Reporting news connected to Christianity and Catholicism with biblical insight.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Joe Melendrez, Texan dedicated to spreading the Gospel through rap
The following news story and video is from RomeReports.com:
At the tender age of 11, Joe Melendrez wrote his first poem. His Puff Daddy album inspired him to put the words to a beat. At school, he would “break it down,” like Michael Jackson or Usher.
Then in 2001, at 15-years-old, he was invited to a spiritual retreat, where he decided his verses would praise God.
Since then, he has published two rap albums, and has toured throughout the United States. He's also breaking ground abroad, participating in World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, and in Uganda, where he volunteered at several orphanages.
JOSE MELENDREZ
Rapper
“Notorious BIG, a big time rapper said you always gotta rap about what's real to you. And God is real to me, and that's all I wanna rap about it. I wanna rap about what's real to me. I'm gonna rap about things or topics that can encourage people to live better lives, to know Christ. Because I know it's so necessary, and God it's everything to me.”
Above all things, Joe Melendrez enjoys his concerts. It allows him to get closer to his fans and explain to them his verses.
He goes on to say that much of today's music is dominated by superficial messages. He aspires to something greater. Melendrez explains that some of the greatest rappers also talk about their faith in their verses because God is still a relevant topic. However, he recognizes there's a lot of work.
JOSE MELENDREZ
Rapper
“A lot of time people have negative ideas of rap, and they're like 'oh you can't do that.' And rap is a literally a style, it's poetry with rhythm. I call mine spiritual poetry. And so once you get past it, once you see the fruits of the rap, once they see people going deeper into prayer... Moms come up to me and say 'Hey my kids wanna rap the rosary every morning when it's time to go to school.'”
Music, performing and helping those in need define the life of Joe Melendrez, since that retreat in 2001. Nearly 12 years later, he now helps organize similar retreats in California to help young people there find their way to God.
Friday, January 11, 2013
St. Mary's Monthly Prayer Service Scheduled for January 17, 2013
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| St. Mary's Church Window - Photo by Loci B. Lenar |
From the Homepage of www.Christian-Miracles.com:
Please consider visiting St. Mary's Catholic Church for Mass and prayer services.
With help from Loci B. Lenar and support of Father Richard Tartaglia, including Barbara Jones from the National Conference of Catholic Women (NCCW), prayer requests which are submitted through "Christian-Miracles.com" are prayed for every Monday morning after Mass during Holy Hour Adoration, held between the hours of 8:30 to 9:30 am. If you're unable to attend St. Mary's Church, please remember to join in prayerful unity on Monday mornings every week as we petition God to answer all of our prayers.
Are you in need of prayer? Submit your prayer requests to PrayerRequest@Christian-Miracles.com
The church also holds a monthly service for prayer with Fr. Richard Tartaglia including special prayer intentions which are submitted through the website of Christian-Miracles.com.
Previous services have included prayer for Christian Unity. However, prayers for world peace are always included.
St. Mary's prayer service is held every third Thursday of each month at 7:30 PM with a new theme. January will focus on Christian Unity. The prayer service is scheduled for January 17, 2013.
There is great power through the Holy Spirit when people join together in agreement while praying for God’s help and intervention.
However,
if you cannot attend St. Mary's prayer service, you can still join in
by praying in unity with St. Mary’s Church for all special prayer
intentions.
Trust and believe in God's word and wait for his timing to receive an answer to your prayers. Miracles happen when least expected!
Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24)
Regarding prayer, Jesus said, "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." (Matthew 18:19-20)
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
If you live in the area or plan on visiting New Jersey, please consider attending and joining in the evening prayer service with Fr. Richard Tartaglia. The service begins with singing of hymns followed with psalm prayers and then reading of the gospels. After the reading, Fr. Tartaglia gives his homily which is followed with a prayer of intercession for Special Prayer Intentions (prayer requests). The Lord's Prayer is recited and after that there is a closing prayer with a blessing given by Fr. Tartaglia. The prayer service is concluded with a closing song.
St. Mary's Catholic Church is located on 15 Myers Avenue in Denville, New Jersey. Father Martin Glynn is the head pastor of the church.
For directions to St. Mary's Church, please visit the following link: http://www.stmarys-
Regardless of your religious denomination, please feel free to submit your prayer request by email to PrayerRequest@Christian-Miracles.com. Your email will remain confidential.
Prayer request can also be submitted at the following link: http://www.christian-miracles.com/prayerrequest.htm
Mr. Lenar visits Father Richard Tartaglia on a regular bases for spiritual guidance and shares with him the prayer requests.
Saint Mary's Monthly Prayer Schedule and Related Themes for 2013
Christian Unity - Thursday, January 17 at 7:30 PM
Lent - Thursday, February 21 at 7:30 PM
Easter - Thursday, March 21 at 7:30 PM
St. Mark - Thursday, April 18 at 7:30 PM
Pentecost - Thursday, May 16 at 7:30 PM
John the Baptist - Thursday, June 20 at 7:30 PM
Mary Magdalene - Thursday, July 18 at 7:30 PM
Michaelmas Day - Thursday, September 19 at 7:30 PM
Church Memorial Day - Thursday, October 17 at 7:30 PM
Thanksgiving - Thursday, November 21 at 7:30 PM
Advent - Tentatively set for Thursday, December 19 at 7:30 PM
St. Mary's Weekly Mass Schedule
Sunday: 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30 AM
Saturday: 5:00 PM
Weekdays: 8:00 AM and 12:05 PM - (Except June ~ Labor Day - No 12:05 PM)
First Fridays: 8:00 AM, 12:05 PM, 8:00 PM - (Except June ~ Labor Day - No 12:05 PM)
Holy Days: 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 12:00 noon, 7:00 PM
Eve of Holy Days: 5:00 PM
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Creed's Scott Stapp Returns to his Faith
CBN TV - Video
Lead singer Scott Stapp of the rock group Creed shares about his journey to find a real relationship with God.
Tuesday, January 08, 2013
Dorothy Day: former atheist and social advocate journalist, on the way to sainthood
The video and following news story is from RomeReports.com:
The story of Dorothy Day depicts a passionate woman, always in search of truth. As a journalist, her journey could have her become Church's first journalist saint.
LUCETTA SCARAFFIA
Osservatore Romano
“She was a great writer and American journalist, who was not Catholic. She was an atheist and a socialist, who was very involved in the worker movement. At a certain point she converted to Catholicism and created a large movement working closely with workers, and with the poor, through a magazine called the Catholic Worker.”
She had a tough life, and even underwent an abortion. But after her conversion, she changed her life. In addition to the magazine, she also established soup kitchens and shelters where victims of the Great Depression could eat and sleep. She also advocated actively during the Second Vatican Council to condemn war.
LUCETTA SCARAFFIA
Osservatore Romano
“She worked with a group of women from all around the world and from different religions to pressure or lobby the Second Vatican Council, and to make a statement for peace and to condemn war, which until then the Church had never done. They achieved it.”
A woman with a strong will, she never stopped fighting her entire life for causes she deemed as just. Her stance is supported by “Women, the Church and the World,” a supplement to the Osservatore Romano, the official Vatican newspaper.
LUCETTA SCARAFFIA
“We published a page from her diary where she talks about how they were invited to an audience with the Pope, and he addressed them. That was, in fact, the last audience of John XXIII, and it took place precisely with those women who asked for peace. They were very happy.”
Dorothy Day died in New York City in 1980, at 83 year old. Precisely there, in her hometown, the canonization process has started. And her supporters are expecting good news soon.
Sunday, January 06, 2013
'Miracle' in the Marsh
View more videos at: http://nbcphiladelphia.com.
NBC 10 Philadelphia
The following excerpt and video is from NBCPhiladelphia.com:
A 3-foot tall statue standing in the marsh along the shoreline in Brick Township, New Jersey is being called a miracle.
Since Hurricane Sandy hit, residents had been focused on the clean-up and recovery.
It wasn't until days after the flood waters receeded those who live along Sheldon Avenue, spotted Saint Francis of Assisi. The small concrete statue, faces away from the waters that flooded their homes.
While no one knows for sure how the statue is still standing in a spot where so much has been torn down, Saint Francis has become a welcome sight at the shore and a sign that things will get better.
Read More: Miracle in the Marsh
Saturday, January 05, 2013
Columbus Catholic Women's Conference Scheduled for February 2013
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| Photograph Courtesy of Loci B. Lenar |
Celebrating the Year of Faith -| Register
The 6th Annual Columbus Catholic Women’s Conference will be held on February 23, 2013 at the Ohio State Expo Center, Lausche Building.
Speakers include Fr. Leo Patalinghug, author of "Grace Before Meals," and cooking show host, Savoring our Faith on EWTN.
Suzanne Fowler, mother of seven and author of "Light Weigh and Building the Family Cookbook," and founder of Light Weigh One King Bible Study Weight-Loss Programs. Suzanne teaches to use our connection to God to maintain spiritual and physical well-being.
Sr. Mary Michael, Sr. Joseph Maria, Sr. Catherine Marie and Sr. Mary Jacinta OP, Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist, speaking On The Dignity of Women, On Marriage, On Motherhood and On Mary.
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| Schedule of Events |
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The photograph of the stain glass window of The Immaculate Heart of Mary can be seen inside Our Lady of the Mount Chapel. The Catholic church is located on Mount Bethel Rd, Warren, NJ. Loci Lenar's photograph was chosen for promoting the 2013 Columbus Catholic Women's Conference in Ohio.
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