ST. PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUP NEWSLETTER€¦ · know. But Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, who died on...
Transcript of ST. PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUP NEWSLETTER€¦ · know. But Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, who died on...
As we celebrate the feast of our beloved Padre Pio, Sept. 23rd let us strive to live in the spirit he wanted to instill in his children. As Spiritual Children of Padre Pio we are people of faith, prayer, witness, service called to unity in mind and heart for the glory of God, edification of his people and the salvation of our souls. Our Prayer Groups men and women who love and desire to honor Padre Pio. Through him we hope to be able to experience God’s loving presence in our lives. The Eucharist, devotion to Our Lady, and the sharing of our Catholic values brings us together in prayer and reflection. From the experience of our monthly meeting it is hoped that the desire for prayer and reflection will grow stronger and become a daily program for each one you. We are a “spiritual family” not bound by vows or promises, but solely by our love and devotion for Jesus, our Faith and our beloved patron Saint Padre Pio. We are an example of what the everyday Catholic can be and do: find time to pray, reflect and allow that experience of God to flow over into acts of charity and service within the community. How Padre Pio desired to see his Spiritual Children glow like beacons of light in a world that was growing dim in its spiritual fervor! How he demanded that his Spiritual Children not compromise their Baptismal promises and thus be examples and guides for others! How Padre Pio rejoiced to know and hear that his Spiritual Children touched the lives of others and led them closer to Jesus and Mary! How he wanted to see his Spiritual Children take up the challenge to be Christ to the world! This is the responsibility we accept in asking to be Spiritual Children of Padre Pio. Thank you all spiritual brothers and sisters for making this group thrive.
Save the Date!
OCTOBER 4TH
PADRE PIO MEETING
8:30 ST. BARNABAS
Mass, Prayers, Speaker, Food
SPRITUAL DIRECTOR: REV. FR. EDWARD JANOCH
GROUP LEADER: CINDY RUSSO
ST. PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUP NEWSLETTER
OCTOBER 2nd Holy Hour for
Vocations 7 p.m. St. Barnabas Church
Rosary & Benediction
A VERY SPECIAL GUEST IN OCTOBER Padre Pio’s embalmer’s daughter will
be the October guest speaker. Teresa Thomas is a hospice nurse and does missionary work in Nigeria. Her father embalmed Padre Pio twice. She is an example of an ordinary person doing extra-‐ordinary things
through the Holy Spirit.
Happy Birthday to Our Blessed
Mother on
September 8th!
Happy Feast Day to St. Padre Pio
on September 23rd!
SEPTEMBER 23rd Padre Pio Feast Day
Mass 7 p.m. St. Charles Borromeo Church
5891 Ridge Rd, Parma Refreshment Social
will follow
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SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR’S REFLECTIONS
Lord, give success to the works of our hands. Give success to the works of our hands. ~Psalm 90:17bc
This past Monday, we celebrated Labor Day. A day in which our Nation rests from labor to give thanks to God for the opportunities that our work gives us in the ability to achieve Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. We also are reminded that the Work of God never ends. Every day we are to be ready, willing and able to do God’s Will, God’s Work. There is no vacation or rest from doing God’s Will, God’s Work. That rest will come when we are in the Eternal Jerusalem, Heaven; and that rest is eternal. This work can only be done if we ask Christ to stay with us. St. Padre Pio was a man who did God’s Will, God’s Work in his daily life. It was not possible for Padre Pio to abandon God’s Work. He received the stigmata of Jesus the Christ to remind him that he was to be a complete model of Christ for the world. As Jesus told his disciples, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” [Matthew 11:28-‐30] The work of Padre Pio was not easy, but following Jesus the Christ the work would be made easier because of His invitation that the yoke of obedience to His word, would make the burden that he undertook light. Given out of love, then anyone can take the yoke with the burden given and find it easy and light in Christ Jesus. We are to do the same as Padre Pio did if we are to be the spiritual children of St. Padre Pio. While doing some reading, I found the following from Pope St. John Paul II’s homily for the canonization of St. Pio of Pietrelcina. Part of the Gospel for that Mass was the above quote from St. Matthew. Here is some of the Homily:
“Jesus' words to his disciples, which we just heard, help us to understand the most important message of this solemn celebration. Indeed, in a certain sense, we can consider them as a magnificent summary of the whole life of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, today proclaimed a saint. The evangelical image of the "yoke" recalls the many trials that the humble Capuchin of San Giovanni Rotondo had to face. Today we contemplate in him how gentle the "yoke" of Christ is, and how truly light is his burden when it is borne with faithful love. The life and mission of Padre Pio prove that difficulties and sorrows, if accepted out of love, are transformed into a privileged way of holiness, which opens onto the horizons of a greater good, known only to the Lord. ~Pope St. John Paul II [16 October 2002]
Through Baptism we are called to do the God’s Work, which is made easy and light when united which Christ, in Love. Go out into the world and “do it”. Faithfully yours in Christ, Fr. Edward J. Janoch Spiritual Director P.S. I found this quote and thought you, as Padre Pio’s spiritual children, would like it . “One day a boy told Padre Pio he was afraid he loved him more than God. Padre Pio replied: ‘You must love God with an infinite love, through me. You love me because I direct you to good, and to God the Supreme Good, and I am just the means that carries you to God. If I directed you not to God but to evil, you would not love any more.’”
taken from Rev. Charles Mortimer Carty, PADRE PIO THE STIGMATIST
“The life and mission of Padre Pio prove that difficulties
and sorrows, if accepted out of love,
are transformed
into a privileged way of holiness,
which opens onto the
horizons of a greater good,
known only to the Lord.” ~Pope St. John Paul
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Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina,
Feast Day Sept. 23rd one of the greatest saints of all times
On June 16, 2002, Pope John Paul II canonized in Rome Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, one of the greatest saints of all times. There are saints who have been known for healing; there are saints who could "read" souls; there are saints who were known for levitation; there were saints who bore the stigmata, or were seen in apparition, or who had the “odor of sanctity.” There are saints who could understand languages they didn't
know. But Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, who died on September 23, 1968, had all these charisms, and more. In fact, not since St. Francis of Assisi has
there been such a miracle-worker. Join us in Celebration of his Feast Day on Tuesday Sept. 23rd at
St. Charles Borromeo Parish, 5891 Ridge Road, Parma Refreshment social to follow Mass
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OVERCOMING NEGATIVITY TOWARD CONFESSION (PART 3 OF A 3 PART SERIES) In the two previous articles, we talked about forgiving others and experiencing God’s mercy. Confession is important in achieving these goals. If the sacrament is so important, why do many resist? While not wanting to offend Protestants and wanting to be ecumenically sensitive, we need to point out the great disservice the protestant reformers did in downplaying or doing away with confession. This attitude unfortunately has influenced many Catholics. We will state the objections to confession from many aspects and then give reasons to counteract them. First in regard to Protestants
1. The Protestants viewpoint began with a resection of church authority and was very anti-‐papal. However our Holy Father is the successor of St. Peter. “You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven…”Our Holy Father teaches us that we need confession.
2. The reformers undid 1500 years of tradition with the church’s understanding of mediating forgiveness. “whoever does away with the least significance of these commandments will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.”
3. The reformers took a somewhat individualistic approach to salvation-‐“me and Jesus,” and downplayed the strong communal aspect of the church. An example of the communal aspect is Baptism. No one would think of Baptizing one self. It is always mediated by another. Yet the logical conclusion of an individualistic approach would be to baptize oneself. “The church teaches that after a person repents interiorly, forgiveness is mediated by the priest. “Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven. Whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.” These words speak clearly of mediation.
Secondly, negative attitudes in our secular society 1. Our secular society is becoming more and more individualistic as opposed to “I am my brother’s keeper.”
an example:” It’s my body. I can have an abortion if I want to.” Every sin is an offense against the Body of Christ, so Catholics come to the church as the Body of Christ to ask for forgiveness in the sacraments.
2. Our society is developing a lack of respect for and suspicion of authority. Just ask any schoolteacher if this is true! Jesus said to the apostles,” as the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And “he who hears you hears me.” In confession, we admit our accountability to our spiritual authority.
Thirdly, negative attitudes in the church 1. Since the publication of the encyclical “Humanae Vitae,” commonly referred to as the “Birth Control
encyclical,” Many Catholics have dissented” from the church teaching. This is a “pick and choose” mentality. The Greek word “Herein” means to pick and choose. Hence the word “Heretic”-‐ one who pick and chooses what to believe. Many Catholics are unofficial heretics. Many Catholics also choose not to go to confession. Confessing really fell off after Humanae Vitae.
2. The Pre-‐Vatican II Church was sometimes too rigid in the application of church law. The reaction by many after Vatican II was too permissive. Some theologians developed unorthodox interpretations of Theology. This filtered down to the laity. This has led to general confusion and a malaise in the church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, published in 1992, gives clarity on what the church teaches, but the confusion persists. And there is much confusion about confession.
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OVERCOMING NEGATIVITY TOWARD CONFESSION (CON’D)
3. Some priests have unfortunately downplayed confession or told people that they don’t need to bother with it. This was not the attitude of Padre PIo!
4. Some priests offered penitents such a bad experience of confession that they stopped going. Should a student stop going to school because of a bad experience with a teacher? It is better to find another confessor.
5. Some parishes offered “General Absolution” on a regular basis when it was intended for very limited circumstances. As a result, many people fell out of the habit of “auricular”or “penitent to priest” confession. Good habits are worth reinstating.
6. The climate in the Church for confession is one of neglect. There can be little support for it by others: “If so few people confess, then it must not be very important.” This was the attitude of the people in Ars before St. john Vianney taught them otherwise and the entire town was converted
These are some obstacles to the practice of confession. Satan has succeeded in keeping many from benefiting from the wonderful sacrament founded by Jesus to help people come closer to Him. October’s newsletter will give some suggestions to help us benefit from confession.
St. Padre Pio, Master Confessor, Pray for us!
Jesus in my Heart By 7 yr. old Anne Magdalen Marie Snyder
I love Jesus very much. I made my First Confession at my retreat. On my First Holy
Communion, I felt very happy because Jesus was inside me and could make me holy. He
can help me improve my bad habits and help me to grow in virtue.
Michelle helps me say a special prayer after I receive Holy Communion to thank God for
His love and blessing in this Holy Gift. I thank Jesus after every Holy Communion because
He gave us His Body and Blood to be close to us and to show us in a VERY special way how
much He loves us.
I hope and pray that I always remember this is JESUS and thank Him for being with us in
this simple, loving way.
Dear Jesus, keep me simple and loving, just like you.
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Please Pray for Our Sick Brothers and Sisters
Call Helen Husky 440-‐232-‐3462 (Sunshine chairman) to add a member to the list.
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Abbot Christopher Schwartz O.S. B., Aurora Cruz, Joann Kowalski, Rita Shea, Eleanor Phillips, Don and Jane Dahlhausen
Samuel Lawson, Delores DiLeone, Devin Harvey, Karina Barraza de Ortiz, Ofelia Melgoza, Spencer Dray, Steve Olexa, Helen Husky, Walter Kowalski, Carol Bertoni, Mary Dirda, Roger Reardon, Dan Peters, Joseph Russo Sr., Ron Firem, Joan Tomassi, Nicole Tomassi, Mike Friess, Jerry Lewis, James Green, Helen Husky, Joy Zivzak,
Dennis Houlahan, Dan Houlahan, Gina Sacco, Carmelita Pruchnicki, Robert Snyder, Richard Merecki, Luella Merecki, Ed Chesar, Michael Orbany, Jeff Bauer, Judy Selby,
Rose Slee, And we ask God to bless all of their Caregivers.
PRAYER TO PADRE PIO FOR HEALING
Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, obedient father, you loved the sick and infirm more than yourself because in them you saw Jesus. In the name of God you performed miracles of healing in body, soul and mind. Your intercession with God healed the ills of past and present and
strengthened people to respond with confidence to future challenges. Those who came to you regained a sense of spiritual integrity as you rekindled hope in their lives, and encouraged
them to renew the spirit in their hearts.
Through the intercession of Our Heavenly Mother, may we experience your powerful assistance and be healed in our bodily and spiritual needs, particularly (name it) and gratefully
give praise and thanks to God for all His blessings. Amen.
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