The Medjugorje Message: Muslims and Christians Join for Apparitions

The Medjugorje Message: Muslims and Christians join for apparitions

The following excerpt appears on CrownOfStars.blogspot.com:

Up to 100,000 people are expected to attend a two-day prayer event in Lebanon which will host Marija Pavlovic, the Medjugorje visionary who receives Our Lady’s message for the world each month.

The visionary’s visit is in response to a personal request by Our Lady to go to the Lebanon, which Marija received during one of her apparitions with the Blessed Mother. It will precursor the Feast of the Annunciation a week later.

The feast of the Annunciation, March 25, is jointly celebrated by Christians and Muslims in Lebanon and is a national holiday instituted two years ago by the Lebanese government as a national Christian-Muslim day, something that never occurred before in the history of Christian-Muslim relations in the country.

Read more: Muslims and Christians Join for Apparitions

Monthly Prayer Service at St. Mary's Church on February 16th

St. Mary's Church - Photo by Loci B. Lenar


Please consider visiting St. Mary's Catholic Church for Mass and prayer services.

The church holds a monthly service for prayer with Fr. Richard Tartaglia including special prayer intentions which are submitted through the website of http://www.christian-miracles.com/.

Previous services have included prayer for Christian Unity. However, prayers for world peace are always included.

The prayer service is held every third Thursday of each month with a new theme.

Presentation of Child Jesus in the Temple

February will focus on Candlemas and Lent. What is Candlemas? February 2nd marks the date of the presentation of the child Jesus in the temple, as well as the purification of Mary after the birth of Jesus.

Please join us in prayer with your own special intentions on February 16th between the hour of 7:30 and 8:00 PM.  However, if you cannot attend, you can still join in by praying in unity with St. Mary’s Church for all special prayer intentions.

Email your prayer requests to PrayerRequest@Christian-Miracles.com

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.

Monthly Prayer Schedule with Related Topics for 2012

Pray for Life - Thursday, January 19 at 7:30 P.M.

Candlemas and Lent - Thursday, February 16 at 7:30 P.M.

Lent and Penance - Thursday, March 15 at 7:30 P.M.

Easter and Resurrection - Thursday, April 19 at 7:30 P.M.

No Thursday prayer service in May

John the Babtist - Thursday, June 21 at 7:30 P.M.

(Note: Additional dates will be added when available)


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

2012 New Jersey Provincial Directory

2012 NJ Provincial Directory - Catholic Star Hearld

2012 NJ Provincial Directory

Now in its 70^th year, the 2012 New Jersey Provincial Directory 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.

The directory is published in NJ by the Catholic Star Herald for the Diocese of Camden and has more than 400 pages.

The directory is available at the following link: njprovincial.com/

A beautiful graphic design by a new photographer is used for the 2012 edition. 

2011 NJ Provincial Directory - Cover by Loci B. Lenar

However, the Genealogy of Jesus, a photograph by Loci B. Lenar was published as the front book cover to last years 2011 New Jersey Provincial Directory.

The directory supplies useful information about NJ parishes and organizations.

Prayers to Our Lady of Lourdes

Our Lady of Lourdes by Stephen B. Whatley

Intercessory Prayers to Our Lady of Lourdes

Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes

Oh ever immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfortess of the Afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Look upon me with mercy. When you appeared in the grotto of Lourdes, you made it a privileged sanctuary where you dispense your favors, and where many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal. I come, therefore, with unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. My loving Mother, obtain my request. I will try to imitate your virtues so that I may one day share your company and bless you in eternity. Amen.

POPE JOHN PAUL II'S  PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF LOURDES

Hail Mary, poor and humble Woman, Blessed by the Most High! Virgin of hope, dawn of a new era, We join in your song of praise, to celebrate the Lord’s mercy, to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom and the full liberation of humanity.

Hail Mary, lowly handmaid of the Lord, Glorious Mother of Christ! Faithful Virgin, holy dwelling-place of the Word, Teach us to persevere in listening to the Word, and to be docile to the voice of the Spirit, attentive to his promptings in the depths of our conscience and to his manifestations in the events of history.

Hail Mary, Woman of sorrows, Mother of the living! Virgin spouse beneath the Cross, the new Eve, Be our guide along the paths of the world. Teach us to experience and to spread the love of Christ, to stand with you before the innumerable crosses on which your Son is still crucified.

Hail Mary, woman of faith, First of the disciples! Virgin Mother of the Church, help us always to account for the hope that is in us, with trust in human goodness and the Father’s love. Teach us to build up the world beginning from within: in the depths of silence and prayer, in the joy of fraternal love, in the unique fruitfulness of the Cross.

Holy Mary, Mother of believers, Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

***

Regarding the painting of Our Lady of Lourdes, artist Stephen B. Whatley writes, "It was cloudy and gray in London on February 11, 2011 as I prayed in preparation to paint this tribute from my heart and soul - but just as I began, the sun broke through the clouds: my prayers were for healing for all those I know who are sick and suffering. I hope viewers will be blessed with peace, hope and healing, through faith, by seeing this painting" 

In need of prayer?  Send requests to PrayerRequest@Christian-Miracles.com

Ex-atheist describes near-death experience

Ex-atheist describes near-death experience | SouthCoastToday.com

The following excerpt is from SouthCoastToday.com:

By LINDA ANDRADE RODRIGUES

A native son and newspaper carrier for The Standard-Times in Falmouth, Howard Storm went on to earn a master's degree from the University of California Berkeley and for 20 years was an arts professor at Northern Kentucky University. An avowed atheist he believed that there was no such thing as life after death -- until the day in 1985 when he died and went to hell.

In 1985 Mr. Storm 38 and his wife Beverly were in Paris on the last day of an art tour. Buckled over by searing pain in the middle of his stomach he was rushed to the hospital. Awaiting emergency surgery he knew he was dying. He said good-bye to his wife and drifted into darkness.

Standing up he realized he was between two hospital beds. He looked at Beverly who was motionless staring at the floor sitting in the chair next to his bed. He spoke to her but she didn't seem to hear.

As he bent over to look at the face of the body in the bed he was horrified to see the resemblance that it had to his own face. But he knew that was impossible because he was standing over the person and looking at him.

Off in the distance outside the room in the hall he heard voices calling him. They were pleasant voices male and female young and old calling to him in English.

"Come out here" they said. "Don't you want to get better?"

He stepped out into the hall full of anxiety. The area seemed to be light but very hazy and he couldn't make out any details.

He followed them shuffling along in his bare feet with the memory of pain in his belly yet feeling very much alive. The fog thickened as they went on and it became gradually darker.

Overwhelmed with hopelessness he told them he would go no farther and that they were liars. He could feel their breath on him as they shouted and snarled insults.

Then they began to push and shove him about and he began to fight back. A wild frenzy of taunting screaming and hitting ensued. As he swung and kicked at them they bit him.

Even though he couldn't see anything in the darkness he was aware there were dozens or hundreds of them all around and over him and that his attempts to fight back only provoked greater merriment.

They began to tear off pieces of his flesh and he realized that he was being taken apart and eaten alive methodically slowly so that their entertainment would last as long as possible. In that wretched state he lay there in the darkness.

Suddenly remembering a prayer from childhood Sunday School class he said "Yea though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me."

To his amazement the cruel merciless beings were incited to rage by his prayer. They screamed at him 'There is no God! Nobody can hear you!" But at the same time they were backing away. He realized that saying things about God was actually driving them away and he became more forceful. They became more rabid cursing and screaming against God but in time they retreated back into the distant gloom beyond his hearing.

Alone destroyed and yet painfully alive in this horrible place he yelled out into the darkness "Jesus save me."

Far off in the darkness he saw a pinpoint of light like the faintest star in the sky. The star became brighter and brighter. As it came closer he realized that he was right in its path and he might be consumed by its brilliance.

This was a living being approximately 8 feet tall and surrounded by an oval of radiance. The brilliant intensity of the light penetrated his body. Ecstasy swept away the agony. Tangible hands and arms gently embraced him and lifted him up. He slowly rose up into the presence of the light and the torn pieces of his body miraculously healed before his eyes.

(To read an excerpt from Howard Storm's book go to www.near-death.com/storm.html.)

Read more: Howard Storm

Church points to prayer for man's second chance at life

Church points to prayer for man's second chance at life wbir.com

The video and following excerpt is from wbir.com:

By Jennifer Meckles

On January 22nd, Fred McAfee attended a morning worship at Covenant Life Worship Center in Lake City, TN. He got out of his chair to give an offering, and collapsed suddenly.

"No breath, no heartbeat... just completely collapsed," remembers Pastor Tony McAfee.

Several people attempted to revive Fred McAfee, and an ambulance was called. While the congregation waited, they prayed.

"Its an amazing story, really, about the power of prayer," said the pastor. "And that miracles still do happen."

After about 10 minutes, McAfee suddenly awoke. He credits his faith for his survival.

Read more: Fred McAfee