marian helper fall 2011

8/2/2019 Marian Helper Fall 2011

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Marian Helper

DivineMercy Doctor

Ronald Sobecks, MD,helps his patients

triumph over cancerthrough Divine Mercy

Inspiration and news from the Marians of the Immaculate Conception

Two new Marian priests • Remembering 9/11 • Apostles of Mercy Club

www.marian.org

Fall 2011• $2.25



Order now: 1-800-462-7426 G marian.org/catalogOrder now: 1-800-462-7426 G marian.org/catalog All prices are in U.S. funds. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery of phone or online orders. To order by mail, please see “Order Info” on page 3.

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F E A T U R E S8 25 years for Blessed George

Marians to celebrate silver anniversary of

Renovator’s beatification.

BY DAN VALENTI

12 His walk of lifeThis doctor’s on

the move to share

the healing

message of Divine

Mercy with his

cancer patients.

BY FELIX CARROLL

15 September 11remembrance‘Evil and death do not have the final say.’BY FELIX CARROLL

16 Here’s to the HelpersThe Marians’ newest priests give thanks

for a precious gift.

BY FELIX CARROLL

20 Our duty of mercyWhy we should remember in our prayers theHoly Souls, especially during November.

BY ANDREW LEECO AND DAN VALENTI

24 Apostles of Mercy ClubStudents at New Jersey Catholic school

are ‘into Divine Mercy.’

BY DAN VALENTI

AMH DIRECTOR/PUBLISHER

Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC“Father Joseph, MIC”

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

David Came

SENIOR WRITER/EDITOR

Dan Valenti

SR. DESIGNER/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Andrew Leeco

WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER

Felix Carroll

WRITER

Sarah M. Chichester

AMH GENERAL PROMOTER

Br. Andrew R. Mà czyƒski, MIC

MARIAN HELPEROn the cover: Ronald M. Sobecks, MD, prepares to make his roundsat the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Sobecks is anoncologist/hematologist and author of a new book on God’s mercy,human suffering, and cancer. Photo by Felix Carroll.

MISSION STATEMENTMARIAN HELPER is intended to serve members of the Association of Marian

Helpers (AMH), a spiritual benefit society of the Marian Fathers of theImmaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The magazine seeks to provide spiritual nourishment, education about the Catholicfaith, and information about the mission and good works of the Marians. It alsoprovides information about Association services and presents opportunities tosupport the mission and good works of the Congregation.

MARIAN HELPER is published quarterly by the Marian Fathers of the ImmaculateConception. It is sent free of charge to active members of the Association.

Printed in the USA with ecclesiastical approval. Copyright © 2011 MarianFathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. All rights reserved. Send allcorrespondence to: Association of Marian Helpers, Editorial Dept., Eden Hill,Stockbridge, MA 01263. e-mail: [email protected] website: marian.org

I n s i d eVol. 66, No. 3 Fall 2011

D E P A R T M E N T S

4 Father Joseph WritesTo you from the Director of the

Association of Marian Helpers.

5 Father Joseph’s MailboxYour letters to the Director/Publisher.

7 Ask a MarianYour questions for Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC.

10 In the NewsNew Marian provincial shares

his priorities.

BY DAN VALENTI

22 Shrine NewsNew rector’s No. 1 goal:

Engineer a spiritual experience.BY DAN VALENTI

26 Graces ReceivedThanksgiving for prayers

answered through Blessed

Stanislaus Papczynski.

27 Remembered on Eden HillMemorial and tribute opportunities.

29 Outstanding HelpersProfiles of Helpers who support

the Marians in special ways.

BY ELLEN MILLER

32 Between UsWhy I have hope.

BY A HELPER AND A MARIAN

NC

DC

THE



Marian Fathers of theImmaculate Conception

The Marians are a Congregationof nearly 500 priests and brothersin 19 countries around the world.

We support the Holy

Father and embrace theofficial teachings of theCatholic Church in ourspecial calling to:

• Spread devotionto Mary as theImmaculateConception.

• Offer our lives for the Holy Souls inPurgatory, especially the victims of warand disease.

• Operate publishingapostolates andassist where theneed is greatestin parishes, shrines,and missions.

• Promote The DivineMercy message anddevotion.

• Organize people of good will to workwith and through us to bring Christ

everywhere.

Association of Marian Helpers (AMH)

The Association is a spiritualbenefit society that prayerfully andfinancially supports Marian priestsand brothers.

More than 2 million members share inthe spiritual benefits of the Holy Masses,prayers, and good works of the Marians.

Through Marian Helper magazine andother printed materials, membersreceive information about the Marianfamily and are encouraged to strivefor personal holiness.

Membership ListOur membership list is generally kept private. We do not share e-mail addresses. We sometimes offer onlynames and addresses of inactivemembers to reputable charitableorganizations whose materials orservices we think might be of interest.If you prefer that we not share yourname, please tell us:

e-mail: [email protected] free: 1-800-462-7426

For more details, go online tomarian.org/house/privacy.php

SERVICES & M IN ISTRIES

Marian Helpers CenterHeadquarters and publishing center for the Associationof Marian Helpers.

toll free: 1-800-462-7426

online: marian.orgMarian Helper magazineWhile the cover price is $2.25, this magazine is published quarterlyand sent free of charge to members and to Marian supporters whohave made a gift to or a purchase from the Marians in the last 12months. Free sample magazine (code B-MHIP).

Fuente de Misericordia magazinePublished for Spanish-speaking members of the Association andfriends. No subscription fee; donations appreciated.Free sample magazine (code B-FHIP).online: marianos.nettoll free: 1-800-462-7426, ext. 3

Roze Maryi magazinePublished quarterly for Polish-speaking members of the Association

and friends. No subscription fee; donations appreciated.Free sample magazine (code B-RHIP).online: marian.orgtoll free: 1-800-462-7426, ext. 4

Holy Souls Sodality (membership with newsletter) Join with Marian Helpers and the Marian Fathers in offering Massesand prayers for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.Free sample (code B-HSCI). online: prayforsouls.org

Thirteenth of the Month Club (membership with newsletter) Join Marian Helpers who share the Marians’ love of Mary and praythe Rosary. Free sample newsletter (code B-TMCI).

Friends of Mercy (membership with newsletter) Join with Marian Helpers who pray The Divine Mercy Chaplet andperform works of mercy. Free sample newsletter (code B-FMCI).

Circle of Light (membership with calendar)A votive candle is lit every month for each club member’s intention.Other spiritual benefits. Free invitation packet (code B-CLCI).

Enrollments in the AssociationEnroll yourself or others, living or deceased. Call to haveenrollment cards sent to you free of charge to keep on hand.Offering requested after use.

toll free: 1-800-462-7426online: marian.org

National Shrine of The Divine MercyShrine Office

Open weekdays 9 a.m.–5 p.m.Inquire about making a day of renewalor a self-guided retreat. Ask for our“Spiritual Renewal Opportunities”brochure.phone: (413) 298-3931

Holy MassesWeekdays 2 p.m.Saturdays 8 a.m., 2 p.m.Sundays 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m.

Sacrament of ReconciliationDaily 1–2 p.m.

Divine Mercy Chaplet& Novena/Benediction

Daily at 3 p.m.Pilgrimages to the ShrineBus groups should pre-registerwith Pilgrimage Office.

phone: (413) 298-1118e-mail: [email protected]: National Shrine of The Divine Mercy

Eden Hill, Stockbridge, MA 01262

Shrine Gift ShopOpen daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Closed during Sunday Masses.Call for holiday hours.

toll free: 1-888-484-1112online: divinemercygiftshop.org

John Paul II Instituteof Divine MercyThe Institute on Eden Hill, Stockbridge,Mass., works with Church leadersaround the world to spread The DivineMercy message and devotion throughresearch, formation, teaching, andevangelization. It offers programs and mate-rials for clergy, religious, and lay leaders.

phone: (866) 895-3236online: thedivinemercy.org/JPII

W H O W E A R E

2 M ARIAN HELPER • Fall 2011 • www.marian.org



M ARIAN HELPER • Fall 2011 • www.marian.org 3

EucharisticApostlesof The DivineMercy (EADM)EADM’s cenaclemembers in parishesaround the world prayand study, promotereciting The Divine Mercy Chaplet during Eucharistic Adorationfor the sick and dying, and perform works of mercy locally.

toll free: 1-877-380-0727online: thedivinemercy.org/EADM

Mother of MercyMessengers (MOMM) Joan and Dave Maroney are dedicatedto helping you bring the message of Divine Mercy to a hurting world. Callor visit online to explore exciting waysto share the message with your parishand the youth in your community.

phone: (830) 634-7765online: thedivinemercy.org/MOMM

Healthcare Professionals forDivine MercyThis apostolate offers nurses, physicians,and allied healthcare professionals a uniqueprogram of formation that integrates thespirituality and devotional elements of TheDivine Mercy message into patient care. Itsformation program includes a nurse’s

handbook, a spiritual care plan for patients, conferences withCEUs, retreats, and cenacles.

e-mail: [email protected]: thedivinemercy.org/healthcaretoll free: 1-877-380-0727

Divine Mercy IntercessoryPrayer MinistryPrayer intentions may be mailed,phoned, or e-mailed. Each intention isprayed for individually by an intercessorand remembered in weekday Masses atOur Lady of Mercy Oratory and in3 o’clock prayers on Eden Hill.

toll free: 1-800-804-3823e-mail: [email protected]

Divine Mercy Parish MissionsBring the message of Divine Mercy to your parish. The Marianscan come to your parish and speak about Divine Mercy. CallBr. Michael Baker, MIC, to set up your parish mission today.

Call: 1-413-298-1307e-mail: [email protected]

WebsitesMeet the Marians. Tour the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy.Read Marian Helper magazine. Send online greetings. Shop online.

online: marian.orgthedivinemercy.org

en español: marianos.netladivinamisericordia.org

CatalogCall or write for our free catalog.

toll free: 1-800-462-7426mail: Marian Helpers Center

Eden HillStockbridge, MA 01263

Order InfoAllow 2-3 weeks for delivery of phone or online orders;2-4 weeks for mail orders. Operators are available(Eastern Time): Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

toll free: 1-800-462-7426 shop online: marian.orgmail: Order Department

Association of Marian HelpersStockbridge, MA 01263

checks payable to: Marian Helperspostage/handling: U.S. Canada

$.01-$20.00 . . . $4.95 p/h . . . $6.50 p/h$20.01-$35.00 . . . $6.95 p/h . . . $8.95 p/h$35.01-$75.00 . . . $7.95 p/h . . . $10.50 p/h

$75.01- $125.00 . . . $8.95 p/h . . . $12.95 p/hover $125.00 . . . 10% of subtotal . . . 15% of subtotal

H O W Y O UC A N H E L P

We depend onMarian Helpers like you

Through your offerings for enroll-ments, novenas, or special gifts,you support seminarians, missions,and our apostolates of publishingand Divine Mercy.

Special gift planning mayinclude gifts of:

• Cash

• Appreciated stocks,bonds, or mutual funds

• Life insurance

• Memorial or tribute gifts

• Charitable gift annuities

• Wills• Living trusts

• Charitable remainder trusts

• Retirement plans

• Named scholarshipsand endowments

When makingyour will …

A sample form of bequest to theMarians is:

I give and bequeath to theMarian Fathers of the ImmaculateConception of the B.V.M.,Stockbridge, MA 01262, ____%of my adjusted gross estate(or $_______, or a specific asset)to be used for its religious and educational purposes.

Free informationon gift planning

Please contact:

Ellen Miller, Fr. Joseph’s Directorof Special Gifts

Association of Marian Helpers

Stockbridge, MA [email protected]

FindMarianHelpers

on Facebook!



I’m incredibly blessed. For the last yearand a half, I’ve had the joy of living rightnext door to one of the most grace-filled

pilgrimage sites in North America, theNational Shrine of The Divine Mercy. Duringmy time here, I’ve met pilgrims from aroundthe world. Often, they come to thank God forblessings received.

For example, one man came to the Shrineto thank God for finding a new job; a marriedcouple traveled here on a pilgrimage of thanksgiving for the grace of conceiving achild after years of barrenness; an elderlyman paid a visit to show his gratitude to theLord for helping him kick a decade’s-oldaddiction to alcohol.

Then, there’s my dad. He was here lastyear to thank God for what he believes was amiraculous cure from cancer.

In 1995, my dad was diagnosed with stage3-4 cancer of the bladder. Prior to the diag-nosis, he hadn’t been a very religious person.In fact, he had stopped going to Mass when Iwas a kid.

For more than 30 years, he was a no-nonsense, hard-working truck driver whosupplied cement to construction sites in someof the toughest areas in Los Angeles County,and I do mean tough. One day, a guy pulleda gun on him in Watts. Another time, inCompton, a hard-core gang member attacked

him with a hammer. Then,there were the horribleauto accidents: a 10-carpile-up on the HollywoodFreeway, a head-oncollision off the 605,

a jackknifed semithat landed on a

minivan. Seeingand experiencing

these kinds of things hard-

ened hisheart.

That changed one Divine Mercy Sundaywhen my dad had a conversion. He suddenlydecided to go to confession and resolved to goto Mass every Sunday. Then, when he wouldgo to Mass, he felt drawn to the image of TheDivine Mercy that hung on the wall at ourparish. In fact, he would insist on sitting rightin front of this image every time we went tochurch, and he’d stare at it.

One day after Mass, he told me on the sly,“Hey, Mike. See that image over there? Theone with those rays?” “Yeah, Dad” I replied.“Well, those rays, they’re doing something tome,” he said.

Shortly after his Divine Mercy conversion,my dad had to undergo surgery to remove hiscancer. Three other surgeries had beenunsuccessful. This time, however, after pray-ing before the image of The Divine Mercy, mydad felt there would be something different.In fact, he was completely convinced that thiswould be the last surgery.

The surgery was successful. That was 14years ago, and the cancer still hasn’treturned. My dad has absolutely no doubt itwas the rays of Divine Mercy that healed him.

Anyone who has been through cancerknows the misery it can cause. I clearlyremember my dad’s mental and physicalanguish when he was dealing with it.That’s precisely why the rays of God’smercy reach out to people with cancer.But you don’t have to just take my word forit … or my dad’s.

See our cover story in the magazine onRonald Sobecks, MD, and his new book abouthow Divine Mercy heals, consoles, andstrengthens people in their battles with cancer.It’s called Divine Mercy, Triumph over Cancer ,and it contains prof iles of a number of remarkable cancer survivors. If you orsomeone you love is suffering from cancer, Irecommend you get this book and learn howthe rays of God’s mercy are reaching out,waiting to give strength and hope.

WritesFather Joseph

“Father Joseph, MIC,” is the honorary title of the director ofthe Association of Marian Helpers. The current director isFr. Michael Gaitley, MIC.

My dad and his cure from cancer




‘An indescribable moment’I would like to share with you my wonder-

ful experience at the beatification of John

Paul II.It was about 12:30

a.m. on May 1, DivineMercy Sunday, whenwe reached Rome. Iwas traveling withtwo busloads of Polish pilgrims fromWarsaw. I had flown

to Poland to journeywith this group of pilgrims to witnessthe beatification.

About 2 a.m., our group of 90 pilgrimswalked around the corner, and we saw hun-dreds of thousands of people before us, allfacing the beautifully lit Basilica of St. Peter’sin the distance. In the foreground, there were

many flags from all over the world beingwaved by the pilgrims to the accompanimentof spirited songs and prayers.

From start to finish, I experienced anextraordinary grace and felt many times theintercession of John Paul II with us. Just afterPope Benedict XVI pronounced John Paul IIblessed, there was an indescribable moment,with a continuous roar of applause and

swirling of flags that moved in waves acrossthe sea of pilgrims from around the world. Themoment brought tears to my eyes, and Icontinued to cry through the Holy Mass. I alsohad goose bumps up and down my spineduring the whole magnificent event. It was asif the grace pouring forth from St. Peter’s wasvisible on this occasion — rays of mercifulgrace were pouring out over the whole world.

Blessed John Paul II was an amazinginstrument of The Divine Mercy. May hiscanonization come swiftly. Thank you,Blessed John Paul II, for your tremendouswitness of hope and faith.

—CD, New Hampshire

Thank you for sharing your inspiring experience

of the beatification, which we covered in our last

issue of the magazine. I invite all the MarianHelpers to pray that Blessed John Paul II may be

canonized soon.

— Fr. Joseph, MIC

‘Our world would be so much better’I am an eighth-grade student at Nativity

of Our Lord Catholic School. I read about

your organization, and I was very impressed.Thank you for building schools, medical facil-ities, and churches for the poor in developingcountries. I think it is wonderful that youcare for so many people. If everyone did whatyou do daily, our world would be so muchbetter.

— AN, Rhinelander, Wis.

Your encouragement is appreciated. We are all

called to perform works of mercy, especially for our brothers and sisters who are most in need.

— Fr. Joseph, MIC

‘I believe the Lord answered my prayers’I would like to give praise and thanksgiving

to our merciful Lord Jesus for answering myprayer for my brother.

He was dying, and I received a call that hewould not survive long enough for me toreach his bedside. I stopped and knelt beforemy picture of The Divine Mercy, saying, “Lord,I do not know what state my brother’s soul isin, but I’m sure like the Good Thief, he wouldsay he is a sinner and in need of Your DivineMercy. I believe You, Lord, when you said anyperson for whom the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

is said at the hour of his death, You will standbetween Your Father and the dying person notas the just Judge but as the merciful Savior. Jesus, I trust in You.”

After that, I received three confirmationsthat the Lord had answered my prayer:

G I was told my brother died at exactly 3 p.m.G During Mass that day, the priest spoke

about not giving up on people at the end of

their lives.G I walked into the church and saw a single

Divine Mercy prayercard on the bulletin board.Thank you for all you do through the Divine

Mercy Intercessory Prayer Ministry. I trulybelieve that the Lord Jesus answered my prayers.

— RG, e-mail

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is indeed a powerful

prayer for the dying. May the soul of your brother

rest in peace. If other Marian Helpers want to callor e-mail the prayer ministry, please see the con-

tact information on page 3.

— Fr. Joseph, MIC


MailboxFather Joseph’s

Father Joseph would be happy to find a letter from you in his mailbox. Your letter may be edited for clarity andspace. Send it to: Father Joseph’s Mailbox, Editorial, Eden Hill, Stockbridge, MA 01263, or [email protected].



JOHN PAUL II: THE GREAT MERCY POPEAN ENDURING LEGACY OF DIVINE MERCY, BEATIFICATION EDITION

BY REV. GEORGE W. KOSICKI, CSBMARIAN PRESS, 256 PP., $14.95, AVAILABLE OCT. 22, FEAST OF BLESSED JOHN PAUL IIPRODUCT CODE: B12-GMP3

The Marians’ longtime Divine Mercy collaborator Fr. George Kosicki,CSB, has produced the beatification edition of John Paul II: TheGreat Mercy Pope. The new edition will be available Oct. 22, the

first feast day of the new blessed. It includes a foreword by MarianProvincial Superior the Very Rev. Fr. Kazimierz Chwalek, MIC, who attendedthe May 1 beatification of John Paul II in Rome.

In this masterwork, Fr. George covers all of Pope John Paul II’s writings,addresses, and homilies on Divine Mercy — from his encyclical Rich inMercy in 1980 to the message he prepared for Divine Mercy Sunday2005, which was shared with the faithful the day after his death.

Father George explores in the first half of the book the man behind thewords, the Great Mercy Pope, in his roles as a teacher and a model of mercy. Then, he examines key mercy themes in John Paul’s thought as well

as aspects of his legacy of mercy, such as his strong influence on his successor, Pope Benedict XVI.The second half of the book provides the official Vatican text in English of John Paul II’s words onmercy, arranged in chronological order.

Along with the foreword by Fr. Kaz, new material in this edition includes a chapter on thebeatification and its significance, a chapter on the French nun whose healing from Parkinson’sdisease through John Paul’s intercession was recognized as the beatification miracle, and the textof Pope Benedict’s homily at the beatification. There’s also more on how the Great Mercy Popeinfluenced Pope Benedict.

This book will help you better understand Blessed John Paul II’s enduring legacy of Divine Mercy.

FATIMA FOR TODAYTHE URGENT MARIAN MESSAGE OF HOPE

BY FR. ANDREW APOSTOLI, CFRIGNATIUS PRESS, 288 PP. , HARDCOVER, PHOTO INSERT, $19.95PRODUCT CODE: B12-FATIM

Writing with clarity, persuasive power, and consummatemastery of his subject, Fatima expert Fr. Andrew Apostoli,CFR, has produced the definitive handbook on Fatima for a

new generation of Catholics.His main point is to show Fatima’s relevance for today as Our Lady’s

continuing call to pray the Rosary every day, offer sacrifices for thesalvation of sinners, and make reparation for sins against God and herImmaculate Heart. This urgent message is ultimately one of hope, sinceOur Lady promises us that her Immaculate Heart will triumph.

In his book, Fr. Apostoli covers every major aspect of Our Lady’sappearances and messages to the three shepherd children at Fatima in1917. He also discusses Mary’s subsequent appearances and messages toLucia, the oldest child and spokesperson for the three.

Perhaps, most helpful of all, Fr. Apostoli addresses in a thorough and convincing way thecontroversies over whether the Third Secret of Fatima was fully disclosed by the Vatican and

whether Pope John Paul II’s consecration of the world and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Maryin 1984 fulfilled Our Lady’s request. Father Apostoli makes a strong case that these controversieshave distracted the faithful from living the message of Fatima.

“Learn, live, and spread the message of Fatima! This is the express desire of Pope Benedict XVI. AndPope John Paul II once stated that the message of Fatima was more important now than in 1917! This iswhy this wonderful book on Fatima is so important,” writes Marian Vocation Director and bestsellingauthor Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, in his endorsement. “I pray that many people are brought back to Jesus, Mary, and the Church through these pages.”

Online at marian.org/catalog or call 1-800-462-7426.




Q. Are notorious sinners such as Osama

bin Laden damned to hell?

A. The short answer is — we don’t know.While the Church has definitively

stated that the saints and the blesseds are inheaven with God forever, the Church hasnever definitely proclaimed anyone to be inhell — not even Judas Iscariot, who betrayedChrist. We must leave the final judgement of each soul to God.

In a general audience on Oct. 18, 2006,Pope Benedict XVI reflected on the fate of Judas, which is a mystery. For instance, theGospel does record that Judas “repented andbrought back the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, ‘I have sinned inbetraying innocent blood’” (Mt 27: 3-4). ThePope states, “Even though [Judas] went tohang himself (cf. Mt 27: 5), it is not up to us to judge his gesture, substituting ourselves for theinfinitely merciful and just God.”

In the Diary of St. Faustina, the great apostleof Divine Mercy writes, “Only the soul thatwants it will be damned, for God condemns noone” (1452). There is another encouragingDiary passage in which St. Faustina writesabout one’s last moment in life:

I often attend upon the dying and throughentreaties obtain for them trust in God'smercy, and I implore God for an abundanceof divine grace, which is always victorious.God’s mercy sometimes touches the sinnerat the last moment in a wondrous andmysterious way. Outwardly, it seems as if everything were lost, but it is not so. Thesoul, illumined by a ray of God’s powerfulfinal grace, turns to God in the lastmoment with such a power of love that, inan instant, it receives from God forgivenessof sin and punishment (1698).

So let’s plead for God’s mercy for sinners,especially unrepentant sinners who are dying.

Q.I hear that a Marian apparition in the

United States has been approved. Canyou tell me about it?

A. In 1859, Our Lady appeared threetimes to Adele Brise, a 27-year-old

immigrant from Belgium. The apparitionsoccurred in rural northeast Wisconsin. Adelefirst saw the Blessed Mother on Sunday, Oct.2. She described Mary as wearing bright,white garments and a yellow waist sash. Shealso had a crown of stars. Our Lady didn’t sayanything before she slowly disappeared.

On the following Sunday, Adele went to

Mass. When she returned home, the apparitionreappeared. This time, the apparition saidto Adele, “I am the Queen of Heaven whoprays for the conversion of sinners, and I wishyou to do the same. You have received HolyCommunion this morning, and that is well. Butyou must do more. Make a general confessionand offer Communion for the conversion of sinners. If they do not convert and do penance,

my Son will be obliged to punish them.”Our Lady then told Adele to “gather the

children of this wild country and teach themwhat they should know for salvation. Teachthem their catechism, how to [make] thesign of the cross, and how to approach theSacraments. Go and fear nothing. I will helpyou.” Adele’s father built a small chapelon the site. She spent the rest of her life

trying to answer Our Lady’s call, whichincluded opening a Catholic school andbeginning a community of Third OrderFranciscan women.

Last year, on Dec. 8, the solemnity of theImmaculate Conception, theMost Rev. David Ricken,Bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay, declared “withmoral certainty” the “super-natural character” of “theevents, apparitions, andlocutions given to AdeleBrise in October of 1859.”Thus, this became thefirst Church-approvedapparition of Mary inthe United States. Youcan find more informa-tion on the Diocese of Green Bay website atgbdioc.org.


with Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC

Marian Ask a

Is Osama bin Laden in hell?

Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC, welcomes your questions. Send them to: Ask a Marian,Editorial, Eden Hill, Stockbridge, MA 01263, or email [email protected].



On Jan, 27, 1927, Archbishop GeorgeMatulaitis-Matulewicz passed on tothe Lord at the age of 55 in Kaunas,

Lithuania. The man who became known asthe Renovator of the Marian Fathers of the

Immaculate Conception left an enduring legacy.In honor of his legacy, the Marian Fathersannounced plans to celebrate the silveranniversary of the Renovator’s beatification,which the Church will mark next June. On June 28, 1987, Marians the world over joinedwith their benefactors and friends in jubilationat St. Peter’s in Rome when Pope John Paul IIdeclared Archbishop George “blessed.”

Along with community celebrations duringthe anniversary year, the Marians plan to launcha website in June 2012 dedicated to BlessedGeorge and publish later this year a booklet withhis biography and a selection of his letters.

Among his many accomplishments, BlessedGeorge renovated the Marian community in1909-10 and later founded two communitiesof women religious. He also served as a bishopand then archbishop in his native Lithuania.

‘We examined the life of Blessed George’The anniversary brings back memories for

many Marians, providing the opportunity toreflect on Blessed George’s legacy.

Father Joe Roesch, MIC, vicar general of theMarian Fathers, remembers the summer of 1987 as the year he went into the novitiate.

“Many Marians went to Rome that year

to participate in the celebration,” Fr. Joeremembers. “I participated in some ceremoniesin Washington, D.C., as a postulant. FatherLarry Dunn [MIC] and Fr. Kaz Chwalek [MIC]were also ordained to the priesthood that sum-mer. Larry served at the beatification Mass as adeacon, alongside Pope John Paul II. Father Kaz

concelebrated as a priest.”Father Joe also mentioned “the privilege”

he had in giving a retreat in 2007 to theMarian Fathers in Lithuania, along with anumber of religious sisters from variouscommunities, including the Sisters of theImmaculate Conception of the Blessed VirginMary, founded by Blessed George in 1918.

“The retreat was held in Vilnius, whereBlessed George had been bishop from 1918-1925, at a retreat house he had visited, nottoo far from his cathedral,” Fr. Joe said. “Theretreat focused on the essential elements of religious life. We examined the life of BlessedGeorge, who lived out the religious life in aheroic way.”


In the News: St. Peter’s, the Vatican, 1987-2012

On June 28, 1987, inside St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope JohnPaul II celebrates Mass for the beatification of BlessedGeorge Matulaitis-Matulewicz, the Renovator of theMarian Fathers. Then-Deacon Larry Dunn, MIC, (secondon left), assists the Holy Father at the altar. “The occasionwas remarkable for our community,” says Fr. Larry.

25 YEARS

FORBLESSEDGEORGE

Marians to celebrate silver anniversaryof Renovator’s beatification.

by Dan Valenti

M A R I A N

A R C H I V E S




‘I couldn’t keep my eyes from smiling’Barely a week after his priestly ordination,

the Very Rev. Fr. Kazimierz Chwalek, MIC, nowMarian provincial superior for the United

States and Argentina, found himself, togetherwith the Holy Father,concelebrating thebeatification Mass.“I still remember whatwas going throughmy heart — the joy of beatification,” Fr. Kazsays. “I felt joy that

the first Marian hadbeen raised to thehonors of the altar,the joy of just beingordained a priest, andthe joy of celebratingthe Eucharist in thecompany of Blessed John Paul II. I was so

happy and sharedthat happiness withmany, especially as Idistributed the Lord inHoly Communion.”

Father Kaz says, “Icouldn’t keep my eyes from smiling and myheart from bursting with joy during thatentire celebration.”

In fact, before the beatification, Fr. Kazdiligently studied the life of Blessed Georgeand was inspired to include a prayer fromBlessed George’s Spiritual Journal on hiscommemorative priestly ordination card.

‘Who is that bishop?’On June 28, 1987, 96-year-old Fr. Joseph

Grisans, MIC, resided on Eden Hill in

Stockbridge, Mass., now home of theNational Shrine of The Divine Mercy andheadquarters of the Marian province. In1925, two years before Blessed George died,Fr. Grisans served as a young priest in Latvia,before he joined the Marian Fathers.

During that year, Fr. Grisans attended theconsecration of a bishop in Riga, Latvia. FatherGrisans told the story many years later, of how,on that occasion, one of the many consecrat-ing bishops caught his attention.

“His modesty, his evident humility, his unas-suming and serene presence so fascinated me,”Fr. Grisans related, “that after the liturgy, Iwanted to know, ‘Who is that bishop?’ Theanswer came back: ‘He is the Bishop of Vilnius,George Matulewicz.’” That was Fr. Grisans’s

first encounter with Blessed George.Nine years after, in 1934, Fr. Grisans, by

then a Marian, was one of the priests chosento carry the body of Blessed George when

it was transferred from the cathedral inVilnius, Lithuania,to the Marian churchin Mariampole.

‘His spiritual sonsand daughtersrepresented here’

In his homily for

the beatification, Pope John Paul II firstacknowledged BlessedGeorge as “a specialgift to the Church andthe Lithuaniannation.” Then afterhonoring his faithfulservice “as a shep-

herd full of courageand initiative,” thePope singled outBlessed George’simportant contribu-tions to religious life.

“In a special way I would remind you of [the] zeal with which he himself practiced andpromoted the religious life — by renewing the

Marian Order and founding the Sisters of theImmaculate Conception and the Servants of the Blessed Eucharist,” John Paul II said. “Hisspiritual sons and daughters represented herein large numbers received from him the price-less treasure of holiness and dedication to theChurch and to the brethren.”

“The occasion was remarkable for our com-munity,” says Fr. Larry Dunn, MIC. “BlessedGeorge saved our Congregation in 1909, whenwe had dwindled down to one member. It wasimpossible for men but not for God, in whomBlessed George had unwavering faith.”

The newest Marian priest of the province,Fr. Angelo Casimiro, MIC, ordained July 2,said that when he first started learning aboutBlessed George during his novitiate year, “I wasstruck with his compassion and gentleness.I’ve been amazed to see these traits in some of my fellow Marians, most especially the late Fr.Mark Garrow, MIC, and also Fr. JimMcCormack, MIC. They just embody the spiritof Blessed George to me.”

It is the same indomitable spirit acknowl-edged by the universal Church 25 years agothat is still with us today.

Shown is the tapestry unveiled at Blessed George’sbeatification. In the inset, Pope John Paul II makesthe Sign of the Cross that concludes the formula forbeatification. From that moment on, Archbishop Georgeis recognized by the Church as “Blessed George.”

MHMH

M A

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During the June chapter

meeting in Stockbridge,Mass., the Marian

Fathers of the Blessed Virgin

Mary, Mother of Mercy

Province elected Fr. Kazimierz

Chwalek, MIC, to a six-year

term as the new superior. He

succeeds Fr. Dan Cambra, MIC,

who became provincial superior

following the death of Fr. MarkGarrow, MIC, in 2007.

Father Kaz formerly served

as vice provincial. He also

served as the province’s director

of Evangelization and Development.

The chapter delegates elected four councilors to

assist Fr. Kaz in governing the province. They are,

respectively, vice-provincial Fr. Donald Calloway,

MIC; Fr. Timothy Roth, MIC, second councilor;Fr. Matthew Lamoureux, MIC, third councilor;

and Br. Brian Manian, MIC, fourth councilor.

In an interview, Fr. Kaz emphasized how the

Marians, though “small in number,” are “on fire

with the love of God.” This burning love, he says,

has enabled the Marian Fathers “to contribute in a

significant way to the Church’s renewal.”

Father Kaz says the Marians could not

succeed in this vital work without “the help of atalented and dedicated lay staff as well as the

support of our generous and loyal Marian

Helpers and the Divine Mercy apostolates, our

partners in ministry.”

Looking to the future, Fr. Kaz says, “God is

sending us many good vocations. The Lord places

young men in our community so they may

become His ministers of love and reconciliation.”

Father Kaz says his first priority as provincialsuperior is “to seek ways and create possibilities for

our [community] members to grow in holiness.”

Second, Fr. Kaz wants to make sure the Marian

Fathers “remain ever faithful to our charism: the

Immaculate Conception and our vocation to live

this mystery, solicitude on behalf of the Holy Souls

in Purgatory and the dying, and our special care

for the Church and diocesan clergy. Added to this

three-fold charism is The Divine Mercy messageand devotion, God’s special gift to us.”

Third, Fr. Kaz wants to increase evangelization

efforts to parishes that foster “deeper renewal

through the message of Divine Mercy,” broaden

the base of support for Marian seminarians, and

“create a better environment for pilgrims coming

to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy.”

“I leave my plans in the hands of The Divine

Mercy and Mary Immaculate,” says Fr. Kaz. “MayGod’s will, which is always for our best, be done.”

In the News: Marians around the World

New Marian provincial shares prioritiesby Dan Valenti

Provincial Superior the Very Rev. Fr. Kazimierz Chwalek, MIC, (center)stands with his council: (from left) Fr. Matthew Lamoureux, MIC; Fr.Donald Calloway, MIC; Fr. Timothy Roth, MIC; and Br. Brian Manian, MIC.

F E L I X C A R R O L L

OCT. 22 BUFFALO MERCY CONFERENCE

Attend the annual Divine Mercy Conferenceon Saturday, Oct. 22, at Our Lady of VictoryNational Shrine and Basilica in Lackawanna,N.Y., near Buffalo.

“Consoling the Heart of Jesus” is the theme,inspired from the book by Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC,

director of the Association of Marian Helpers.Speakers include Provincial Superior the Very

Rev. Fr. Kazimierz Chwalek, MIC; Fr. Michael; andFr. Dan Cambra, MIC. To register, call 1-800-462-7426 or visit thedivinemercy.org/buffalo.



Pursue renewal by attending aDivine Mercy event

As we mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11, there is a greater need than ever for

personal and parish renewal that can fos-ter hope in people’s lives through DivineMercy. The Marian Fathers’ apostolatespromote such renewal through a varietyof Divine Mercy events, one of which maybe ideal for you.

For instance, Healthcare Professionalsfor Divine Mercy sponsors an annual fallretreat on Cape Cod, Mass., at which those

in the healthcare field can spirituallyrecharge from the demands of their work.This year’s retreat is scheduled for Oct. 28-31, and the spiritual director will beMarian Provincial Superior, Very Rev. Fr.Kazimierz Chwalek, MIC. See the eventsroundup below for details.

“With all that is going on in our country andour world, we need hope in Jesus, who is The

Divine Mercy,” says Marie Romagnano, RN,director of Healthcare Professionals for DivineMercy, which she founded in response to 9/11.“Divine Mercy can transform our lives, ourworkplaces, our culture. And everywhere wego, we can bring God's mercy.”

Joan Maroney, co-director of Mother of Mercy Messengers (MOMM), echoes the powerof Divine Mercy to transform our culture, espe-

cially in reaching youth. She and her husband,Dave, travel the country giving dramatic, multi-media presentations on Divine Mercy at parishesand schools. “The openness and acceptance of the message of Divine Mercy by youth has beena wondrous thing to behold,” she says. “Time

and again, a certain calmness enters theirhearts. It is truly the Holy Spirit in action.”

In addition, Bryan Thatcher, MD, directorof Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy(EADM), offers Days of Reflection to helprejuvenate and inspire attendees. “DivineMercy is a way of life, and that’s one of the things we emphasize in our Days of Reflection — Divine Mercy transforms howwe live,” says Bryan.

These are just some of the many opportuni-

ties available for personal and parish renewal.To inquire about an event for your parish orgroup, please call 1-800-895-3236. Also, seeif the apostolates will be in your area by visitingus at thedivinemercy.org/events. Check theroundup below for an abbreviated list of events.


In the News: Marians’ Divine Mercy Apostolates

“Life is a valley of tears,” says Bryan Thatcher, MD, during aDay of Reflection at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Moriarty,N.M. “We will suffer, we will have trials, but we have to keepon trusting our Lord.”

F E L I X CA R R OL L

EVENTS ROUNDUP

Day of Reflection, Sept. 17

National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, Stockbridge, Mass.Contact: Carol Scott at 413-298-1259Speaker: Bryan Thatcher, MD

Divine Mercy Parish Program, Sept. 19St. Mary's Parish and School, Plano, Ill.Contact: Jan Dunn at 630-552-1505 ore-mail [email protected]: Dave and Joan Maroney

Midwest Divine Mercy Marian Conference,Sept. 30-Oct. 1

Sioux City Convention Center, Sioux City, IowaContact: Terry Moran at 712-255-3044 ore-mail [email protected] include: Bryan Thatcher, MD; Dave and Joan Maroney; Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC

Divine Mercy Parish Program, Oct. 4St. Patrick Catholic Parish, Yorkville, Ill.

Contact: Justin Frato at 630-553-6671 x15 ore-mail [email protected]: Dave and Joan Maroney

Healthcare Professionals Retreat, Oct. 28-31Cape Cod, Mass. (Space is limited.)Contact: 866-895-3236 for pricing and more info.Spiritual Director: Very Rev. Fr. KazimierzChwalek, MIC

Day of Reflection, Oct. 29Austin, TexasContact: Roni Cook at 512-656-3595Speaker: Bryan Thatcher, MD

Divine Mercy Parish Program, Nov. 14St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Carmel, Ind.Contact: Elizabeth Groot at 317-985-5576 ore-mail [email protected]: Dave and Joan Maroney

For more events, visit our events page atthedivinemercy.org/events.




Upon the dawn of each day,

he sets his pedometer tozero. From there, he walks

the walk.On average, Ronald Sobecks,

MD — oncologist/hematologistand author of a new book onGod’s mercy, human suffering,and cancer — takes 12,000 stepsbefore the day is done. That’s

roughly five to six miles.If you were to walk in his

shoes, you’d begin at the epicenterof his first vocation. He’s a husbandand a father living in a suburb of Cleveland. Next, you’d head to theepicenter of his faith. He attendsdaily Mass and then prays beforethe Blessed Sacrament at his

parish church, St. Albert theGreat. Then, you’d be off to theepicenter of his professional voca-tion, the Cleveland Clinic, wherehe works to save lives while being a mercifulpresence for cancer patients and their familieswhose worlds have been turned upside down

by life-threatening disease.

Ten years ago, a case manage-ment nurse from Massachusetts,Marie Romagnano, RN, wasstirred to action by the terroristattacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to builda network of healthcare profes-sionals who address not only thephysical needs of patients buttheir spiritual needs as well. Dr.

Sobecks is the sort of medicalprofessional she had in mind.

Now an apostolate of theMarian Fathers of theImmaculate Conception,Healthcare Professionals forDivine Mercy is comprised of more than 3,000 such profes-sionals worldwide. At the group’s

annual conference in May, Dr.Sobecks was a featured speaker.His book, Divine Mercy, Triumph

over Cancer (Marian Press, 2011),has become “a must read for the sick, theirfamilies, caregivers, and especially those in thehealing arts,” says Bryan Thatcher, MD, founder

Ronald Sobecks, MD, talks with Namar Fritz at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Fritz is a retiredpolice officer who has been diagnosed with leukemia and is dying. “My immune system is shot,” says Fritz.


HIS WALK OF LIFEThis doctor’s on the move to share the healing

message of Divine Mercy with his cancer patients.by Felix Carroll

Dr. Ronald Sobecks’sdeep understanding of both Divine Mercy andcancer led him to writeDivine Mercy, Triumphover Cancer: A Guide for Patients, Survivors, and

Their Caregivers.Ordering information canbe found on page 30.



of Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy.“When you read his book, you can see how

The Divine Mercy message touched his heart,”says Marie. “He really has such a strongfoundation of faith. Because of his faith, heunderstands the power and importance of therole spirituality can play in healthcare. He’s a

good example of the fruit of our apostolate.”His book, Marie adds, “is especially important

to healthcare professionals who work longhours under difficult circimstances.”

Dr. Sobecks, his pedometer attached to hiswaist, knows all about that.

‘I know my time is coming’He has walked nearly 3,000 steps by

the time he enters Room 10 in theOncology Unit of the Cleveland Clinicwhere Namar Fritz is dying.

“He’s getting his tank filled backup,” jokes Dr. Sobecks good-naturedlyas he pulls a chair up beside Fritz (as heprefers to be called). Fritz is receivinghis weekly blood transfusions. He andhis wife, Marcy, smile, clearly pleased

to see Dr. Sobecks.A familiar face to the Clinic’s staff,

Fritz had a ministry of visiting the sickand dying there. On his rounds, hewould make sure to stop in at thehospital chapel, where during thelunch hour, he would see Dr. Sobeckson his knees praying.

“I’d say to myself, ‘When I get sick, I

want a doctor like him,’” Fritz says.Two years ago, Fritz was diagnosed

with leukemia. Then, this pastFebruary, he suffered a stroke. He andMarcy know he has little time left. Cancerousblood cells are rapidly overrunning healthyblood cells. He wants to die at home.

“I know my time is coming,” says Fritz, 74.“Everyone’s is. And from all that I’ve been

through, I know one thing: When comparedwith what our Lord suffered for us, anything Ican do would be nothing in comparison, and Iwant to meet our Lord and thank Him.”

Back out in the hallway, Dr. Sobecks chargesforward. He often prays the Chaplet of TheDivine Mercy for his patients in times like these — when he’s on the move, in the corridors, inthe stairwells, in the elevators.

“You know,” he says, “I learn more fromfolks like Fritz than I’ve ever learned from mostdoctors or any medical book.”

The bells toll for himIt was the summer of 1992. Ronald Sobecks

was in his final year of medical school. Living in

a spartan apartment in the Little Italy section of Cleveland, he would hear the bells of HolyRosary Catholic Church tolling up on MayfieldRoad. One day, he made a visit and prayed beforethe tabernacle. From his book, he recounts, “As Iprayed in the church, an older woman I did notknow came to me and gave me a copy of The

Divine Mercy Message and Devotion booklet.”He writes, “I didn’t know it then, but this little

action changed my life forever.”Soon, Dr. Sobecks’s spiritual model became St.

Faustina, a Polish nun dying a painful deathfrom tuberculosis, who chronicled in her Diary

revelations from Jesus, The Divine Mercy. In its

call for aching mankind to free itself from thebondage of sin by turning to God’s mercy, theDiary of St. Faustina provides what Dr. Sobecksdescribes as the “definitive source of healing.”Coming from a modern-minded, well-educated

man of science, that’s saying a lot.But health, after all, is a balance between

body and soul.Suffering, after all, is an inevitable aspect of

disease and an opportunity for spiritual growth.Mercy, after all, is what our Lord extends to us

and what He demands we extend to others.At the bedside of the sick and dying, miracles

take place. Dr. Sobecks sees this all the time —

how health, suffering, and mercy are intertwinedto form an eternal cord tethered to heaven. Agood caregiver makes the connection.

Spiritual cancerIn his prayers, his practice, his PowerPoint

presentations, and now his book, Dr. Sobecks


Dr. Sobecks ends the day praying before the Blessed Sacrament

at St. Albert the Great Church in North Royalton, Ohio. TheAdoration chapel includes a stained-glass image of St. Faustina.“Outside of the Bible,” says Dr. Sobecks, the Diary of St.F austina is “the greatest work ever written.”




views “cancer” as a metaphor for all disease — physical and spiritual.

Cancer, he notes, arises from an accumula-tion of abnormal cells. If left untreated, it leadsto physical death. Sin is a “spiritual cancer”that operates on a similar principle. If leftuntreated, sin begins to impair the soul until it

leads to spiritual death.“Cancer patients are often confronted with

uncertainties about whether their diseases may

be cured,” says Dr. Sobecks. “However, whenthose who have lived in sin repent, trusting inthe Divine Mercy and goodness of AlmightyGod, they can be certain that they will receivecomplete healing and forgiveness from theLord. Spiritual cancer is 100 percent curable.”

Not every patient he treats is receptive to theidea that meaning can be extracted from suffer-ing. Not every patient grows in virtue as his or

her body deteriorates. Not every story appearsto have a happy ending.

Dr. Sobecks says the important thing for himis to be present for all his patients, in the way hetalks and listens — to be present like the Lord ispresent in the Blessed Sacrament.

“We can never know God’s plans for people,”he says, “but we can pray for His will to be done.”

A survivor in more ways than oneHe’s up to 4,500 steps on his pedometer

when he makes haste through a hospital corri-dor to meet with Len Krause.

In 1995, Len felt a lump on his neck andwas soon diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lym-phoma. Doctors concluded he had a 70 percent

chance of dying within three years. He hadtwins in kindergarten. He couldn’t even playcatch with them anymore.

Amidst a time of trial and suffering, Lenaccepted his illness as Christ accepted Hiscross, says Dr. Sobecks. Aggressive treatmentsuccessfully removed the cancer threat until

it resurfaced again in2005. Again, he receivedtreatment. Again, his can-cer is in remission. He wasin the stands when histwins graduated college.Len, among the dozens of patients featured in Dr.Sobecks’s book, considers

himself “a cancer survivorand a spiritual survivor.”He credits The DivineMercy, his family, andhealthcare team, includ-ing Dr. Sobecks for pullinghim through.

He wants to buy copiesof Dr. Sobecks’s book in

bulk and anonymouslyplace them in waitingrooms everywhere.

“It’s that important,”he says.

‘I could write volumes’Room by room, patient by patient, regardless

of their religion or lack thereof, Dr. Sobecks says

he meets “some of the most tremendous saints,people whom only a few souls will ever know. …I could write volumes on just about any patientI’ve ever had.”

But he’s a busy man. For now, his one vol-ume will have to suffice.

He's up to 10,000 steps by the time heclimbs back into his car at the end of the day.Add a couple dozen more, and he’s down on his

knees once again in the Adoration chapel of hischurch, where he thanks God for his day andprays for his patients and their families.

Add about a couple dozen more, and he’swalking through the door to his home — to hiswife, Nancy, a doctor specializing in internalmedicine, and their 14-year-old son, Casey.

Dr. Sobecks is certain God placed that olderwoman in that church on that day in 1992 so

he would come to learn about and practice TheDivine Mercy message.

“I really believe God wanted to prepare mefor my life ahead,” he says.

The Lord intended His message to St.Faustina to be shared with the world.

Step by step. Whatever it takes.


MHMH

“When you read [Dr. Sobecks’s book, Divine Mercy, Triumph over Cancer],you can see how The Divine Mercy message touched his heart,” says MarieRomagnano (left), RN, founder of the Healthcare Professionals for DivineMercy apostolate. Dr. Sobecks spoke at the Healthcare Professionals’conference this year. To learn more about Healthcare Professionals forDivine Mercy, call 1-800-380-0727 or visit thedivinemercy.org/healthcare.

J O S E P H

R O M A G N A N O



Even if the forces of darkness appear to

prevail, those who believe in God know that

evil and death do not have the final say.

— Pope John Paul II,

Sept. 12, 2001

Ten years ago, when terrorists intent onmass murder cut through the clear,blue skies of Sept. 11, I was a new

husband and a newspaperman in New York.My journalistic duties that day included

visiting a commuter train station outsideManhattan to report on what I saw. Familieslined the train platform holding vigil, waitingfor loved ones to return home from the site

where the Twin Towers of the World TradeCenter folded in upon themselves in a fierycloud of violence. Some loved ones returnedhome, stepping off the trains with sooty facesand singed briefcases. Some didn’t comehome, and they never would.

Like many Americans, my wife and I spentevenings that autumn and winter hunkereddown at home, two silhouettes in the blue

glow of the television seeking clues of whatthis all meant for our nation and ourselves.We wondered aloud, “Who would want toraise a child in this world?” We certainly didn’t.No way.

But one thing can lead to another whena husband and wife hunker down togetherduring a cold winter. In what would seem

mutually exclusive activities, we shudderedat a frightening future and conceived a child.Go f igure.

These were the days before I returned to myCatholic faith. These were the days when I wouldrationalize through broad, uncertain deduction.

In the case of my wife getting pregnant:• Passion always wins.

• The species is tone-deaf.

A baby on the way. Winter turned tospring. We directed a soft, sing-song towardmy wife’s expanding belly. We worried howour child would fare in a world gone sowrong. We couldn’t wait to meet him or her.

At that time, I hadn’t yet equated procre-

ation as a rejoinder to the attacks of 9/11.To that end, I had something else in mind — volunteering. More specifically, engaging insomething potentially dangerous that didn’trequire going to Iraq or Afghanistan.

I joined my local fire department.In all, 343 firefighters and other emergency

responders were killed in the attack on theWorld Trade Center. They attempted to save

lives even if it meant losing their own. In anation that had hitherto made careless useof the word “hero” — sports heroes? guitarheroes? Hollywood heroes? — here were real

heroes, ordinary people who, in the face of danger, displayed courage and the will for

Sept. 11 remembrance‘Evil and death do not have the final say.’

by Felix Carroll

The writer’s son, Henry, is now a “regular” at the fire house where his dad volunteers as a firefighter.


Continued on page 18





Yes, the original plan called for a chalice, nottwo chalices. The single chalice was to bemade for then-Deacon Angelo.

But in Fr. James’s words, “DivineProvidence” intervened. So many Helpersresponded that the Marians had enoughpewter to make two chalices. The Helpers

also enclosed personal prayer intentions,which Fr. Angelo remembered in his firstMass, celebrated on Sunday, July 3.

It was a day of firsts. At that Mass, for thefirst time, Fr. Angelo lifted hisspecial gift that held thePrecious Blood. Concelebratingthe Mass was Fr. James, whoalso used his chalice for the firsttime. The National Shrine of The

Divine Mercy in Stockbridge,Mass., was filled with friends,family, and fellow Marians, as Fr.Angelo — for the first time — said the words of Consecrationover his new chalice.

“When I lift up the chalice,I lift up all the intentions thatpeople ask me to pray for,” said

Fr. Angelo, following the Mass.“So with the chalice, the Marianbenefactors share in this power-ful moment, and they are a partof this chalice now.”

So many similaritiesFather Angelo’s ordination

marked a turning point in hislife and that of Fr. James. They

had struggled and triumphedside by side through their yearsof formation and now had togo their separate ways. FatherAngelo serves in a parish inthe Midwest, while Fr. Jamescontinues his ministry as amissionary in the Philippines.

Both priests are the first

Filipino-Americans to join theMarians. Both are from south-ern California. Both joined theMarians in 2005. Both are known for theirquiet, laidback demeanors, gentleness, anddry wit. Both were drawn to the Marians as aresponse to their love for The Divine Mercyand Mary Immaculate.

For each, his religious vocation has beenupheld by brotherhood — his life as a reli-gious brother growing closer to Christ andhis life with his fellow Marians, all of whomshape each other “like rocks in a tumbler,” asFr. James said.

Fathers Angelo and James were particularlyclose. In seminary, they had adjacent rooms.They comprised a “cook team” at the Marians’

Scholasticate in Washington, D.C. — servingfood to their fellow Marian housemates thatdrew largely upon their Filipino heritage.

Their closeness includes suffering fromthe loss of loved ones. Father James’s onlybrother, Jerry, died from cancer in 1999.Father Angelo’s mother, Susie C. Casimiro,

died in 2009.“When you go through experiences likethat,” said Fr. Angelo, “for me, you’re tastingthe Lord’s Passion. You feel Our Lady with you

at the foot of the cross, and Ithink James feels the same way.”

“God took away my brother,”said Fr. James, “but then Heprovided me with even morebrothers than I could ever

imagine,” he said of his Mariansbrothers. “I praise God forAngelo,” Fr. James continued.“He’s been a big brother to me,walking with me throughoutthe years.”

A common ministryof mercy

In their ministries, bothpriests seek to address thefollowing two facts:• There’s a lack of forgivenessin the world — forgiveness of self and of others.• Many people are unawarethat God is a God of mercy.

“The message of The DivineMercy is such an urgent message

right now,” said Fr. Angelo.“As the Gospel says, ‘The

harvest is rich, but the laborersare few,’” said Fr. James, quotingMatthew 9:37. “There are a lotof people out there hungeringfor God, but the laborers arefew. But this is what we wereordained for. There’s a need

for priests. The world needsholy priests.”As a result of your prayers

and God’s love, the Marians’ newest priestshave started the work of harvesting — eachequipped with a sacred vessel he’ll cherish hisentire life.

“When I look at the chalice,” said Fr. James, “I see love and sacrifice. It’s an offer-ing of love from the benefactors to Fr. Angeloand me as priests. They raise us up, but at thesame time, by our prayers and sacrifices, andthrough the celebration of the Mass, wecontinue to raise them up as well.”

To support the vocation of moreMarians like these two priests, see theattached envelope. MHMH

“When I lift up thechalice, I lift up all the intentions that people ask me to

pray for,” said Fr. Angelo Casimiro,

MIC, who wasordained July 2. “Sowith the chalice, theMarian benefactorsshare in this power-

ful moment, and they

are a part of thischalice now.”




self-sacrifice. In a time of uncertain darkness,their actions defined what it meant to bedecent and to be a citizen

in a nation under God.As a kid, I wanted to

be a firefighter because of the shiny red engines.Here, I wanted to be afirefighter because of theshiny example. I wantedto be like them.

And I wanted my

child to be raised in aworld filled with peoplelike them.

So the fire departmenttook me in. They putme through six monthsof training at the fireacademy. And from there,I joined the brotherhood.

It comprises the men andwomen who rush intoburning buildings; whohave countless nights,mornings, and afternoons (meals, parties,and deep sleep) interrupted by the piercingsound of the pager; and who coolly andcollectively help neighbors and strangerswho’ve been shoved into the claustrophobic

confines of living nightmares.As any volunteer in any worthwhile

endeavor knows, through a miracle of spiritual physics, when you give, it comesright back to you like a boomerang. In mycase, I have made deep, lasting friendshipswith fellow firefighters, fellow eccentricswho’ll drop anything to give you a handwith a home repair project or to attend the

funeral of a family member they’ve nevereven met.

These are the people of love and mercyI want my child to grow up among. Thesepeople and others, too. I want my child togrow up among the men and women who

went to war while we stayed put. And theScout leader. And the priest. And the mentorof a troubled child. And the tutor at aprison. And the foster parent. And thehospital volunteer.

I doubt the terrorists who forced planes intobuildings 10 years ago

ever met people like them.But 10 years later, I’ve

got a 9/11 child — a boywith red hair like hismother. He plays with hispack of buddies, other9/11 children born of love in a complicated age.No doubt, they’ll mature

with irreducible edgeshoned by the bluntinstrument of anxioustimes. They’ll grow up tobe a discerning brood — people who won’t bedenied a full accountingof such words as terrorand suicide.

But for now, theyanoint our lives withgaity and remind us of our better selves, of how

we are called to be cooperators with the loveof the Creator.

Their lives honor the memory of the menand women who never returned home thatSeptember day.

They are the rejoinder to the madness.They are the embodiment of their parents’singular act of defiance to 9/11, for theirlives affirm the goodness of life — of love — in the face of such evil and death.

And when it comes time to flip pancakesat a Sunday morning fundraiser, I wishabove all else those terrorists could get aload of us — we, the ones who stayed put.

I’d like to think the simple act of pancakeflipping for the sake of others would tickthem off the most.

Because look at us now, look at us still.Mercy always wins.The terrorists lose. MHMH

REMEMBRANCEContinued from page 15

“[Firefighters] are the peopleof love and mercy I want my

child to grow up among.These people and others, too.I want my child to grow upamong the men and womenwho went to war while we

stayed put. And the Scout leader. And the priest. And the mentor of a troubled child. And the tutor at a

prison. And the foster parent. And the hospital volunteer.“I doubt the terrorists who

forced planes into buildings10 years ago ever met people like them.”



YOU CANHELP SOULS

TO HEAV

EN

“The Sodality helps me feel united to other prayer warriors. It’s a beautiful thing to feel united.”

— Suzanne, a Sodality member

“The Sodality helps me feel united to other prayer warriors. It’s a beautiful thing to feel united.”

— Suzanne, a Sodality member

Join the Holy Souls

Sodality. The Holy

Souls in Purgatory

need your prayers.

They can’t pray for themselves.

Please call

1-800-671-2020

or sign up at

prayforsouls.org/join.

Join us for the first Mercy for Souls Conferenceon Oct. 30 at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy with

Fr. Dan Cambra, MIC, and author Susan Tassone.Learn how praying for the dead heals the living. To register,

call 1-800-671-2020 or sign up online at prayforsouls.org/conference.




The Holy Souls in Purgatory cryout in their suffering for our help,

and November is their month. OnNov. 2, the Church commemorates AllSouls Day for all the faithful departedwho are undergoing purification fortheir sins in purgatory. She then invitesus to remember them throughout themonth of November, mindful that theycannot help themselves.

For us, the faithful on earth, the

most important aspect of this workof mercy for the Holy Souls is ourability to help release them frompurgatory by having Masses said fortheir intention as well as throughoffering personal prayers and sacri-fices on their behalf. For this reason,the Marian Fathers maintain theHoly Souls Sodality, in which the

Marians and their Sodality members jointogether to offer daily Mass, prayers, andsacrifices on behalf of those in purgatory.

Sodality members, Marians share tipsMembers of the Sodality feel a special voca-

tion to pray on behalf of the Holy Souls every

day, and many intensify their effortsduring the November remembrance.

Sodality member Mary Poehailis praysthe Stations of the Cross and theRosary for the souls. In addition, Marysays that at Holy Communion, sheremembers the Poor Souls in prayer.She tries to do something for the soulsin purgatory every day of the month,with the highlight being a novenaoffered on their behalf.

Father Dan Cambra, MIC, spiritualdirector of the Sodality, says, “Everyday, I offer any pain or anxiety I endurein union with the Sacred Heart of Jesusand the Immaculate Heart of Mary forthe Poor Souls in Purgatory, especiallythe most neglected; for an increasein priestly, diaconal, and religiousvocations, particularly for our Marian

community; and for the conversion of sinners.”Father Dan also says that during November, ascircumstances allow, he tries to visit a cemeteryeach day to pray for all those buried there.

Donald Tappe, another Sodality member,prays daily for the souls in purgatory, includingpraying the Rosary: “I pray for my parents,

OUR DUTY OF MERCYWhy we should remember in our prayers the Holy Souls,

especially during November.by Andrew Leeco and Dan Valenti

Father Michael Gaitley, MIC, suggests that “as November progresses and the days become shorter and colder,as the landscape becomes barren and desolate, we can allow the somber atmosphere to gather our mindsand hearts to focus on the suffering of the souls in purgatory.”

Father DanCambra, MIC,spiritual directorof the Sodality,

says, “Every day, Ioffer any pain oranxiety I endurein union with theSacred Heart of Jesus and theImmaculateHeart of Maryfor the Poor Soulsin Purgatory.”



Father Ken Dos Santos, MIC, new rectorof the National Shrine of The DivineMercy, has to search for an answer

when asked why the Marian Fathers of theImmaculate Conception entrusted him withthe spiritual and physical care of the holyshrine on Eden Hill in Stockbridge, Mass. Thatan answer doesn’t come readily typifies Fr.

Ken’s low-key, humble tone.Finally, he says, “I think the Marians know

they can count on me. They know I’m notgoing to give up, no matter how difficult a jobor an assignment can be. I want to bringstability to this important position. I will do thebest I can. They know that.”

Father Ken, who was happy serving as aparish priest in Kenosha, Wis., recalls the sur-

prising day when the Very Rev. Fr. DanCambra, MIC, then-provincial superior of theCongregation in the United States andArgentina, phoned: “Father Dan called me outof the blue one day and asked me if I was sit-ting down. He then asked if I would considerbeing Shrine rector. That was the Tuesdaybefore Palm Sunday. I was pretty surprised.”

Father Dan said he could give Fr. Ken some

time to think it over, but the latter then realizedsomething. In that 10-minute conversation, Fr.Ken says, the answer came. He knew he bothwanted to and had to say yes, seeing in thephone call a new “course correction” in hispriestly life. By Palm Sunday, he had arrived onEden Hill. By Divine Mercy Sunday, Fr. Ken was

rector of the National Shrine.With the arrival of fall, Fr. Ken says he’s

“still involved in learning the ins and outs of the job. I see our main task at the NationalShrine to strengthen our core values.” Heidentified several, including to promote God’smercy; encourage devotion to Our Lady as theway to Christ; provide the best possible serviceto pilgrims, both spiritually and physically;and increase the holiness of the members of the Association of Marian Helpers.

In talking to Fr. Ken about his plans, onecan see evidence of his former career as anengineer in the secular world. He has a sys-tematic, logical approach to problems. In trueengineering fashion, whether the job involves

taking care of the heating system of theNational Shrine or making sure to staff theShrine’s priestly and spiritual needs, Fr. Kentackles problems sequentially — A leads to B,which brings you to C, where the solution lies.

Father Ken says he wants to focus on thequality of the pilgrim experience at theNational Shrine of The Divine Mercy: “Myemphasis is not on increasing the amount of

traffic at the Shrine or doing more things.Rather, I want us to minister better to people’sspiritual needs. I want to do the things we donow [Holy Mass, confessions, special programs,pastoral counseling, retreats, providing spiritualrefuge from the demands of the bustling outsideworld] and do them better.”


MHMH

In the News: National Shrine of The Divine Mercy

New rector’s No. 1 goal:Engineer a spiritual experience

by Dan Valenti

New Shrine Rector Fr. Ken Dos Santos, MIC, says, “I want us to minister better to people’s spiritual needs. Iwant to do the things we do now and do them better.”




In the News: Special Shrine events and other news

Honoring St. Faustina, blessing new statueAt the 2 p.m. Mass on Oct. 5 at the

National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, theMarian Fathers will celebrate the feast day of

St. Maria Faustina, the nun chosen by Jesusto be His secretary in recording His revela-tions about Divine Mercy in her Diary.

A new, life-size marble statue of St.Faustina will be blessed as part of the feast-day celebration, announced Shrine RectorFr. Ken Dos Santos, MIC. The statue depicts akneeling St. Faustina with arms out-stretched, reaching for our Lord when He

appeared to her and asked her to paint Hisimage with the signature “Jesus, I trust inYou.” The statue of the great apostle of Divine Mercy faces the National Shrine.

Blessed JPII/Polish Heritage Day plannedThe National Shrine will again celebrate

one of Eden Hill’s most popular days, Blessed John Paul II/Polish Heritage Day. TheSaturday, Oct. 8, celebration will focus on thespiritual, cultural, and historical importanceof the late Holy Father, including presenta-tions on his life, according to Fr. Ken.

A highlight will be the return of the photo-graphic exhibit on the life of Pope John PaulII, with dramatic photos of him taken by someof the world’s greatest photographers.

First-ever Mercy for Souls Conference setThe Marians at the National Shrine are

sponsoring the first-ever Mercy for SoulsConference on Oct. 30, with the theme “LearnHow Praying for the Dead Heals the Living.” Agoal of the conference is to help attendees pre-pare well to mark the November remembrancefor the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

The speaker will be bestselling authorSusan Tassone, who is well known for herbooks on purgatory. Holy Mass will be cele-brated at 10:30 a.m. by Fr. Dan Cambra, MIC,spiritual director of the Marians’ Holy SoulsSodality. Lunch will be provided.

Due to space restrictions, attendance will belimited to the first 100 registrants. Call 1-800-671-2020 for more information or to register.

Remembering our veteransTo honor the men and women who serve or

who have served the United States with mili-tary service, the National Shrine will offer aspecial Mass for veterans and their families at2 p.m. on Nov. 11, Veterans Day.

Benefactors can pave the wayThe Marians at the National Shrine

announce a new way to memorialize a lovedone, create a tribute, or celebrate a special eventsuch as a birthday, First Holy Communion, con-firmation, wedding anniversary, or ordination.

The Shrine’s new Blessed John Paul IIPlaza, which will be built of paving stones,will make available memorial pavers. Each5-inch by 10-inch paving stone can accom-modate up to three lines of copy. The paverswill be installed in the plaza at the entrance tothe Shrine reception area.

Funds raised by the memorial pavers willhelp the Marian Fathers provide safer, more

accessible facilities to pilgrims. As they do forall supporters, the Marians will rememberbenefactors every day in Holy Mass and in the3 o’clock prayers at the National Shrine.

For more information, call Fr. Joseph’sSpecial Gifts Office at 1-800-671-2020 or goto MemorialsOnEdenHill.org/JPIIPlaza.

A new, life-size marble statue of St. Faustina faces theNational Shrine of The Divine Mercy. The statue will beblessed on Oct. 5, the saint’s feast day.


J O H N

F O S T E R




A

t Perth Amboy Catholic Upper Schoolfor grades four through eight in New Jersey, clubs and extracurricular groups

form a key part of education.The school hosts clubs forlanguage, art, the environ-ment, and intramural sports.There’s one club, however,that augments the school’sofferings in a way that’sunprecedented: the Apostlesof Mercy.

The Apostles of MercyClub grew as an extension of a Lenten program begun atthe school in 2010.

“In 2000, our formerpastor introduced praying theChaplet of Divine Mercy before our 7 a.m.Mass,” says Sr. Rebecca Piatek, principal of theschool in the Diocese of Metuchen. “I myself had some powerful experiences with DivineMercy, where I received powerful intercessions.In 2010, I felt the need to share this beautifulmessage and devotion with our students.”

Consequently, during Lent last year, thechildren at the Upper School learned about TheDivine Mercy message and devotion. Together,

the children prayed a decade of the chapleteach day during morning prayer. SisterRebecca says they prayed the chaplet “for our

families, friends, the world, aswell as those with specialneeds.”

The school also showedstudents Divine Mercy for

Young Hearts, a DVD thatintroduces children andyouth to the message. Itis produced by Dave and Joan Maroney, thehusband-and-wife directorsof Mother of MercyMessengers, an apostolate of the Marian Fathers of theImmaculate Conception.

Inspiration comes for new clubThe Divine Mercy devotions ended during

Holy Week. Sister Rebecca then became awareof a change: “I noticed some students seemedto be really into Divine Mercy. They wanted itto continue.”

During Easter vacation in 2010, Sr. Rebeccasaid, “Something spoke to my heart. I realizedthat we have all kinds of clubs at the school.

DA N

V A L E NT I

APOSTLES OF MERCY CLUB

Sister Rebecca Piatek leads members of the Apostles of Mercy Club in praying the Chaplet of DivineMercy at Perth Amboy Catholic Upper School in New Jersey. “Divine Mercy is teaching them how tofind quiet time with God,” says Sr. Rebecca.

by Dan Valenti

Students at New Jersey Catholic schoolare ‘into Divine Mercy.’

“I am a member of the Apostles of Mercy because I like to pray

for the wars and crimeto stop,” says Luis

Jaimez, who entered eighth grade this fall.

He says the Apostles of Mercy is “a group of children who want to

make a differencein the world.”



Why not have an Apostles of Mercy Club?”She says that the inspiration came from theHoly Spirit.

On April 12, 2010, the principal sent aletter to the children’s parents and guardians,telling them that “many of our studentscame to pray this chaplet with attention and

devotion. For this, we are thankful. … As wecelebrate the Easter season with the new lifegiven by Jesus,” Sr. Rebecca wrote, “I wouldlike to invite those students who may want tocontinue with this prayer to join a club calledthe Apostles of Mercy.”

With the invitation, Sr. Rebecca invited willingfamilies “to make a similar commitment [toDivine Mercy] to be carried out at home.” She

describes the formation of the club as “taking achance,” since she had no way of knowinghow many would respond. She was resigned tothe risk, telling herself, “What I’m going to get,I’m going to get.”

To her pleasant surprise, 20 students signedup for the club. A number of families alsowanted to participate at home. The club hasbeen growing ever since. This year, it almost

doubled in size.

Be merciful, pray for God’s mercyThe young Apostles of Mercy pledge to do

their best to give a good example of mercy intheir lives by being kind, understanding, for-giving, and merciful in their actions. The club

meets each Friday at 2:30 p.m. during theschool year to pray the chaplet. Members gatherin a classroom-sized room at the end of asecond-floor corridor that has been set up as aDivine Mercy shrine. A large tapestry depicting

Jesus as The Divine Mercy, before which thestudents pray, adorns the front of the room.

Club members say they find praying thechaplet a way to learn more about God’s loveand mercy for them. They’re also aware of theneed to share that love with others.

Continued on page 28

Sister Rebecca Piatek, principal of Perth AmboyCatholic Upper School, began the Apostles of MercyClub because she “felt the need to share this beautifulmessage and devotion with our students.”

DA N

V A L E NT I



Rece ivedGraces

Blessed Stanislaus Papczynski:

A Holy Man for Our TimeAsk Blessed Stanislaus to intercede for you!

This booklet includes a concise biography of the Marian Founder,

the Vatican’s decree concerning the miracle for his beatification,

and a novena to pray for a special grace through his intercession.

B12-LOBS G 48 pages G Paperback G $5.25 plus p&h

Three answers to prayer

I have three storiesthat attest to the powerfulintercession of BlessedStanislaus Papczynski. Twoyears ago, my daughterdeveloped an autoimmunedisorder after a viral illness.The doctors couldn’t comeup with a specific diagnosis,

and she was very sick forover a year. It was heart-breaking. I asked BlessedStanislaus every day tointercede that she wouldrecover. Now, I see her ill-ness has not progressed. Infact, some of her symptomshave gone away. She is

functional and optimistic.She takes medication daily,exercises and meditates,and has returned to thepractice of her faith.

Shortly after my daugh-ter’s illness, my husband wasdiagnosed with a melanoma on his back. So as Icontinued to seek daily Blessed Stanislaus’s help

for my daughter, I added my husband and hisdoctors to my prayers as they prepared for hissurgery. After extensive surgery, the surgeon toldus that he was able to remove all of the visiblemass. Soon after, the pathology report con-firmed this. No further treatment was necessary.Now, after 15 months, he remains cancer-free.

During this time, a family friend — a youngwoman with Lupus — became comatose. So I

asked Blessed Stanislaus to intercede for her aswell. Two days after I started to do this, sheawoke from her coma and began to get better.One year later, she continues to do well.

I truly believe that Blessed Stanislausanswered my prayers each time.

— RMH, Worcester, Mass.

Son gets into school

More than a year and ahalf ago, my son applied toa Catholic high school.Despite being an exceptionalstudent with everythinggoing for him, he was notaccepted. He and I began toseek daily the intercession of Blessed Stanislaus, using the

prayercard the Marians offer.He even kept a copy of it onhis nightstand. He reappliedthis past year as a transferstudent, and he was accepted.

We are both convincedit was Blessed Stanislauswho helped in this cause.Thank You, God, for this

grace through BlessedStanislaus Papczynski!

— MP, Potomac, Md.

Four jobs in a monthI had been turning to

Blessed Stanislaus for help formore than a year for my three grandchildrenand my nephew. They all were without jobs after

working for so many years.My prayers seem to have been answered

all in one month. My nephew was the first tobe hired into banking management. Next, mygrandson was hired for a marketing positionin California. Then, ConEdison hired mygranddaughter. Finally, a nuclear power plantin Montrose, N.Y., hired my other grandson.

Thank you, Blessed Stanislaus Papczynski,

for your intercession. — RD, Mahopac, N.Y.

For a Blessed Stanislaus prayercard (B12-CPPC), call tollfree 1-800-462-7426. If you have received graces throughhis intercession, please write: Br. Andrew Mà czyƒski, MIC,Vice Postulator of the Marian Causes of Canonization,Stockbridge, MA 01263. E-mail: [email protected].

Husband, daughter, friend all helped

Acknowledgements

of graces received through

the intercession of Blessed

Sta

nislaus Papczynski,

Founder of the Marians.

(1631-1701)

All prices are in U.S. funds. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery of phone or online orders.

To order by mail, please see “Order Info” on page 3.



eulah Van Splinter has found greatsolace in Divine Mercy. She hasbeen focusing more on her faithsince the death of her husband.

“Faith is the only thing that keeps me goingafter the death of my husband, Francis Van

Splinter,” Beulah said. “We were married for 60years. He passed away Sept. 19, 2009. Now Ipray a lot because I’m alone. My children arenearby and they visit,but I still feel alone agreat deal of the time, sonow I have turned to theChaplet of The DivineMercy. I feel close to St.

Faustina. My devotionhas helped me.”

Beulah chose to haveher and her husband’snames etched in astained-glass windowat the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine. She alsohad her parents memorialized at the shrine.

“My daughter and I are going to the

National Shrine of The Divine Mercy on EdenHill when the weather gets better,” Beulah said.“I want to go and see the memorial there at the

outdoor shrine, but I just have to be patient. Iwould like to come on Oct. 5, for St. Faustina’sfeast day.”

Like Beulah, you can create a memorial atthe Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine to honoryour family or remember a loved one.

For a gift of $100 or more, you may request tohave your name or the name of a loved oneinscribed in one of the following ways at the out-

door shrine:• For a gift of $100,on a brass plaque.• For a gift of $250,in a window.• For a gift of $500, in

granite.• For a gift of $1,000,in marble.

All benefactors andthose they honor willbe remembered daily at

Holy Mass and the Perpetual Novena to TheDivine Mercy at the National Shrine. To learnmore about these and other special opportuni-

ties, please contact Father Joseph’s Special Giftsassistants at 1-800-671-2020 or visit online atMemorialsOnEdenHill.org.

B

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE MADE RECENT GIFTS FOR A MEMORIAL OR TRIBUTE ON EDEN HILL.

DUE TO THE NUMBER OF SUCH GIFTS, WE ARE UNABLE TO LIST THE NAMES OF ALL RECENT BENEFACTORS.

IF YOUR NAME IS NOT LISTED HERE, LOOK FOR IT IN THE F ALL 2011 ISSUE OF OUR H ELPING NEWSLETTER

OR IN A FUTURE ISSUE OF M ARIAN H ELPER .Mr. & Mrs. Anthony NebioloMrs. Margie NewmanChi NguyenMrs. Arlene Nicholson

Janice Lynn NolaMary NowePatrick O’ConnorChima OparahCherry OrugaVirgina L. PabloMs. Irene L. ParentMs. Mary J. PersicoRocco PetrilloMrs. Rita M. PhillipsMrs. Maria PintoMr. & Mrs. Emil PoljevkaMr. & Mrs. Michael J. ProcanikMiss Florence L. Prokopiak

Mr. William E. PrzywaraMr. & Mrs. Joseph QuinnMrs. Nancy RamlHermy ReyesMr. & Mrs. Joseph RomMr. Vincent A. RussoSister Lucy Ana Maria

SalamonyMr. & Mrs. Thomas SandersMrs. Donna Scanlan

Mr. & Mrs. John & Rita Scheffen Joann Schilling Joann SchnurrAmparo SimpsonDeidre A. SkyrmMrs. Susan Smith

Julie SmockDr. William Sniger

Mr. & Mrs. Gerald W. SohnMr. & Mrs. William

SommelingMichele SootkoosMrs. Loyda SoreLaura SpeckMr. & Mrs. Michael Sperandeo

James SpiekerPatricia StewartMary Sullivan

Mrs. Judee M. SzymanskyMaria TavaresLance TaylorMary ThateMs. Gail A. TomaoMiss Joan C. TreinasDolores UrdanetaMr. Gene Vaillancourt

Mrs. Beulah Van SplinterMrs. Michael VargaMr. & Mrs. Frank A. VastaRob & Maureen VaughanMr. Richard VillanoMr. & Mrs. William WalbornDebra Wanderer

James WasselMs. Diana WelkerGermaine Ann WelterRosamaria WetmoreEmil R. WolanskiStanley WoodMr. Edward WrobelMs. Maryann YankoMr. & Mrs. Eugene ZapatkaMr. & Mrs. Ray ZelaznyBarbara Zykan

Names are etched in a stained-glass window at theMother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine on Eden Hill.



“I am a member of theApostles of Mercy because Ilike to pray for the wars and

crime to stop,” says Luis Jaimez, who entered eighthgrade this fall. “I also wantto pray for my family, thesick, the poor.” Luis says hebelieves the Apostles of Mercy is “a group of children who want to makea difference in the world.” He says he has visitedthe National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in

Stockbridge, Mass.Luis’s classmate Alvin Marmol calls the

Apostles of Mercy “the most important club inschool.” He says it’s “a great honor and respon-sibility to be in this club.” Alvin says he hascontinued his Divine Mercy devotions outsideof school, having attended Divine MercySunday Masses, gone on a Divine Mercyretreat, and participated in a mission to the

Dominican Republic. Justin Rodriguez, a fifth-grader this fall, says

he enjoys the club “because Jesus is my light andmy salvation. He’s everything to me. I like toparticipate in this group because it is fun and

you get to pray the chaplet.I have tried to get more stu-dents to join, because theywill be closer to Jesus, and Iwould like them to feelwhat I feel when I pray.”

Club teaches kids tofind time for GodSavannah Valentin,

who graduated fromeighth grade and is nowin high school, says, “In

the past two years, this club made an enor-mous impact in my life, because it gave a bit of time out of my hectic life to center my time

with God. It also gave me time to realize andacknowledge the little things in life. It showedme that people do care. I feel that this clubshould continue as a tradition in our school.”

Sister Rebecca says that when the 2010-2011 school year began, “all the Apostles of Mercy came back, and we had new members.

“What really inspires me,” Sr. Rebecca says,“is to see how the children have taken to Divine

Mercy. Kids will be kids. They’re not alwaysangels,” she says with a laugh. “But these aregood kids, and Divine Mercy is teaching themhow to find quiet time with God in the midst of their often-challenging lives.” MHMH

CLUBContinued from page 25

Justin Rodriguez, a fifth- grader this fall, says heenjoys the club “because Jesus is my light and my

salvation. He’s everything tome. I have tried to get more

students to join, because they will be closer to Jesus, and I would like them to feel what

I feel when I pray.”



Sylvia has a way withwords. I once askedher how she was,

and she replied, “I'mvertical and ventilating!”Another time, she saidshe had something toread to me, but first shehad to put on her “visual

aids,” referring to her eye-glasses. She even calls herhour-and-a-half dailyprayer time “breakfastwith Jesus and Mary.”

With conviction, Sylviashares many stories of thepower of faith and prayer.

For example, she described an ordeal her

nephew survived, saying, “Divine Mercy wasthere.” When he was 2 years old, her nephewwas diagnosed with a rare and aggressivebrain tumor. The entire family and manyfriends stormed heaven with prayers forhis healing, and she considers it almostmiraculous that he survived. Today, he is ahealthy 16-year-old.

Sylvia first learned about The Divine Mercy

message and devotion from her sister, whobrought her to the National Shrine of TheDivine Mercy for the first time in 1995.

She tries to return to the Shrine every year.In addition to receiving the Sacraments andspending time in prayer in the Shrine, shemakes a point of visiting the Divine Mercy GiftShop to stock up on religious materials. One of her favorite items is a CD of the Chaplet of

Divine Mercy and the Rosary recorded at theShrine. In fact, she calculates how long a roadtrip will take by how many times she can“pray” the CD.

Sylvia is a retired certified registered nurseanesthetist. When she was working, shealways carried a rosary in her pocket. It was atouchstone for her, and whenever possible, shewould pray the chaplet for her patients.

Because of her own experiences of thepower of prayer and her conviction that God’smercy is the antidote to the world’s troubles,

Sylvia is eager to spreadthe message of DivineMercy. She’s been amember for a number of years of the Friends of Mercy, which she calls a“family of prayer.” Oneof the things she enjoysis reading in the Friends

of Mercy newsletterabout how other peopleare spreading the mes-sage. It gives her ideasand encouragement.

She and several otherparishioners haveformed a Divine Mercy

prayer group that meets monthly. She is also

preparing information to fill a “Divine Mercycorner” in the weekly parish bulletin. It’simportant,” she says. “God wants us to cometo Him.”

I first got to know Sylvia because she wasone of the first Marian Helpers to support ourSeminarian Campaign. She is delighted thatthe Marian Fathers have so many vocations.She says, “The seminarians go through a lot.

They have to be dedicated to persevere intheir studies. We sure need the priests, andit’s wonderful to help them out.”

With the prayers and financial help of Marian Helpers like Sylvia, the next generationof Marian priests will continuethe mission of spreadingThe Divine Mercy messageand devotion. By the way,

Sylvia is also thinkingabout the future by includ-ing a gift to the MarianFathers in her will. If you are considering agift through yourestate plans, wouldlike to join the Friendsof Mercy, or support

the Marian seminari-ans, please get intouch with me.

He lper sOutstanding

by Ellen Miller

‘God wants us to come to Him’

Sylvia (right) and her sister visit the HolyFamily Shrine, which is on the campus of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy onEden Hill in Stockbridge, Mass.

Ellen Miller is Fr. Joseph’s director of Special Gifts. You may write her atAssociation of Marian Helpers, Stockbridge, MA 01263, or call her toll freeat 1-800-671-2020. E-mail: [email protected].




All prices are in U.S. funds. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery of phone or online orders. To order by mail, please see “Order Info” on page 3.

Rachel, Weep No MoreB Y B RYAN T HATCHER , MD, AND F R . F RANK P AVONE

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Learn how God’s mercy can help those diagnosed with cancer findthe fortitude to face the challenges of treatment and how it canchange a survivor’s outlook on life. Discover how Divine Mercy can also help caregivers cope and even grow spiritually as they care

for those who suffer from the disease. The author, Dr. Sobecks,draws from his many years of clinical practice and deep knowledgeof The Divine Mercy message as he addresses these issues and morethrough the personal stories of many of his patients.

Nursing with the Hands of Jesus:A GUIDE TO NURSES FOR DIVINE MERCY

B Y M ARIE R OMAGNANO , RN

This revised edition of the first “how-

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Your SorrowWill BeTurned to Joy

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In Cork,Ireland, myfavorite

church is calledSt. Augustine’s.From the minuteI first enteredits doors, thelarge DivineMercy imagedisplayed therespoke to my heart.

Each time Ientered St.

Augustine’s for Massor prayer, I would sit

under that image of Jesus, The Divine Mercy.I watched as parishioners venerated the imageafter Mass. Some would light a votive candle,while others would bow before the image.Some would even reach up and touch Jesus’feet in the bottom of the image.

Watching theseindividuals expresssuch love for theirSavior amazed meduring my fivemonths in Ireland. Iwould imagine thepaths their lives hadtaken as they came before His merciful gaze.

I reflected on the path my own life hadtaken. I remembered saying goodbye to some-one whom I loved deeply. I recalled sitting infront of that image so often, sure that I wouldn’tfeel that same lightness of heart or joy again.

I think having hope is to see new promiseafter experiencing a loss in your life. For me, Ireceived this kind of hope after I submittedmyself to the love of Jesus’ gaze in The DivineMercy image. As St. Faustina writes in herDiary: “For You are my whole delight and thelove of my soul, /And to You, in turn, I pourout the confidences of my heart” (1004).

If we pour out our hearts to Jesus, there islittle left for us to do but hope.

Ihave hopebecause the Lordkeeps manifesting

in big and little waysthat He has not aban-doned us, even amidall the difficulties anddarkness of this age.

Working in parishministry, I have hadthe privilege toencounter the suffer-ings of my parishionersas they live their dailylives. I walk alongside them asthey grieve the loss of a loved one who has diedtragically. I walk alongside those who are par-ents as they wrestle with the overwhelming,destructive pressures warring against the soulsof their children. In parish ministry, a priestencounters these kinds of wounds of humanity.

But I have hopebecause I see flowersblossom even in thesewounds. Time andtime again, I see menand women come tothe Sacrament of Reconciliation withheavy burdens,revealed in theirquavering voices.

I then physically hear their voices lighten asthey receive the peace found in the words of absolution. I see young people overwhelmedwith tears of joy as they encounter the Lord inthe Eucharist.

I recently witnessed an engaged couple endtheir cohabitation after hearing the Church’steaching on the sanctity of marriage. I watchedpost-abortive women experience healing asthey were prayed over by a priest, while a CDof the Chaplet of Divine Mercy played in thebackground at a healing service.

Indeed, God has not abandoned us. He gaveus enduring hope when He left us the Church tocontinue His presence in our lives.

UsBetween

by a Marian and a Helper

Why I have hope

Fr. AndyMarian

Fr. Andy Davy, MIC, was ordained in 2009. Hecurrently serves as parish administrator of St. MaryParish in Plano, Ill.

“God gave us enduring hope

when He left us the Church tocontinue His

presence.”

Dana Flynn is a senior at Boston College, studyingaccounting and history. She is from Wyckoff, N.J.,and belongs to St. Paul Parish in Ramsey.

“If we pour out our hearts to

Jesus, there is little for us to do but hope.”

DanaMarian Helper



‘Blessing my father’

Write: Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, Vocation Director

Marians of the Immaculate Conception

515 Belleview Blvd., Steubenville, OH 43952

Fr. Donald invites you to attend a“VOCATION RETREAT” at the Marian

House of Studies in Steubenville, Ohio.

The next retreats will be on:

Oct. 21-23, Feb. 3-5

March 23-25, April 6-8

E-mail: [email protected] toll free: 1-877-261-8806Website: marian.org/vocations

Want to know more about a religious vocation as a Marian?

‘Blessing my father’

I love my parents. They have been supportive of my vocation to

the priesthood and religious life from the very beginning. It wasspecial to have them with me when I was ordained on May 28 atmy hometown parish, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Rowland Heights,Calif. My father used to bless my brother and me in the morningsand evenings when we were kids. I praise the Lord that now as apriest, I can return the favor by blessing him! — Fr. James Cervantes, MIC

R E N A T O

C R U Z



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