Pentecost Weekend Festivities

Pentecost Weekend was very enjoyable.  We spent it with loved ones, many faith-filled people who are passionate about serving the Lord and others.  Saturday I had some good prayer, reading, study, and writing time.  In the evening, Kevin and I had dinner with my mom at a delicious Italian place on the Southside called Angelo’s.  Their stromboli is scrumptious!

From there we headed over to Church of the Epiphany, where Kevin and I were married on September 4, 2004.  Two of our friends from Cursillo were doing a concert as part of their Give Me Jesus tour.  The band S2K they’re in plays for Kairos retreat weekends.  I knew it would be a blast, because our two friends are characters on their own, but are even more hilarious together.  The concert was awesome, and the banter among the guys entertaining, as always! We got to sing along to the praise and worship music they performed, and heard their take a on a few classics that fit in with the theme of Kairos. 

   
In between sets, one of the men in the band would talk about how, when, and why they became involved in prison ministry.  Each of them has gone to one or more Virginia prisons to put on Kairos retreats for the inmates.  It was really awesome to hear the stories of how these men from a variety of faith denominations and backgrounds came together to serve men, women, and juveniles who are incarcerated. 

     
One of the most moving testimonies was from a gentleman who had been an inmate on the very first Kairos retreat that ever took place in our area back in 2002.  When released from prison, he began studying to become a minister.  Now he’s one of the chaplains who serves Kairos.  Talk about transformation and metanoia! There you have it!

   
Sunday morning Kevin and I went to 11:15 Mass at our church because our friend was doing the second reading in Hindi as part of the celebration for Pentecost.  It was neat to hear the reading in an unfamiliar language, and the music was beautiful.  Afterwards, we headed up the hill for the church picnic that the Knights of Columbus had organized and were preparing for.  I ended up sitting with a few friends from Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP), a couple of whom are now also Cursillistas, and we had a good time.  Good friends, good food, and good fun!

     
Then I got to catch up with a dear friend I met through CRHP who has been at pharmacy school in Chicago for the past couple years.  We were assigned to be roommates for the overnight portion of the CRHP retreat, and we stayed up half the night talking and have been good friends ever since.  We weren’t sitting at the same table when we made our retreat, so we wouldn’t have gotten to know each other as well had we not been assigned to the same room.  Another God incident indeed! 

   
Lord, thank you for surrounding us with so many people of faith to inspire us and pray for and with us.  We are grateful to have friends who are family steeped in the love of Christ and the dedication to serve His people.  Amen.

A Subtle Grace by Ellen Gable

A Subtle Grace is the latest masterpiece by bestselling author/editor Ellen Gable.  It is the sequel to the award-winning novel In Name Only.  I’ve really been looking forward to this sequel because I was so thoroughly impressed by the first book, which vividly depicts the lives of the O’Donovan family in the late eighteen hundreds.  I love when I get so drawn into a book that I can picture myself in the scenes and have a real sense of the thoughts and emotions surging through the characters.  She blends dialogue and descriptive prose to create full-bodied personalities.  It is easy to identify and relate to each person’s unique charms, quirks, and flaws. 

  
There are scenes in certain books, plays, and movies that stick with us because of how disturbing or upsetting they are.  Maybe it’s an image from one of the ghost stories popular at sleepovers or an urban legend that hits a little too close to home.  We can all think back to a particular scenario we’ve envisioned and relive the emotions as if it was happening to us in the present.  Adrenalin starts pumping.  Our heart beats faster.  Our palms sweat.  Our muscles tense.  Every sound is amplified and ominous.  We are sure of our safety, nevermore. 

  
In each of these novels, there are a number of scenes I found myself reacting to on a visceral level because of how powerfully crafted and carefully portrayed they are.  The suspense made me not want to put the books down even when the turn of events caused me to cringe.  Gable manages to treat a number of the scenarios I would definitely include in my top five biggest fears of all time in ways that compel me to continue onward through the horror and devastation to discover what’s waiting on the other side.  I can’t exactly say that I enjoy feeling awful, but to me it’s a mark of good storytelling if you can get me to empathize with the characters so deeply that a real sense of sorrow rises within me when they are suffering and a genuine joy comes over me when they have triumphed over it.

  
This is one of my favorite contemporary works of Catholic fiction.  (For purposes of classification, I'm defining contemporary as works written between the 1980 and today) .  The storytelling is masterful, the characters fascinating, and the writing is of high literary quality.  People are imperfect—past, present, and future—but each is given the opportunity to grow, change, learn, and be redeemed.  In this story it’s shown how the greatest mistake of our lives can be turned into one of the most amazing blessings and even be a source of hope for others.  Life’s messy.  People are complex.  We’ve all got some skeletons in our closets, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t also fit some trophies and triumphs in there as well. 

A Subtle Grace has all of the elements that good Catholic fiction should.  For more information about In Name Only or A Subtle Grace, click here.  I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.            

What got you involved in Respect Life ministry?

         

    

The shortest answer to that question for me is: my parents.  

     
The following appeared this weekend on an insert in our church bulletin.  The piece was written by Ann Niermeyer, grandmother, mother, respect life advocate, and local 40 Days for Life leader (aka my mom). It is a very good explanation of some of the biggest reasons why my husband and I are also involved.      

Father Dan asked me, “What got you involved in Respect Life ministry?” – specifically working with 40 Days for Life and with pregnancy help centers to support new mothers and fathers.

     
My call to ministry was a gradual process, but I think my involvement stems from my own experience as an expectant mother. I was so happy when I learned I was pregnant, and having a baby was one of the greatest joys of my life. My husband was even more excited. He loved children so much, and he couldn’t wait for us to be parents.

My memories of those years are filled with baby showers and cute little clothes, peaceful nights rocking and nursing, reading and singing to my babies. Each one was such a cherished blessing to our family. So my heart goes out to mothers who do not experience that. I find it so difficult to imagine how it would be to face a pregnancy with so much fear and hopelessness – all alone, scared, and feeling like there was no one there for me, so terrified that I saw no other choice but to have my child aborted. And then the days and the years that follow that painful decision  -  and the hurt.

Finally, when I learned about the sheer numbers of abortions – they overwhelmed me. Over a million each year in our country alone – 5,000 a year in my city of Richmond, Virginia. All I could think of to do was to pray. So I joined with others who pray for an end to abortion. And praying led me to discover that the first person transformed by those prayers – was me! God changed my heart first, and then encouraged me to remain and pray that others would have a change of heart, too.

I invite you to join us in praying these 40 Days for Life – pray for a change of heart, pray for our healing from abortion, and pray for an end to abortion. Thank you.

Imagine!  Anticipating the birth of a child with excitement and joy....  How sad that the attitude conveyed much too often in our society today is negative.  Our society seems to spend more energy in trying to avoid pregnancies than in celebrating them.  Indeed pregnancy is often treated as an “illness” to be avoided and for which the only “cure” is abortion.  This is the attitude surrounding our young people today. 
                                   We owe them better...join in the prayer!  – Fr. Dan

Abortion is the leading cause of death in the United States.   Prayer is the cure.   Save lives.

40 Days for Life is happening NOW around the world.

Find the prayer vigil location nearest you.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 86)

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My Respect Life Work: I observed the 40th anniversary of the March for Life doing what has for many years been part of my life's work and ministry: I devoted my day to taking care of three precious little ones who required just about all of the energy, patience, singing, dancing, answering of endless questions, and good humor I had left by the end of this week. I prayed for the hundreds of thousands who went to DC to take part in the March as well as for all single moms, worn out parents, and tired caregivers.

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Want to know?  You gotta go!  Something that is an absolute must if you’d really like to see what the pro-life movement looks like is go to the March for Life.  There isn’t another way to have it really sink in how many people of varying ages, ethnic backgrounds, socio-economic statuses, religious affiliations, political parties, vocations, consecrated religious, national and international respect life ministers, teens, college kids, seminarians, and everyday people take part in the March for Life.  Watching it on TV is not the same as experiencing the synergy and prayer power of so many people gathered together to stand up for the unborn, the post-abortive seeking healing, the adopted...all those who have no voice.  This year is the 40th anniversary of Roe v Wade, and there was a record turn-out at the March.  Click here to read about it and see pics.    

           

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There are many ways to Choose Life: Encourage a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy to have her baby, support couples facing the many challenges of raising children these days by offering to babysit or bring them a meal, tell a woman who’s had an abortion about the healing that can come from a retreat such as Rachel’s Vineyard, visit an elderly family member who’s health is failing, learn about how to help families with foster children, take basic CPR and First Aid so you're prepared to help in an emergency, volunteer at a nursing home, get involved with a 40 Days for Life campaign in your area, know the free pregnancy resources near you, learn about Natural Family Planning and use it instead of contraception, do something to strengthen your relationship with God, take time to love and enjoy your spouse and your own family…

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Pants Are Optional  I have adopted my mom’s philosophy for young children: let them be comfortable and easy to clean up.  Fortunately, the family for whom I nanny is of the same mindset when it comes to clothing.  On a normal day, the twins go from their pajamas into a Onesie (which, for those of you who don’t know, is basically a baby bodysuit).  A diaper and Onesie are pretty much what they wear every day unless we go for a walk or go out somewhere and more layers are needed.  Vivi often hangs out in her nightgown or a T-shirt and a pair of Pull-ups.  If you come to hang out with us and are under the age of 5 years old, pants are optional upon entry.  That’s not to say that there aren’t some days when you’ll come in and see babies in pants, it’s just to say that comfort, warmth, and being able to move, roll, bounce dance, fling food, get stinky, get messy, etc. are most important.     

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C’est ma vie! Since Vivi has a tendency to ask me what I'm doing numerous times a day when she knows perfectly well what I'm doing because I've just told her or it's something quite obvious like I'm feeding one of your sisters a bottle or changing another dirty diaper, I've started answering her in French. Also when she repeats the same thing over and over like every toddler enjoys doing, I say the French word for it and she usually repeats after me. C'est magnifique!

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It’s your turn!  Nobody likes to be told what to do, but everyone likes to get a turn to do something.  With this in mind, I have gotten into the habit of opening the bathroom door, turning the light on, and telling Vivi in a nonchalant, noncommittal voice: “It’s your turn!” so she’ll go use the potty.  I much prefer this (and think she must also, judging by her usual response).  It’s more pleasant than asking her if she wants to use the potty or coming up with some other way to coerce her creatively and cheerfully to go sit on the toilet.  Hey, it’s what’s we’ve had the best results with so far this month.    
  

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Different Gifts We all have a variety of God-given talents to share.  Kevin and I are very grateful to have so many wonderful people in our lives who have such a vast array of strengths, passions, and interests.  Many times this week, we found ourselves marveling at what people do, how they do it, and for what greater good.  There’s a whole lot of love and beauty in the world.  When you take time to appreciate it, you find yourself seeing more of it all the time. 

Head over to Conversion Diary, to read Jen Fulwiler's wonderful tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday.

True Equality: Dr. King Style

Are we really a nation that does all it can to promote equality?  

Not while we're supporting the black genocide.  

I invite you to please listen and read the words that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke and ask yourselves: Would his dream include the mass killing of African American babies by their mothers and fathers?  

What are your actions and decisions saying about your dream for our country?

What are you doing to create true equality?

Who are those who are being marginalized, cast aside, and silenced in our world today?

For more information, check out this documentary narrated by Dr. Alveda King: Blood Money.

A review of the documentary can be read here.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 80)

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Post –abortion Healing Retreat Please join me in praying for all of the participants of the Rachel’s Vineyard post-abortion healing retreat that is taking place this weekend from Friday through Sunday at Shalom House.  Kay Marie, a dear friend who has headed up this ministry in our area with her husband Joe for many years, will be doing her first retreat since he passed away. 

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Blessed Woman, Peaceful Dove Kevin and I enjoyed Mass at St. Michael's in celebration of the feast day of our country's patron: Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Afterwards the two of us did a Rosary walk. Still brings a huge smile to my face thinking of how far Kevin and I have come in our faith and conversion since we first became friends 16 years ago. Thank You Lord Jesus Christ for Your love and the Blessed Mother for always bringing us closer to Your Son! 

           

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What’s so special about Mary?  This seems a fitting question at Christmastime, especially with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8) and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadelupe (Dec. 12).  Busted Halo does a great explanation in this video and you can read my own reflection on her importance here.

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Great God-Incidents  On Wednesday, I just made it to Mass on time at St. Benedict's.  Kevin wasn't feeling well, so he had gone home after work.  My friend Michele slid in next to me.  I haven't seen her much lately, so it was great to celebrate Mass on a special feast day, then have a chance to catch up with her in the parking lot afterwards.  As usual. she had a funny story for me.  Something that's common among my favorite people to spend time with: they are great at making me laugh!

  

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The Death of a Bishop "Praying for the repose of the soul of Bishop Walter Sullivan who has passed into eternal life. May God's angels welcome him and eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. A great leader, ecumenist, and reconciler. Rest in peace and rise in Glory!" -Jan Fuller former Hollins Chaplain on the death of the former Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Richmond who passed away last Tuesday. 

For more information as well as the funeral arrangements and services, please see the diocesan website.

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Back from the Outback! My mom made it home safely last Friday from her two weeks in Australia.  She came over to dinner to tell us about her trip and showed us tons of gorgeous photos.  I know my grandma’s happy to have my mom back to visit her daily.  We’re also kind of glad that she’s over the need-to-travel-the-world kick at least for a little while after her most recent escapades.   

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A Spectacular New Book Series Kevin this evening: "I've never seen you this excited about a book or series...ever!" I just finished reading the first four books in a remarkable series you won't want to miss!  I'll be writing more on my blog and posting reviews of each individual book, but here's the website so you can check it out ASAP!  

Head over to Conversion Diary, to read Jen Fulwiler's wonderful tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 68)

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A new kind of drinking problem? Refusal to hit the bottle.  Apparently a certain little cutie has had a couple bottle boycott days this week, when her mom had to be called in at lunch time to feed her directly from the source.  When notified of this potential problem when I arrived at work in the morning the day after the bottle strike days, it dawned on me that I have close to 24 years experience of feeding infants their bottles.  I believe I started when I was in second grade, and the babysitter we went to had an baby boy who I'd get up, dress, and feed in the morning, because I loved babies and children already.  Fortunately, sweetpea decided to suspend the boycott when I was around.    

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Cause that’s how we roll! So the twins are becoming increasingly more mobile.  One of them is already rolling far and fast enough that she’s hitting her head on things and getting caught under stuff.  This week, she made it her personal goal to attack the old-fashioned toy rotary phone with all her might.  Her twin seemed content simply to be out of range when her sister came creeping, almost crawling and rolling by. 

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Woohoo for Watercolors The big sister has enjoyed dabbling in watercolors this week.  I tried to explain and demonstrate the concept of dipping the paintbrush in water before getting another color, but I realized too late that I should have done the demo before putting water in the cup instead of after.  Ah well, it’s important for artists to understand what happens when you mix different colors, too, so before long we had some lovely brown, black, and drab green mixtures working for us.   

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Strange Goings-on Apparently, the puppy dog named Violet has needed to cool down this week.  Big sister put her purple plush toy into her Dora the Explorer kitchen set on the refrigerator side.  She’d close the door, ask me where Violet was, then tell me she was in the fridge.  When I informed her mother that I had no idea what Violet had done to deserve such treatment, she said: “I guess she was hot.  If she gets to cold, we’ll put her in the oven.” Further evidence her mother and I are kindred spirits when it comes to appreciating the nuances of kids.   

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Ever felt like giving up? Here’s one of many reasons why you shouldn’t.

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 A “fall-ish” pie Dear friends of ours, Laura and Jeff, had us over for dinner Thursday evening and asked us to bring salad greens and a “fall-ish” pie.  My husband thought he’d gotten the last pumpkin pie in the store.  We discovered that he’d made a delicious mistake by the time we reached dessert.  Our hostess who is quite the Susie Homemaker (cook, baker, decorator, seamstress…) had suspected something wasn’t right since they pie didn’t look deep enough or seem to be the right consistency.  The four of us agreed it was by far the tastiest mistake my husband made all day.  It turned out to be Lemongrass pie.  Kevin joked that it had been a rough year for crops, implying that’s why the pumpkin pie had tasted so unusual.    

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Lord of the Dance I pray that You will draw my loved one who is having foot surgery next Tuesday afternoon ever nearer to You, that the procedure may go smoothly, the healing quickly, and the recovery be complete.  Perfect Physician, Wonderful Counselor, Holy Comforter, please open our hearts and minds to the healing You know we all need most.    

Head over to Conversion Diary, to read Jen Fulwiler's wonderful tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday.

The Way DVD

     I’d recommend The Way to anyone who is seeking answers, enlightenment, understanding, and isn’t afraid to take a look at the tough questions in life: What am I moving towards? What am I running from? And why?

     I expected the movie to be about major religious conversion, but it’s not. Actually, the movie only loosely touches on the religious and spiritual implications of the Camino and the many Christ-centered pilgrims who set out to make the trek each year. In a sense this makes the film more accessible to the masses (pun intended) instead of a good fit mainly for the Catholic parishioners in the pews.

     The Way is a thought-provoking, humorous look at how a physical journey is every bit as much about a journey inward as it is about reaching a particular destination. Having read the book Hiking the Camino: 500 Miles with Jesus by Dave Pivonka, T.O.R., a while back, I was somewhat familiar with the ancient pilgrimage trail when I heard about this film.

     What I didn’t realize ahead of time is that this movie is a family affair. Not to say it’s the right choice for a family movie night if you have children under thirteen, it’s not, but the rich heritage, tradition, and strong family bonds explored in the film seem best acted by those who really do have a father/son relationship. The Way is directed by Emilio Estevez, dedicated to his grandfather, and stars as the lead Martin Sheen, the director’s own father (who was named at birth Ramon Gerard Estevez).

     The film was shot in France and Spain, where the el Camino exists and still attracts millions of pilgrims. The cinematography is quite beautiful which is immediately evident to the viewer even if the main character in the film neglects to take notice of or slow down to appreciate it.

     Four very different people from different countries, professions, and with widely varying reasons for hiking the Camino end up bonding as they each strive to overcome the challenges of the trail, which often prove to be more obvious and less treacherous than the emotional minefields within themselves.

     The special features and behind-the-scenes definitely enhanced my appreciation for the movie and the collaborative effort in making it as well as going cross-country on a bus tour to promote it.

     I wrote this review of The Way for the free Catholic book review program, Tiber River.  I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.

Beloved Daughter Rejoice!

What would happen if you believed with every fiber of your being that you are, indeed, God’s Beloved Child? My prediction is that there would be a great deal of rejoicing from within and without. Well, guess what?! The Truth is you are God’s Beloved Child, so you have every reason to sing, dance, clap your hands, shout praises to the Lord!

     
I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely someone who wants and needs frequent reminders that I am loved, cherished, seen as precious and valuable. Fortunately, the Lord wants nothing more than to shower us with an abundance of blessings to let us know how deeply loved we are by Him.
     
God’s joy is in loving us unconditionally, passionately, and overwhelmingly. His love for us is the source of our strength.  His willingness to give His own Son to show us how to live, suffer, die, and rise again is the ultimate proof that we are God’s Beloved Children. He doesn’t withhold any goodness, fruit of the spirit or blessing to any who come to His table.
     
That is not to say that our lives will be without suffering or devoid of pain, but it means that  throughout even the most daunting trial or haunting tragedy, the Lord will remain with us.  He won’t turn away or abandon us.  We can persevere in hardships knowing that, united to Christ’s Passion and death on the Cross, our suffering can be used for the salvation of souls in time and eternity. 
     
The physical, emotional, and spiritual crosses we bear in this life will not be in vain.  Though sorrow and strife may plague us in this life, threatening to rob of us of all of our hope and joy, we know that there is more than our earthly existence to be concerned with; we have been offered an eternity of unconditional love and pure unbridled rejoicing with the Lord. 
     
Is there anything keeping you from rejoicing that you are a beloved child of God?  If yes, what is it?  Would you be willing to offer it up to the Lord and listen for His Truth? 

“Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout O Israel!

Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away the judgments against you,
He has cast out your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall fear evil no more.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not fear, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory;
He will rejoice over you with gladness
He will renew you in his love;
He will exult over you with loud singing
as on a day of festival.”
                                                Zephaniah 3:14-18

Note: This reflection, written in honor of the participants of the Women's Cursillo Weekend taking place at Shalom House from May 31-June 2, 2012, first appeared in the May 2012 Edition of The Rooster Review.

Life Entwined with Lily's (Book 3 in the Lily Trilogy)

I can’t recall the last time a novel (in this case three) has impacted me so powerfully.  The Lily Trilogy is a remarkable series that explores some of the greatest joys and deepest sorrows of life.  I am still blown away by how profoundly each of these books has touched me.  Questions, conflicts, struggles, and temptations are treated with the levity and gravity that the biggest challenges, sacrifices, and decisions are given in real life. 

     
Chances are very good you will find yourself easily able to identify with the complex inner workings of these people, these families, and that you will find in one or more of the situations something that speaks so perfectly to your own suffering that tears seem like the only possible release. 

     
Life Entwined with Lily's is a very close-up look at how the love, influence, and impact of one person can transform many hearts, souls, and minds.  Without the help of a wannabe angel named Clarence or a trip to the past, author Sherry Boas creates a beautiful affirmation of life, faith, hope, and relationships that reaches even deeper than the popular Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life.  

      
These modern-day persons aren’t perfect by any means.  Their lives are not ideal.  They are messy, complicated, and at times very bleak.  The characters grapple with the major questions about: what gives life value, meaning, who or what determines who should live, how long, and why.  
     
I prefer my characters to be very full, dynamic, believable.  In these books, that’s precisely what they are.  No one’s perfect.  Not a single person has mastered unconditional love, perfect compassion, or limitless forgiveness, but they’re genuinely trying. 

     
I am quite amazed that without being preachy or having some sort of flawless character to act as perfect guide for everyone else, the author of the Lily Trilogy has covered in just three books a majority of the respect life issues from conception to natural death in realistic, thought-provoking, meaningful ways as well as touched on every single one of the Seven Sacraments in the Catholic Church.  These two accomplishments in and of themselves would be impressive, but within such readable heart-wrenching works of fiction, they raise the bar for fiction, especially Christian and Catholic, as a whole.

     
This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Caritas Press to find more information on Life Entwined with Lily's. 

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 44)

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Stand Up for Religious Freedom “No more than should my car insurance cover your tune-up, should my health insurance cover your sex life.” -Star Parker of Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE)

         Got 10 minutes to listen to the truth?  WATCH THE VIDEO HERE!!

A few of my favorite key talking points of Star Parker, a woman who was once at the mercy of our messed up "women's health care" system she’s now trying to fix:

 The three options given to religious organizations through Obamacare:

1.      Bow your knee to King Nebachnezzar 2.      Pay a fine to Caesar  3.      Leave the business

     “And what is the specific business of the Church that the secular left has declared war on?  Care for our nation’s elderly, our nation’s weak, our nation’s sick, and our nation’s orphans.”

       “Why is this administration declaring war on those who would serve the least of these?” 

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Praising God! The doctor is very pleased with how well Kevin's foot is healing!  He’s still sporting his sexy black surgical sandal.  He finally gets his stitches out on Monday.  Thanks everyone for the prayers and support!  Oh, and his podiatrist, Dr. Shadbolt, is yet again listed in Richmond Magazine as one of the Top Docs.  It’s all good!

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Taking It to the Next Level! Kevin and I are very excited for our dearly beloved brother in Christ, who today, March 29, 2012, will be taking the next step in the official application process (and in his ongoing discernment) to enter seminary.     John, you’ve truly fallen in love with the Lord Jesus Christ and want God’s will for your life more than anything else.  That’s the best position to be in now and in the future.  Be at peace: God loves you unconditionally and continues to draw you ever-closer to Him!     

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The Boy Who Met Jesus: Segatashya of Kibeho is amazing, spellbinding, miraculous, and riveting! The Boy Who Met Jesus: Segatashya of Kibeho is the well-documented and researched account of how a very poor, illiterate, pagan farmer boy from a town in Africa so small it literally wasn’t on the map came to be a prophet and evangelist before he was brutally murdered in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda… Read more here.

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Pure Pleasure, Sheer Joy This week I had the privilege of witnessing the pure pleasure and sheer joy of children discovering the wonders of nature, particularly as it reveals itself through little green inchworms crawling everywhere.  Their faces lit up and their friends gathered around as they picked up one tiny inchworm after another around the playground so they could inspect them closely in the palms of their little hands.  This seems to be the sort of rejoicing the Lord intends for us to have for His creation!  Again, children have proven to be such wonderfully wise spiritual directors just by their honest example.

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Welcome home!! Kevin and I, of course all of the Baab clan, and lots of other family and friends are very excited that Luke Baab is finally home  after serving our country in Afghanistan.  Praise God for bringing him home safely and continue praying for all the men and women who are still in harm's way, and their families waiting eagerly for their return.   
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel  St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in our day of battle.  Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil.  May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and by the power of God, cast into hell all evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.  Amen.

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Celebrate New Life!  Keep praying, and keep believing. God is working, even now! Remember that our 40 Days for Life closing hour April 1, 2012 Sunday 6 - 7pm will be a celebration of NEW LIFE. Bring baby items - especially diapers and formula - for the three organizations we will help: The Pregnancy Resource Center     Catholic Charities     Healthy Families

    We will celebrate the wonderful things that have happened this Spring, 2012, in Richmond and in the nation!
     Plan to join us for the fun, the prayers, the songs and the celebration. You earned it!
God is good. Praise Him Forever. Peace, Ann

Head over to Conversion Diary, to read Jen Fulwiler's wonderful tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday.

The Boy Who Met Jesus: Segatashya of Kibeho by Immaculée Ilibagiza

Segatashya’s story is amazing, spellbinding, miraculous, and riveting! The Boy Who Met Jesus: Segatashya of Kibeho is the well-documented and researched account of how a very poor, illiterate, pagan farmer boy from a town in Africa so small it literally wasn’t on the map came to be a prophet and evangelist before he was murdered.  I’ve read quite a bit about the saints and various apparitions over the years, but there is something about Segatashya’s experience that makes him stand out. 

     
Just for the record, Segatashya’s apparitions of Jesus have not (as of yet) been officially approved by the Vatican.  Most members of the Commission of Enquiry assembled to investigate the apparitions of the Blessed Mother to the three schoolgirls in Kibeho and later Segatashya’s visions were brutally murdered in the Rwanda genocide in 1994.  Also at that time, a vast amount of the proof collected was destroyed in fires.
    
As has often been the case over the centuries, the suffering these four youth endured for receiving and delivering the messages they were given to pass on was severe.  The courage of this young man in following God’s will as it was revealed to him by Jesus Christ and the Blessed Mother is nothing short of miraculous. 
     
Through the grace of God, and the warning from one of the visionaries, the lone psychiatrist in Rwanda Dr. Muremyangango Bonaventure who was on the Commission of Enquiry, kept the copious notes, reports, interviews, and transcripts from his time investigating Segatashya’s cause were preserved.  It is in using the detailed notes, research, and spending time with author Immaculée Ilibagiza that the quotes and vivid details included were passed along.
     
I highly recommend The Boy Who Met Jesus: Segatashya of Kibeho and the others Immaculée Ilibagiza has written with Steve Erwin.  Click here to read more about the book or to order your copy.