With Love: Archive
Advent 2010
Dear Prayer Power Family,
Thank you for your love and loyalty to the Church and the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus. Sometimes our lives are so hectic we forget how blessed we are to have Jesus present in the Eucharist.
One day a busy American hopped into a taxi in London. He was in a hurry to catch his train. He assumed the hotel door man told the taxi driver where he was going. While looking at his emails on his Blackberry he instructed the driver. "Hurry I am late. Drive fast." The driver accelerated his cab. He weaved in and out of cars speeding along. When the man looked up from his Blackberry, he realized they were going in the wrong direction. He yelled to the driver "Do you know where you are going?" The driver yelled back "No, but I’m hurrying and driving fast."
How often are we hurrying and running so fast we miss the subtle graces and blessings God places in our midst? Our theme for this issue is Grace, Gratitude and Giving. The grace of gratitude inspires us to want to give generously to others. Barbara Flynn, wife and mother, shares with us how her weekly Holy Hour strengthens her spiritual muscle, helps her appreciate her blessings and gives her the grace to focus on what is really important.
In Denise Kane’s interview with Father Kevin DePrinzio, he tells several stories about subtle graces placed in his path that prompted him to think about becoming a priest. He shares the benefits of spending quiet time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
During this Christmas season we can give one another the most precious gift of our presence. Give the Infinite Jesus the gift of adoring Him in His Eucharistic presence. Praise and thank Him for all your blessings, faith, family, friends and country. Ask Him for the grace to know who to give gifts to and what to give them. Give spiritual gifts to your family, offer a Mass, Holy Hour or Rosary for them. Send a thank you note, spiritual bouquet or make a Holy Hour for your parish priests, retired priests, religious and retired nuns. Introduce a friend to the gift of the Holy Hour. These are true gifts that will fill your heart with gratitude and grace.
May you and your family have a very happy, healthy and holy Christmas.
Peg
Thank you for your love and loyalty to the Church and the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus. Sometimes our lives are so hectic we forget how blessed we are to have Jesus present in the Eucharist.
One day a busy American hopped into a taxi in London. He was in a hurry to catch his train. He assumed the hotel door man told the taxi driver where he was going. While looking at his emails on his Blackberry he instructed the driver. "Hurry I am late. Drive fast." The driver accelerated his cab. He weaved in and out of cars speeding along. When the man looked up from his Blackberry, he realized they were going in the wrong direction. He yelled to the driver "Do you know where you are going?" The driver yelled back "No, but I’m hurrying and driving fast."
How often are we hurrying and running so fast we miss the subtle graces and blessings God places in our midst? Our theme for this issue is Grace, Gratitude and Giving. The grace of gratitude inspires us to want to give generously to others. Barbara Flynn, wife and mother, shares with us how her weekly Holy Hour strengthens her spiritual muscle, helps her appreciate her blessings and gives her the grace to focus on what is really important.
In Denise Kane’s interview with Father Kevin DePrinzio, he tells several stories about subtle graces placed in his path that prompted him to think about becoming a priest. He shares the benefits of spending quiet time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
During this Christmas season we can give one another the most precious gift of our presence. Give the Infinite Jesus the gift of adoring Him in His Eucharistic presence. Praise and thank Him for all your blessings, faith, family, friends and country. Ask Him for the grace to know who to give gifts to and what to give them. Give spiritual gifts to your family, offer a Mass, Holy Hour or Rosary for them. Send a thank you note, spiritual bouquet or make a Holy Hour for your parish priests, retired priests, religious and retired nuns. Introduce a friend to the gift of the Holy Hour. These are true gifts that will fill your heart with gratitude and grace.
May you and your family have a very happy, healthy and holy Christmas.
Peg
Spring 2010
Dear Prayer Power Family,
Psst … Can You Keep a Secret?
Pope John Paul II was loved by both Christians and non-Christians. Wherever he went, hundreds of thousands of people clamored to see and hear him. Mother Teresa, one of the most marginalized people in recent history — a minority Roman Catholic among Muslims and Orthodox Christians — was respected and loved throughout the world. The late J.R.R Tolkien’s 50-year-old books are still on the New York Times Best Seller List — touching and inspiring the hearts of his readers.
What was it about this Pope, nun and writer that gave millions of people hope? What made them so spiritually prosperous? Were they smarter? Were they luckier, or did they know a Secret?
The Secret to their Spiritual Prosperity was the Eucharist. They spent an hour or more every day in the Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. What did Eucharistic Adoration have to do with their influence on people? People listened to them because as Pope John Paul explained: “From the Eucharist comes the strength to live the Christian life and the zeal to share that life with others.”
Jesus Christ in the Eucharist is waiting for you to let Him soak you in His love, fill you with his wisdom and give you the strength to work through all your daily family and business challenges.
Katie Keating, mother of ten, shares with you how Eucharistic Adoration gives her the strength and wisdom she needs as a wife and mother. Fr. Michael Speziale shares with you why he considers the Holy Hour the “gift of his morning”.
Now you know the Secret to Spiritual Prosperity. Embrace it and pass it on. Jesus is waiting for you. “Come to me all you who labor and are weary and I will refresh you.”
Psst... The next two Sundays, Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, provide an opportunity to reflect on how deeply Jesus loves you. Ask Jesus to fill you with a hunger to spend an hour a week with Him in the Eucharist. Set a date and time. Come and Jesus will do the rest.
God bless, I love you always.
Peg
Psst … Can You Keep a Secret?
Pope John Paul II was loved by both Christians and non-Christians. Wherever he went, hundreds of thousands of people clamored to see and hear him. Mother Teresa, one of the most marginalized people in recent history — a minority Roman Catholic among Muslims and Orthodox Christians — was respected and loved throughout the world. The late J.R.R Tolkien’s 50-year-old books are still on the New York Times Best Seller List — touching and inspiring the hearts of his readers.
What was it about this Pope, nun and writer that gave millions of people hope? What made them so spiritually prosperous? Were they smarter? Were they luckier, or did they know a Secret?
The Secret to their Spiritual Prosperity was the Eucharist. They spent an hour or more every day in the Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. What did Eucharistic Adoration have to do with their influence on people? People listened to them because as Pope John Paul explained: “From the Eucharist comes the strength to live the Christian life and the zeal to share that life with others.”
Jesus Christ in the Eucharist is waiting for you to let Him soak you in His love, fill you with his wisdom and give you the strength to work through all your daily family and business challenges.
Katie Keating, mother of ten, shares with you how Eucharistic Adoration gives her the strength and wisdom she needs as a wife and mother. Fr. Michael Speziale shares with you why he considers the Holy Hour the “gift of his morning”.
Now you know the Secret to Spiritual Prosperity. Embrace it and pass it on. Jesus is waiting for you. “Come to me all you who labor and are weary and I will refresh you.”
Psst... The next two Sundays, Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, provide an opportunity to reflect on how deeply Jesus loves you. Ask Jesus to fill you with a hunger to spend an hour a week with Him in the Eucharist. Set a date and time. Come and Jesus will do the rest.
God bless, I love you always.
Peg
Lent 2009
Dear Prayer Power Family,
A year ago at this time I wrote you a letter from our son’s apartment in Florida. I wrote that the erratic moods of the ocean were very similar to the ebb and flow of our lives. There is a paragraph in that letter from last year that is very appropriate for the uncertainty we are experiencing in our lives right now.
“Life is like the moods of the ocean. Sometimes it is smooth and uncomplicated; everything goes according to our plans. We have it all under control. Then suddenly the winds shift and in an instant our life changes. We’re smacked with something unexpected like death, illness, an accident, a recession or financial reverses. We’re swept up in the experience, and our life is out of our control. We turn to God for help. We implore His mercy and love.” We wonder if He has forgotten us.
When we look back on these moments, we realize that God was with us, and He sent someone to support us. We know from experience that God always sends someone to support us through the dark valleys of our life. He sends family, friends, a priest or religious, a neighbor or just a passerby. But He always sends someone.
To help you experience the hope and peace of Jesus Christ in these last weeks of Lent, we’ve chosen Family, Friends, Faith and Fasting as our theme for this letter. You can read more about this in the article The Tapestry of Our Lives. In Denise Kane’s interview with Msgr. Arthur Rodgers, Monsignor gives excellent advice on the simplicity of prayer and how to pray from the heart.
Lent is the perfect time to go to daily Mass, make a good Confession and visit Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. It is a good time to say special prayers for priests and people in the consecrated life. As you can see the number of older priests is increasing while the number of younger priests is decreasing. We need prayer power, and we need you. Help us increase the number of people praying before the Blessed Sacrament. Invite someone to come with you to your Holy Hour. Send us names of people you think would be interested in Prayer Power.
Thank you for your love of our church and the holy priesthood. Thank you for your faithfulness to praying for vocations. Thank you for praying for your priest at dinner time and during Mass. May you and your family have a joyous and peaceful Easter. God loves you and so do I.
Love,
Peg
A year ago at this time I wrote you a letter from our son’s apartment in Florida. I wrote that the erratic moods of the ocean were very similar to the ebb and flow of our lives. There is a paragraph in that letter from last year that is very appropriate for the uncertainty we are experiencing in our lives right now.
“Life is like the moods of the ocean. Sometimes it is smooth and uncomplicated; everything goes according to our plans. We have it all under control. Then suddenly the winds shift and in an instant our life changes. We’re smacked with something unexpected like death, illness, an accident, a recession or financial reverses. We’re swept up in the experience, and our life is out of our control. We turn to God for help. We implore His mercy and love.” We wonder if He has forgotten us.
When we look back on these moments, we realize that God was with us, and He sent someone to support us. We know from experience that God always sends someone to support us through the dark valleys of our life. He sends family, friends, a priest or religious, a neighbor or just a passerby. But He always sends someone.
To help you experience the hope and peace of Jesus Christ in these last weeks of Lent, we’ve chosen Family, Friends, Faith and Fasting as our theme for this letter. You can read more about this in the article The Tapestry of Our Lives. In Denise Kane’s interview with Msgr. Arthur Rodgers, Monsignor gives excellent advice on the simplicity of prayer and how to pray from the heart.
Lent is the perfect time to go to daily Mass, make a good Confession and visit Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. It is a good time to say special prayers for priests and people in the consecrated life. As you can see the number of older priests is increasing while the number of younger priests is decreasing. We need prayer power, and we need you. Help us increase the number of people praying before the Blessed Sacrament. Invite someone to come with you to your Holy Hour. Send us names of people you think would be interested in Prayer Power.
Thank you for your love of our church and the holy priesthood. Thank you for your faithfulness to praying for vocations. Thank you for praying for your priest at dinner time and during Mass. May you and your family have a joyous and peaceful Easter. God loves you and so do I.
Love,
Peg
Divine Mercy 2008
Dear Prayer Power Family,
I’m blessed to be writing this letter from my son Michael’s apartment in Florida. While I’m watching the erratic moods of the ocean, I can’t help thinking about you and all the challenges you’ve overcome.
Life is like the moods of the ocean. Sometimes it is smooth and uncomplicated; everything goes according to our plans. We have it all under control. Then suddenly the winds shift and in an instant our life changes. We’re smacked with something unexpected like death, illness, an accident or financial reverses. We’re swept up in the experience and our life is out of our control. In desperation we turn to God for help. We implore His mercy and love.
When we look back on these moments in our lives we can see that Jesus was right there with us through all our pain. Jesus designated Divine Mercy Sunday to remind us of His great love and mercy for us. We’ve made the theme of this letter Love…Mercy and Forgiveness in honor of Divine Mercy Sunday.
Franklin Cooper shares how a painful change in his life led Him to Jesus in the Eucharist where he learned the freedom of forgiveness. Father William Byron shares how his gift of embracing the unexpected with grace and humor comes from Our Lord’s love in the Eucharist.
Jesus urges us to prepare for Mercy Sunday by going to Confession. And He invites us to receive Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday.
We would not have Confession or Holy Communion without priests. Our Prayer Power Mission is to pray for priests and religious and to pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.
Please continue praying for our priests during your Holy Hour and every day at dinner time. Send them cards and thank them for all they do for us. If you have a personality conflict with a particular priest ask Jesus to help you love him. Pray more frequently for him. We all have our flaws.
Thanks for all you do for the church and for Prayer Power. Let us pray for each other and for our church. God loves you and so do I.
Love,
Peg
I’m blessed to be writing this letter from my son Michael’s apartment in Florida. While I’m watching the erratic moods of the ocean, I can’t help thinking about you and all the challenges you’ve overcome.
Life is like the moods of the ocean. Sometimes it is smooth and uncomplicated; everything goes according to our plans. We have it all under control. Then suddenly the winds shift and in an instant our life changes. We’re smacked with something unexpected like death, illness, an accident or financial reverses. We’re swept up in the experience and our life is out of our control. In desperation we turn to God for help. We implore His mercy and love.
When we look back on these moments in our lives we can see that Jesus was right there with us through all our pain. Jesus designated Divine Mercy Sunday to remind us of His great love and mercy for us. We’ve made the theme of this letter Love…Mercy and Forgiveness in honor of Divine Mercy Sunday.
Franklin Cooper shares how a painful change in his life led Him to Jesus in the Eucharist where he learned the freedom of forgiveness. Father William Byron shares how his gift of embracing the unexpected with grace and humor comes from Our Lord’s love in the Eucharist.
Jesus urges us to prepare for Mercy Sunday by going to Confession. And He invites us to receive Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday.
We would not have Confession or Holy Communion without priests. Our Prayer Power Mission is to pray for priests and religious and to pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.
Please continue praying for our priests during your Holy Hour and every day at dinner time. Send them cards and thank them for all they do for us. If you have a personality conflict with a particular priest ask Jesus to help you love him. Pray more frequently for him. We all have our flaws.
Thanks for all you do for the church and for Prayer Power. Let us pray for each other and for our church. God loves you and so do I.
Love,
Peg
Summer 2007
Dear Prayer Power Family,
“You are the salt of the earth, and the light of the world.” I feel so blessed to know you and to be associated with you. The theme of this letter is relax, reflect, rejoice and renew your spirit.
Many years ago, there was an old sheepherder from the Wild West. He was a good fiddle player but, his fiddle was out of tune. The only way he could tune his fiddle was for the local radio station to play a perfect A note. They agreed to do this on a particular day, at a particular time. On that day, a perfect A was broadcast and the sheepherder tuned his fiddle. Once again, his beautiful music echoed throughout the hills.
We are like the sheepherder’s fiddle, we run so fast and so hard our lives get out of tune. We experience disharmony with God, ourselves and others. We’re over-extended, we lose our salt and our inner light grows dim. When we live in-tune with God, we relax and rejoice in the beautiful music of life. We are renewed. Will you find the time this summer to relax and let your heart and spirit be tuned into the perfect love of Jesus Christ?
We are blessed as Catholics, because we have Jesus patiently waiting for us in the Blessed Sacrament. All we have to do is show up. What gifts He has for us! True, we can find Jesus everywhere, but, He has very special gifts for us when we pull ourselves away from our comfortable environment, just to be alone with Him in the Blessed Sacrament or to attend Daily Mass.
Joe Corcoran, father of eight and businessman, talks about his Father’s example. He also shares how Eucharistic Adoration empowers him. Father Paul Brandt shares with us how the Eucharist and the Sacraments are the Legacy of Faith that unites us as one. The article entitled “Relax, Reflect, Rejoice and Renew” will give you some ideas on slowing down, enjoying God’s gifts and letting Him tune your heart with the joy of His love.
Remember to pray for your priest and for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. Mark your calendar for our Annual Mass with the seminarians: October 14, 2007. Until then, God bless you and your family with a joyful, fun-filled family summer.
Love,
Peg
“You are the salt of the earth, and the light of the world.” I feel so blessed to know you and to be associated with you. The theme of this letter is relax, reflect, rejoice and renew your spirit.
Many years ago, there was an old sheepherder from the Wild West. He was a good fiddle player but, his fiddle was out of tune. The only way he could tune his fiddle was for the local radio station to play a perfect A note. They agreed to do this on a particular day, at a particular time. On that day, a perfect A was broadcast and the sheepherder tuned his fiddle. Once again, his beautiful music echoed throughout the hills.
We are like the sheepherder’s fiddle, we run so fast and so hard our lives get out of tune. We experience disharmony with God, ourselves and others. We’re over-extended, we lose our salt and our inner light grows dim. When we live in-tune with God, we relax and rejoice in the beautiful music of life. We are renewed. Will you find the time this summer to relax and let your heart and spirit be tuned into the perfect love of Jesus Christ?
We are blessed as Catholics, because we have Jesus patiently waiting for us in the Blessed Sacrament. All we have to do is show up. What gifts He has for us! True, we can find Jesus everywhere, but, He has very special gifts for us when we pull ourselves away from our comfortable environment, just to be alone with Him in the Blessed Sacrament or to attend Daily Mass.
Joe Corcoran, father of eight and businessman, talks about his Father’s example. He also shares how Eucharistic Adoration empowers him. Father Paul Brandt shares with us how the Eucharist and the Sacraments are the Legacy of Faith that unites us as one. The article entitled “Relax, Reflect, Rejoice and Renew” will give you some ideas on slowing down, enjoying God’s gifts and letting Him tune your heart with the joy of His love.
Remember to pray for your priest and for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. Mark your calendar for our Annual Mass with the seminarians: October 14, 2007. Until then, God bless you and your family with a joyful, fun-filled family summer.
Love,
Peg
Lent 2007
Dear Prayer Power Family,
Whenever I think of all the wonderful, holy people in Prayer Power, I think of Our Lord speaking to us. “You did not choose me. I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit. The kind that endures.” (John 15:16)
You will receive this letter around the middle of Lent. When you read Jesus words, “I have chosen you,” think about what that means. He chose us to pray one hour with him for priests, seminarians, religious and our families.
What an awesome responsibility. He chose us to be fruitful. Let us spend some time this Lent reflecting on the things he has chosen us to do. Lent gives us the opportunity to begin again. Let us begin again committing ourselves to spending more time with Our Lord in the Eucharist.
Read Father Shaun Mahoney’s story. Stop and reflect on his words about the Eucharist. How can his words help you be more fruitful? We make Lenten suggestions in our article on Prayer, Penance and Peace. Is there anything in that article that will help you embrace God’s invitation and be fruitful?
If your enthusiasm for your Lenten resolutions is beginning to wane, don’t lose heart. Lent is an acronym for: Let’s Eliminate Negative Thinking. This newsletter is about beginning again. This is the best time to renew your Lenten resolutions and begin again.
Lent is a time to withdraw from our extra activities and spend more time with Jesus. Let us make a pact together that we will surrender to God’s will this Lent. We will let Him lead us and we will obediently follow. He’ll show us what He has chosen us to do. Perhaps a sick loved one will need our care, or we’ll have to get a job, or quit a job, or travel far away. Whatever God places in our life, praise and thank Him for it. Ask Him to give you the strength and courage to follow His will. And He will answer your prayer because He has chosen you to bear much fruit.
May you and your family have a very happy and holy Easter! God bless you always, and thank you for all you do for Prayer Power. You are the best. I feel privileged to be associated with you.
Love,
Peg
Whenever I think of all the wonderful, holy people in Prayer Power, I think of Our Lord speaking to us. “You did not choose me. I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit. The kind that endures.” (John 15:16)
You will receive this letter around the middle of Lent. When you read Jesus words, “I have chosen you,” think about what that means. He chose us to pray one hour with him for priests, seminarians, religious and our families.
What an awesome responsibility. He chose us to be fruitful. Let us spend some time this Lent reflecting on the things he has chosen us to do. Lent gives us the opportunity to begin again. Let us begin again committing ourselves to spending more time with Our Lord in the Eucharist.
Read Father Shaun Mahoney’s story. Stop and reflect on his words about the Eucharist. How can his words help you be more fruitful? We make Lenten suggestions in our article on Prayer, Penance and Peace. Is there anything in that article that will help you embrace God’s invitation and be fruitful?
If your enthusiasm for your Lenten resolutions is beginning to wane, don’t lose heart. Lent is an acronym for: Let’s Eliminate Negative Thinking. This newsletter is about beginning again. This is the best time to renew your Lenten resolutions and begin again.
Lent is a time to withdraw from our extra activities and spend more time with Jesus. Let us make a pact together that we will surrender to God’s will this Lent. We will let Him lead us and we will obediently follow. He’ll show us what He has chosen us to do. Perhaps a sick loved one will need our care, or we’ll have to get a job, or quit a job, or travel far away. Whatever God places in our life, praise and thank Him for it. Ask Him to give you the strength and courage to follow His will. And He will answer your prayer because He has chosen you to bear much fruit.
May you and your family have a very happy and holy Easter! God bless you always, and thank you for all you do for Prayer Power. You are the best. I feel privileged to be associated with you.
Love,
Peg
Winter 2005
Dear Prayer Power Family
The season of Christmas is the perfect season to be Christ's Lamplighters and you are Christ's lamplighters. Like a bright lamp your love for the church and Our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist radiates to others. Christmas is a time of waiting, praying, and celebrating the birth of Christ.
At Christmas we feel one with the entire human family both living and dead; therefore I ask in this letter that we pray for the souls in Purgatory. What a wonderful Christmas gift we can give the souls in Purgatory, the gift of praying them into heaven for Christmas. Also Father Kelly shares with us the power of a parish family working together to grow spiritually and socially. Drew Mason shares how Eucharistic prayer and the Rosary help us and our family. In our Resources page we give some suggestions about making a Holy Hour.
Christmas is an emotional time of the year. It is a time of joy and sorrow. I feel I should share some thoughts with you about our recent church sorrow, the priest scandal. This is painful for all of us. The readings in Advent highlight the struggle between darkness and light. This is a dark time for our church. I believe we must be the light in the darkness. We are one family in Christ. When one member in the family is hurt we are all hurt. A serious illness has invaded us. Whenever there is an illness in a family the members experience anger, compassion, sorrow, denial and confusion. So what can we do?
Many years ago I heard Bishop Sheen say we were coming into a time when the lay people would save the church. I believe that time is possibly now and Jesus is the only way, the truth and the light. He tells us what to do. "Come to me all you who are burdened and I will refresh you." Come to Him in prayer and place at His feet all the people who are hurt by this scandal. He promises us, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed you can say to this mountain move and it will move." Praise and thank God for your gift of faith and the gift to believe He is healing our church; Pray, believe and forgive. Jesus tells us we must "Forgive seventy times seven." Ask Him for the grace to forgive all those who have hurt His children, His church and His Sacred Priesthood. Forgiveness is not easy but it is important for our spiritual and physical health. Anger and grudges imprison us and block our hearts from being open to the peace and love of Jesus Christ.
This is extremely painful for everyone especially the wonderful holy priests that serve us in our archdiocese. Let us make an extra effort to reach out to our priests to let them know we love and support them. Let us renew our Prayer Power Mission to be Christ's Lamplighters. Do not be afraid. Turn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and seek His guidance and wisdom in the Eucharist. Thank you for all you do for Prayer Power and the Church.
God bless you and may you and your family have a happy and holy Christmas.
Love you always,
Peg
The season of Christmas is the perfect season to be Christ's Lamplighters and you are Christ's lamplighters. Like a bright lamp your love for the church and Our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist radiates to others. Christmas is a time of waiting, praying, and celebrating the birth of Christ.
At Christmas we feel one with the entire human family both living and dead; therefore I ask in this letter that we pray for the souls in Purgatory. What a wonderful Christmas gift we can give the souls in Purgatory, the gift of praying them into heaven for Christmas. Also Father Kelly shares with us the power of a parish family working together to grow spiritually and socially. Drew Mason shares how Eucharistic prayer and the Rosary help us and our family. In our Resources page we give some suggestions about making a Holy Hour.
Christmas is an emotional time of the year. It is a time of joy and sorrow. I feel I should share some thoughts with you about our recent church sorrow, the priest scandal. This is painful for all of us. The readings in Advent highlight the struggle between darkness and light. This is a dark time for our church. I believe we must be the light in the darkness. We are one family in Christ. When one member in the family is hurt we are all hurt. A serious illness has invaded us. Whenever there is an illness in a family the members experience anger, compassion, sorrow, denial and confusion. So what can we do?
Many years ago I heard Bishop Sheen say we were coming into a time when the lay people would save the church. I believe that time is possibly now and Jesus is the only way, the truth and the light. He tells us what to do. "Come to me all you who are burdened and I will refresh you." Come to Him in prayer and place at His feet all the people who are hurt by this scandal. He promises us, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed you can say to this mountain move and it will move." Praise and thank God for your gift of faith and the gift to believe He is healing our church; Pray, believe and forgive. Jesus tells us we must "Forgive seventy times seven." Ask Him for the grace to forgive all those who have hurt His children, His church and His Sacred Priesthood. Forgiveness is not easy but it is important for our spiritual and physical health. Anger and grudges imprison us and block our hearts from being open to the peace and love of Jesus Christ.
This is extremely painful for everyone especially the wonderful holy priests that serve us in our archdiocese. Let us make an extra effort to reach out to our priests to let them know we love and support them. Let us renew our Prayer Power Mission to be Christ's Lamplighters. Do not be afraid. Turn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and seek His guidance and wisdom in the Eucharist. Thank you for all you do for Prayer Power and the Church.
God bless you and may you and your family have a happy and holy Christmas.
Love you always,
Peg
Summer 2005
Dear Prayer Power Family,
We were thinking about you when we picked Happy, Healthy and Holy as the theme for this letter. We thought of you because of your love for the Holy Father, and the similar values you share with the two Prayer Power members we're highlighting.
There are two perceptions of Happy, Healthy and Holy. Today's world believes that power, possessions and position in life make us happy. It measures health by our physical fitness, youth and appearance. It equates holiness with monks and hermits.
The people we're highlighting in this issue, Yvonne McClatchy, the late Florence McLafferty and Pope John Paul II project a different perception ofHappy, Healthy and Holy. Their lives reflect God's promise that the Kingdom of God is within you and happiness comes from the inside out; not the outside in. Their lives and healthy attitudes continue to inspire and give hope to others. They were and are joyful upbeat people whose lives radiate peace and joy. All three had
and have a deep love for the Eucharist.
No matter how busy he was, Pope John Paul II was never too busy to spend an hour praying before His Eucharistic Lord. He made a holy hour and said his rosary faithfully everyday. He knew the secret to being Happy, Healthy and Holy was in the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus and he radiated God's love wherever he went. Let us follow in his footsteps.
Let us give an hour a week in quiet prayer before Our Eucharistic Lord. Imagine the joy we'd have in our life if we faithfully followed the Holy Father's example. It's hard to find time to make a holy hour. We are already stressed in trying to squeeze a 30-hour schedule into a 24-hour day. Even though it seems impossible to fit one more thing in, we need to give ourselves an hour of quiet time to clear our thoughts and gain clarity on the issues that weigh heavy in our hearts.
What better place to do this than in front of The Blessed Sacrament? Our Lord is waiting to help us with the answers. We will find joy in our hearts when we allow Jesus to love us and embrace us in His love. He touches us and assures us. "Do not be afraid. It is I." He longs to bathe us in His Happiness, Health and Holiness.
I urge you to answer Our Lord's call "Come all you who labor….I will refresh you."
One more thing, September 18, 2005 is our annual Prayer Power Mass at Saint Charles Seminary at 10am. There is also a Holy Hour and Benediction at 6pm on the Parkway to celebrate Christ's Eucharistic Presence. I know you are very busy and have a lot of commitments. I would deeply appreciate it if you could find in your heart the time for these two special events.
I'm sure Our Lord will be happy to see you on September 18th at the Prayer Power Mass and later at the Parkway giving special homage to Him. I know the Cardinal, priests and seminarians will deeply appreciate your presence for both occasions.
God bless you and your family. Everyday I thank God for the privilege of being united with you in our love for the priesthood and Christ's Presence in The Eucharist.
Love,
Peg
We were thinking about you when we picked Happy, Healthy and Holy as the theme for this letter. We thought of you because of your love for the Holy Father, and the similar values you share with the two Prayer Power members we're highlighting.
There are two perceptions of Happy, Healthy and Holy. Today's world believes that power, possessions and position in life make us happy. It measures health by our physical fitness, youth and appearance. It equates holiness with monks and hermits.
The people we're highlighting in this issue, Yvonne McClatchy, the late Florence McLafferty and Pope John Paul II project a different perception ofHappy, Healthy and Holy. Their lives reflect God's promise that the Kingdom of God is within you and happiness comes from the inside out; not the outside in. Their lives and healthy attitudes continue to inspire and give hope to others. They were and are joyful upbeat people whose lives radiate peace and joy. All three had
and have a deep love for the Eucharist.
No matter how busy he was, Pope John Paul II was never too busy to spend an hour praying before His Eucharistic Lord. He made a holy hour and said his rosary faithfully everyday. He knew the secret to being Happy, Healthy and Holy was in the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus and he radiated God's love wherever he went. Let us follow in his footsteps.
Let us give an hour a week in quiet prayer before Our Eucharistic Lord. Imagine the joy we'd have in our life if we faithfully followed the Holy Father's example. It's hard to find time to make a holy hour. We are already stressed in trying to squeeze a 30-hour schedule into a 24-hour day. Even though it seems impossible to fit one more thing in, we need to give ourselves an hour of quiet time to clear our thoughts and gain clarity on the issues that weigh heavy in our hearts.
What better place to do this than in front of The Blessed Sacrament? Our Lord is waiting to help us with the answers. We will find joy in our hearts when we allow Jesus to love us and embrace us in His love. He touches us and assures us. "Do not be afraid. It is I." He longs to bathe us in His Happiness, Health and Holiness.
I urge you to answer Our Lord's call "Come all you who labor….I will refresh you."
One more thing, September 18, 2005 is our annual Prayer Power Mass at Saint Charles Seminary at 10am. There is also a Holy Hour and Benediction at 6pm on the Parkway to celebrate Christ's Eucharistic Presence. I know you are very busy and have a lot of commitments. I would deeply appreciate it if you could find in your heart the time for these two special events.
I'm sure Our Lord will be happy to see you on September 18th at the Prayer Power Mass and later at the Parkway giving special homage to Him. I know the Cardinal, priests and seminarians will deeply appreciate your presence for both occasions.
God bless you and your family. Everyday I thank God for the privilege of being united with you in our love for the priesthood and Christ's Presence in The Eucharist.
Love,
Peg
Spring 2005
Dear Prayer Power Family;
During Lent we reflected on the big changes in Jesus' life. On Palm Sunday we see the people bowing down before Our Lord. They want to make Him their king. Suddenly, these same people turn on Him. The very people Jesus healed and fed are yelling "crucify him, crucify him."
The apostles believed that Jesus would take care of them. He was the Messiah. Their beliefs were shattered because Jesus let His enemies crucify Him like a criminal. The apostles ran and hid. No wonder Our Lord often said to them, "Oh you of little faith." Yet, it was through His passion and death that Jesus taught us about love and suffering. He taught us to pray and forgive those who hurt us. "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."
Like the apostles, the actions of a few priests have shattered some of our sacred beliefs. We are at the crossroads of our faith. We can be angry and hide or we can "have faith the size of a mustard seed" and do something to show our love and support for the priesthood. We invite you in this year of the Eucharist to
promote the Eucharistic Vocation Pilgrimage to St. Charles Seminary.
We are making this pilgrimage as an outward sign of our love and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the center of our church and we can't have the Eucharist without the priests.
We need priests. We need holy priests. This is the Prayer Power mission, praying for vocations and praying for holy priests. We need your help. Please encourage your parish to take part in this pilgrimage. Our Prayer Power mission is more important than ever. Our priests need our prayers and our love. We need our priests and we need to be fed by Our Lord in the Eucharist. Prayer Power needs you to help us grow and spread our mission. You are truly the heart of our church and our Prayer Power mission.
I pray that you and your family have a happy and holy Easter. I'm looking forward to seeing you on the Pilgrimage.
Love
Peg
P.S. Remember Mother Teresa's words "No where on earth are you more welcomed or more loved, than by Jesus, living and truly present in the Blessed Sacrament." Invite your friends and family to make a holy hour with you. Invite them to make this special Eucharistic Pilgrimage to St. Charles for vocations.
During Lent we reflected on the big changes in Jesus' life. On Palm Sunday we see the people bowing down before Our Lord. They want to make Him their king. Suddenly, these same people turn on Him. The very people Jesus healed and fed are yelling "crucify him, crucify him."
The apostles believed that Jesus would take care of them. He was the Messiah. Their beliefs were shattered because Jesus let His enemies crucify Him like a criminal. The apostles ran and hid. No wonder Our Lord often said to them, "Oh you of little faith." Yet, it was through His passion and death that Jesus taught us about love and suffering. He taught us to pray and forgive those who hurt us. "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."
Like the apostles, the actions of a few priests have shattered some of our sacred beliefs. We are at the crossroads of our faith. We can be angry and hide or we can "have faith the size of a mustard seed" and do something to show our love and support for the priesthood. We invite you in this year of the Eucharist to
promote the Eucharistic Vocation Pilgrimage to St. Charles Seminary.
We are making this pilgrimage as an outward sign of our love and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the center of our church and we can't have the Eucharist without the priests.
We need priests. We need holy priests. This is the Prayer Power mission, praying for vocations and praying for holy priests. We need your help. Please encourage your parish to take part in this pilgrimage. Our Prayer Power mission is more important than ever. Our priests need our prayers and our love. We need our priests and we need to be fed by Our Lord in the Eucharist. Prayer Power needs you to help us grow and spread our mission. You are truly the heart of our church and our Prayer Power mission.
I pray that you and your family have a happy and holy Easter. I'm looking forward to seeing you on the Pilgrimage.
Love
Peg
P.S. Remember Mother Teresa's words "No where on earth are you more welcomed or more loved, than by Jesus, living and truly present in the Blessed Sacrament." Invite your friends and family to make a holy hour with you. Invite them to make this special Eucharistic Pilgrimage to St. Charles for vocations.
Winter 2004
Dear Prayer Power Family,
My prayer for you this Christmas is that the Christ Child's love will reign in your family and in our world. You are the Infant Jesus' gift to the church in Philadelphia. Your loyalty and love for Our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist radiates wherever you go. You are His lamplighters. In honor of Jesus' birthday we picked the wise men as our gift giving example. We associate the wise men's gifts with gold, frankincense and myrrh.
But the greatest gift they gave Jesus was their Hope, Time and Worship. When the rest of the world saw darkness, the wise men saw light. These courageous men put their Hope in the Messiah. They took the Time to set out to find Him. When they found Him they fell on their knees and Worshiped Him. I'm sure their friends and family laughed at them, mocked them and called them dreamers. But the wise men knew that somewhere in the darkness of the night was the source and light of their life, the Messiah.
We can see the current events in our world as dark and bleak or like the wise men we can turn to Our Lord with our Hope, Time and Worship. Let us look back at one of the darkest moments in our history; the Second World War. Catholics found Hope by giving God their Time and Worship in daily mass, Eucharistic visits and the rosary. Family rosary was more the norm than the exception. The catholic schools had weekly class masses; chapel visits and school rosary were front and center. Catholic children considered mass, chapel visits and the rosary a badge of honor.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we rekindle the fervor we had during the Second World War? How bright will our lights shine if everyone reading this letter committed to giving God their Hope, Time and Worship in daily mass, weekly Eucharistic visits and the family rosary? If we intercede for world peace, families and vocations the world will change. Peace will be restored. Vocations will increase and the church will be healed.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if every Catholic school for the year of the Eucharist took the children to a weekly visit before the Blessed Sacrament and said the daily rosary for families, peace and vocations?
You are already making a difference. Let us all ask Our Lord this Christmas to show us the way. He wants us to give Him our Hope, Time and Worship. "Speak Lord your servant heareth." May this Christmas be the most joyous and peaceful Christmas you and your family ever shared together. God bless, I love you and thank God for you every day.
Love
Peg
My prayer for you this Christmas is that the Christ Child's love will reign in your family and in our world. You are the Infant Jesus' gift to the church in Philadelphia. Your loyalty and love for Our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist radiates wherever you go. You are His lamplighters. In honor of Jesus' birthday we picked the wise men as our gift giving example. We associate the wise men's gifts with gold, frankincense and myrrh.
But the greatest gift they gave Jesus was their Hope, Time and Worship. When the rest of the world saw darkness, the wise men saw light. These courageous men put their Hope in the Messiah. They took the Time to set out to find Him. When they found Him they fell on their knees and Worshiped Him. I'm sure their friends and family laughed at them, mocked them and called them dreamers. But the wise men knew that somewhere in the darkness of the night was the source and light of their life, the Messiah.
We can see the current events in our world as dark and bleak or like the wise men we can turn to Our Lord with our Hope, Time and Worship. Let us look back at one of the darkest moments in our history; the Second World War. Catholics found Hope by giving God their Time and Worship in daily mass, Eucharistic visits and the rosary. Family rosary was more the norm than the exception. The catholic schools had weekly class masses; chapel visits and school rosary were front and center. Catholic children considered mass, chapel visits and the rosary a badge of honor.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we rekindle the fervor we had during the Second World War? How bright will our lights shine if everyone reading this letter committed to giving God their Hope, Time and Worship in daily mass, weekly Eucharistic visits and the family rosary? If we intercede for world peace, families and vocations the world will change. Peace will be restored. Vocations will increase and the church will be healed.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if every Catholic school for the year of the Eucharist took the children to a weekly visit before the Blessed Sacrament and said the daily rosary for families, peace and vocations?
You are already making a difference. Let us all ask Our Lord this Christmas to show us the way. He wants us to give Him our Hope, Time and Worship. "Speak Lord your servant heareth." May this Christmas be the most joyous and peaceful Christmas you and your family ever shared together. God bless, I love you and thank God for you every day.
Love
Peg
Summer 2004
Dear Prayer Power Family
Are you worried about terrorists, the world situation and the problems in the church? Our Lord tells us what to do. "Come to me all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest."" (Matt: 11:28) Fear and worry are heavy loads, which create stress, frustration and anger. Jesus invites us to bring all our worries, problems and concerns to him.
J.R.R. Tolkien the author of "The Lord of the Rings", "The Hobbit" knew the heavy load of fear. His father died when he was four and his mother died when he was 12. He fought on the Western Front during World War I. All but one of his close friends was killed in action. He caught trench fever, which plagued him the rest of his life. But through it all the Eucharist sustained him. His mother loved Our Lord in the Eucharist and often took her sons to visit the Blessed Sacrament. She passed on this great love to them.
In later years, Tolkien wrote his sons the following, "Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament…. There you will find romance, glory, honor, fidelity and the true way of all your loves upon earth"
Prayer Power's mission is Eucharistic Adoration. We commit to spending an hour a month praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament for three intentions.1) Christ centered families.2) An increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, holy men and women on fire with love for Our Eucharistic Lord. 3) Inspire others, as Tolkien's mother inspired him to have a deep love for the Eucharist.
Read about Mary King and how much strength she gets from weekly Eucharistic Adoration. Father Roland shares how through quiet prayer he gets insights and wisdom on how to handle situations. I hope you will treat yourself to special time with Our Lord in The Eucharist this summer. Please remember to pray for our priests, vocations and Christ-centered families.
May God bless you and your family with special time to pray, laugh and love and enjoy each other.
I love you and thank God for you everyday.
Love,
Peg
Are you worried about terrorists, the world situation and the problems in the church? Our Lord tells us what to do. "Come to me all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest."" (Matt: 11:28) Fear and worry are heavy loads, which create stress, frustration and anger. Jesus invites us to bring all our worries, problems and concerns to him.
J.R.R. Tolkien the author of "The Lord of the Rings", "The Hobbit" knew the heavy load of fear. His father died when he was four and his mother died when he was 12. He fought on the Western Front during World War I. All but one of his close friends was killed in action. He caught trench fever, which plagued him the rest of his life. But through it all the Eucharist sustained him. His mother loved Our Lord in the Eucharist and often took her sons to visit the Blessed Sacrament. She passed on this great love to them.
In later years, Tolkien wrote his sons the following, "Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament…. There you will find romance, glory, honor, fidelity and the true way of all your loves upon earth"
Prayer Power's mission is Eucharistic Adoration. We commit to spending an hour a month praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament for three intentions.1) Christ centered families.2) An increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, holy men and women on fire with love for Our Eucharistic Lord. 3) Inspire others, as Tolkien's mother inspired him to have a deep love for the Eucharist.
Read about Mary King and how much strength she gets from weekly Eucharistic Adoration. Father Roland shares how through quiet prayer he gets insights and wisdom on how to handle situations. I hope you will treat yourself to special time with Our Lord in The Eucharist this summer. Please remember to pray for our priests, vocations and Christ-centered families.
May God bless you and your family with special time to pray, laugh and love and enjoy each other.
I love you and thank God for you everyday.
Love,
Peg
Photos used under Creative Commons from jjjj56cp, vindpuss, emmett.hume, Lucas Jans, Tambako the Jaguar, Marcus Hansson, Andrew Morrell Photography, Thomas Tolkien, hoshi7
