WINTER PARK  |  For the first time in a sacred space, Howie Dorough of the Backstreet Boys shared his thoughts on family, faith, fame and how these have always been a significant part of his life.

On April 19, 2026, Dorough joined Father Benjie Calangi, his friend who serves as parochial vicar of St. Margaret Mary Parish, for an interview focusing on Dorough’s strong Catholic faith. Father Calangi told those present, after witnessing Dorough’s inspiring faith journey, he felt it was time he shared his story.

Catholic fans from Tampa to Melbourne came to hear his testimony. The night opened with praise and worship music by St. Margaret Mary’s choir led by Andrea Cavalere, accompanied by Phil Black, Our Saviour Parish music director.

“The world knows Howie as a talented member of the world-famous Backstreet Boys,” Father Calangi said. “But I know Howie as a humble man, a good dad to his sons, and a loving husband to Leigh Boniello. And a man of profound Catholic faith.”

The two met three years ago when Father Calangi served Our Saviour Parish in Cocoa Beach. The famous singer takes his mother, Paula, to daily Mass and to Eucharistic Adoration once a week when not on tour.

Unaccustomed to speaking and singing in a church setting, Dorough acknowledged experiencing a little anxiety about it, but said the invitation “felt like a calling.”

“I know God has blessed me, brought me here, and made me the man I am today because of my faith in Him.”

Dorough grew up in Orlando attending St. James Cathedral where he celebrated the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation. The youngest of five siblings, he recalled his sister Pollyanna took him to sing with her at Mass.

“I felt it was something that was always in me. It felt great to sing to God,” he recalled. He joined the boys’ choir at St. James and eventually moved up to the adult choir. The performing bug bit him after he and Pollyanna were in the Wizard of Oz, so he decided to pursue musical theatre.

It wasn’t always easy. Dorough said he learned to handle rejection by depending upon God and trusting that He had the perfect plan for him.

Pursuing his music and acting career, he auditioned for the Backstreet Boys and formed the band at age 19. He joked he almost missed the chance by getting lost on his way to the meeting. The band members lost his headshot and contact information, which was on the back. Because there were no cell phones and he was still working under his stage name, Tony Donetti, they couldn’t find a number for him. That event marked the beginning of his career as Howie Dorough.

Noting the challenges of being in the music industry with its many temptations, Dorough explained prayer and going to church every Sunday made a difference.

“It didn’t matter what country I was in. Didn’t matter if I could even understand what they were saying,” he said. “God was, in my times of need and my times of struggle, He was always there for me. He always still is there for me and is for all of us.”

Dorough added his friendship with Father Calangi and Father Miguel González, rector of St. James Cathedral also helps. He appreciates knowing he has them as mentors.

He recalled losing his sister Caroline to lupus and his father, Hoke, to cancer as among the most difficult moments in his life. He saw “God’s intervention” as Dorough moved his own wedding up a year due to renovations at St. James Cathedral. At the time, they were unaware of his father’s cancer. His father died six months after the wedding.

His mother, Paula, is 92 years old. She joined him at St. Margaret Mary as he shared her tireless efforts to work extra jobs so he could go to acting, dance, and music lessons. Father Calangi asked Dorough to sing a song for her. He sings “Spanish Eyes” for her at every show as she is Puerto Rican, but felt it more appropriate to sing “Gentle Woman” follow by the Backstreet Boys’ “The Perfect Fan”.

Dorough called the band “faith-driven.” Facing many hardships and obstacles, he said just knowing God has a plan for them is reassuring. “We always do a prayer right before we go on stage to ask God to help us remember all the words, even at 52 years old, and all the dance moves. We pray that He just blesses us and protects the audience out there,” he said.

Asked if there was a moment Dorough recalled turning to a greater dependance on God, he said when he and his wife were dating, they would go to Mass and sometimes he would get distracted. She called him out on it. “I realized I was a practicing Catholic, but I wasn’t really, truly taking it in depth. And so that’s what made me, at that point realize, okay, I can’t just walk the walk and try to talk the talk. I gotta do it if I’m going to do it.” From then on, he focused, not only for himself but so he could share the Gospel with others. “Church to me is, it’s such a blessing. I feel like it’s a life lesson for all of us.”

Hoping to instill that faith in his children, his two boys go to Catholic school where he participates in the Mass with them on Wednesdays before taking his mother to Eucharistic Adoration. In trying to live and instill a strong faith in them he said, “I know that all the blessings that I’ve been given are from God and God giveth and God can taketh … Some days are easier, some days are a little harder. But I just try to lean on God to constantly try to show them a good way, a good path for them.”

“Do unto others as you would like to have done unto you,” (Mt 7:12) is his favorite Bible verse. “I always believe in treating people the same. We’re all blessed with different jobs, different opportunities… treat people with kindness, treat people the way you want to be treated — with respect,” he said.

He encouraged those present, especially the young people, to be unashamed to share their faith with others noting, “We’re all messengers to try to spread His word. So, we gotta do our part.”

He closed singing the Backstreet Boys hit “I Want It That Way, with a twist in the lyrics that revealed his own heart for Jesus. “I want it God’s way.”

“Superfan” Kate Smith drove from Tampa, but grew up going to St. Joseph School in Lakeland. “We’re grateful our children (ages 12 and 13) are growing up, not just as Backstreet fans, but fans of the most important Backstreet Boy — the one upstairs,” she said.

Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, April 24, 2026