Friday, October 28, 2011

Hollywood plans newest biblical films on lives of Noah, Moses and Judah Maccabee



Hollywood plans newest biblical films on lives of Noah, Moses and Judah Maccabee

Excerpt from RomeReports.com:

Hollywood is preparing three big films on biblical personalities. These are the stories of Noah, Moses and Judah Maccabee.

On October 3, Paramount Pictures announced the start of the movie production “Noah”. After a tough battle with 20th Century Fox, Paramount came away with the rights to the project.

The film will be directed by Darren Aronofsky and has the same screenwriter from “Gladiator”. While the main actor is slated to be Christian Bale.

The other two biblical projects are being produced by Warner Brothers.

The first is the big-budget film “Gods and Kings” about the life of Moses. Among the possible directors, Steven Spielberg has been mentioned as a possibility.

According to The Guardian newspaper, this project could be delayed by the other Warner project on Judah Maccabee from Mel Gibson.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Pope canonizes Luigi Guanella, a hero of the defense of life




Pope canonizes Luigi Guanella, a hero of the defense of life

The following news is from RomeReports.com:

Italian Luigi Guanella was a champion for the defense of life. Born in 1842, he founded two congregations dedicated to serving those who were disabled and abandoned by their families.

Behind every person he would see a gift from God, which he said, has value in itself. He defended the dignity of the elderly, sick, and the mentally and physically disabled, who were abandoned or badly treated by their families.

Pino Beneditos
San Giuseppe Rehabilitation Center (Italy)

“One day, the bishop of Como showed up because he had to speak with him about their activities, their charitable projects, and Don Guanella was with the mentally disabled, with his 'good kids'. He was playing cards with them and to make them happy he finished the game, but had to leave the bishop in the waiting room.”

He would tell the priests and nuns who followed him to trust in God's help, but to work hard in their lives. The fruits of their labor are obvious. The group includes 700 female religious, 528 male religious, and 265 households spread across Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia.

The miracle that led to his canonization is the healing of William Gleeson from the United States. He suffered a neck injury from skating. His doctors said, he had little hope.

Pino Beneditos
San Giuseppe Rehabilitation Center (Italy)

“The mother, without saying anything to William or the doctors, placed a relic under the pillow, prayed and obtained this miracle: for her son to recover without any problems.”

William is one of thousands of pilgrims who will attend the canonization ceremony. Among them, will also be several handicapped, who receive help from the rehabilitation center founded by Don Guanella.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Pope canonizes Mother Boniface, known for work toward women’s economic independence




Pope canonizes Mother Boniface, known for work toward women’s economic independence

The following news story is from RomeReports.com:

(Romereports.com) - The Spanish nun Bonifacia Rodriguez will be remembered for her fight to help poor women to learn a trade. Before becoming a nun, she was actually a rope maker. She went on to found her own religious order known as the Servants of St. Joseph, right in the local shop where she worked.

It was in 1874, in the midst of the industrial revolution. From that moment, she and the Jesuit Francisco Butinyà devoted themselves to helping poor women to make a decent living and discover their faith in everyday life.

The new order allowed the nuns to dress like the artisans of the country. There was no dowry asked of them to enter the convent, where they would work side by side with lay people. It was a project that did not please everyone.

Sister Victoria López
Servant of Saint Joseph

“It was a life project that was too new for it to be understood. Still, some clergy of Salamanca don't understand it. They don't grasp how the gospel works in the project that's so close to the business world.”

As a result the bishop of Salamanca dismissed Mother Boniface and decided the order would be devoted to education. Boniface died being virtually excluded by her own order in 1905.

Years later, in 1936 her writings were rediscovered and the congregation again recognized her as the founder.

Sister Victoria López
Servant of Saint Joseph

“It's recognizing a charisma that was born in the heart of Nazareth. A charisma that is aimed at working women, poor women, women who are often abused, or underpaid, or deprived of liberty.”

The miracle that made her a saint took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was the healing of a 33 year old man who suffered from an incurable stomach disease.

Sister Victoria López
Servant of Saint Joseph

“The entire world was waiting for it to die, but the community had begun to ask Mother Boniface for the healing of Kasongo Bavón. And inexplicably and unexpectedly, this boy was cured.”

Currently, the congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph has around seven hundred sisters, working in one hundred communities in twelve countries. They are the successors of a simple working woman who had the courage to face the challenges of her time including being forced out of her order by those closest to her.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Catholic Church studying possible miracle of John Paul II in Yucatan, Mexico




Catholic Church studying possible miracle of John Paul II in Yucatan, Mexico

The following news story from RomeReports.com is regarding a miracle attributed to Blessed John Paul II:

(RomeReports.com) - In the coming days, an official study will look at an alleged miracle obtained through the intercession of the Blessed John Paul II in the state of Yucatan, Mexico.

The case is the healing of this woman, Sara Guadalupe Fuentes García. She was suddenly cured of a tumor that blocked 80% of her throat and required emergency surgery.

It was during the recent visit of John Paul II relics to Mexico. The woman says that she had placed a picture of the pope on her chest and throat to ask for healing.

The bishop of Yucatan will investigate the case. If confirmed, it could become the miracle to be submitted to the pope to declare the Blessed John Paul II as a saint.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Prayer for Married Couples

The Monitor - Newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, NJ

Commentary by Loci B. Lenar

The Monitor is a newspaper published by the Catholic Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey. The publication requested permission to use one of my stained glass window photographs in their September 15, 2011 issue.

The photograph of Jesus and Mary at the Wedding at Cana appears on page four in the article "For the Love of God" by Mary Morrell. The image also appears on page six and is combined with a Prayer for Married Couples.

The stained glass window can be seen inside Saint Peter the Apostle Church, Baldwin Road, Parsippany, New Jersey.


Jesus and Mary at the Wedding at Cana - Stained Glass Window Detail
Photograph by Loci B. Lenar


Prayer for Married Couples - (The Monitor)

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
By the Sacrament of marriage,
your grace unites man and woman
in an unbreakable bond of love and peace.

You have designed the chaste love of husband
and wife for the increase both of the human family
and of your own family born in baptism.

You are the loving Father of this world of nature;
you are the loving Father of the new creation of grace.

In Christian marriage you bring
together the two orders of creation:
Nature's gift of children enriches the world
And your grace enriches also your Church.

May those who are called
to the vocation of marriage always be mindful
of your love and presence in their lives.
Amen

For More Devotional Prayers: Christian-Miracles.com

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Go! Sign: Christ in the Deaf Community

Go! Sign Magazine - Issue 77

Go! Sign Magazine: Christ in the Deaf Community

Commentary by Loci B. Lenar

Recently I was contacted by Esther Maycock, Media Co-ordinator and editor of "Go! Sign," a magazine that she indicates helps meet the individual spiritual and social needs of Deaf people.

Esther requested permission to use two of my photographs in the Summer 2011 issue, which by the way is published in the UK. I am delighted to announce that two stained glass windows which I photographed in St. Jude's Catholic Church and St. Virgil Church, both located in NJ, are published on page 22 in this beautiful and informative magazine. The photographs are used for an article that explains the mystery of the Holy Trinity. 

I believe it's very important to reach out with the gospels by helping everyone in need of God's blessing and grace, especially through such inspiring magazines as Go! Sign.


The Lamb of God - St. Virgil Church, Morris Plains, NJ
Photograph by Loci B. Lenar


The following excerpt is from the website of GoSign.org:

Of the 250,000 people who use British Sign Language (BSL) as their first or second language, only 2% are professing Christians mainly due to the lack of BSL or interpreted services. Globally, they are the fourth largest unreached group in the world. Our vision is to see more Deaf people coming to know Christ through our mission “Go! SIGN” Christ in the Deaf Community” focusing on evangelism, Christian network, teaching, equipping and outreach work.


Baptism of Jesus - St. Jude's Catholic Church - Hopatcong, NJ
Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

In fulfilling the “Go! SIGN Christ in the Deaf Community” vision, GO! SIGN (the working name of Christian Deaf Link UK) is dedicated to serving the spiritual and social needs of Deaf people, their families and friends through the G.R.A.C.E. programme:

  • Growth in the network of Deaf Christian groups, leaders, churches, fellowship and individuals
  • Renewal and spiritual growth through training, support, events and conferences
  • 
  • Access to information promoting Deaf Christian issues, support and service provisions
  • Churches: strengthening members through Deaf Spiritual Awareness, network support and equipping
  • Evangelism via drama shows, video resources and training
To achieve this purpose, Go! Sign, as an interdenominational organisation, works towards:

Developing and providing opportunities to Deaf people, their families and friends, recognising and accepting each other to serve in the Christian community;

Developing public awareness and breaking down barriers created by society’s attitude towards deafness and the consequences of being Deaf in the wider Christian community;

Offering Deaf people full responsibility and leadership in all areas of work through role-model examples and training;

Offering opportunities to Deaf people, as fellow-workers with hearing Christians, to demonstrate their abilities and potential, and gain acknowledgement of God’s given gifts;

Offering advice, information and support to enable Deaf people to increase their self-esteem and skills in their own churches and/or fellowship groups;

Reaching out to the Deaf Community through Christian and Outreach programmes.

For more information, visit the following link: Go! Sign