Hello Everyone!
I am finally back and feeling much better. I seemed to beat the upper respiratory infection only to have it come back again.
So, after about four weeks of mild fever, coughing, and a generalized fatigue, I am back blogging.
In the meantime, much has been going on.
Women of Grace held its fourth annual retreat and leadership institute at Malvern outside of Philadelphia, PA . It was preceded by the Women of Grace Leadership Institute which I presented. Through presentations and a workshop format, the women who attended not only realized their specific call and mission in this our day and time and the virtues necessary to engage it, but also developed their personal vision and mission statements, goals and strategies to fulfill it. Based on their evaluations and comments, it was well-received and blessed the women abundantly.
The retreat began with the opening dinner at 6 PM on Friday evening with 340 women in attendance. Its theme was "The Blessed Mother, The Angels, and The Spiritual Battle" and it was one powerful retreat weekend!
Our keynote speaker, who gave the majority of the talks due to my ragged voice and health, was Kathleen Towne. Our participants benefited greatly by her teachings. She captivated their attention as she discussed the fall of the angels, the way to discern between the good angels and the bad, how the demonic presents itself to us, and the tools to combat evil spirits. With conviction, humor, and insight, Kathleen helped the women to see that through Christ Jesus and our Blessed Mother,the victory is truly ours.
I was able to squeak out one two hour talk (yes, can you imagine!), and two half-hour talks which reminded us of our call, our mission, the importance of Our Lady especially at this moment in the history of man, and how each one of us has been chosen by God to be a conduit of His life in the world today. The women were on their feet with holy zeal, and a true desire to be those valiant women of grace at this critical, pivotal, and historic juncture in time.
Father Edmund Sylvia, C.S.C. gave three marvelous homilies which anchored the women in the blessings of Holy Mother Church, the gift of the sacraments, the Holy Spirit and Our Lady. During the healing service on Saturday night, Father processed among the women with the Blessed Sacrament, pausing to bless them as they opened their hearts to the healing action of God. Many women were set free and experienced hope and new life as the graces flowed from Our Lord's Eucharistic Presence.
Three selfless, dedicated, and loving priests tended to the women's spiritual needs throughout the weekend -- and I do mean
throughout the weekend. Father Richard Fineo (North Dakota), Father Michael Fitzpatrick (Massachusetts), and Monsignor Robert Laliberte (North Dakota), prayed and interceded for all of the women as the talks were being presented. But, they ministered to the women via the Sacrament of Reconciliation for hours on end -- one period of time from early morning, throughout the evening, to the wee hours of the next morning ( about 18 hours in all! ). So many women availed themselves of the sacrament after having been away for as many as 30 years or more.
Two break-out sessions were offered to the women during the retreat. Thomas K. Sullivan, author of the book,
Called to Knighthood: The Sacrament of Confirmation in the Kingdom Family of God http://womenofgrace.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=863, spoke about the importance of the Sacrament of Confirmation in the life of the Christian and why this sacrament is especially vital today.
Martha Nicolli and Vicki Crispo conducted the information session for the Women of Grace Foundational Study. Their presentation and assistance helped several women to become new facilitators for the program. Vicki's husband, Deacon Neil Crispo, gave his testimony as to how the Women of Grace Study changed his life by way of his wife. Look for this testimony soon to be added to our website. You won't want to miss it!
Our next annual Women of Grace Retreat will be at Malvern the weekend of July 23, 2010. This retreat sells out quickly so begin to make your plans now.
Read the rest
The countdown to the New Year is fast approaching. Will you be making resolutions?
For most of us, the answer is yes. If you are a regular reader of this blog then you know that last year, I wrote a blog using the acronym R-E-S-O-L-V-E-D to help us focus our resolutions on the things that really matter. The "L" in the acronym stood for "Listening" in which I encouraged the cultivation of a listening spirit so that we could hear the voice of God in our everyday circumstances. In addition to prayer of the Holy Rosary, Eucharistic Adoration, and Lectio Divina, one of my favorite ways to practice "listening" is spiritual reading.
I've compiled the list below which features some of my all time favorite books for spiritual reflection, prayer, meditation and direction. I hope that you will incorporate one or several of them into your Catholic library because I know that you too will see much fruit in your relationship with God as a result. They are in no particular order.
Lent is upon us. I’m wondering if you have asked yourself how you will make your Lenten preparation for Easter? It’s a good question to ask.
Life being what it is, I have often found it beneficial to come up with a plan and a strategy to help me enter more deeply into the Lenten season.
In years past, I have planned and strategized how to “give up” ---
Certain foods or treats -- don’t buy them;
Activities and recreations -- don’t go to them;
Habits and behaviors -- don’t do them.
One year I even gave up going to the mall -- don’t drive by it.
That was my longest Lent ever!
Along with the exclusions, I have often added a few inclusions: more time in prayer, study, and adoration; additional acts of charity; exchanging a bad habit with a good one.
I don't know how your week has been, but mine has been very busy. So busy, in fact, that I still have the majority of my "To Do" list in tact. Weeks like this can be disheartening.
And yet, it is part of the human experience.
Even among the saints.
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, for example, apparently had a week or two like this from time to time. She gives us good advice.
She said:
Last evening I attended a lecture given by George Weigel here in Clearwater, FL.
The event was held by Jay and Lisa Kelly who seek to provide local Catholics with the opportunity to hear great Catholic speakers.
Calling their new-found organization Splendor of Truth, the evening begins with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and includes an open bar and dinner.
As we cast a backward glance to 2009 and enter 2010, it is good to take a reflective moment to thank God for the many blessings we have received in the recently parted year. It may even be helpful to record them in your journal.
Sometimes these blessings are obvious such as family, friends, and good health.
Sometimes they are taken for granted like food on the table, a roof over our head, the conveniences of everyday living.
And sometimes, the greatest blessings of all are shrouded in dark packaging like the trials, tribulations, reversals and contradictions of daily life.
What were your top twelve blessings in 2009?
Mine follow.
than I'd hoped to get a post ready to go.
As you know from my previous post, I attended the Catholic Radio Association Conference held in Birmingham, AL from October 13 - 17. The event began with a tour of Radio Mountain, the home of the shortwave radio network begun by Mother Angelica back in 1994. I never cease to be amazed at the wonder of radio communication through the air waves.
Hello Everyone!
I am in Birmingham, Alabama this week for the annual Global Catholic Radio Conference. Today we went to "Radio Mountain," the site of the shortwave radio network that provides Catholic programming to the world and to the US via 200+ AM/FM radio stations and also through Sirius Satellite (Station 160).
As a program provider since its inception, I was once again awestruck by the opportunities available by means of electronic communications. Zeal filled my heart and desire filled my soul. I am hoping to offer you some pictures from our visit today and to keep you informed of the event in general.
Off to the Shrine in Hanceville tomorrow for a retreat. Wing a prayer for me and for all of those attending and presenting.
Blessings in Jesus and Mary,
Johnnette
