Deb's Podcast

Angels.  God created them, therefore they are real.  God created them to protect us from all harm, not to say that there will be experiences that will happen beyond their control.  Angels.  They are messengers.  Each and everyone of us are personally assigned to our very own "Guardian Angel."  I think it is appropriate to say, we as Catholics, should become acquainted with our very own angel, if we haven't done so already.  I believe that Jesus want's for us to receive through our own guardian angel a very special gift.  I for one, was very surprised to learn just today that I had recited a prayer given to me by my maternal grandmother Marianna, thirty one years ago.  And for the life of me, I cannot recall if I ever told her the story, or even thanked her for the gift of that prayer. Please forgive me grandmother, matriarch of our family, I hope and pray I can one day thank you face to face when I too reach my eternal reward!  I have shared this story about my angel with some of my dearest and closest friends, and today in a special way I am sharing it here with all of Deb's Podcast Follower's, because our connection to one another is real, and I believe in my heart we were given this gift of time to share our faith in truth and to help each other gain eternal wisdom.  If we take the time to gain Gods wisdom, we are in essence preparing for eternal life on earth before leaving earth to be forever in Jesus.  

On several ocassions my spouse and I have thanked our guardian angels especially when we are traveling, we are so appreciative and so very grateful to have arrived safely to and from each destination, because we have called upon the great intercession of our Angels.  Sometimes, we call upon God's Army of Angels, not to side step our guardian angel, but to include all of them when the need may be greater.  

We call upon the great protection of our guardian angel, along with God's army of angels, that include Saint Michael, St. Raphael, and Saint Gabriel.  They each have a very special place in our prayers.  Take the time to know them.  Take the time to call on them, in moments that are uncertain, they will be overjoyed to assist you and bring to light a situation that may not have had the same outcome because of your invitation to them.  Today, my podcast family, I personally dedicate this entire day of prayer to you in becoming acquainted with your guardian angel, and even if it is only your first time, its exciting because God has something great in store for you through this new and holy connection.  I pray that your story in the future, is shared and that you too invite others to consider praying to their guardian angel.  Together one day may all God's holiest guardian angels form a beautiful angelic union where we get to not only share our stories, but meet one anothers angels. Not sure how that all works, but in God, all things are possible!      

For the first time in all of my life, I have lost an amazing friend who happened to be my priest, my confessor.  The priest who would go on hearing my sins, and absolving me of the weight I use to carrying in my heart.  I fully trusted the entire healing process of my past life to my pastor the last ten years. Why am I choosing to speak about my sins?  It's a great question.  

I am free in Christ Jesus, I am free and not held down, or held back due to sin.  Sin entraps and spirals a soul into an abyss of great darkness.  I have heard other women call it the black hole.  Sin stops true growth within us, disfiguring the  beautiful identity originally given to us by God himself.   We lose that beauty when we sin!  Sin creates indifference.  It shuts down what would otherwise be productive.  Sin has power over a soul.  But God has even more power when it comes to forgiving an honest persons plea.  Confession becomes so healing, embarassment totally fades away, and looking at the deepest core of who we really are becomes paramount.     

The gift of a great Catholic priest is available to all of God's children.  And I for one can attest to that because, God gave to every single parishioner at Queen of Peace, one of "God's finest shepherds around".  He enriched the spirituality of every parishioner willing to listen at every mass.  And not only that, you wanted to spend more time with him because you experienced great holiness within his presence.  Every homily struck a chord of truth in the believer.  Even benediction in Mary's Chapel, became a taste of heaven for everyone present.  We received so many of God's blessings in our lifetime through this special priest.  Even at confession, the simplicity of our penance became increasingly powerful as we learned his style.  Whether our parish had a day of reflection or a full retreat weekend, our pastor engaged with the enrichment needed to feed our souls.  

My most favorite thing to do was attend a series of classical concerts.  Always free of charge to our congregation.  He loved us dearly.  Better yet, He helped form better consciences in all of us.  He wanted to help all of us,  get to heaven.  Imagine he knew his calling by the tender age of six.  God blessed him also all througout his life with a photogenic memory whereas every single homily was recited by heart, and if he didnt have the words to say to the congregation that he knew very well came from God, he would jokingly say, "It was Gods fault if the inspired words didnt come to him".  He became an exorcist priest.  And helped alot of people suffering with deep seeded issues and pain, lifting them out of their unhappiness, and drawing them toward the joy of Christ.  

There was no need to compare him, because you couldnt, he was unique in that way.  He had many facets, and everyone of them were cut from solid rock.  He spoke intelligently, enjoyed full participation in the art of intellectual bantering with his flock.  His genuine sincerity was refreshing on many levels.  Of Irish Descent, he did travel far and wide to serve our Lord's people in a beautiful and profound way.  He worked very hard in God's vineyard, to the very end, he wouldn't have it any other way.  And when he couldn't serve mass during the last month of his life, it broke his heart.  He wanted to serve Jesus on his feet to his last breadth.  Because that was the caliber of the man associated with God and His church.  The church he loved, and the sons and daughters he fathered through the ministry of the church.  

He once advised me when struggling with my certain personalities within fraternity life, he said,  "Keep your head down in the midst of devils" and remain true to the task given to you by God.  He had built this church from the ground up, in a shape of a cross because God had asked him to.  His obedience will stand the test of time.  I look at this church, and I remember the authenticity of an irish priest who gave his life for the souls needing Christ's love and healing through the Eucharist, through Holy Reconcilliation.  Because eternity meant "dying to ourself and all of our sins" in order to live free in this life and get to heaven.  

The very first mass was given exactly where the parish hall stands today.  There are still parishioners living who were actually at his first mass.  In all my lifetime I had never had to bury a priest, a most painful farewell.  I believed in my heart that he was going to live at least to 90 years of age.  But our Lord, in his divine providence had another plan to take him after he had celebrated five months of life, after his 80th birthday.        

Christ is doing something extra ordinary and great here!  He has brought us together, you and I--- for this exact time, as a shepherd gather's HIS sheep into HIS fold, we are all gathered right now, within, HIS most Holy name.  Why?  Why now? Why these prayers?  It is simple.  We are to become God's children now, following in HIS truth and in HIS ways.  Spiritually guided through the Holy Spirit, we study,  pray, reflect, write, meditate, and we are then drawn ever closer through the truth, through the gospel readings, where a much needed great conversion takes form in us, in order for us to live a life that is truly worthy of our Lord.

His company becomes important for us as Catholic's, and our prayer life continues to maximize deeply within us, along with the desire to grow every single day in faith, love, hope, and in charity, of God.  What makes this an important work for God?  Our decision in saying Yes, because our very souls salvation depends upon how we choose to live out our earthly life that will in turn lead us properly toward our eternal destiny, which is heaven.  We are learning, how to be watchful and patient in God and when such an invitation comes to us, sometimes it may take some of us, an entire lifetime, to respond YES, to his call.

Lord God, in You we live and move and are, and have our being.  Help us in our present time of trouble, send us the rain we need, and teach us to see Your lasting help on the way to eternal life.  We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever, Amen.

In the book "Divine Mercy In My Soul"  Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska writes To Mary...  O Mary, my Mother and My Lady, I offer you my soul, my body, my life, and my death, and all that will follow it.  I place everything in your hands.  O my Mother, cover my soul with your virginal mantle and grant me the grace of purity of heart, soul and body.  Defend me with your power against all enemies, and especially against those who hide their malice behind the mask of virtue.  O lovely lily!  You are for me a mirror, O my Mother! 

The Tau Cross... Saint Francis of Assissi was always attracted to the depiction of the crucified Christ.  They reminded him of how Jesus had won our salvation.  When Francis was in his early twenties, God speaking through Jesus on the San Damiano cross, called him to a special way of life.  

Always attentive to scripture, Francis noted that Ezekiel 9:4 speaks of the cross like Hebrew letter Tau marked on the foreheads of believers as a sign of divine rescue.  "Go through the whole city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the forehead of everyone who is distressed and troubled because of all the disgusting things being done in the city."

And I heard God say...."Follow him through the city and kill.  Spare no one, have mercy on no one."  

The symbol occures again in the Book of revelation 7:3 the angel said, "Do not harm the earth, the sea or the, trees until we mark the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads."  

Francis adopted the sign as a kind of personal logo.  HE saw it in the design of his simple tunic; he made it part of his signature on letters; he traced it on walls when he stopped to rest and pray.

This year marks the 800th Anniversary of Saint Francis of Assisi.  One of the most delightful books ever written, titled "The Little Flowers of St. Francis" by Donald E. Demaray states that all who meet Francis in these pages experience the gentle and generous heart of Saint Francis who inspires peace and joy. 

Brother Simon and the Severely Tempted Friar:  Toward the beginning of the Order - when Francis was still alive - a young fellow from Assisi, Brother Simon by name, joined the friars.  God gave him special gifts:  Contemplation, A devoutly elevated mind, Unusual holiness (he seemed a mirror of sanctity)-all this confirmed by those who know him a long time.  He rarely left his cell and, when he did, he talked about God.  He had no formal schooling, yet when he talked about God he spoke in great depth and revealed the love of Christ;  --his words struck others a supernatural.  Once he stayed in the forest with Brother James of Massa the whole night.  They talked about God and about God's love, and by morning (according to James) the two men wondered where the time had gone.  When Brother Simon sensed a divine visitation coming, he experienced delicious peace and joy in the Spirit.  He would lie on his bed in perfect serenity, for the Spirit brought tranquil joy and peace to his soul, and also calmness to his body.  In those visitations, God often elevated Simon's spirit so that he became insensible to everything around him.  Once, while lost in God and dead to the world, he flamed inside with love, totally unaware of his body.  A friar, wanting to test the depth of Simon's unconsciousness, put a live coal on his bare foot.  Brother Simon felt nothing, nor did the coal leave a mark, even though it stayed there so long that it burned itself out.  At meals, Brother Simon ate food for his body but also took food for his soul, the latter by talking of God.  Simon's holy conversation God used once to convert a worldly young man; vain enough, he came from nobility and lived in luxury.  the youth, after conversion, joined the Order.  Brother Simon received the fellow, took his secular clothes, gave him the habit, and sat with him to instruct him in the Rule.  Well! the devil likes to ruin all good intentions, and the new friar soon found himself plagued by terrible temptations, especially those of the flesh.  The poor fellow became completely helpless.  So he went to Brother Simon:"Give me back my clothes; I can resist these physical temptations no longer."  Brother Simon, in a great outpouring of love, asked the young man to sit with him a while, Simon talked of God with such power the temptation left.  Later, the temptation returned; the fellow insisted on his clothes again; Once more Brother Simon drove away the temptation by talking of God.  This happened several times; then the temptation came more forcefully than ever.  the poor fellow stood utterly paralyzed.  He went to Simon for his clothes; he simply could not stay.  Brother Simon had him sit beside him as before; He talked to him about God; the youth leaned on Simon in terrible sadness and despair.  Brother Simon's pity made him lift his eyes to heaven to pray very intensely.  Well! That young man became ecstatic when Brother Simon's prayer was granted by God.  Presently the youthful friar returned to himself, all temptations gone --- just as if it had never come!  the fire of temptation was translated into the fire of God's Spirit by contact with that glowing coal, Brother Simon.  So the young man burned with God's love and love for others.  His transformation proved so great that when a bad person got arrested and authorities said his eyes had to be put out, the compassionate friar went to the Governor and the full Council, wept and pleaded, asking that only one eye be put out, and that the friar give one of his own eyes so the criminal would not go totally blind.  the Governor and Council touched by this fervor and love, gave the criminal a full pardon.  

One day Brother Simon, praying in the forest and feeling deep peace of soul, heard some rooks caw so loudly they disturbed him.  He asked them, in Jesus' name, to fly away and stay away.  The birds went, never to return, not even to the neighboring districts.  Everyone in the province of Femo (where the friary was located) heard about this miracle.  In praise of the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.      

I recall my very first introduction to Saint Francis of Assissi, back in 2011.  I felt the calling of God inviting me to become a professed third order franciscan.  I studied for 2.5 years, and received my profession at Saint Mary's Catholic Church, now called Saint Mary's Basilica in Key West Florida.  It was a true gift from God because he led me to the most beautiful people I had ever met who knew the Lord, loved the Lord, and served the Lord without waveing!  This was an older group of men and women walking with the Lord a very long time.  Of course I was drawn to them like a magnet, and that powerful force was Jesus.  He wanted to show me his love through his people, and that love changed my life forever!  Fifteen years later, if you had told me, I was going to read and write and share the lives of the saints, I would not have believed it.  But it is true.  The lifes of the Saints were given to us to immitate their example, and to experience the love of Christ in a very deep and meaningful way.  As I sit here and reflect upon the goodness of our Lord, through my lens of life in him, I see the power of my faith growing, I see the hand of God guiding my life through meaningful and purposeful ways.  One can never be the same again, once the Holy Spirit touches ones soul.  They forever walk on a path different than the rest.  Sixty one years of living and I am searching for the truths through the lives of the saints, and Saint Francis of Assissi is a great Saint to study, because as my pastor Fr. Patrick Francis Joseph O' Doherty has said there will never ever be another Francis!  That is because the bar is held so high.  Although he delved deeply into his nothingness.  So must we!  If we were to put all things into proper prospective, meaning looking up to heaven, looking up to Christ, we too would hold the bar way up high, and not lower the bar or ourself in any situation.  But we fail to look up to Christ, to believe, to trust, and to live fully in HIM.  There is only one way, it is Christ's way, and when we lose our way, we need to look at what we are losing, when we deny Christ, we may be throwing away our entire family lineage, by not having children, we may be denying the faith we were baptized in, married in, or received holy orders in.  Those decisions hurts us, hurt our family, and hurt God.  We have to take an indepth look at what we did and what we did not do, and at best try to recoup any loss we can while still living on earth, to show God our sorrow, and to make amends.  The Saints can help us tremendously, we can reflect upon their lives, and try to incorporate their faith filled examples into our own daily living.  We can start right there, and pray each week in holy adoration and wait upon the response from our Lord.  We need to crush the desires we have that set us up for failure, and we need to look at the desires of Jesus that can only lead us successfully to our souls salvation.  Many choose not to look that far, but a mature Christian isn't afraid to look at deaths door.  A mature Christian looks that far because life is short, all of us will die one day and the preparation process has to begin deep inside of us.   Why not begin that process much sooner than later, or worse, never!  Our eyes must be peeled open, our hearts must be made pure, so that our soul can get to heaven when our body dies. How ever long it takes, we should look with mature eyes on this serious matter, if no one has ever revealed to you the importance of your soul getting to heaven, listen real attentively to me, its the most important topic of discussion directly affecting you!  The evil one will try to devour your soul from the moment of understanding to the moment of your dying last breadth.  And it is called a war for your soul.  And you can protect it, by living a good, honest, holy life, by attending holy mass, and receiving the holy sacraments, confession most importantly, because our souls must be cleansed daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, in order to rid ourselves of past sin.  If we were to never confess, that stain of sin remains, affecting us, affecting everyone directly in contact with us, and affecting most of all our ability to enter into heaven.  This is a very serious matter.  Have I captured your total attention?  The hour glass is running out.  The days are darker.  The nights more evil.  We must stay very close to the light of Christ.  Only He can burn away the darkness that lurks in souls, through Spiritual Direction, Confession, Absolution, Eucharist, and attending Daily Mass.  Reading Catholic books, reciting Catholic prayers, centering prayer especially brings us into the company of the Divine!  Begin again...  Begin again today, by calling on the name of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and close your eyes and meditate, and listen attentively to Christ voice, comforting you through His silent loving presence.  

For the benefit of souls---This is for me and for you my dearest podcast follower!  You are indeed precious in the eyes of God.  A gift, precious, and unique, there is no one else on the planet like you.

You were fearfully and wonderfully made.  In HIS image, and in HIS likeness.  You are the apple of his eyes.  He could never ever, not for one moment take his eyes off of you.  You know that!  This is the one and only person who will love you more than anyone ever could.  He is a jealous lover.

It is true.  How do I know this?  I know this because He created you and I for heaven.  For the greater gifts, the highest heavenly gifts, too profound to even imagine.  For this we were made.  In essence, we come from great stock!  The absolute best!  If only, we could believe it.  If only, we could believe it, and delve with absolute trust, very deeply into it. 

Into the truth I am trying to convey--- who you are in God.  Why, because, God is love.  If God is love, then we are love.  We are loved deeply, by a much higher power than we could ever fully realize. 

It is one of the greatest of all mysteries.  We cannot prove it in this life, but can experience it, in the next.  And I am very excited about that next chapter, because when we come to know and understand who we are as children of God, we are that very sparkle deep within his eyes!  We too are like a grain of sand set within an hour glass, here temporarily on earth for a time, and then to live out our eternal destiny with Him, forever... With Christ, The Omnipotent!  

In our own mind set, we think we are greater than, who we really are in our spirit, in our soul, in our heart, and in our relationships with others.  Truth is, we are inflated, when we ought to be more humbled.  Over the last six decades of my life, I have learned how very attractive humility can be in a person.  Humility offers something very unique and subtle to others.  It's like someone opening a window and fresh brisk air comes in alivening the atmosphere.  

That something beautiful happens not only to the atmosphere but to us.  And,  I believe what is happening is, a door of hope and promise begins to open up so that minds and hearts can connect, can speak, can relate, and can grow.  That is the beautiful image I have in my mind worthy of sharing.  I would love to see our world love again, in the sense of genuine giving and acts of kindness. 

 In God we can get there!  But we must begin conscientiously deep within ourselves.  Each one of us can give back, what society may have lost or is in fact lacking.  We can do that, one person at a time.  I am sure with great humility, God sees our intentions and blesses them, so they can prosper and grow beautifully, and become that spark that ignites the connection to this world, confirming, Jesus is in our midst, he is alive, in every eye he has ever created.  Happy are the eyes that have seen Christ in another and offered the greater example, that of humility.            

A great resource, if you are interested in learning all about the beautiful Catholic Faith.  This is certainly worth taking the time to read.  Why The Light From The Altar?  Why The True Catholic? 

I believe in my heart, God's children are yearning for more in this life.  They are  yearning, to discover "God's Truth's"...

By following in the footsteps of the Saints, through this great reference, we are invited to participate in their life story by adding our own story to the treasure trove of information worthy of our contemplation.

Could it be that all the Saints In Heaven are praying for us from high heaven?  Could it be they are deliberate in gently preparing us through the Holy Spirit, to enter into this reality? 

It would be nice to be able to completely shun all sin and evil from our lives, and live the life of a saint totally basking in the truth of God forever..  If it were only that simple... Maybe, just maybe, we should be thinking about living out our own saint story...

Having a picture perfect realization of who God is, and who I am, and who you are really in God, isn't instantaneous but I believe all truths are revealed to us by God.  This realization can take a lifetime, and our focus has to be great, and our discipline even greater, and our faith needs to be fed properly, in order to become much stronger.   Combine that, with an even greater desire on our part of intimately knowing our creator, and you will have your work cut out for you.

Our world would be so different... If only...  

What if, our free will, never existed?  And everyone lived, totally in God?  Now this is certainly worth meditating upon...

Like a pendulum the power of free does swing.  It can take us if we choose well, closer to God, closer to relating better to people, (especially our loved ones), and living out a great, meaningful/purpose driven life.

Think of what is best and live in it.  God gives us the opportunity to decide with our own free will what we think is best for ourselves.  If we choose poorly we experience total distance from God and seperation from others.  I have seen firsthand the power of a poor choice wreaking havoc on the lives surrounded by that decision, and how dissention among others, destroy in its wake, everything that was once beautiful.  

Perhaps this is why we see and experience such contrast all around us.  Ignorance can cause tremendous suffering, while knowledge can offer tremendous healing.  I think it is important to realize every decision we make has consequences, let us try our very best to weigh them all out before finalizing our every decision.  

This is why the Knowledge of the Saints are being shared today, because they denounced their free will to live a life in Christ forever.  Why can't we?  I close with my prayers for you, that your eyes see only the Christ, in everyone you will ever meet.  And vice versa.  Creating in you desire.  Desire to be a living saint in the 21st Century! 

At Church, one may ask, why is it then, that everyone is in a different place in their faith walk and their full understanding of Christ?  Some are already very deeply in love with the one true God, and find themselves desiring Christ's presence in total  contemplation, in total silence, experiencing his great love. 

There are others who enter into the church having never known the Catholic faith, but are there because they are curious, and they are searching whether they realize it or not, they are searching for Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life.  

They feel the tug pulling them toward the church, toward the great understanding of the sacraments, and yet their minds in this exact moment cannot fully wrap themselves around every detail of what is actually happening to them.  It is a process.

It is important to understand, that we cannot fully understanding the forces of nature that come upon us when they do.  But in silence we can appreciate the fact that there is a high power working through us bringing to fruition something greater than anything else we have ever experienced.  

To fully appreciate the importance of silence, we have to look at it through the lens of God offering to us his children one of the greatest of all gifts, that of desiring to be in a personal relationship with Him, we have to be able to hear him breaking through our personal silence in life, in order to experience great contemplation, that mystery moving through to us bringing God to the forefront of our very lives.  Bringing forth the great mystery of life, the very mystery of faith, and freeing us up in order to receive Him.  

Although, God did make us for himself.  He made us in his likeness and in his image.  He gave us, one mouth to speak, and two ears for listening. And if we can listen more than we speak we can learn from God himself as to why he created us the way he did.  When I listen, I learn.  When I learn I grow.  When I grow, I mature in all the areas of life that are pertinent to God's, as he is calling me to be his own.   

Faith is a gift.  The greatest of all gifts ever given to anyone seeking the truth.  Yes we have a creator.  His name is Jesus Christ.  And He is a gift, so meaningful to us, to all of humanity, He has the ability to break down every single barrier of mis truths, that not everyone unfortunately is ready to embrace.  Nonetheless, God exists!  God is available to everyone.  This great understanding of HIM points us in the right direction.  Are we honestly ready to look at this reality more deeply?  Are we hungry for the truth?  Are we hungry to be filled with the great knowledge of the Holy Spirit? Having a full understanding of Christ, Christ as God the Father, Christ as the Son, and Christ as the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Trinity is being given to us, the question is are we ready to receive HIM?

The voice of true reasoning.  The voice of understanding.  The voice that enters into us every time we enter into silent prayer, meditation, reflection, we commune in God, in truth, in faith.  When we commune together, we are one in faith, one in his love, one in like mindedness.  When we pray, we also listen, as the voice of God enters into the very depths of our heart, mind, soul, and our entire being.  

The holy presence of our almighty God, enters into us and begins to transform us,  revealing our true identity.  It is then, we can begin to process and realize, that there is a spiritual component, a spiritual inheritance awaits those who desire to be in the great company of Christ forever.  

I will close with a Father O' Doherty -ism.  Let us get on with it then!  

Grateful to be still living. Gods grace overfloweth in me!  Thank you Jesus for allowing me to live out my life serving you!  That my hour glass is still filling up the sand, so that I can obtain for you my good works in bringing back to the fold your most holy children.  Only God can make you holy.  Only God can make you a Saint.  Let us together work very hard at seeking the truth of faith, over turning each rock because underneath it lies a great mystery, the mystery of faith.  The mystery created by God for all humanity.  When we step aside and look very deeply into the life of our creator, new meaning and new purpose is given.  My prayer is for you podcast follower to live out the life you were given desiring to discover the truth before you die.  Because once we die it is too late, to gain merits on earth.  Because when we die and return to the Lord, he will ask us why we lived an entire life time not knowing him, not seeking him, not following him, we will all have to account for this important truth.  So today let us reflect upon this together.  Let us truly be open to knowing the truth.  And not be afraid.  And look deep within ourself, deep within our Lord, deep within our loved ones, deep within our brothers and sisters.  Perhaps then we will discover true meaning, true purpose, to life after death.  Its an important fact to look at it, to discern, and in the end discover who we really are in Jesus, in Mary, in all the angels and saints.  Let us not waste a precious moment, while God is still offering it to us.  I say this in love, not in fear, because fear is not of God.  And love has everything to do with the God I serve.  You serve.  May you begin to desire this type of service, that will transform your life forever...   

O.C.I.A. stands for:  Order Of Christian Initiation Of Adults.  For the first forty years been offered by our Pastor Father O' Doherty who started Queen Of Peace (1987) Catholic Church from the ground up.  Our Associate Pastor Father Shenoy Thomas,(2023) has invited the laity for the first time to participate in offering this program to new members of our church.  We had a welcoming meet and greet session at our parish hall on August 23, 2026.  Fr. O' Doherty led us beautifully in prayer by candlelight.  Each of the team leaders had the chance to introduce themselves to the catechumens, candidates, and their sponsors.  We all shared our hopes for the future of the church as men and women very much interested in building up the church, and spoke a little about ourselves.  It is here, in this holy environment, we learn the framework of our faith, before we go out into the world proclaiming his word.  We will be studying from the "Journey of Faith", comprised of sixteen lessons in Inquiry, sixteen lessons in Catachumenate, eight lessons in Enlightenment, and eight lessons in Mystagogy.  Total of forty eight lessons with two additional lessons added on by our Associate Pastor.  In the meantime, please know that you too are a very special part of the prayers being said, all of us are gathered together in God's most holy name...   

The power of prayer.  Can it dramatically change the course of a human beings life completely?  What does it mean to have a prayer life?  What is this encounter really like?  When my world seemed all upside down, I couldn't take it anymore, I just had to make a life changing decision to do something very different.  I found myself desiring to walk into a catholic church and it was there I began in tears talking to God.  That reality, of denouncing myself and the world, allowed me to enter into a deep and profound relationship with Christ.  Oh it was necessary, I could not and did not want to spiral any further than where I was.  And hadnt I come to that important conclusion, I would have never seen the likes of the life I now live.  Just the thought of staying stuck in the past gives me the shivers.  Making important decisions and not allowing time to pass you by, the power of making a great decision, has its rewards.  Otherwise I could have lived a very paralyzed life...  When I began to pray, to pray seriously, a new world worthy of living in was discovered.  Scripture, all scriptures are sacramentals (Father Patrick Francis O'Doherty, would remind us)...Delving into prayer, delving into scriptures, if we are comprehending every single word, something inside of us is awakened.  Awakened to the truth of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.  I was opened.  I was ready, but because of sin, I could not comprehend what I was reading.  And so it took a long time because I felt in my spirit I needed the right priest to help me.  There are priest who are trained in exorcism.  And at the time I didnt know about that, nor did I think even after I had confessed my sins to an exorcist priest, that the healing that took place in me was life changing.  I encountered Gods holy presence and received not only a great confession but great healing.  Encountering Christ through the presence of the priest is extraudinary!  One may not think of it as such but it is when you find the right church, the right priest, to help you to begin again through the healing of your soul and past sin.  Encountering God, one wants to constantly return to the church, the confessional, the adoration chapel, and pray, pray fervently while being in his company.  It is so beautiful to be in his presence, and to be present ourselves within the great I AM, one cannot help but to feel such smallness amidst such greatness.  A prayerful encounter with Christ, paves the way for us to live, truly live, as sons and daughters of Christ.  We never tire of prayer as christians, why?  Because we are being drawn directly to Christ through every single prayer.  How can we ever have enough or too much of Jesus, it is impossible.  It is a love affair, and one cannot stop feeling Gods love, and become ever so drawn to the power of his presence.  the last thirty six years I have been walking with Christ on my walk to Emmaus.  And Christ is leading me properly toward the kingdom.  I know it, I sense it, I feel it, every single day, I am getting closer to my final pilgrimage toward my Lord.  And I am beginning to feel excitement.  As I speak I am watching my precious pastor prepare for Christ's coming.  He is amazing!  He is teaching all of us personally to accept the crosses we are given to carry all the way until we take our last step, our last breadth and Jesus comes!  I learn so much from my pastor, and he is a true friend in Christ Jesus.  Who wants us to learn everything we need to know to get to heaven, and I believe he is doing exactly what our Lord is commanding him to do.  Jesus never tires of teaching all of us, the way, the truth, and the life.  Are you following Christ?  Are you free from all sin, is your conscience clean as a slate, it may not be, it may need to be cleaned, spiritually.  You have this window of opportunity to show your face to a priest and confess your sins.  And to be free, question is do you want to be free?  Of course the evil one wants you to be locked up in darkness til the day you die, so he can take you with him to the bottom of the pit.  The sulfuric pit, never to see the light.  Never to see the Christ.  But the good news is this, we can choose Christ, we can choose the everlasting light, and live eternally in Him.  The power of a great choice is always within your very hands.  Choose wisely.  We only get to choose once.  There is no turning back.  My hope, my prayer, is that you choose Christ.