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Winter Edition
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Volume 12 Issue 16
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At the close of this year, I am reminded of the many blessings we have received as a ministry and as a country. Whenever a year ends, we have a chance to reflect on its passing and see what personal changes we can make for the coming New Year. Recently, a non-believing relative, said to me that while walking through a shopping mall during the Christmas Season you would never know it was a religious celebration. She was absolutely correct! I thought about what she said for a long time. In reflecting on what we as women of Magnificat could do about it, I thought we have the opportunity to bring Jesus' miraculous birth back to
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his busy, secular world. Wearing holy reminders of Jesus' birth, such as a little pin on your lapel, can spur a memory from deep within. Just wishing "Merry Christmas" to a cashier can be a reminder of Jesus' birth. Sending out Christmas cards instead of holiday cards is another way to keep Christ in Christmas. If we, as a ministry don't do it, who will? If not now, when? This Christmas let us truly celebrate Jesus' birth. Have a blessed and holy Christmas!
Kathy MacInnis, Coordinator
Central Service Team
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Holy Father's Monthly Intentions
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December:
Universal:
End to Child-Soldiers
That the scandal of child-soldiers be eliminated the world over.
Evangelization: Europe
That the peoples of Europe may rediscover the beauty, goodness and truth of the gospel which gives joy and hope to life.
January:
Evangelization: Christian Unity
That all Christians may be faithful to the Lord's teaching by striving with prayer and fraternal charity to restore ecclesial communion and by collaborating to meet the challenges facing humanity.
February:
Universal: Comfort for the Afflicted
That all those who are afflicted, especially the poor, refugees and marginalized may find welcome and comfort in our communities.
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Second Reading
From a Commentary on Luke by Venerable Bede, priest
The Magnificat
Mary said:
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
The Lord has exulted me by a gift so great, so unheard of, that language is useless to describe it, and the depths of love in my heart can scarcely grasp it. I offer then all the powers of my soul in praise and thanksgiving. As I contemplate his greatness, which knows no limits, I joyfully surrender my whole life, my senses, my judgement, for my spirit rejoices in the eternal Godhead of that Jesus, that Savior, whom I have conceived in this world of time.
The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Mary looks back to the beginning of her song, where she said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. Only that soul for whom the Lord in his love does great things can proclaim his greatness with fitting praise and encourage those who share her desire and purpose, saying: Join with me in proclaiming the greatness of the Lord; let us extol his name together.
Those who know the Lord, yet refuse to proclaim his greatness and sanctify his name to the limit of their power, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. His name is called holy because in the sublimity of his unique power he surpasses every creature and is far removed from all that he has made.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy.
In a beautiful phrase Mary calls Israel the servant of the Lord. The Lord came to his aid to save him. Israel is an obedient and humble servant, in the words of Hosea: Israel was a servant, and I loved him.
Those who refuse to be humble cannot be saved. They cannot say with the prophet: See, God comes to my aid; the Lord is the helper of my soul.
But anyone who makes himself humble like a little child is greater in the kingdom of heaven.
The promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.
This does not refer to the physical descendants of Abraham, but to his spiritual children. These are his descendants, sprung not from the flesh only, but who, whether circumcised or not, have followed him in faith. Circumcised as he was, Abraham believed, and this was credited to him as an act of righteousness.
The coming of the Savior was promised to Abraham and to his descendants forever. These are the children of the promise, to whom it is said: If you belong to Christ, then you are descendants of Abraham, heirs in accordance with the promise.
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Magnificat CST Spiritual Advisor
Fr. Kevin Scallon, C.M.
In these times, the President and Members of Congress, and all those involved in government are surely in need of our fervent prayers. Someone asked me to write a prayer for the Country, I did so and this is it:
A Prayer for the United States
Lord God, Father of all Your children,
we thank You for our homeland,
the United States of America,
and for our Constitutional Democracy.
Send Your Holy Spirit to enlighten our President
and those who serve us in Congress.
Bless all who draft our laws,
and the men and women who administer them.
Look with mercy on us your children
who cry out to you.
May your truth dispel all moral darkness.
Protect life and family,
and help us to live in peace.
We make this prayer
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception; pray for us.
Saints of the Americas; pray for us.
'You are a slave of no one except God, so behave like free people and never use your freedom as a cover for wickedness. Have respect for everyone and love for your fellow believers, fear God and honor the Emperor.' 1 Peter 2:16-17
I wish you many blessings for this beautiful Season of Advent and great peace this Christmas and throughout the coming year. Please pray for me.
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Marilyn Quirk Receives St. John Paul II Award
by Paulette Renaudin, Newsletter Editor
The Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in New Orleans, was the setting
f
or over 650 friends, family members and religious present to honor our beloved Maril
yn at the Catholic Foundation's 40th Anniversary dinner. The award is gi
ven to a person who is an outstanding Catholic leader who through their faith, family a
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d love inspires service. The person must be of high moral character, show exemplary values and render unselfish volunteer service to a ministry in the Archdio
cese of New Orleans.
Archbishop Aymond introduced Marilyn by saying that God places people in o
ur lives who foster our faith and calls us to Himself. Bishop Stanley Ott, a 'Father in Christ' was that person for Marilyn. Bishop Ott brought Marilyn into the Catholic faith while she was attending LSU studying to be a medical missionary.
L to R: Nancy Skok, Fr. Kevin Scallon, Carol Dazzio, Marilyn Quirk, Mary Wilson,
Judy Zelden, Diane Bates and Michelle Seghers
It was also Bishop Ott who encouraged Marilyn to begin Magnificat when he saw the tremendous growth of women through prayer groups after receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Marilyn spoke about her life after entering the Church, marrying and beginning to raise her growing family. It was then that her faith started to become lukewarm and her fervor was choked off. She spoke of Fr. Harold Cohen, S.J., who brought so many people in the New Orleans area into the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. After receiving this grace, her life changed as did many of the women
around her. When a woman's life is changed, things happen! The women begin using gifts they did not know they had and the rippling effect is profound.
Marilyn's founding of Magnificat has left "heart prints" on the lives of millions of women. From its humble beginnings, in the Knights of Columbus Hall with Patti Mansfield as their first speaker, Magnificat was introduced to the world!
The Magnificat Ministry has formed 109 Chapters in 12
countries and is proclaimed in 6 languages. Magnificat grew from her desire to share the faith that had been ignited through the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and she is amazed at where Our Lord and His Blessed Mother have taken this ministry. Marilyn spoke of the Catholic culture in the city of New Orleans which has the Cathedral image represented on its logo. New Orleans is a shining light that inspires other cities.
Marilyn studied all the encyclicals of Saint John Paul II and they were very inspirational for her personal formation. She also highlighted Magnificat's signature quote in the front of our handbook from the closing of the Second Vatican Council, December 8, 1965, "And now it is to you that we address ourselves, women of all states - girls, wives, mothers, widows, to you also consecrated virgins and women living alone ...That is why, at this moment when the human race is undergoing so deep a transformation, women impregnated with the spirit of the Gospel can do much to aid mankind in not falling ... you to whom life is entrusted at this grave moment in history, it is for you to save the peace of the world!" Marilyn has tried to live that quote and inspire others to do so.
She told of her brush with death eight years ago and her healing from that experience. It may have slowed her down physically, but it did not waver her spirit. She continued to make an impact for women in Magnificat living out the spirit of the Gospel.
Marilyn has mentored thousands of women around the world with her motherly heart. Magnificat is often referred to as a garden from the Visitation of Mary and Elizabeth which took place in Ain Karem where there is a "garden fountain." The Holy Spirit has watered the garden of Magnificat for the last 35 years and it is still budding and blooming with many new Chapters in the Formation Process waiting to begin.
Our faith has been enriched through Magnificat and because of it, women continue to serve the Church in a myriad of ways. We thank you, Marilyn, for your origi
nal "YES" to founding Magnificat and your leadership on the Service Team for so many, many years. You have been our 'standard bearer'. We thank your family for sharing you with us and we will continue to pray for you as we know you are praying for us. Congratulations good and faithful servant on a well- deserved award. We love you!
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L to R: Judy Zelden, Paulette and Rusty Renaudin, Carol Dazzio, Nancy Skok |
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L to R: St. Breige McKenna, Nancy Skok, Judy Zelden, Fr. Kevin Scallon, C.M. |
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Puddin McNamara and Evelyn Breaux |
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L to R: Michelle Seghers, Marilyn Heap, Jane Margavio, Diane Bates |
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L to R: Joan Lococo, Lorraine Levine, Mary Wilson |
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Marilyn Quirk and Marilyn Heap |
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Stark County Celebrates Their 50th Breakfast
By Shirley DeOrio, Coordinator of Stark County Chapter, Ohio
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| Fr. Thomas Cebula & Speaker-Bobbi Bankovich |
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Magnificat, Stark County Deanery, celebrated it's 50th breakfast on September 10, 2016 at Walsh University, North Canton, Ohio. Bobbi Bankovich was the speaker for the morning. Susan Potvin and Anne Recznik provided the praise and worship.
Father Thomas Cebula, our spiritual advisor, gave the spiritual teaching. Attending the breakfast were 140 women. The Service Team members present were Shirley DeOrio, Coordinator; Joan Spieth, Assistant Coordinator; Rosemary Pfiffner, Secretary; Diane Stropki, Historian.
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L to R: Diane Stropki- Historian, Rosemary
Pfiffner- Secretary, Shirley DeOrio- Coordinator, Bobbi Bankovich- Speaker, Joan Spieth, Asst. Coordinator
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Worship Team - Susan Potvin & Anne Recznik |
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Women of Grace Class Flourishes!
By Paulette Renaudin, Newsletter Editor
Ever since retiring in May from Magnificat CST, I was looking forward to facilitating the Women of Grace Foundational Study. In the previous Fall of 2015, I attended the Benedicta Leadership Institute and the Women of Grace Conference in Grapevine, Texas. I was very excited and enthusiastic with what I saw from the group participation. I was praying about leading a group in my home in the Fall of 2016. The Women of Grace program incorporates many of the same Sacred Scriptures that we associate with Magnificat. I am in the middle of the study now but I can already see the benefit of formation for all the women of Magnificat.
"Women of Grace's mission is to affirm women in their dignity and vocation as daughters of God and in their gift of authentic femininity by exploring all aspects of the feminine person including her spirituality, psychology, emotional reality, and physical being." My particular small group of twelve ladies ranges in age from 48-74 years from our church parish. I co-facilitate with a dear friend, Cecil. The ladies truly enjoy each meeting and are learning so much completing the lesson plans between meetings.
They are enjoying interacting with the Saints and becoming familiar with the Catechism, the Bible, and Encyclicals. They are also growing in self-knowledge. The group is nourished through prayer at the beginning of the meeting and they hold each other in prayer between meetings.
Another benefit is this course brings you into a closer relationship with the Blessed Mother. Johnnette Benkovic is such a knowledgeable, dynamic teacher. She is so "real" you just can't help admiring her. Her own life has not been easy, but she radiates peace and joy through trials which serves to instill the same in our women. She shows you how to have hope in any situation you could encounter, which is such an important lesson for everyone.
I would say that participating in a Women of Grace study brings your faith alive and empowers you to feel confident in faith sharing. Try it! Bring the Women of Grace Foundational Study to your parish and watch your parish get invigorated. It does not compete with any other program out there.
You can call our Magnificat Central Office (504) 828-MARY to purchase
Women of Grace materials.
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Click
here to register for the 2017 Conference
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Greenville, SC Chapter First Magnificat Meal
By Maria Boylan, Coordinator of Mother of the Word, Greenville, SC Chapter
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L to R: Elyse O'Kane, Lucille Irving, Beth Synder & Maria Boylan |
Magnificat Mother of the Word Chapter of Greenville, would like to express our deepest gratitude to our Lord Jesus Christ, Our Mother Mary, and to you our new and 'old' friends for all your support in making our first Magnificat Breakfast in the diocese of Charleston a huge success. In spite of the historic Hurricane Matthew, 63 of you attended the event at Twigs Tempietto on October 8, and at least two of you braved the inclement weather to drive from the Atlantic Coast to join us. Thank you and may God bless you for your sacrifice.
We also send out sincere gratitude to Magnificat Central Service Team Members, Susan Shaw our Regional Representative, Deacon Jack Crocker our spiritual advisor, Magnificat Kenosha-Racine, all previous Service Team members, intercessory prayer partners, music ministry, hostesses, greeters, and all those who helped birth Magnificat Mother of the Word. This would not have been pos
sible without your prayers, support, and love.
Our first speaker, Elyse O'Kane, spoke beautifully about her experiences in a new city while dealing with a difficult pregnancy, the miracle prayers of a faithful stranger who came to assist her from her new parish, and the spiritual surprises that followed along with the birth of her baby. Many of you shared how you were touched by her witness. Afterwards, we sensed a confirmation from the Lord, that Elyse was chosen to bring 'the baby' i.e. the Magnificat Greenville Chapter to fruition ... she was like the midwife! How wonderful the Lord is. He knew exactly who to choose for our first speaker.
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A GRACE-FILLED CHRISTMAS
By Peggy Rowe-Linn, Coordinator of West Palm Beach, FL Chapter
She was clearly homeless with that burgeoning cart and disheveled hair but, it was her smell that was the dead giveaway--the smell of a person who had not had a bath in a long time.
I
saw her for the first time picking cigarette butts out of the ash can outside the courthouse entrance.
I only noticed her because I was
a smoker, then, too. I was appalled. She would pick up the butts, re-light them and smoke them down to the filter or save the butts for later. I vowed
to give up the habit and give her all my cigarettes one at a time. I had a couple of cartons myself.
I struck up a conversation with her. She was happy to give one-word answers to my questions except she would not reveal her name. Over the course of several months I learned she had two children, but she didn't know how to get in touch with them. She didn't know where they were. No, she didn't know about Social Security benefits and whether she was entitled to them. She didn't have a post office box anyway so, what good would it do? And, no, she wouldn't tell me her name.
As our relationship grew, I realized this was someone's mother, someone's grandmother and had once been someone's little girl. She was not an alcoholic. I tried independently to find out what happened to her, but without a name, it was impossible even for a resourceful attorney. Over time, I started giving her a few dollars here and there to get some coffee and breakfast across the street at McDonald's. McDonald's gave out free hot water, so she would get a coffee and a hot water and dilute the coffee so it would last longer. "Thank you, Peggy, and, no, I'm not telling you my name today." I think it had to do with her pride. As long as she was nameless, our relationship was safe.
Christmas was coming and I had a splendid idea. I would go shopping! I took my associate to K-Mart to buy some presents for this nameless soul. My associate wanted to know if a purse was a good idea. I burst out laughing. What is a homeless woman going to do with a purse other than have it stolen? I settled on a down-filled camping bag, a flashlight, a box of tea bags, instant coffee, tuna in a bag, lift top soups she could heat at McDonald's, shampoo, crème rinse, a comb and brush, some new socks, a new pair of sneakers and yes, a carton of her favorite cigarettes, as well as a few other assorted items. Then, I went back to the office and wrapped every single thing up separately, placed a ribbon around it and put a bow on each present.
The next morning was Christmas Eve and the courthouse was open until noon, so I walked over to the courthouse with a huge Christmas bag and dropped it on top of her cart. I looked at her and said, "Merry Christmas!" Then, I swiftly left.
I went across the street and strategically positioned myself behind a brick wall where I could see her, but she couldn't see me and watched her open each present. She was literally crying with joy. She opened each present so carefully, you would have thought each gift was the Christ Child Himself!
Ten days later, I saw her again at the courthouse. She never mentioned the Christmas presents. She just gave me a huge smile and said, "I thought you might like to know my name. My name is Grace." Then, it was my turn to cry. Of course, it is. Grace. Simply, Grace.
This Christmas season may you be filled with the grace of Jesus Christ as He presents himself in all of his different disguises! Merry Christmas, my Magnificat sisters!
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MAGNIFICAT PRAYER BOOKLET
Magnificat has been a daily companion to thousands on their spiritual journey, enriching their prayer life and helping them grow in love and knowledge of Christ and the Church.
Every subscription to this lovely Mass and prayer guide directly benefits our Ministry domestically and worldwide.
Regular Edition: first subscription $44.95; second subscription $35; and subsequent subscriptions $29; Large Print Edition: first subscription $64.95; second subscription $55; and subsequent subscriptions $49.
Magnificat
P. O. Box 822,
Yonkers, NY 10702
(866) 273-5215
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Western Region October Retreat
By Elise Botch, CST Communications Team Member
Our Western Region Retreat was in October at the beautiful Sacred Heart Retreat Center in Alhambra, CA. In one word you can describe the weekend as 'Anointed.' Michele Trichter, our Regional Rep and Director of the Retreat commented, 'God's power and grace was so generously bestowed on each of us as the weekend progressed.'
Dr. Carol Razza, one of our vibrant CST Advisory Team members, began the weekend for us with an empowering talk on our birthright as 'supernatural people' called to do the 'good work'. She said we're commissioned to do the 'impossible' because we have everything available to us through Our Lord Jesus Christ. We should not let anything stop us but rather embrace the fullness of who we are in Our Lord and Savior. Carol's talks were packed with Scripture, touching stories and her undeniable humor that kept us laughing. She ended the evening with a powerful Healing service freeing us from brokenness to restoration which resulted in the magnificent sight of everyone joyfully singing and jubilantly dancing in praise and worship. The music ministry of Susan Potvin and Lisa Ledyard accompanied us in this amazing transforming time and they kept us in the spirit of worship and praise throughout the weekend.
This set the stage for the intensely spiritual time we had with our Retreat Leader, Fr. Dan Wilder for the rest of the weekend. He shared with us in his own passionate and expressive way, his testimony and many miracles he has witnessed in his deliverance ministry across the globe. He led us in guided meditations and prepared us for our time in Adoration and non- stop Confessions.
There was plenty of social time too at the end of each evening by acquainting ourselves with each other from the 11 Chapters of our Region, sharing the transforming experiences of the weekend and the God moments of our lives.
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Praise and Worship |
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Social Time! Indio Chapter |
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West St. Tammany Chapter, LA celebrates 20th Anniversary
By Paulette Renaudin, Newsletter Editor
Joy was in the crisp, fall air Nov. 8th for the celebration of WST Chapter's 20th Anniversary! Benedict's Plantation, where the meals are held, was decorated and ready for speaker, Kelly Wahlquist, Founder of WINE, "Women in the New Evangelization." Before the festivities started, the previous meal speakers in attendance were recognized and I recounted with humor the details of how the Chapter was founded. The Spiritual Advisor, Fr. Robert Cavalier, led us in a decade of the Rosary and the blessing before meals. Benedict's Plantation, our meeting place for 19 years, always serves a delicious meal. Beth Montelepre, Coordinator, welcomed the very enthusiastic guests and Peggy Ronzello began the Praise and Worship and then turned it over to Leslie Bertucci who led the music ministry.
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L to R: Michelle Seghers, Peggy Ronzello, Kelly Wahlquist, Paige Rosato, Beth Montelepre, Noel Travers |
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Leslie Bertucci and Music Ministry |
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Kelly Wahlquist was an energetic, dynamic speaker whose strength is helping women form relationships which can be used to evangelize women. Kelly is a nurse, but the Lord brought her out of that profession to work with Jeff Cavins of "The Bible Timeline, The Great Adventure Catholic Bible Study." She took the course
in her parish and then helped Jeff
write instructions for "small group sharing" and implemented them in parishes all over the country. She then worked for Fr. Michael Gaitley, M.I.C. in Stockbridge, MA, and helped him launch "33 days to Morning Glory" a resource for Parish-based Marian Consecration nationally and internationally. The Holy Spirit then led her to start the WINE Movement, "Women in the New Evangelization" for such a time as this. She explains how the meaning of relationship within the Trinity can help us understand the importance of connecting with others--the key to living the Gospel fully and joyfully. She says, "The bonds we share with family, friends, and colleagues, and even the strangers we meet each day have eternal significance. Often, it's these ordinary relationships that draw us into a life-changing relationship with Christ." Kelly speaks at conferences and travels everywhere empowering women to grow in faith to utilize God's gifts to build up the Body of Christ. It is a movement designed to invigorate Catholic parishes through encouraging, supporting, and nurturing women in the faith by equipping and mobilizing women as intentional disciples of Christ. Their foundational Scripture is from John 2:5 "Do whatever He tells you." The guests were indeed blessed and
many stayed to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to purchase her
books.
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L to R: Paulette Renaudin, Sue Zaunbrecher, Peggy Ronzello, Kelly Wahlquist, Paige Rosato, Beth Montelepre, Noel Travers, Fr. Robert Cavalier, Jim Seghers. |
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| CST Secretary's Past and Present- Mary Wilson, Joan Lococo and Paulette Renaudin |
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Morning Star Chapter in Lincoln, NE
Celebrates their
20th Anniversary!
By Rhonda Litt, Coordinator, Morning Star Chapter
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Kathy MacInnis & Mary Harper
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In reflecting back on the last twenty years of our Morning Star Chapter, I recall Mary Harper saw a program on EWTN about Magnificat in 1994. She made an inquiry and received the information about starting a chapter. She along with a group of women prayed on a regular basis to determine if it was God's will to start a chapter. After discerning it was, five women were chosen. They were: Joan Campbell, Historian, Betsy Dalton, Treasurer, Mary Harper, Coordinator, Marian Kozisek, Secretary, and Carolyn May, Asst. Coordinator and Spiritual Advisor, Fr. Nicholas Baker who was with us until he retired in 2013. We were blessed to have Marilyn Quirk, Founding Coordinator of Magnificat, as our first speaker giving her personal testimony on March 9, 1996. To celebrate our 20th Anniversary meal, we were again blessed to have our present Coordinator of the Ministry, Kathy MacInnis. What a glorious day for the Lincoln Chapter!
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Morning Star Service Team, with Monsignor Witt & Kathy MacInnis |
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Monsignor Witt & Kathy MacInnis |
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"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass ... It's about learning to dance in the rain."
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Advancing the Kingdom, Eastern Region Fall Retreat
By Pat Higginbotham,
Region 6 Regional Rep & Coordinator of the Morgantown, WV Chapter
Advancing the Kingdom was the focus of the Eastern portion of Region 6's fall retreat held at St. Emma's Monastery in Greensburg, PA in
mid-September.
Dr. Carol Razza, licensed psychotherapist, adjunct instructor at the St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in FL and the European Regional Representative for Magnificat, presented an anointed Holy Spirit, power packed weekend to the leadership from the Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Toronto and Morgantown Chapters. Living Praise led the worship before and during each session which freed everyone from their earthly cares to focus on the presence of God that lives within us. And we danced in the Lord, too!
Carol led us through a process that helped us examine the wounds of our past and how they affect us today. In the light of the Holy Scriptures, she exhorted us to abandon the lies we have lived with about ourselves and seek the truth of God's Word which reiterates the precious, freeing, life-giving love God has for each of us.
In the rolling hills of Western PA, the retreat offered time for personal reflection, adoration, reconciliation, Mass, prayer ministry, fellowship,
and exploring the lovely, sacred monastery grounds.
Healings of the spiritual, emotional and physical nature were reported through the power of prayer and praise and the truth of God's Word.
By the time the weekend was over, each of us were reminding one another as we were leaving that we are FREE!!! Free from the bondage of misconceptions, past wounds, sickness, disease, fears and failures to go forth and ADVANCE THE KINGDOM OF GOD. You are free too! Thank you Jesus and praise your Holy Name!
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Central Service Team Facebook
Thank you to all who have commented, liked, and shared our posts. Every time you like, share, or comment you create activity which then multiplies the number of souls exposed to
the Magnificat mission, which in turn reaches out
to more souls in need of our Savior. Let us glorify the Lord in all we do, even on Social Media, and they will come to know the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!
All glory to God!
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33 Days to Merciful Love
By Patti Holtzer, Coordinator of Greensburg, PA
Recently the Greensburg, PA chapter of Magnificat sponsored a six week Retreat based on Father Michael Gaitley's book, '33 Days to Merciful Love'. If you have ever been a part of a Father Gaitley Retreat, then you know what an amazing experience it is. '33 Days to Merciful Love' is the latest of Father Michael's books.
The Retreat began on October 13th and ended with the Consecration to Merciful Love on November 17, 2016. Twenty four participants met for two hours one day a week for six weeks.
The book, '33 Days to Merciful Love' is based on the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux and in particular her Consecration to Divine Mercy which she called her "Offering to Merciful Love". Our Mystical Rose, Mary Our Mother Chapter thought that the Retreat would be a wonderful way to culminate the "Year of Mercy" and it far exceeded all expectations.
During the Retreat, we learned that we are all called to be saints and that we can achieve sainthood by being "little souls": recognizing our weakness and sinfulness, relying not on our own merits but solely on the Lord's and those of the Blessed Mother, and doing small things with great love. We learned not to be discouraged when falling short of our 'saintly' goals but to begin each day anew, trusting in the One who loves us unconditionally and mercifully.
Accompanying the book, '33 Days to Merciful Love' was a 35 minute video presented by Father Michael and a Retreat Companion with questions that helped participants ponder the daily readings and also inspired the group discussions.
Discussions were very enlightening, and inspirational as participants shared their personal and heart-felt stories of faith. Tears were shed, hugs abounded and bonds were formed. Most inspiring were the testimonies of a beautiful 15 year old and her Mom, as they shared their faith journeys, especially during the last two years of this young woman's diagnosis of an inoperable brain tumor. All were amazed at the joy and positive outlook of this Spirit-
filled teenager as she told of her devotion to the Blessed Mother, her unwavering trust in God and her anticipation of "going home" to be with her Jesus.
Making the Consecration to Merciful Love was only the beginning of the road to sainthood for the twenty four participants in this awesome Retreat. Striving to follow the "Little Way" of St. Therese has become the goal of all of us. After all, it is the easiest and surest way to become saints.
"My power is made perfect in weakness."
- Jesus
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A Verrrrry Special Lunch!
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A luncheon was held at the home of Paulette Renaudin to honor retired CST Members Marilyn Quirk, Joan Lococo, Carol Dazzio, Marilyn Heap, Judy Zelden, and Beverly Carrilles. Joan had just moved to the North Shore which was exciting! Linda Kelley and Jane Johnson, retired WST Chapter Service Team members joined in the fun, too.
Thank you for your years of service!
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Our Annual Magnificat CST Fundraising Appeal is an opportunity to
- give the person who has everything a perfect gift ... a special donation made in their name.
- make a tax deductible contribution in 2016 ... 2 weeks left!
- remember a loved one by giving in their memory.
Click on the blue link below to make a gift to
Magnify the Lord through Magnificat!!!
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Magnificat Proclaims airs on EWTN RadioPlus !
Did you know everyday on EWTN Classics at 1:00 pm EST, the new EWTN RadioPlus network features Magnificat speakers? It is also available online (
www.ewtnradio.net
) and on the EWTN app. Tune in and hear these incredible testimonies!
To find out the monthly program schedule click on:
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Just a Rem
inder ...
a "Printer Friendly" version of this Newsletter is available
!
Most printers have three print options: color, grayscale or
black and white.
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