The Rosary - A Biblical Prayer

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

Preparing for Advent - Morning of Reflection on the Joyful Mysteries

Are you ready for Advent? Join us for an uplifting and engaging morning of Sacred Scripture as we welcome Catholic biblical scholar Dr. Steven Smith, author of The Word of the Lord: Essential Principles for Catholic Scripture Study.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

9:00 am - 12:00 pm 

St. Mary's Parish

15 Myers Avenue

  Denville, New Jersey 07834  

Together, we will learn about the 5 Joyful Mysteries in the Gospels:

• Learn how the Rosary truly is a 'biblical' prayer
• Contemplate Mary ... and her heart for Jesus
• What does it mean that Mary is 'Full of Grace'?
• What are the mysteries of Jesus in the Temple - and what do they reveal?
• What are the '3 R's' - and how can they help us study the Gospels?

Dr. Steven Smith is Assistant Professor of Sacred Scripture at Mount St. Mary's Seminary (Emmitsburg, MD), the largest - and one of the most respected - graduate programs and houses of formation in the United States. Steve has a Ph.D in New Testament from Loyola University of Chicago. As a seminary professor, he teaches on a wide array of biblical topics (OT, NT, etc.) - including a course on Catholic Scripture study which inspired his first published book. In the Fall of 2012, Our Sunday Visitor released Dr. Smith's new book, The Word of the Lord: 7 Essential Principles for Catholic Scripture Study. It is endorsed by Francis Cardinal George among others.

Signed copies of his book - and major CD sets of biblical teaching will be available at the event.

Dr. Steven Smith's website: TheGodWhoSpeaks.com.

He and his wife Elizabeth have been married 13 years. They Have two lovely children and live in rural Maryland.

(News Release Supplied by St. Mary's Parish)

American Protestant-based group making inroads with Catholics

News from Reports.com

Founded nearly 200 years ago, the American Bible Society has always played a big part in spreading the Gospel within the United States.  

The non-profit organization was founded by Protestant leaders in the early times of the American nation. But in the past few decades they've begun reaching out to Catholics. 

MARIO PAREDES 

American Bible Society 

“The mission of the American Bible Society is to spread the Word of God, to make available to all people. And certainly, an important segment of Christianity is the Catholic Church. And so this inter-confessional organization called American Bible Society is opening the door to the Catholic Church and serving the Catholic communities.” 

This outreach has reached the top levels of Catholicism. The organization's president addressed the Synod of Bishops in 2012. And their latest effort is the book Pray With the Bible, Meditate With the Word. It was published in collaboration with the LEV, the Vatican's publishing house. 

The book is described as a manual on Lectio Divina, studying Christianity's Holy Book. It features a four step process: knowing the text, understanding the words, meditating on their message and putting them into action. 

MARIO PAREDES 

American Bible Society 

“The end goal of the Lectio Divina is to bring people back to the Bible, and to bring people back to praying with the Bible. It's to bring people to get to know the God of the Bible, and a relationship that can become a personal relationship between myself and the God of the Bible.” 

The book is available in three languages: English, Italian and Spanish. It's available at specialty bookstores. Over time, the American Bible Society has expanded its services beyond the United States. Keeping in line with their mission, this book is another resource they provide for Catholics worldwide to better understand the Gospel. 

Drowning Victim’s Visit to Heaven

News Video - CBN.com

Mary Neal describes her experience of heaven and angels after drowning for over 15 minutes in a kayaking accident. In her book, To Heaven and Back she tells her story.

Priest publishes book on apparition of angels to 'mystic' women

The video and following news story is from RomeReports.com:

The book Angeli e Mistiche, or Angels and Mystics, profiles 61 women that claim to have clearly seen the intervention of Angels in their lives.

FR. MARCELLO STANZIONE
Author, Angeli e Mistiche
“They are 61 profiles of exceptional women, very different among them. There are noble women, common women, educated women and ignorant, laywomen, nuns. But they have something in common in their lives, they choose Jesus Christ and had experiences with angels.”

The women Marcello Stazione writes about in his book are saints, blessed women, and even martyrs, such as Saint Cecilia, whom according to tradition would pray along with her guardian angel.

FR. MARCELLO STANZIONE
Author, Angeli e Mistiche
“We see how in the martyr's acts, the angels would come to console these women. I'm thinking of Cecilia and Agnes. The beautiful thing is that these women have changed the history of humanity within the Church. These are women that have founded religious orders, hospitals, schools. They were extremely pragmatic and realistic people. They were not lucid women, and their work has made it possible for angels to take action here on Earth.”

In the book, Stazione explains the importance that angels had in the lives of these women, and how they in turn influenced the history of the Church and humanity.

FR. MARCELLO STANZIONE
Author, Angeli e Mistiche
“There are also women from the modern era, such as Mother Theresa of Calcutta, whom had a great devotion to angels. Or Natuzza Evolo, the famous Calabrian mystic, whom would make accurate medical analysis to those that would go see her, despite being extremely ignorant. She would see the guardian angel of the person that would go to her.”

The new book by Father Marcello Stanzione shows how spiritual beings can have an even bigger impact in people's lives.

Father Leo Patalinghug: Spicing Up Married Life

CBN TV - News Video

Author Father Leo discusses marriage and how healthy marriages strengthen family bonds.

Author, Spicing Up Your Married Life (2012)

Priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, MD

Chairman of the Pastoral Theology Dept. at the seminary of Mount St. Mary's Univ. (the nation's 2nd oldest Catholic Univ.)

Founded grassroots movement Grace Before Meals, which strengthens family relationships around the dinner table.

3rd Degree Black Belt Instructor in Tae Kwon Do (Korean Martial Art) and Arnis, the National Philippine Martial Art of full contact stick and weapon fighting. World Champion 1992, and other titles from 1978 – 1992.

Forensics, Public Speech and Debate Distinctions, 1984-1988 (Teacher and Coach for Catholic HS 1989-1992)

Univ. of Maryland Baltimore County – B.A.; Pontifical Gregorian Univ. and Pontifical Instit. Marianum - Rome

‘Heaven Changes Everything’: How belief impacted a family

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Colton Burpo's New Book about Heaven - TODAY.com

The following excerpt is from Today.com:

Two years after the release of the best-selling book, “Heaven Is for Real,” telling the story of Colton Burpo’s near-death experience at age 4, Colton, his dad, Todd, and his mom, Sonja, speak about their second book, a devotional called “Heaven Changes Everything."

The story of Todd and Sonja Burpo's son Colton making a trip to heaven and back had an enormous impact on their lives. Their son's story came at a time when things were tough and the parents discovered that beliving in heaven can make all the difference.

Read More: Heaven Changes Everything

Ex-FBI Employee Claims She Saw Angels at Flight 93

9/11 Memorial in Morris County, NJ - Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Ex-FBI Employee Claims She Saw Angels at Flight 93 - ABC News

The following excerpt is by JOE MANDAK the Associated Press:

A former police officer who retired from the FBI due to post-traumatic stress disorder linked to her role in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terror attacks has written a book about seeing legions of angels guarding the Pennsylvania site where a hijacked airliner crashed.

Lillie Leonardi served as a liaison between law enforcement and the families of the passengers and crew members killed in the United Airlines Flight 93 crash. She arrived on the scene about three hours after the crash.

Although Leonardi's book, "In the Shadow of a Badge: A Spiritual Memoir," centers on her vision of angels, she argues her life has been changed more by what she didn't see that day.

"The biggest thing for me is that that there were no bodies," she said.

Leonardi, 56, remembers the burning pine and jet fuel stinging her nostrils. She said she also remembers a smoldering crater littered with debris too small to associate with the jetliner or 40 passengers and crew on board.

"I'm used to crime scenes but this one blew me out of the water. It just looked like the ground had swallowed up" the plane, Leonardi said.

"That's when I started seeing like shimmery lights ... and it was kind of misty and that's when I first saw, like, the angels there," Leonardi said. "And I didn't say anything to the guys because you can imagine if I would have said, 'I just saw angels on the crash site,' they'd have called the office and they'd have said, 'She lost her mind and tell her to go home.'"

Instead, Leonardi kept it to herself for the better part of two years. As emotional and physical ailments surfaced that she would later learn were post-traumatic stress disorder-related, she began telling a close circle of friends and colleagues what she saw, including Kenneth McCabe, her former supervisor.

Read More: Ex-FBI Employee Claims She Saw Angels at Flight 93

'HEAVEN IS REAL': New York Times bestselling author Don Piper relates near-death experience

Don Piper Speaking at Church Parish - Photo by Linda Andrade Rodrigues

'HEAVEN IS REAL': New York Times bestselling author Don Piper relates near-death experience | SouthCoastToday.com

The photograph and following excerpt is from SouthCoastToday.com:

By LINDA ANDRADE RODRIGUES

MOULTONBOROUGH, N.H. — (12-3-2011) The Rev. Paul O'Neil moved to higher ground when his new pastoral assignment took him from Acushnet-Wesley United Methodist Church to a New Hampshire parish nestled in the Ossipee Mountains, 2,990 feet above sea level. But recently he reached even greater heights when he introduced his congregation to a man who spent 90 minutes in heaven.

Moultonborough United Methodist Church, where O'Neil has served as pastor since July 1, 2010, was filled to capacity as New York Times bestselling author Don Piper, a Baptist minister, approached the lectern. 

Published in 2004, Piper's book "90 Minutes in Heaven" has sold 5 million copies in 41 languages.

"The reason I am in New Hampshire on a morning like this is to say to you, 'Heaven is real,'" said Piper. "God has a plan for us, and Heaven is in it."

In January 1989, Piper climbed into his red 1986 Ford Escort after leaving a pastors' conference, in Livingston, Texas. He was headed to a Bible study at South Park Baptist Church in Alvin, Texas, where he served on staff.

"I was driving across a bridge, and an 18-wheeler hit me head on," he said. "It was a four-car accident. Everyone was okay except me. Four paramedics worked on me at the same time, trying to resuscitate me. I was pronounced dead, and they covered up my body with a tarp, waiting for the coroner."

Piper said that simultaneously with his last recollection of seeing the bridge and the rain, a light enveloped him with a brilliance beyond earthly comprehension.

"In my next moment of awareness, I was standing in heaven," he said. "Joy pulsated through me as I looked around, and at that moment I became aware of a large crowd of people. As they surged toward me, I knew instantly that all of them had died during my lifetime. Their presence seemed absolutely natural. They rushed toward me, and every person was smiling, shouting, and praising God."

Piper said that he gets frustrated describing what heaven was like because he cannot begin to put into words what it looked like, sounded like and felt like.

"Their warm embraces were absolutely real," he said. "Heaven is a sensory explosion. I saw colors I would never have believed existed. I've never, ever felt more alive than I did then. I did not see God, although I knew God was there."

Read more: Heaven is Real

Boy who ‘saw heaven’: Details still vivid after 8 years

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Boy who ‘saw heaven’: Details still vivid after 8 years

The news video (11-29-2011) and following excerpt is from Today.com:

Colton Burpo’s account of visiting heaven when he nearly died of a burst appendix at the age of 4 is the subject of the book “Heaven Is for Real,” and an illustrated edition for children, “Heaven Is for Real for Kids.” Now aged 12, the son of Nebraska pastor Todd Burpo recounted sitting in Jesus' lap, meeting John the Baptist and his own departed great-grandfather, and having angels sing to him during his near-death experience.

Read more: Heaven is for Real

Author says he felt Christ's loving embrace in near-death experience

Proof of the Afterlife - CNS Photo

CNS STORY: Author says he felt Christ's loving embrace in near-death experience

The book cover and following excerpt is from the Catholic News Service:

By Emily Lahr

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The afterlife is a common topic of discussion for a religious brother in Santa Paula, Calif., since the publication of his book, "Proof of the Afterlife -- The Conversation Continues," a book of hope, forgiveness and mercy.

"People can say, 'Oh that wasn't just a dream.' God was having a conversation with their life," said Brother Gary Joseph, a member of the Servants of the Father of Mercy, an association of vowed and lay members in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Brother Gary said he has had encounters with God and been involved in conversations with the afterlife ever since his "near-death experience" Sept. 27, 2005: At 1:15 a.m., "an out of control" heart arrhythmia caused him to collapse and his heart to stop, and he felt the overpowering presence of God.

In that state, according to his book, he was immersed in the embracing love of Christ and absorbed spiritual messages. When he was resuscitated, Brother Gary said, he awoke and noticed the clock read exactly 1:45 a.m.

"I had been like a dead man, immersed in this encounter for exactly 30 minutes," Brother Gary told Catholic News Service in a Feb. 8 telephone interview.

A priest guided him to a spiritual director who at the time was planning on doing a film on spiritual encounters. The spiritual director encouraged Brother Gary to keep a journal and eventually write a book. The manuscript was sent to Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahony for theological review prior to its publication last November by the Servants of the Father of Mercy.

He believes the book can help people who have a terminal illness, referring to his mother and a cousin, who both fought cancer. "It's a perfect match for those with illness. It can give a lot of hope."

"Proof of the Afterlife -- The Conversation Continues" ($19.95, softcover) is being sold by Barnes and Noble in its stores nationwide and online. It is also available at Amazon.com. Brother Gary said BookMasters also plans to stock the book in its national warehouse in Ashland, Ohio, promoting it to clients such as Ingram, Baker and Taylor and their retail outlet, AtlasBooks.

Read more: Proof of the Afterlife

Future Saint? Book on 100 alleged miracles of Alfonso Maria Fusco to be published

Future Saint? Book on 100 alleged miracles of Alfonso Maria Fusco to be published

The following news excerpt is from RomeReports.com:

Ten years after his beatification an Italian blessed is getting closer to becoming a saint. Alfonso Maria Fusco founded the Congregation of the Sisters of San Giovanni Battista.

Over the years, the sisters from that congregation have collected information on roughly 100 alleged miracles of the Blessed Italian. The writings will be made into a book in the future.

It will include the alleged healing of a child who suffered from malaria in Zambia. Even though the boy's mother wasn't Catholic, she asked a nun to pray for her son.

The book will include other possible miracles that range from physical healings to overcoming moral difficulties.

Blessed Fusco was born in 1839 in Angri, which is located in southern Italy. At the age of 11 he decided to be a priest to help others. Once he was ordained his first assignment was to help underprivileged children from his hometown.

The priest was known for walking along the streets of his town, looking for the poor and offering them help. He would offer them food and education. From this mission, the Congregation of St. John the Baptist was born.

Read more: Alfonso Maria Fusco

Michael Hingson Survives 9/11 because of Canine Hero

Michael Hingson: Thunder Dog - CBN TV - Video

Michael Hingson is blind and shares the incredible story of how his guide-dog Roselle got him down from the 78th floor of the North Tower in New York City on 9/11. 

Michael Hingson's new book, "Thunder Dog" describes the events of September 11, 2001 and is available in book stores.

Signs of the Times Social Studies Guide

Signs of the Times
(Signes Des Temps)

Signs of the Times - (Signes Des Temps) - Flickr - Photo Sharing!

By Loci B. Lenar

Signes Des Temps (Signs of the Times) is a new book compiled by Chantale Samuel and Charles Vendette and published in the French language. The learning guide was released in July 2011 by Les Editions CEC, a school book publisher in Anjou (Quebec) Canada.

I am happy to announce that Monique Rosevear of Les Editions CEC, contacted me to reproduce my photograph of a stained glass window of Saint Isaac Jogues. The colorful church window is published in the new social studies book on page 133. Credits for photographs are listed on page 139.



Saint Isaac Jogues - Stained Glass Window - Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

 
I photographed the minature stained glass window inside of Saint Jude's Catholic Church, 40 Maxim Drive, Hopatcong, New Jersey, USA.

The book is a social studies learning guide for grade 3 students entitled: Signes des Temps and is used as a student's book, teacher's guide and digital key. (ISBN # 978-2-7617-3358-8)

For more information about the book, please visit the publisher's website at the following link: Les Editions CEC

The following biographical information about St. Isaac Jogues is from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Saint Isaac Jogues (January 10, 1607 – October 18, 1646) was a Jesuit priest, missionary, and martyr who traveled and worked among the native populations in North America. He gave the original European name to Lake George, calling it Lac du Saint Sacrement, Lake of the Blessed Sacrament. In 1646, Jogues was martyred by the Mohawks near the present day Auriesville, New York. Jogues, St. Jean de Brébeuf and six other martyred missionaries, all Jesuits or laymen associated with them, were canonized in 1930 as "The North American Martyrs," or "St. Isaac Jogues and Companions." Their feast day is October 19, except in Canada, where the feast is celebrated on September 26.

Read more: St. Isaac Jogues

'Angelic Tails' is a must read for all canine lovers!

Angelic Tails: True Stories of Heavenly Canine Companions

By Loci B. Lenar

Angelic Tails is a wonderful collection of new stories that will touch a chord with all canine owners. I purchased an autographed copy of the book directly from the author, Joan Wester Anderson.

Joan takes a leap forward from her other books about angelic visitations (Where Miracles Happen) into an impressive theme revolving around man's best friend, canines. The accounts are uplifting and show how God can work through mysterious ways even with pets.

'Snow Angel' is one such heartwarming story. Joan writes in her new book that during a snowstorm, Linda Baxter and her daughter, Lesley, are saved by the neighborhood dog during a blinding blizzard. Praying for assistance, Punkie appears out of nowhere and guides them back on the appropriate path to their home.

Even more amazing is the story about St. John Bosco. Traveling at times in dangerous areas to help homeless children/teenagers, he was either robbed or assaulted. Praying for God's assistance, a large dog would appear and walk with John during his journeys. Joan writes that on one occasion, Grigo saved John from a shooter by running after the assailant. Later on, twelve men confront John with sticks. Before they could strike, Grigo suddenly appears and drives them away. Grigo would appear at St. John Bosco's side for thirty years as a heaven sent companion! Remarkable indeed!

This book is not only a great read for pet owners, but also for anyone interested in knowing how God can manifest his assistance and protection through canines.

I highly recommend purchasing Angelic Tails and reading all the inspirational stories; you will not be disappointed in this delightful book!

To order books, please visit the following link: Joan Wester Anderson

Mysterious Visions of Man in White Draw Muslims to Christ

Mysterious Visions of Man in White Draw Muslims to Christ

The book cover and following excerpt is from EarnedMedia.org:

A new eye-opening book that chronicles a supernatural move of God among Muslims.

Out of Darkness Into Light, tells the first-person accounts of Muslims coming to Christ through visions, dreams and miracles. This book is a gripping collection of true stories. Easy-to-read and inspiring, it offers a rare view into the life and culture of men and women growing up in Islam, and the supernatural encounters they had with Jesus. It is a must-read for Christians who desire to minister to Muslims and for those who recognize their own heart does not reflect God's love toward Muslims.

Author Ali Abdel-Masih (a pseudonym meaning "believer in the Messiah") was a strong Muslim himself. He even wanted to evangelize Christians. One day, Abdel-Masih was alone in the house and a presence filled the room.

"The Holy Spirit fell on me," he recounts. "I knew Jesus was standing in the room with me and that He was the Son of God." To believe that meant that Abdel-Masih was not a Muslim - and he realized he no longer was. Jesus had changed him. Nothing less could have broken his fierce loyalty to Islam, he says.

Abdel-Masih later worked as a missionary to Muslims in the Middle East. He heard many stories similar to his own of supernatural visions or dreams. At great risk to his life, for more than 15 years he helped others there come to know the Man in white. Now, he is a frequent guest on television and radio talk shows, sharing God's heart for work among Muslims.

Out of Darkness Into Light is a book for both Muslims and Christians. Muslims will relate to the nuances - and questions - of life within Islam that each testimony describes. Many will have already heard of the visions without understanding what they mean. This book will help bridge those stories to the truth of the gospel. Christians will see powerful examples of God's heart for Muslims and their openness to the gospel. This book may be the most effective tool your ministry can use in outreach to Muslims.

For bulk copies, review copies, or interviews, contact Ali Abdel-Masih (714) 334-9117

Email: outofdarknessintolight@yahoo.com

A Trip to the Gates of Heaven

Topekan recounts near-death experience CJOnline.com

The following excerpt is from CJonline.com:

By Phil Anderson - THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Nearly five years after the fact, 80-year-old Gladys Hargis, of Topeka, still has a difficult time believing what she experienced the night she nearly died.

Her soul left her body, she said, followed by a visit from angels and a trip to the gates of heaven.

Others have shared similar out-of-body stories through the years, and Hargis said she has no doubt her story is real.

The accounts of that night, and the days that followed, are recounted in her book "You Live Forever" (West Bow Press, softcover, 94 pages, $11.95).

Read more: You Live Forever

Heaven is for Real: Boy describes seeing Mary and Jesus

Near-death experience led to heaven's door - Winnipeg Free Press

The following excerpt is from Winnipeg Free Press:

WHILE on a family road trip in 2003, a small-town Nebraska boy just shy of four years old survived a brush with death made all the more maddening by how preventable it was.

A simple case of appendicitis took a malevolent turn when medical miscalls, parental errors in judgment and the vagaries of winter travel conditions lead to Colton Burpo suffering a rupture and rampant infection.

Heaven Is for Real, by Colton's father, Todd, a Baptist preacher,

In conversation, Colton starts to drop the names of some remarkable religious figures, saying that he had met them in heaven during the moments he was nearest to taking his last breath.

Todd, a pastor at a Nebraska Wesleyan church, wonders about his son's otherworldly comments that pop up in the midst of otherwise normal little-boy chatter.

Colton goes on to describe meeting Jesus's cousin, John the Baptist, and knowing that Colton could not possibly have had prior knowledge of the experiences and people he describes, interprets the situation as a calling.

"We'd been given a gift and our job now was to unwrap it, slowly, carefully, and see what was inside."

From this point forward, Todd faithfully presents a complete record of Colton's visit to heaven, as revealed to him in a naturally unfolding conversation over the course of months.

The Burpos' middle child (his younger brother was not born until 2005), Colton reveals that he has travelled extensively throughout heaven, meeting dearly departed family members, and luminaries of the faithful, including God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Todd is even able to report to Catholic friends that Colton "saw Mary kneeling before the throne of God and at other times standing beside Jesus."

For believers who like to share the Good News, Heaven Is For Real is manna in a couple of ways. For the Christian-centred family, the book is perfect to share and discuss around the dinner table as a means to grow and deepen faith.

Read More: Heaven is for Real

Angelic Tails: True Stories of Heavenly Canine Companions

Angelic Tails: True Stories of Heavenly Canine Companions

This newly released book is by author Joan Wester Anderson, renown for writing books on angelic visitations and miracles.  The book is published by Loyola Press.

The following excerpt is from Loyola Press:

Angelic Tails is a collection of down-to-earth true stories from ordinary people who believe that God has graced their lives through heavenly canine companions. Each of the 30 stories challenges readers to reconsider their conception of angels—from the story of a former Air Force colonel whose golden retrievers served as his heavenly helpers in the Colorado wilderness to the account of St. John Bosco, who, for more than 30 years, was protected by an angelic dog as he walked the dangerous city streets. In the end, for all who see through the eyes of faith, this book is evidence that God can use even muddy paws and cold noses to fulfill his purposes in our world.

Joan Wester Anderson has been a freelance writer and public speaker for almost thirty years. Her fifteen books include the New York Times Bestseller Where Angels Walk (Ballantine Books, 1993) and Where Wonders Prevail (Ballantine, 1997), and she is a popular guest on radio and television talk shows. The mother of five adult children and grandmother of two, she lives in Prospect Heights, Illinois.

Visit her website: Joan Wester Anderson

Read more: Loyola Press

Man Claims to Have Seen Jesus

 


Fort Smith Man Writes About Seeing "City of Light" - ky3.com

The interview and following excerpt is from KY3.com

John Edwards has written a book about his experience the night he nearly died. Edwards spoke with 5NEWS via Skype from his home in Dallas.

He was a junior at Northside High School the night the car he was riding in rolled at a Fort Smith intersection pinning him underneath the Oldsmobile. The year was 1966.

The driver and other passengers suffered minor injuries, but Edwards skull was fractured. He says today doctors would probably diagnose it as a traumatic brain injury. The teen was rushed to St. Edwards emergency room. There he claims to have had an out-of-body experience, traveling through a black void toward a tiny point of light.

"I saw something that's described in revelation 20 and 21 very well,” Edwards said, recalling the experience. “It was the city of light."

Edwards says members of his family were there to greet him; his uncle and a close family friend. As they talked, he stood in the green grass admiring the city from afar. He's careful in his choice of words, but it's obvious that Edwards believes he saw heaven. His uncle Cleve told him they were waiting for someone to arrive, but Edwards could not make out the man's face because of the bright light.

Edwards says he believes the figure that stood before him was Jesus himself. He would grow up to become a missionary and bible translator. Forty-five years after that night, the author tells his story in a new book entitled "Encouraged By The Light."

Read more: John Edwards

2011 New Jersey Provincial Directory

2011 NJ Provincial Directory
Courtesy of Catholic Star Herald 

2011 New Jersey Provincial Directory - Catholic Star Herald

Genealogy of Jesus
Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Commentary by Loci B. Lenar

I am delighted to announce that my photograph of the Genealogy of Jesus is published on the book cover of the 2011 New Jersey Provincial Directory. The directory was released in March and has listings for all six New Jersey Catholic Dioceses. The directory supplies useful information about NJ parishes and organizations.

The new 2011 New Jersey Provincial Directory is published by the Catholic Star Herald for the Diocese of Camden and has more than 440 pages.

***



Image Courtesy of Catholic Star Herald 

 

***

The following information is from the website of the 2011 New Jersey Provincial Directory:

While Catholics represent 25 percent of the population in the United States, they represent more than 41 percent of New Jersey’s population, the third largest percentage of Catholics in the nation.

The six New Jersey Catholic dioceses—Newark, Trenton, Camden, Metuchen, Paterson and Passaic—serve more than 3.5 million Catholics in nearly 600 parishes in New Jersey. The 500 Catholic elementary and high schools educate more than 120,000 students every year. The 13 Catholic hospitals and numerous health care facilities in these dioceses serve thousands of New Jersey residents.

Where can you find reliable, up-to-date directory listings for all these Catholic institutions, facilities, organizations and programs?

It’s easy with the New Jersey Provincial Directory, the only publication with directory listings for all six of the Catholic dioceses of New Jersey.

Now in its 69th year, the 2011 New Jersey Provincial Directory, which will be published in February 2011, is the place businesses, educators, clergy, religious, church professionals and Catholic parishioners turn to for the most up-to-date and comprehensive listings for these dioceses.

This year’s edition includes more than 400 pages of listings, including:

All New Jersey Catholic Parishes

Priests, Deacons and Religious

Diocesan Departments, Officials, Staff

Religious Residences and Retreat Houses

Catholic elementary and high schools

Catholic colleges

Catholic hospitals

Catholic health care facilities

Cemeteries

Social Service Centers and Agencies

To Order Directory: http://njprovincial.com/