Week of prayer for Christian unity traced to American priest

Origins, meaning of week of prayer for Christian unity traced to American priest

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

For many, Father Paul Wattson was a visionary. He was born 150 years ago, at the midst of division and war raging in his native Maryland during the American Civil War. Growing up such a difficult period of social unrest and reconciliation, he was exposed to the social issues of the time. They helped shape his life, which would lead him to the establishment of groups and movements which today carry on his legacy.

FR. JAMES PUGLISI
Minister General, Franciscan Friars of the Atonement
“He is an extremely human person, A person who was very related to what was going on in his time, but at the same time had a vision looking forward. Seeing beyond the concrete facts of today and seeing how God was moving the course of history.” Born to an Anglican preacher, his desire to care for others led him to establish the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. The society worked, among other things, to bridge the divide between the Anglican and Catholic churches. The unity he strove for inspired him to come up with the idea of an octave of prayer for unity. It takes place each year from January 18-25. FR.

JAMES PUGLISI
Minister General, Franciscan Friars of the Atonement
“They were two bookends; and the bookends were the Chair of St. Peter on the 18, so he saw this as the center of unity gathered around St. Peters Chair, and the 25 was the conversion of Paul who was the apostle preaching to all the nations.” The origins and purpose of week of prayer is ever present in the book Fire in the Night, an autobiography of Father Wattson. The book, soon to be published by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, explains how Father Wattson realized the need to pray for unity, especially to evangelize the world.

FR. JAMES PUGLISI
Minister General, Franciscan Friars of the Atonement
“They believe there's an Anglican God, a Catholic God, a Baptist God. But how can they accept us when we say that God is one. So you see this scandal of the division of Christians is fundamental. This is what pushed Father Paul to say that this prayer is necessary.” This year's theme centers on the topics of justice and solidarity within unity, inspired by the demeaning treatment of the 'untouchable' class in Indian society. During the week of prayer, people are asked to pray not just for ecumenical unity, as in the union between the Christian churches, but also for closer unity of each individual to God.

Prayer for World Peace

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

God the Father

Creator of the Heavenly Kingdom

We petition the Court of Heaven
And humbly pray for mercy and divine intervention.

Send forth blessings of spiritual deliverance—

Free nations from the strife of war—

Release cultures from the shackles of poverty—
Instill stability and prosperity—
Healing earth of suffering—

With saving grace for humanity—

We implore Heaven for miraculous signs

By altering the destiny of humankind

Into a glorious era of peace and harmony

Through divine love and prayerful unanimity—
 
Almighty Father we graciously thank thee

In granting our prayers through the name and power

Of your divine Son, Jesus.
Amen

Copyright © 2005 Loci B. Lenar

Millennium Prayer for World Peace is written with inspirational words to pray daily to Our Heavenly Father for divine intervention. Loci B. Lenar was spiritually inspired in 2005 by Our Lord Jesus Christ to write a prayer for peace.

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.

St. Mary's Monthly Prayer Service Scheduled for January 17, 2013

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.

God wants us to approach him with the desires of our heart. Our Lord calls us to connect with his divine grace in order to receive blessings in our lives. 

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-denville.org/directions.htm

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

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.

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

Osservatore Romano

“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.