A Family Tradition for 85 Years

S E R V I N G G R A D E S 7 - 1 2

318-323-9636 WWW.STFREDERICKHIGH.ORG

D R . B O B W E B B E R , PR I N C I P A L F R . K E I T H G A R V I N , C H A P L A I N

“..THE LORD IS WITH YOU MIGHTY WARRIOR” JUDGES 6:12

NORTH DELTA

Title Company

J. Lawrence Mullens Kirby O. Price

Amy Price Sawyer

387-1100 1100 North Nineteenth St.

THE DENTISTS OF MONROE

Eric T. Geist, D.D.S. Glenn E. Hummel, D.D.S. Eric Lavesphere, D.D.S.

Chas. M. Sampognaro, D.D.S. Kevin P. Haynes D.D.S Matt Sanderson, D.D.S.

Robert E. Spatafora, D.D.S. Gray Stephens, D.D.S. Rickey Caples, D.D.S. Justin Tarver, D.D.S. Carson Rutz, D.D.S.

Spats Drugs, Inc. Home Owned Full Service Pharmacy

Catholic Gifts- Bibles City wide Delivery

2221 Justice St. Laura & Bill Cooper, Parishioners

323-0371

P&S Surgical Hospital ranks in the nation’s top 5 percent for

outstanding patient experience. www.pssurgery.com

(318)388- 4040

Your First Choice for quality care! Phone: 318-322-0049

Ronda Herlevic, Denise Smith Parishioners

Follow us on Twitter @ChurchofJGS Find us on Facebook  

David Benefield, Sales Mgr (318) 387-9184

Wynn Lawrence Financial Advisor 1601 North 18th Street Bus. 318-325-8557 Cell 318-614-9002 wynn.lawrence@edwardjones.com

Eddie Neitz Agent

(318) 649-2727 www.eddieneitz.com

Continued

STAFF (phone extensions listed)

Rev. Keith Garvin, Pastor 204 Deacon Tom Deal Deacon Chris Domingue Janell Holland, Admin. Assistant to Fr. Keith 200 Haley Pulliam, Business Manager 201 Missy McKenzie, Communications 206 Kelly Spitzfaden, Bookkeeper 202 Mark Loyet, Youth Ministry jgsyouthministry@gmail.com Pam Givens, Director of Music 209 Kerri Frantz, Faith Enrichment/PSR Susan McKenzie, Liturgy John Guerririo, Catechesis & RCIA J. Randy Smith, Community Outreach

Ken Vincent, Finance Council Chair Vaughn Antley & John VanVeckhoven Trustees Lisa Patrick, JGS School Principal Dr. Bob Webber, St. Frederick Principal

JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD SCHOOL PreK 3 - 6th grade

900 Good Shepherd Lane Monroe, La 71201

(318) 325-8569 Fax: (318) 325-9730 www.jesusgoodshepherd.org

Diocesan Jr. High & High School St. Frederick

7th - 12th grade 3300 Westminster Avenue Monroe, LA

(318) 323-9636 www.stfrederickhigh.org

Parish Pastoral Council: Your Voice at JGS

Elizabeth Williams (President)

MASSES

Sunday Anticipated: Saturday: 4:30 p.m. Sunday: 8:30; 11:00 a.m.; 5:00 p.m. Nursery for 1 year - 4 year olds 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Masses Weekdays: Monday & Wednesday 6:30 a.m. Tuesday & Thursday 5:30 p.m. Friday: (School Mass) 8:10 a.m. Saturday: 7:30 a.m. Holy Days: 8:10 a.m., 5:30 p.m.

FAITH ENRICHMENT Meets every Wednesday in Moore Hall. Family dinner is at 5:30pm and Faith Enrichment classes begin at 6:30pm.

RECONCILIATION: Tuesdays: 4:00 –5:00 p.m. Saturdays: 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Or by appointment

ADORATION: See inside bulletin for Adoration times and information.

BAPTISM: Please call the office to schedule. Baptism preparation class is required.

MATRIMONY: Call the office at least six months prior to wedding date.

ANNULMENT PROCEDURE Lay Advocate Contact: Mary Ann Sims, 325-0264

2510 Emerson Street Monroe Louisiana 71201 (318) 325-7549 Fax (318) 322-6969

www.jgschurch.org

OFFICE HOURS - no longer closed for lunch 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday - Friday Will open on Fridays after the 8:10am Mass

Welcome to JESUS THE

GOOD SHEPHERD

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Consider Yourself Home!Consider Yourself Home!

MISSION STATEMENT Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Monroe of the Diocese of Shreveport is a loving, nurturing family of faith and prayer with the Eucharist as the center of parish life. With diverse gifts, we proclaim God’s healing love and presence in the world through the

Word, worship and service.

Fr. Keith Garvin Susan McKenzie Lisa Patrick Charles Sampognaro Kathi Savage

J. Randy Smith Kelly B. Southern Justin Tarver Eric Thibodeaux

Delle Tyler (VP) Andi Holyfield (Sec.) Tom Brock Kerri Frantz John Guerriero Jr.

Scan with your smartphone to go directly to our website!

If there is an emergency, please call the office number and tell

the answering service. They will be able to get in touch with the

priest or appropriate staff member

In the spring of 2003, at the direction of Our Lord, Anne began to record a spiritual journal. This would come to be known as Volume One, Thoughts on Spirituality. This was the beginning of her role as Anne, a lay apostle for the Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King. In July 2003, Jesus indicated to Anne that her journal was to be published and disseminated. So Anne continued to record. In the beginning, she thought there would be just one book, and recalls how excited she was when that book was completed. “I felt such a tre-mendous relief to have it finished,” Anne says. But heaven had a larger plan than one book. “Well done,” Jesus told her. “Now you must be with your children on the weekend. On Monday, we will

begin a new Volume.” Months later with Volumes One, Two and Three completed, Jesus told Anne to show them to her bishop. Anne submitted the writ-ings to Bishop Leo O’Reilly of the diocese of Kilmore, Ireland and Fr. John Murphy, her parish priest, and began to meet with both men regularly. Also around this time, Fr. Darragh Connolly of the diocese of Kil-more, Ireland began working part time with Fr. John Murphy and Anne at the request of Bishop Leo O’Reilly. Fr. Darragh was eventually assigned full time in June 2006 by Bishop O’Reilly.

In August 2003, Anne’s friend contacted Jim Gilboy, owner of CMJ Marian Publishers, and asked him to consider publishing the books. Jim indicated that he had no interest in publishing any other private revelations. He ended the conversation with “I work for Our Lady, so drop them off and I’ll look them over.” Jim reviewed the messages and met with Anne and after receiving permission from Bish-op Leo O’Reilly, Jim printed the first copies Volumes One through Four in December 2003. In January 2004, Anne recorded a series of twelve personal messages for Pope John Paul II. Per Our Lord’s instructions, Anne asked Jim Gilboy to deliver them to the Holy Father. Jim agreed, although he had no viable connection to Rome at this time. Soon, though, a series of connections emerged and opened a path to Rome enabling Jim and a small group to meet at the Vatican with Andrzej Maria Cardinal Deskur, a long-time friend of Pope John Paul II. On Holy Saturday, April 10, 2004, the group met with the Cardinal Deskur and presented what is now Volumes One through Four of the series entitled The Vol-umes as given to Anne, a lay apostle. Jim and the group explained that Anne had received twelve personal messages for the Holy Father

As you may have noticed, the Lighthouse Kiosk has been moved beside the pam-phlet cabinet in the Gathering Space. We did this not only to improve the lighting on the kiosk and make it more visible to everyone who visits our church, but also so that both sides of the kiosk could be utilized as we are now able to offer the Vol-umes and Heaven Speaks booklets from Direction for Our Times. The following is a history of the ministry that we hope will inspire you to read these Volumes and booklets. God is working daily in our world and these writings (locutions of Anne, a lay apostle) are full of hope, love and heavenly guidance for Christians living in the world today. God speaks to us today just as he spoke to His followers during Biblical times. He has not stopped sending His heavenly messengers to His people throughout the centuries and these writings are simply modern day messages from Him.

Bishop Leo

O’Reilly

Messages ofMessages ofMessages of HOPE & GUIDANCEHOPE & GUIDANCEHOPE & GUIDANCE

fromfromfrom Direction forDirection forDirection for Our TimesOur TimesOur Times

ADORATION Traditional Adoration Tuesdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:20 pm. We will have the Benediction and Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 5:20 p.m. followed by the Holy Mass at 5:30 pm.

COLLECTIONS Weekly Revenue Budget $16,076.00 Collection January 24 $12,162.75 Variance $ 3,913.25

RCIA: EVERY TUESDAY 7:00PM PARISH HALL

Randy Smith will be lecturing on “What is Lent” and “Take a Look” which will focus on taking a look within ourselves to find things that may be keeping us from Christ then looking to Christ to heal and strengthen us. Also, please continue to pray for the candidates as they move

through the learning process of joining the church. THE PARISH LIBRARY HAS MOVED TO PARISH HALL! Go check out the library and check out a book or two from our vast array of faith-related subjects and stories. Thank you Billy Burton and Elizabeth Williams for taking on this project!

Don’t forget to bring your palms from Palm Sunday last year and place them in

the cauldron to be used for Ash Wednesday. Thanks!

NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST 9:30AM MOORE HALL If you have any news or information that needs to be included in the February newsletter please email Missy McKenzie at mmckenzie@jesusgoodshepherd.org LUNCH BUNCH BINGO THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11 PARISH HALL 11:30AM - 1:00PM IT’S BINGO TIME! Bring your friends and a brown-bag lunch and enjoy Bingo with the Lunch Bunch! This annual tradition is always a great deal of fun so mark your calendar and be sure to attend! JGS THURSDAY MEN’S LUNCHEON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11 MOORE HALL 11:30 A.M. UNTIL 1:00 P.M. Guest speaker will be JGS parishioner, Tobie McKown. Lunch will be a seafood stew prepared by Chris Holyfield. There is no charge to attend but a love offering will be gratefully accepted to help defray costs. Please make plans to attend and consider bringing a male business associate or friend along with you. IMMACULEE ILIBAGIZA TO SPEAK AT SFHS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 DOORS OPEN @ 6:30PM

To kick off Catholic Schools Week 2016, Immaculee Ilibagiza, survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and New York Times best-selling author, will be the guest speaker at St. Frederick High School. Immaculée, along with one other family member, were two of a small number of Tutsis that survived the horrific massacres at the hands of Hutu marauders. While hiding with

seven other women for 91 days in a 3x4 foot bathroom at a pas-tor's home, she found her faith, taught herself English, and most incredibly, com-mitted herself to a life of peace, hope and forgiveness, even forgiving those who had murdered her family. Immaculée has gone on to work at the United Nations, receive five honorary doctoral degrees, write seven books about her faith and her life journey, and receive the Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Reconcilia-tion and Peace. St. Frederick is honored to welcome this inspirational Catholic speaker and would like to extend an invitation to the parishioners of JGS Church to attend. There will be NO CHARGE for admission but seating is limited. Doors open at 6:30pm. VOCATIONS AWARENESS PRAYER SERVICE & MEETING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016 AFTER 5:30 P.M. MASS We extend an invitation to all parishioners to attend the prayer service and to become active members of the Vocations Awareness Committee. The Committee sponsors a number of activities throughout the year to develop an awareness of vocations in our Catholic families. Can you spare an hour or so to foster more vocations? VOCATIONS CHALICE The tradition of the Vocations Chalice is widespread across the country. Each year at this time, Jesus Good Shepherd entrusts a special chalice to the care of a volun-teer family for each of the weeks during Lent. As there are six Sundays in Lent, only six families will be able to adopt the Chalice. The family plac-es the chalice in a place of honor in their home for one week. During this week, the family prays for vocations using the prayer provided or one of their own choosing. The chalice is a visual reminder that the precious blood of Our Lord has saved and redeemed His people, and that He continues to call men and women to serve Him. While the individual families have the privilege of hosting the Vocations Chalice, the rest of us are called to pray for the family and for all of our young people to be alert to God’s voice in their hearts. PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29 6:00PM - 9:00PM PARISH HALL Register online at www.virtus.com

Sunday, January 31 8:30 A.M…………………………………………………..For the Parish 11:00 A.M…………………………..………................…Fr. David Richter 5:00 P.M. …………………………..……...…… Pauline & Bill Riley, Sr. Monday, February 1 6:30 A.M………………....………………....…………….Eleanor Nelson Tuesday, February 2 5:30 P.M………………………………………...……...…...…Poor Souls Wednesday, February 3 6:30 A.M…………………………………………………..Toby Bancroft Thursday, February 4 5:30 P.M…………………………..........……………………..... Patsy Day Friday, February 5 8:10 A.M. ……………………………………………..…..Joe Joe Varino Saturday, February 6 7:30 A.M…………………………………………...………Paul McElroy 4:30 P.M…………………….…….……….…............ Fr. Edmund Moore Sunday, February 7 8:30 A.M…………………………………………….……..For the Parish 11:00 A.M…………………………..……….............................…Patsy Day 5:00 P.M. ………………………….…...…………..………….…Ed Lyon

PARISH FAMILY FAITH & FELLOWSHIP NIGHT!

EVERY WEDNESDAY EVENING!

CHURCH FAMILY SUPPER JGS Cafeteria 5:30pm-6:30pm

FAITH ENRICHMENT PK-9th gd & Confirmation Class 6:30pm-7:30pm

JGS ADULT LIFE GROUPS will start back soon! Stay tuned for info about a NEW Mom’s Group and More!

Childcare will be available! Other ministries are encouraged to have mtgs/faith groups at the same time so that all family members can be involved in a group!

We have many great new titles and subjects on the kiosk just in time for Lent and Valentine’s Day, as well as an assortment of motivating and inspi-rational titles to help you strengthen your faith! Be sure to pick up one or two today and share them with your friends and family!

BOOKS Mercy & Hope We need hope in our world. Flowing forth from the Heart of Jesus is a torrent of mercy that is the source of this much needed hope. Discover how in God's mercy we find a reason for joy here on earth and a reasonable expectation for eternal joy in Heaven. Mike's engaging and straightforward approach sheds light on the following. - The merciful and loving God revealed in the Old Testament - Jesus Christ as the source of mercy and reason for hope - The hope imparted through the message of Divine Mercy given to St. Faustina - Mary's role as the Mother of Mercy and Hope Hope is not merely a feeling, but also an action through which our lives are transformed. Mike provides practical suggestions on how we can live more joyful lives through being merciful to others and receiving mercy ourselves.

How to Find Your Soulmate Without Losing Your Soul While navigating through the dating scene, every woman begins to wonder: How do I know when a guy really loves me? Am I being too picky? Do I even deserve love? Is my relationship worth keeping? Is love worth the risk? Are any decent guys left? Single women often feel left alone to find answers to their deep questions about love and intimacy. Some hang out and hook up, hoping for love. Others are afraid even to hope. At some point, every woman needs reassurance that she—and her standards—are not the problem. In How to Find Your Soulmate without Losing Your Soul, you’ll discover twenty-one strategies to help you raise the bar, instead of sitting at it, waiting around for Mr. Wonderful.

The Hidden Power of Kindness You’re almost certainly not as kind as you ought to be—and your relationships with God and those you love may be suffering as a result. Probably you just can’t find the time—and can’t ever seem to develop the patience—that you need in order to be consistently kind amidst the irritations that afflict you daily. That’s why The Hidden Power of Kindness is such a godsend. There’s nothing complicated or magical about learning to be kinder; it just takes greater attention to the things that you do and how you do them. These pages show you how to become ore aware of even your most offhand daily actions. You’ll find simple, step-by-step, and spiritually crucial directions for who to overcome the habitual unkindnesses that creep—undetected—into the behavior of even the most careful souls. If you want to make progress in the spiritual life, you can’t afford to miss the bracing insights in this handbook for souls who yearn to be kinder. They’ll give you years of solid help in overcoming sin so that, finally, you’ll live more fully with others and more fruitfully in God’s love.

You Did It to Me: A Practical Guide to Mercy in Action You Did It to Me: A Practical Guide to Mercy in Action can transform the culture of your family, parish, and community. This inspiring book from Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC, introduces a new, practical, and joyful approach to living the works of mercy. From homemakers to those in the work place, You Did It to Me reveals rich opportunities to put mercy into action in our everyday lives and provides the practical helps to do so.

Prayer for Beginners Dr. Peter Kreeft, widely respected across all Christian denominational lines for his great variety of spiritual and philosophical works, brings his unique insights to this most important area of our spiritual lives. He claims he himself is still a beginner in prayer, and this book is for all those who, like him, feel that they are not good at praying but desire to become much better at it. Kreeft offers simple but profound advice and practical steps for develop-ing a prayer life based on the time-tested wisdom of the saints and great spiritual writers, especially the principles found in Brother Lawrence’s classic The Practice of the Presence of God. In short, straight-forward, and unsentimental chapters, Kreeft covers all the key areas for understanding and developing that intimate form of communica-tion with our Creator that we call prayer. He covers such areas as the necessity of prayer, various motives and methods, steps, patience, suffering, sin, faith, and grace

BOOKLETS + Stations of the Cross with Pope Francis + Pray the Rosary +The Call to Evangelize + Understanding Catholic Teaching on the Blessed Virgin Mary + The Christian Faith + Divine Mercy Explained

DVD’S + Mary Learn what Catholics really believe about Mary + True Strength, True Beauty Helps youth understand what it takes to be a real man and how to understand and appreciate the gift of femininity. + Beloved Explores the mystery and meaning of marriage through the total gift of self. CD’S + The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic + Love Hurts + Beloved + Meditations on The Stations of the Cross + Rising Above: From Tragedy to Triumph + Light in the Darkness + Contemporary Sainthood + Science, The Origin of the Universe, and God + For Love & Marriage + The Miracles of the Divine Mercy + How to Date Your Soulmate + A Voice for the Unborn + Men, Women, & the Mystery of Love + From Love, By Love, For Love + My Beloved Son + Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist + How to Win the World without Losing Your Soul + The Shot Heard Round the World + St. Joseph, the Patron of the Universal Church + A Pastor’s Wife’s Journey Home + Surviving with God in a Communist POW Camp

DIRECTION FOR OUR TIMES Volume One: Thoughts on Spirituality Volume Two: Conversations with The Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Volume Three: Part 1- God the Father Speaks to His Children, Part 2 - The Blessed Mother Speaks to her Bishops and Priests Volume Four: Part 1- Jesus the King, Part 2 - Heaven Speaks to Priests, Part 3 - Jesus Speaks to Sinners Volume Six: Heaven Speaks to Families Volume Seven: Greetings Volume Nine: Angels Volume Ten: Jesus Speaks to His Apostles

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EEEACHACHACH FFFRIDAYRIDAYRIDAY INININ LLLENTENTENT 5:305:305:30PMPMPM JGS CJGS CJGS CHURCHHURCHHURCH

Bring a Friend!Bring a Friend!Bring a Friend!

STATIONSSTATIONSSTATIONS OF THE CROSSOF THE CROSSOF THE CROSS PARISH SMALL FAITH COMMUNITIES

All groups are open, everyone is welcome!

Small Faith Communities: Please join us in one of the following: Sunday Morning: …………………………..9:45 AM- 10:45 AM in Parish Hall Tuesday Morning: ……...Early Morning Men’s Group 6:30 AM in Parish Hall Wednesday Lunch Hour: ………….Men’s Group In Parish Hall at 11:30 AM Wednesday Afternoon: …………………1:30pm in Parlor (Scripture study) Wednesday Afternoon: ………………12:00pm at parishioners home (Women’s Bible Study) Wednesday Evening : ……….In parishioners homes from 7:00 PM-8:30 PM. Thursday Evening : ……………………………………7:00 PM in Parish Hall

Call the church office if you have questions or would like more information: 325-7549

ASH WEDNESDAY MASSES Wednesday, February 10

6:30 a.m. 8:10 a.m. 5:30 p.m. weekend of February 6th & 7th.

JGS SOUP KITCHEN (MEALS ON WHEELS) SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6. 9:00AM CAB BLDG (KC HALL - corner of Tower Dr. & Oliver Rd.) If you would like to drive or co-pilot a route or participate in preparing or packing the meals you may sign-up Gathering Space of the church beginning the weekend of January 23 and 24. We also need help in purchasing the food items used in preparing the meals. For further information, you can call 381-9670. STATIONS OF THE CROSS Stations of the Cross will be held each Friday at 5:30 p.m. during Lent. Afterwards there will be a fellowship dinner in Moore Hall with delicious soup and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. Join us and bring a friend! THE MARRIAGE YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED 1-DAY COUPLES RETREAT SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH 9:00AM-4:00PM Join us for a one-day retreat featuring Gary Chapman’s series The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted. Topics include: Communication 101, Understanding and Express-ing Love, Initiating Positive Change, How to Share the Things that Bug You, and more! A nursery will be provided as well as lunch and snacks. Register in the gathering space or on the church website.. WORLD MARRIAGE DAY MASS & DINNER SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13 4:30PM MASS DINNER TO FOLLOW AT THE CHURCH For all couples celebrating their decade and half decade wedding anniversaries in 2016 (5, 10, 15, 20, etc.) and for those married 70+ years, our parish would like to honor you on World Marriage Day by celebrating at the 4:30pm Mass on Satur-day, February 13th with a dinner to follow as well as recognizing these special anniversaries at all the Masses that weekend. Please fill out the short form in the Gathering Space or on the church website, www.jgschurch.org by Friday, February 5th. Recognizing married couples in our parish is a wonderful example for the young and engaged couples to witness the importance of the Sacrament of Mar-riage. Please join us in celebrating this sometimes challenging but marvelous Voca-tion in the Church.

ULM CATHOLIC CAMPUS MINISTRY LENTEN FISH FRY TICKETS ON SALE NOW! MEALS START FEB. 12TH LENTEN MISSION WITH FR. STEVEN LEFORT FEBRUARY 22 - 24 JGS CHURCH 6:30 P.M. NURSERY WILL BE AVAILABLE Mark your calendars and plan on attending the 2016 JGS Lenten Mission with Fr. Steven Lefort of the Houma/Thibodeaux Diocese. Fr. Lefort will be speaking on subjects near and dear to our hearts but will be diving deeper with apologetics in regards to Mary, Our Blessed Mother; Reconciliation; and The Eucharist. A nursery will be available and there will be a fellowship dinner in Moore Hall following the Wednesday night talk.

PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS Elections will be held the weekend of April 23-24, 2016. If you or anyone you know would be interested in serving a 3 year term on the council, please call the office (325-7549) or contact any council member . The parish pastoral council serves as an advisory board to our pastor and staff. We need dynamic parishioners interest-ed in helping to keep our parish momentum going and growing!

MERCY MINISTRIES VALENTINE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11 The JGS Mercy Ministries team will host a Valentine’s party for the young ladies of Mercy Ministries on Thursday, February 11th. Deserts and Valentine sweets will be served, gifts, flowers, and door prizes will be presented, and sticker and painting exercises will be part of the schedule of events. This is one of five events that JGS sponsors annually for the Mercy Ministries residents. If you would like to know how you can join the JGS Mercy Ministries team, please contact J. Randolph (Randy) Smith, Community Outreach Director, at 387-9118 or 387-6496. SVDP SOCIETY FLEA MARKET/ RUMMAGE SALE SAT., MARCH 5 7:00AM - 12:00PM ST. PASCHAL’S C.C. GYM (West Monroe) The annual SVDP Society flea market and rummage sale to benefit the organization’s downtown Monroe Community Pharmacy is coming up. For more information, please contact J. Randolph (Randy) Smith, at 387-6469 or 387-9118. If you have any items to donate for the sale and/or can provide baked goods, please bring them to the St. Paschal gym directly behind the church in West Mon-roe on Friday, March 4 between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. For further information call 381-9670. DYNAMIC SPIRITUAL BOUQUET

One of the four elements of a “Dynamic Catholic” is a regular prayer life. Lent begins on February 10, 2016, and this year, the Vocations Awareness Committee invites all parishioners to become more “dynamic” by participating in an Easter Spiritual Bouquet. Instead of flowers, a Spiritual Bouquet consists of pious practices that we can offer up for those

church leaders living out their vocations as priests, seminarians and religious in our Diocese. Our seminarians and others appreciate our prayers on their behalf. On Sunday, February 7, 2016, you will find a form in the bulletin which will give you more information and help you keep track of your pray-ers and other practices. Everyone will be asked to turn in the forms at a later date so that they can be sent to the appropriate recipients to let them know we love and support them.

which they carried in a sealed envelope. Cardinal Deskur asked many ques-tions about Anne and her obedience to her bishop and the Church. Cardi-nal Deskur was given the following message which Anne received before they left for Rome:

Jesus, April 5, 2004 “I would ask My servants to present these words as words from

heaven. I have a great mission that I wish to accomplish through these messages and I have attached graces that are unimaginable

to human minds. Those who read them will understand if they have been called to participate in this heavenly project. Ask Me

for guidance in this matter and guidance will be available to every person who pays attention to My will. Good and holy children of

God, understand that these times are not like other times. These messages are not like other messages. I am trying to save many souls at this time. Do not think this can be done in the future. It must be done now. I ask that you treat this work according to My heavenly request for urgency. Your reward will be no small thing,

even though I know you serve from love, not personal inter-est. Feel My graces flow through these words to your soul. Feel

My truth as I convey it to you. All is well, as I am directing all, but I need many ‘yes’ answers at this time.”

Cardinal Deskur agreed to take the twelve personal messages to Pope John Paul II the next day at their brunch on Easter Sunday. He kept a copy of the four Volumes as well as Anne’s personal journal. The Cardinal directed Jim Gilboy to take a copy of the Volumes to (then) Cardinal Ratzinger’s office, which he did. On Easter Sunday, the group was privileged to sit on the same platform as the altar for Easter Sunday mass. After mass, they saw the Car-dinal moving toward his van to attend brunch with the Holy Father. Some religious sisters accompanied him carrying the sealed envelope containing the personal messages for Pope John Paul II. By the end of May 2004, publication of Volumes One through Four had been completed and the process of disseminating them to religious bookstores and the general public began. In September 2004, Archbishop Philip Hannan of New Orleans, Louisiana began reading the Volumes. He was so inspired by these words from heaven that he decided his FOCUS Worldwide Televi-sion Network needed to play a role in getting the Volumes distributed quickly. He spoke with Anne’s bishop, met with Anne and filmed a series of interviews with Anne and her team. These programs that began to be aired in October 2004 launched the mission throughout the United States. On October 15, 2004, Anne recorded the last message for Volume Ten. Jesus indicated that this body of work, The Volumes, was now com-plete. Volume Six was published in October. At the end of October, two religious sisters returned to Rome to deliver the remaining sets of the Vol-umes to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and to Cardinal Deskur. The Cardinal received the remaining Volumes. Volumes Seven, Nine and Ten were published in December 2004. At that time Bishop Leo O’Reil-ly withheld his permission to print Volumes Five and Eight. He would decide at what time they could go to print in the future (These Volumes have been released and printed in 2013). Also in December 2004, Anne received the first monthly messages from Jesus. On the first of every month Our Lord began giving messages to the world. Due to continued growth of the mission, in December 2004, the nonprofit organization Direction for Our Times was formed. It was created to focus specifically on the mission of spreading the messages revealed to Anne, a lay apostle around the world. The USA office for Direction for Our Times was located in Alsip, Illinois and was later moved to Justice, Illinois just outside Chicago. The Ireland office for Direction for Our Times was located in Bailieborough, County Cavan and was later moved to Cavan, County Cav-an. Archbishop Philip Hannan, since he had begun to use his FOCUS Worldwide Television Network to promote and distribute the messages recorded by Anne, a lay apostle, decided he should meet with Andrzej Maria Cardinal Deskur and members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome in order to inform the Holy Office that the demand for these books was very great and that they had an excellent effect on those who read them. So in January 2005, Archbishop Hannan went to Rome for this pur-

pose. There he met with Anne and Cardinal Deskur and a few others to-gether, and also he had a private meeting with Cardinal Deskur. He also met with other members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith including Fr. Anthonly Randazzo. Fr. Randazzo clearly stated that he had no criticism of the decisions and actions of Bishop Leo O’Reilly regarding the handling of the messages recorded by Anne, that it was too early yet for the Holy Office to make a decision regarding Anne’s messages since it had only been happening for two years, and that the Holy Office wished to allow the messages to continue and to have Bishop O’Reilly continue to report the events to the Holy Office. In April 2005, Direction for Our Times hosted the first Eucharistic Day of Renewal in Tinley Park, Illinois. There would be many more of these EDR’s in the future at various locations around the world. These have been days that include talks, prayer, confession, mass and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus has promised great graces to be given at these Eucharistic Days of Renewal. In May 2005, Jesus gave Anne a set of guidelines for those called to serve Jesus in this mission of mercy. Bishop Leo O’Reilly gave permission for the formation of the Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King whose members would follow these guidelines to the best of their ability. In fol-lowing these guidelines, lay apostles around the world have since formed hundreds of lay apostle prayer groups that meet on a monthly basis. For more information on the Lay Apostolate and the guidelines, click here. That summer Direction for Our Times hosted its first monthly lay apostle prayer group at St. Anne’s Church in Bailieborough, Ireland, which would continue to meet regularly on the first Thursday of every month. As these prayer groups continued, Anne would many times be present to give a short talk. Later these talks were streamed live over the Internet and also rec-orded. In June 2005 Our Lord directed Anne to begin recording a series of ten short booklets with messages from Jesus, Mary and the saints for specific groups of souls. They became known as the Heaven Speaks booklets.

Near the end of the summer of 2005, Jesus brought Anne mystically with Him to heav-en. Anne spent time over the next two weeks journeying and recording what she describes as “the tip of the tip” of what awaits us in heav-en. Following this Jesus directed her to write about the lessons she learned in her personal journey to sanctification. Here, Jesus gave Anne

topics and asked her to write about them. The book, Climbing the Mountain, was the result of her heavenly experiences and Our Lord’s instructions. In September 2005, the first issue of the Direction for Our Times newsletter was released. This newsletter has continued to bring news of the aposto-late to lay apostles around the world four times a year. That month Anne received a series of locutions from St. Faustina. These messages can be found in Climbing the Mountain. She told her that Anne’s mission and St. Faustina’s mission were destined to be joined. The next month, October 2005, Anne was invited to go on a brief pilgrimage to the International Di-vine Mercy Shrine in Krakow, Poland. While there, she met with the Moth-er Superior of the order to which St. Faustina belonged, the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. After sharing her experiences with the Mother Superior, the Mother Superior realized that a painted image of Jesus that she had received should actually go to Anne. It was the image of Jesus Christ the Returning King.

That December 2005, Climbing the Mountain was published. And in the beginning of 2006 Anne was taken mystically with Jesus to purgatory. She recorded her experienc-es. These and other writings became the book The Mist of Mercy published in July 2006. In the summer of 2006, Jesus spoke to Anne about the Holy Trinity Abbey in Kilnacrott,

Jim Gilboy and Sr. Pius meet Pope John Paul II

Blessed Pope John Paul II receives Volume Two from Sr. Pius

Continued from front page Ireland. This was an abbey run by an order of Norbertine priests. Jesus told Anne he wanted Direction for Our Times to purchase the abbey. It would become a site of pilgrimage for the apostolate. Anne received visions on what the place would become, and Jesus showed her the great graces that would be given to those who came to pray at the abbey. Direction for Our Times began the long process of raising funds to purchase the abbey and arranging a purchasing agreement with the Norbertine priests living there. In June 2006, Bishop Leo O’Reilly assigned Fr. Darragh Connolly to be the

full time chaplain to Direction for Our Times. He also wrote a public letter expressing his current position on Anne and Direction for Our Times. Then in August and September 2006 Anne received a series of messages from Jesus and Mary, Our Blessed Mother, about the New Time which would form part of the book, Serving in Clarity. Fol-lowing that, in Advent 2006, Jesus directed Anne to record messages for ten more Heaven Speaks booklets with messages from heaven directed to

specific groups of souls. This completed the Heaven Speaks series. Also in December 2006 Anne received mystical visions of the mountain of holiness which would form part of Serving in Clarity. In Spring 2007 Anne began recording her experiences of mystical visions that would form part of the book Lessons in Love. In August 2007 Direction for Our Times published Anne’s writings called In Defense of Obedience & Reflec-tions on the Priesthood. And then nearly a year later in July 2008, Serving in Clarity was finally published containing messages from Jesus and Mary about the New Time, visions of the mountain of holiness and much more. Then in September 2008, Anne received mystical visions of the church in various circumstances. These were called the Purity of the Church visions and would form part of the book Whispers from the Cross. In 2008, the office of Direction for Our Times in Ireland was beginning to feel overwhelmed with the amount of work they had for their very small number of staff. Jesus told Anne that He was sending help. During the sum-mer of 2008 Direction for Our Times prepared to open two discernment houses in Ireland, one for young men and another for young women. During this time several young men and women had been led by the Spirit to Direc-tion for Our Times all in different ways but converging at the same time that Direction for Our Times was planning to open these discernment hous-es. Anne received permission from Bishop Leo O’Reilly to open these hous-es in Bailieborough, Ireland, and on October 1, 2008, the two discernment houses opened with four young men (3 Americans, 1 Irish) and 3 young women (1 American, 2 Irish). These young people dedicated a year to dis-cerning their vocations while working directly with Direction for Our Times. They helped to put on several retreats for high school students in Ireland and helped with all other aspects of spreading the messages of Jesus Christ the Returning King. Several young people continue to discern their vocation while helping spread the mission by working with Direction for Our Times. On June 8, 2009, Bishop Leo O’Reilly setup a diocesan commission to exam-ine the writings of Anne, a lay apostle, and to evaluate her reports of receiv-ing these heavenly messages. The commission has concluded its work. As stated in a public letter by Bishop O’Reilly in September of 2011, the out-come of the commission will be made public in due course. The locutions given to Anne continued. In January 2010 she recorded a series of messages from Jesus which would form part of the book Whispers from the Cross. And then by Christmas of 2010, the next book by Anne, a lay apostle was released, Lessons in Love. In September 2011, Bishop Leo O’Reilly wrote another public letter reiterat-ing his current position on Anne and Direction for Our Times, reaffirming his permission for the writings to be printed and disseminated. A few months later in December 2011 Whispers from the Cross was published. At the same time two other books were published, Jesus Speaks to Children and Mary, Our Blessed Mother, Speaks to Children. These two books took the messages from Jesus and Mary to children in Volume Six and put them in separate books along with beautiful illustrations of Jesus and Mary with chil-dren.

In August of 2012, Direction for Our Times compiled all the twenty Heaven Speaks booklets into one book called the Heaven Speaks Compila-tion. This was originally created for prisoners so they could have all the booklets in one book. In August it was released to the public. There was another significant event in the history of the mission that month of August 2012. Finally after years of fundraising, negotiating and patiently waiting, the purchase of Holy Trinity Abbey was completed. Direction for Our Times came into full ownership of the abbey. Direction for Our Times has agreed to allow the Norbertine priests who live there and had owned the place to continue to live there for three years. Afterwards, Direction for Our Times plans to work on much needed renovations and other building projects for the site.

In July of 2012, Jesus notified Anne that the next month she would re-ceive the last monthly message from Jesus to the world. On August 1, 2012 she received the last monthly message which completed this body of work which was later compiled into one book and published in De-cember of 2012, called Monthly Messages. In January 2013, Bishop Leo O’Reilly granted permission for Volume Five and Volume Eight to be printed and released. Finally, after being recorded more than eight and a half years earlier, Volume Five was printed and re-leased in February 2013. Volume Eight was printed and released in August 2013. What began with a mother and wife’s simple obedience to Jesus in re-cording a spiritual journal has turned into a worldwide mission of mercy, a rescue mission for souls spanning the globe. Through these messages from heaven people have received beautiful and powerful graces that have drawn them deep inside the heart of Jesus and His Church. The messages continue to spread and be translated into numerous languages by the efforts of Direction for Our Times and dedicated lay apostles around the world.

The Role of Anne, a lay apostle In 2003 Anne, a lifelong Catholic, began receiving messages that she later understood were interior locutions from Jesus, God the Father, Mary and some of the saints. Under the direction of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Anne serves as anonymously as possible.

On April 16, 2005, Our Lady told Anne: “I want you to retain your private life as a mother and wife. In order for this to be possible, souls must obey my instructions. Anne, you will speak for Jesus and represent this mission. When you are speaking, you are Anne. When you are working for this mission, you are Anne. When you are serving your family at home or away from home, you are a mother and wife and you belong to your family. Souls must be respectful of this because your vocation must be protect-ed. If the situation arose that you were serving this mission and your family was suffering, we would take you from the mission. You have a heavenly duty, Anne, so please advise souls to be respectful. You will bring great graces to others but only through obedience to heaven. I will help you with each situation but we are serious about this distinction of service. Your family will not suffer. I am person-ally appealing to each soul to respect this woman’s anonymity.”

Anne has said the following about her role in this mission: “When you approach a castle you pay homage to the king, not the janitor. Don’t write about me. Write about the lay apostles and the mission Jesus has for them.”

Anne has said this about the messages revealed in this work: “Consider that Jesus Christ wants to talk to you. Allow for the possibility that He is doing so through these works. The consistent experience of people who have read the Volumes is, ‘I felt like He was talking to me.’ Well, He was. If you are interested to know what Jesus Christ has to say to you, pick up one of these works and see if the graces are there. They are so heavily weighted with graces. The words are recorded by a flawed human being, but the graces that flow through the words are heavenly and magnificent. There is a temptation for some people to focus on me because I typed the words for Jesus. This is a mistake. I am like every other apostle who is trying to serve Jesus in this time. I serve from within the ranks of the apostolate and pray that others will trust the priests chosen by the Lord to oversee and protect this mission, and allow me to serve quietly.”

Fr. Darragh Connolly, chaplain to Direction for

Our Times