Wheeling Jesuit alumnus Maurice Casem ’65 has penned a book about his real life journey involving faith and the power of prayer.

Recently released, “Circle of Grace” takes readers on a journey with Casem and his wife Rita that led to not one, but two encounters of grace and a woman named Theresa Palumbo.

In the book, the Casem’s welcome Palumbo, an unwed pregnant teen, into their home to live for a while. The second encounter, 32 years later, occurs when Palumbo makes the astonishing decision to return and journey with Casem as his living kidney donor at Duke University Transplant Center.

In the book, Palumbo candidly reflects on her personal experiences during these encounters.

“This is a true story of extraordinary faith and the power of prayer; a story of hope, especially for anyone facing kidney failure and the possibility of a kidney transplant,” Casem said.

The book also includes some of Casem’s adventures and misadventures as a student at Wheeling College, the influence of a few Catholic clergy and religious, his Jesuit education and priests like Rev. Jim O’Brien, S.J.

Casem adds the book is sprinkled with photos and humorous reflections. “I began the book two years ago and I am very excited about its timely release during this 2012-2013 year of faith, when our universal Roman Catholic Church invites each of her members to proclaim his/her Catholic Christian faith to the world through words and service to others. The final chapter of the book pays tribute to our newly elected Pope Francis as a wonderful personification of this spirit.”

To order a copy of Circle of Grace, call 1-888-280-7715, log onto www.amazon.com, www.bn.com and www.authorhouse.com for hardcover, soft cover and e-book versions. The book also can be ordered at Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million.