everythingcatholic

September 18, 2008

Todays Reading:  1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Gospel: Luke7:36-50

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

For those of you receiving this letter of Catholic Fellowship for the first time, we all welcome you.  This is a letter intended to bring Catholic Fellowship to all.  Just remember as we struggle in times of hardship to remember that you have a fellow Catholic that is praying for you with much love.  We grow in numbers each day.  Thank you again to all who mail me emails to add to this list.  As Christians are strength lies in united prayer.  Matt. 18:19-20

I know we must be united against those who fail to follow Jesus and not defend human life.  I went to see Senator Obama at Cashman field, here in Las Vegas to report on him for Catholic America Today.  My goal was to be unbiased and to just report what Mr. Obama had to say.  I feel I did that and my report is online now at catholicamericatoday.net under politics and news.  Please let me know if you feel I was biased in that report.  I honestly enjoyed myself yesterday even though I did not agree with anything he said.  The crowd was very friendly.  If I had to describe my mood, I would have to say I was filled with pride to see so many Americans, young and old coming out to participate in a political event.  I was proud to be and American and I felt very patriotic, to think that our country has turned over power peace fully for over 150 years.  Not many countries can boast that.  The only mark we have on our record being the election of Lincoln and the onset of the Civil War.  I interviewed and listened to 15 people of all ages and sexes and am in the process of putting together a montage of all the voices.  Let us just say when I go to hear Palin speak the republicans better be more informed.  The Dems need some help.  I only spoke to two people that could actually form a sentence in English.  Ok, enough Dem bashing and on to the fellowship.

Jesus wants us to be brothers whether or not we are Democrats or Republican.  I make all my remarks here in this letter as light hearted jabs and I hope no one takes offense.  My friends the Democrats opened their arms to me yesterday and embraced me as a brother.  Let us all do the same.  As a country we need to come together and pray.  This letter already crosses the country from Maine to California all the way to Hawaii.  Lets keep it going.

I cannot stress the importance of saying the rosary.  Recently the Pope visited France and the place where Saint Bernadette saw the apparition of Mary at Lourdes.  We must remember that this prayer is not worshiping Mary but as the Pope stated, it brings us closer to Jesus.  In this prayer we come closer to Jesus by imitating Christ and honoring his mother like he did.  In the mediation we meditate on the many details of Christ.  I believe if we pray the rosary it keeps us away from major sin.  Already my life has improved in this respect and I can not tell you how the pain of my father’s recent death and that of my Uncles death yesterday have been lifted from my shoulders.  The key hear is prayer.  The rosary gets us to pray to Jesus and reminds us we are not alone.

I am on my second cup of coffee so I am really going now.  In times of need people need our help.  Michele and I plan a trip to Catholic Charities soon to see what we can do.  I recently read numerous articles on Pope Pius XII for his heroic deeds during WWII.  He is credited by the state of Israel for saving over 860,000 lives during the Holocaust. He used Catholic Churches, convents all over Europe, and his own home, the Vatican, to save and hide thousands of Jews.  I know this is different times but times are hard.   I look to history for inspiration in my own life just as I look to the saints. By the way Pius XXII is up for beatification for his heroic deeds.  Let us pray that it comes about. I did not need to go listen to Barrak Obama to learn that times are hard.  In these times let us seek out a brother and sister who needs help and offer them solace or even a prayer and a shoulder to lean on.  We all need someone to listen too.  Sometimes it just takes a minute. Others need more of our time.  That is what coffee is for and diet Coke.  Take the time out of your busy day and just listen to your fellow brother in Christ who is in pain.  Remember the ad campaign that most of us grew up with, “Reach out and touch someone.”  The technology of the internet makes this even more possible.  Let us remember the words of Christ, Acts 20:35 “there is more happiness in giving than receiving.”  Which brings me to the point of how blessed I am to call you all my friends and I look forward to talking to you every night at 7:00pm pacific standard time on catholicamericatoday.net.  I have fun and love discussing life.  Feel free to register for free and come online and join us.  It is free till October.

We are one body.  One body in Christ and you do not stand alone.

(great song with a lot of meaning.)

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Again we extend our welcome to all who are new.  We are over 30 people.  We grow daily.  Keep the letters and prayer intentions coming.  Thanks for the support.  Refer your friends.  We are still looking for interested volunteer writers from the South East, Mid West, South West and North West.

Now, since I talk to you all the time here is a word from Michele  our Secretary.

“Good readers make good writers. Good writers make good thinkers”

I saw this saying, and immediately thought of Paul. When I met him, May of 2008, he gave me a proposition. Paul asked me to be partners with him as a writer, not only in writing for Catholic America Today, but on a few sci-fi books, he was working on at the time. Paul said he liked my poetry writings, and thought I would be good in contributing for his envision of Catholic America Today. I could not believe my hobby, past time passion for writing, would cross paths with Paul and just explode. (Moreover, eventually get paid for it).

Paul envisioned Catholic America Today back in May, and approached Bob as his financial advisor. Put these two brains together, with their talents, and with the help from a web developer, Catholic America Today was born!  WALLA! As the secretary for this website, it is an honor. I am at an age now that my daughter is growing her wings, and my parents are in a nursing home preparing for the final chapters of their life, and I realize I do not have to run home anymore at 3:00 to be there for when my daughter gets off the bus. As well as being a caretaker and rushing to the ER at 2am because dad fell out of bed (again) or mom is having breathing problems. I do not have to RUSH as much now. My life has changed. I now can just focus on myself. With writing, I look forward to every morning I awake. Dad once told me”Life goes in cycles.” I guess he is right.

My mother held my hand before I left New Hampshire to Las Vegas to do Paul’s proposition. She looked me in the eye and said, “Michele. Take care of yourself now.” My father said, “All that you have done, will come back to you…thank you for taking care of your mother and I, we could of never have gone on without you…May God be with you and keep you safe..” Though it was unnecessary for them to tell me this, they gave me that push I needed to actually leave, as I did have my financial fears. Now, when I get nervous with financial matters, Bob reassures me. He says, “Shelly, God always provides what we need. Don’t worry.” I call Bob my big brother (BB) as that is what he is to me. Bob and Paul are using their time, energy, and minds to make the impossible, possible.

Brothers & Sisters there is a book called, “Make the Impossible, Possible“, by Bill Strickland. What a wonderful book! Even more so, what a wonderful man, Bill Strickland, is to take the time and effort to write such a book! There are so many men and women that walk among us on God’s planet, which inspire us, are great examples to us…from writers, missionaries in some capacity, workers, and so forth… True brothers and sisters who share their God given talents with others, whatever they may be…I think a true Christian, seeks out those works/deeds, or the holy spirit speaks to various people to carry on a particular work, deed, or mission, that are good, pure, and help others…regardless of what “faith” they may be labeled, or represent. If those works/deeds be honest, true, and in the spirit of Christ, that draw them closer to Him, make extraordinary people.

In closing, I mentioned that there are extraordinary people walking among us. Paul and Bob are two special men. I pray that you will have the privilege, as I did to get to know them. You will be happy you did. The personal trials that Paul and Bob have suffered and endured I have seen with my very eyes, in launching this website have been put  and pushed to the ultimate test. Yet, we believe, this website is needed. May it touch your heart and enrich your life, in some small way, and may all good things come to you. Prayers are always needed, and welcomed J

God Bless,

Michele

Pray for the following brothers and sisters,

For St. Thomas Aquinas in Las Vegas that they may find their funding,  

For a sister in New Mexico who has a son in Iraq,

For two priests in Illinois that have lost their way,

For a sister in Illinois whose boy friend is away and hopefully safe,

For that same sister that she may graduate,

For the brother who is lonely in California,

For the sister who has a daughter in Illinois and wants her to be safe,

For the brother who prays that all his problems may be resolved,

For a woman who has children in Indiana and a beautiful son Nick, we pray for her, that she have strength and that she find peace and comfort soon,

For my friend Danny that he may find a kidney doner and make a complete recovery.

For the soul of my father and that my sister and mother may be at peace,

For My Uncle who passed away on Wednesday and my family,

For a sister in Rancho Palos Verdes California who is baring a huge financial burden to help her mother,

For a brother who is suffering depression that he may seek relief in the Lord,

For those suffering in Texas and all the gulf states that they may find peace and protection from the elements,

For all Americans that are hurting financially, may they find comfort in our prayers,

 We ask all our brothers and sisters through out America, this great country of ours to pray for us,

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