St. Mark’s.
“After that prayer vigil, I began my recovery and those are the facts,” he said. “It’s as simple as that.”
St. Mark’s parochial vicar, Father Melchesideck Yumo, who was called to anoint Famularo in the hospital, concurs with him on that point.
“I would think in that direction because it was already declared that he was going to die,” Father Yumo said. “The medical experts had given up already. When I went to him at the hospital, he wasn’t even conscious that someone was there with him.”
He added, “Shortly after that prayer vigil, Vince recovered in a very mysterious way. So, I would think in the line of attributing that to the intercession of Father McGivney.”
Famularo, who spent 39 days in the hospital and a subsequent rehabilitation facility, was overcome with an all-encompassing feeling of love when he learned about the vigil held on his behalf.
“It was like a physical explosion in my body,” he said. “My God, I can’t thank these people enough. It was such a humbling feeling.”
— Kris Johnson, Correspondent