By Julia Rose
jrose@Marian.org
Pilgrimage season is in full swing here on Eden Hill! The weather is fine, the flowers are in bloom, and it's the perfect time to plan a visit.
We're also mindful of maintaining the highest safety standards for visitors and employees alike. That includes fire safety training, including the proper use of fire extinguishers. Our Pilgrim Coordinator, Tim Ryan, arranged for a training session led by long-time Marian Helper and volunteer firefighter Tim O’Hara, using practice equipment donated by Jill Chase of the LION Company. The exercise is part of the Shrine’s Fire Prevention Strategy, which also includes regular fire alarm drills.
Outgoing Rector Fr. Matthew Tomeny, MIC (top) and Provincial Secretary Fr. Michael Callea, MIC (above), were skilled in the art of extinguishing a digital "fire," and there was a little friendly competition going on as to who could put out the "fire" first!
I certainly learned a lot, and Tim (above) was a great help! Do you know where the fire extinguishers are at your workplace? It’s super important to know!
Pilgrim round-up
The memory of last week's visit of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is still strong. "It was a gorgeous experience,” said Carmen (above) from St. Ann’s Parish in Lenox, Massachusetts. “I was just really proud to be able to come and participate in this Eucharistic Procession in celebration of 250 years of the United States. If we can change the hearts of our politicians, our leaders, and our community as one body to do the right thing — to praise and make reparation for our sins — I just think it can only be a good thing.” Amen!
Follow the progress of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, which arrives in the Boston area today, here.
The tornado warning on the day kept a lot of pilgrims from attending. Rita and her family from St. Raymond's Church in East Rockaway, New York, visited the Shrine the next day, when the weather was picture-perfect. Rita, a veteran pilgrim, brought along her daughter-in-law, Jean, and first-time visitors, her grandchildren, Matthew, 19, and Melissa, 16.
“I love coming as a family. I mean, this is what we do," Melissa said. In fact, it was her faith at just 9 years old that led to the conversion of her mother. She was writing a prayer intention after Mass when her Jewish mother read it and said, “I want what my daughter has. I want that faith and that trust that God is going to answer her prayers … ” She went through the OCIA program and is now Catholic! Hallelujah!
Jean's devotion to the Divine Mercy began six years ago while praying for a friend diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. “We prayed our brains out for her, and that’s when I really started praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet every day. I especially love the final prayer": Eternal God, in Whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.
Tomorrow, join us in-person or online for a new talk by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, at 11 a.m. ET on "Answering the Attacks Against Divine Mercy and St. Faustina." Watch on YouTube at Divine Mercy (Official), Facebook at Divine Mercy (Official), and on DivineMercyPlus.org.
A Centennial Celebration!
Speaking of the importance of family, please extend birthday wishes to a member of the Marian family for more than 80 years: Fr. Anthony Kelpsas, MIC. He just celebrated his 100th birthday, making him the oldest Marian priest in the entire world. Amazing. Here's a video from the celebration in Naperville, Illinois:
A Very Merry Couple
I was delighted to meet two road warriors — Betty and Jim from Benson, Arizona. Married for 44 years, they have spend the last two decades traveling the USA in their RV — even reaching as far as Alaska! They visited the Shrine three years ago, after discovering Divine Mercy online during the pandemic, and came for a week-long visit. (I loved their matching outfits, and I'm not surprised that they were well-known for volunteering as Santa and Mrs. Claus at Christmastime for many years!)
"Coming here has a spiritual effect," Betty said. "We really feel like we’re in the presence of God more than ever before. Even when we’re not here, we feel very strong about the message of Divine Mercy.”
So much so that they felt called to donate to the Together for Christ and His Church campaign, to build the new Marian Monastery and Chapel. “We’re excited to see it,” Betty said. “It looks massive from the outside, and what a blessing. It's certainly a sign that the Marians are growing." The Marian Fathers sure are!
Here's a view of the construction, including the new pathway to the Chapel.
Farewell, June!
As June, the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, comes to a close, I'll end with a quiz.
Do you know where this lovely statue and stained-glass window of the Sacred Heart are located in the Shrine? Hint: If you've ever used the elevator, you'll know....
Have a wonderful weekend! {shopmercy-ad}
