F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 ST. PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUP NEWSLETTER Spiritual Director: Rev. Fr. Edward Janoch Group Leader: Cindy Russo SAVE THE DATE: March 5 Knight of Columbus Holy Hour 7 p.m. at St. Barnabas Church. Rosary & Benediction March 7 Padre Pio Prayer Group Gathering at beginning with Mass at 8:30 a.m. St. Barnabas Church, 9451 Brandywine Rd., Lent begins with Ash Wednesday February 18 th . How will you utilize those forty days before Easter? Give yourself time to reflect on how you can grow personally and spiritually. We are all called to take up our cross and follow Jesus. This Lent our prayer group is offering a selfretreat. Our guide is 33 Days to Morning Glory. We suggest you start on February 20 th two days after Ash Wednesday. It is a daily retreat. It will end on March 25 th The Annunciation. We will have a special Consecration service to the Blessed Virgin Mary for all those who participate. Side note for those who have done it a few years ago it can be a refresher retreat. During Lent fasting, giving up something that is special to you and alms giving is one way to prepare for the Resurrection. Perhaps reading scripture is another way to get closer to Our Lord. We will start including some suggested scripture readings and meditations each month. Think about attending daily mass and/or praying daily the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet. Visit Jesus in the Adoration chapel and go to confession. Whatever you are doing, do more. Ask St. Padre Pio to help and guide you. He is our Spiritual Father. May you see the face of Jesus in the poor, sick and forgotten. As we start this Lent add our spiritual brothers and sisters to our prayer list for strength to carry our cross of burdens, hardships, pains and disappointments of life. Suggested Scripture Reading and Meditation for February Matthew 6:16-18 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you." 1 Peter 5:6 "So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor." Daniel 9:3 "And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes." Joel 2:12-13 "That is why the LORD says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish." Feb. 18 Ash Wednesday – Lent begins Begin 33 Days to Morning Glory Feb. 20 Thursdays Rosary & Prayers with the Blue Army at St. Barnabas Chapel 7 p.m. A great Lenten prayer time during the 33 day retreat
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F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
ST. PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUP NEWSLETTER
Spiritual Director:
Rev. Fr. Edward Janoch
Group Leader: Cindy Russo
SAVE THE DATE:
March 5 Knight of Columbus Holy Hour 7 p.m. at St. Barnabas Church. Rosary & Benediction
March 7 Padre Pio Prayer Group Gathering at beginning with Mass at 8:30 a.m. St. Barnabas Church, 9451 Brandywine Rd., Northfield Center, OH
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday February 18th. How will you utilize those forty days before Easter?
Give yourself time to reflect on how you can grow personally and spiritually. We are all called to take up our cross and follow Jesus. This Lent our prayer group is offering a self-‐retreat.
Our guide is 33 Days to Morning Glory. We suggest you start on February 20th
two days after Ash Wednesday. It is a daily retreat. It will end on March 25th The Annunciation. We will have a special Consecration service to the Blessed Virgin Mary for all those who participate.
Side note for those who have done it a few years ago-‐-‐ it can be a refresher retreat. During Lent fasting, giving up something that is special to you and alms giving is one way to prepare for the Resurrection. Perhaps reading scripture is another way to get closer to Our Lord. We will start including some suggested scripture readings and meditations each month. Think about attending daily mass and/or praying daily the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet. Visit Jesus in the Adoration chapel and go to confession. Whatever you are doing, do more. Ask St. Padre Pio to help and guide you. He is our Spiritual Father.
May you see the face of Jesus in the poor, sick and forgotten. As we start this Lent add our spiritual brothers and sisters to our prayer list for strength to carry our cross of burdens, hardships, pains and disappointments of life.
Suggested Scripture Reading and Meditation for February
Matthew 6:16-18 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you."
1 Peter 5:6 "So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor."
Daniel 9:3 "And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes."
Joel 2:12-13 "That is why the LORD says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish."
Feb. 18 Ash Wednesday – Lent begins
Begin 33 Days to Morning Glory
Feb. 20
Thursdays Rosary & Prayers with the Blue Army at St. Barnabas Chapel 7 p.m. A great Lenten prayer time during the 33 day retreat
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REFLECTIONS FROM OUR SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR
“All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Death, From whose embrace no mortal can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your will!
The second death can do them no harm.” No one can escape death that is why our short time on earth needs to be one of prayer, fasting, and alms giving every day of our life and not just during the Season of Lent. Not just for our own lives but for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. These sacred characteristics of penance help us to Love God and to Love our Neighbor; fulfilling the Commandments of God given to Moses on Mount Sinai. I have chosen for this Season of Lent to change the Monthly Prayer Reflections starting on Ash Wednesday to those reflections for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. These will continue throughout the Season of Lent and the Sacred Triduum [Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday]. The reflections come from the book: Day By Day for the Holy Souls in Purgatory: 365 Reflections, by Susan Tassone, published by Our Sunday Visitor, 2014 [ISBN: 978-‐1-‐61278-‐772-‐5]. The Holy Souls need our help and in return they will help us to strive to live holy lives so that we do not have to end up in Purgatory when we die. Another way we can prepare ourselves so that we may not have to spend time in Purgatory is to consecrate ourselves to Jesus through Mary. It just happens [A God Occurrence] that during the Season of Lent a Marian Consecration will occur. This is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord on March 25th. The consecration for this Marian feast begins on February 20th, the Friday After Ash Wednesday and ends on the Annunciation of the Lord, during the last week before Holy Week. Our St. Padre Pio Prayer Group will provide at a nominal cost [$5.00] the book 33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-‐It-‐Yourself Retreat In Preparation for Marian Consecration, for those who have not yet consecrated themselves to Mary. If you have already consecrated yourself to Mary, it may be a good practice this Lent to renew your consecration in solidarity with your brothers and sisters who are making this journey. Your prayers will support them on their Marian Consecration. A special day of Consecration will take place at St. Charles Borromeo Parish, in Parma, Ohio; in conjunction with the newly formed Knights of Columbus Council at St. Charles Borromeo Parish. More information will be provided in the March 2015 Newsletter. Until then,
Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them, O Lord, and May Perpetual Light Shine Upon Them. May the Rest in Peace. Amen.
Fr. Edward J. Janoch Spiritual Director
Our yearly observance of Lent begins on February 18th. Yearly we are reminded that “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” [Roman Missal, Third Edition] I thought I would reflect this year on that phrase that a priest has the option to use when placing ashes on those who come forward to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday. In a world where being young, vibrant, and healthy are prized and praised, many forget that they may; in a short time become old, listless, and sickly. The realization that death may be near shocks, surprises, and scares many. We who are reminded yearly of this realization that death is near, finds this as a blessing. As St. Francis proclaims in his Canticle of Creation:
FROM ASHES TO MORNING GLORY
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AS WE WERE BLESSED, SO WE CAN BLESS OTHERS
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At our January meeting, we were blessed by a heartwarming and inspiring witness of the speaker’s journey from childhood to where she is today. Her witness can illustrate, 1) how we can develop our spiritual potential, and 2) how we can witness to others how God has acted in our lives. Today’s article will discuss how applicable to us.
First, how we can let God develop our spiritual potential by having a good, regular Confessor. The witness went to confession regularly, not just to confess her sins, but also to share from the heart about her relationship with Jesus. She acted on his advice to apply to the Spirituality Institute, even though she didn’t have the money or education that the Institute required. Do we go to confession regularly? Do we share our heart with our Confessor and/or Spiritual Director? Do we follow his or her advice even though it is challenging and at first we want to resist it?
Our speaker did her part and let go of the rest. Surprisingly, she was accepted into the Institute. Do we fall victim to lack of confidence or spiritual low self- esteem? (Refer to the December Newsletter’s article). Rather, do we offer to God what little we have and let God take care of the rest, like the boy with the loaves and fishes? She went through the long application process required. Do we fall prey to the spiritual lethargy and mediocrity or do we “get the ball rolling” on the spiritual challenges and adventures?
Second, how we can witness to others? Courage. It took a lot of encouraging to get her to speak to our group. The witness, by nature, is quiet and not an extrovert. She finds talking to one person in spiritual direction much more appealing than talking to a group. She was actually quite nervous during the witness but we didn’t notice. Some of us may not yet be comfortable talking about our spiritual experiences or ourselves. We may tend toward shyness and be nervous in sharing, like Moses who complained to God “I’m not a good speaker” (Exodus 4 10-17.) To be stretched ever so gradually is growth and production. Refer to January’s article “What You Hear in the Darkness, Speak in the Light (Mathew 10-27.)
She shared appropriately, because she was addressing us who are becoming more and more accustomed to hearing about mystical experiences and God’s
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sovereign actions in people’s lives. We were open to hearing about her mystical experiences. When we share, we need to take in account the receptivity of our listener. We don’t need to share everything all at one time or tell our sins to the person. To want to share requires both “Holy Boldness” like the woman at the well, (John 4), as well as humility, like doubting Thomas (John 20 24-29.) Trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will learn over time and develop our own unique style.
She talked about her “dark night” and the anguish involved. It was a good balance to go along with her mystical experiences. We may be resistant to share because we don’t want to appear superior or “better than thou.” By sharing our struggles and shortcomings, our humanity comes through.
The speaker’s authenticity was convincing. We don’t have to sound theologically intelligent or super-holy. Our example can be Pope Francis who says humbly, “I am just a sinner.” The world loves him because he is simple, humble and down to earth. All we have to do is to be ourselves and let the Holy Spirit take over.
The witness was inspiring and coherent. A lot of effort went into it, and it was beautiful. If it wasn’t shared, it would have ”kept the light under the bushel basket” (Mathew 5 15), and we would have not been enriched. We need to take seriously the dire spiritual state of the world. We all want it to improve. Sharing our witness can improve it, one person at a time. Step number one is to be willing to serve God by our witness. Step number two could be to write out our witness so that when the opportunity presents itself, we won’t be caught off guard or find ourselves stumbling over our words. Basically, try to keep it about three minutes, using the formula, “I was…, God did…, Now I am…” We add, expand, and amend, but at least we will have ready at hand our basic message.
Lent begins on February 18. Perhaps as part of our Lenten Penance, we can write out our witness and then act upon the opportunities to share our faith in little or big ways with others.
ST. PADRE PIO, WHO WAS WILLING TO BE STRETCHED BY GOD,
Baby Jada Schubert Landry Cole Karen Ohlin Pat Whittaker Joan Allen
Chris Gunn, Sr. Chris Gunn, Jr. Louise Freon Bob Dodds Tom Healey Tim Dardy
Jeane Zerwin-‐Butler Luella Merecki Kathy Conti Andrew Loh Aurora Cruz
Joann & Walter Kowalski
Pray, Hope and Don’t
Worry!
Let us Remember our Sick in
our Prayers Today and
Always!
Call Helen Husky 440-‐232-‐3462
to add a member to the list.
Eleanor Phillips Helen Herman Don Dahlhausen Hector Escobar Samuel Lawson Delores DiLeon Devin Harvey Karina de Ortiz Ofelia Melgoza Spencer Dray Steve Olexa Carol Bertoni Mary Dirda
Roger Reardon Joseph Russo Sr. Joan Tomassi Nicole Tomassi Mike Friess Jerry Lewis James Green Helen Husky
Carmelita Pruchnicki Rosemary Kancler Robert Snyder Terri Feltz Rita Shea Ed Chesar Jeff Bauer Joy Zivzak Beth Morici
Dennis Houlahan Dan Houlahan
KEEP OUR SICK SISTERS & BROTHERS IN YOUR DAILY PRAYERS
OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF OUR RECENTLY DECEASED:
Mary Ellen Drew, Mother of our Spiritual Sister, Debra Shiever
* * * Keneth Whitney, Son of our Spiritual Sister, Joan Alan
“Pray, Hope & Don’t Worry ~
Worry is useless! God is merciful and will hear our prayer.”
