Dear Brothers, Associates, and friends,
OUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN REQUESTED …
IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING TO GOD ... for the divine gifts of life, love, mercy,
and eternal salvation; the universal call to
holiness; the wonders of creation;
the patronage and inspiration of St.
Francis and St. Clare; the joy of being
in the MGC family; the perseverance
of our professed members and prospective
members in formation; the inquirers who are discerning
vocations to religious life, particularly
with MGC; the spiritual and material support of our members,
associates, families, friends, and benefactors; the success of the MGC Spring Retreat held
June 10 to 14 at the LaSalette Center, Attleboro
MA; the election of Br. Donogh Allan Cuseo
MGC as Secretary; the advancement of Br.
Stephen Michael Rabi MGC and Br. Richard
Robert Rivard MGC to the novitiate; the beautiful
St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi medals
donated by Br. Lee Mogavero SFO and distributed
at the retreat; the success of the general chapter of the Franciscan Order of
Friars Minor (OFM), including the re-election of Father Jose Rodriguez Carballo as Minister General, concluded in Assisi on June 4; praise to God and congratulations to Br. Donogh Allan MGC for completing the “Education for Ministry”
program of the University of the South on
May 31; for the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree
awarded on May 16 by Andover Newton Theological School to Anissa Brooke Porticelli, a cousin-in-law
of Br. Richard Robert Rivard MGC, and prayerful best wishes as she begins her ministry; the appointments* of (Roman Catholic) Bishop Gregory M. Aymond as metropolitan
archbishop of New Orleans and Msgr. Timothy
C. Senior as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese
of Philadelphia PA [June 19]; Bishop George J. Lucas as metropolitan archbishop of Omaha
NE [June 5]; Msgr. John Oliver Barres as Bishop of Allentown
PA and Msgr. Lee Anthony Piche as Auxiliary
Bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis MN [May 29], Bishop Joseph R. Cistone as bishop of Saginaw
MI [May 22], the many blessiings bestowed on MGC and on each of us as individuals; for all prayers answered, and that in all
things God may be glorified and praised!
* Please report the appointments or elections
of major leaders of your denomination.
FOR WORLD PEACE ... for the withdrawal of the accelerating Israeli
offensive, an end of the conflict between the Hamas
and Fatah factions in the Gaza
Strip, and the attacks against Israel; that
there be a process to establish a homeland
for Palestine, and for an offset of the rapid
decrease of the Christian population in
the Holy Land (from more than half a million
in 2003 to less than 20,000 now), causing
concern for the future survival of the Church
in the war-torn Middle East region*; that terrorist attacks in India cease; for rational
resolutions of the wars in Iraq** and Afghanistan***; an end to the worsening situation of genocide
in Darfur; that there be peace and stability
in Pakistan; that hostilities between Russia
and Georgia be permanently ended; for peace
throughout the world; divine protection
of our military men and women as they risk
their lives and perform selfless acts in
the pursuit of peace, and for their loved
ones who sacrifice and suffer losses; the
hundreds of innocent people injured in terrorist
attacks; for a radical change in U.S.
foreign policy, especially in Latin America;
that all efforts to end terrorism be
sustained, and that peace be pursued by
prayer and diplomatic means.
NOTES: * Christian leaders and congregants of the
Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox, Protestant
and African American church traditions
in the USA, as Churches for Middle East Peace, have joined together to declare their
support for robust U.S. peacemaking efforts
and to call for meaningful progress to achieve
a just and lasting two-state peace in that
region. For further information and to add
your name to a letter to President Obama,
please click: http://www.cmep.org/boldaction. [submitted by Br. Richard Robert MGC].
** March 19th was the 6th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq . It was a day of mourning, repentance, and action. The war and the occupation go on, soldiers and
civilians are still dying [see latest numbers
under “for those who have died” below], and Iraq still waits to rebuild in earnest.
[For further information go to Pax Christi at www.paxchristiusa.org .]
*** The war in Afghanistan has dragged on for more than seven years
and, by all accounts, is getting worse. Increased
funding for diplomacy and development, not for more military escalation, will bring
long-term peace to that troubled region.
[For more information go to Sojourners at www.sojo.net]
The National Catholic Conference on Peacemaking,
sponsored by Pax Christi USA, will be held in Chicago , July 16-19. The conference's title, "Remaining Awake
through a Great Revolution," is taken
from a speech given by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. only four days before he was assassinated:
"Anyone who feels, and there are still
a lot of people who feel that way, that war
can solve the social problems facing humankind
is sleeping through a great revolution." Click here to obtain more information on this year's conference.
FOR SPECIAL INTENTIONS ... that our political leaders and expert economists
will effectively resolve the country’s financial
crisis, and for aggressive research to discover the cause(s)
and hopefully a cure for autism.
FOR THOSE WHO RECENTLY DIED ... Mildred M. Barrie, James F. Davey, Edward R. Geoffrey, A. Florence McCall aMGC, Ed McMahon, and Sylvia Penn [July 3]; Francis J. Davenport, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Florian E. Marquis Jr., Doris M. Montpetit,
and Rose C. Zinno [June 26]; Bertrand Bessette, Roland Broberg, Jeanne
Cahill, Suzanne D. Cross, Fr. Joseph-Mary Flanery OCD (friend of Br. Richard Robert MGC), Beatrice
A. Gentes, Brian J. Lariviere, Marjorie L. Vose-Ashworth, and Arthur E. Weston Jr. [June 19]; deceased members of religious communities, all
who have been killed in Iraq, especially the 4,321+ USA and coalition military and 92,485+ civilians, and all the faithful departed
and their mourning families and friends.
IN MEMORY OF … Br. David John McKissock BMG (died July 29, 1993).
FOR THOSE WITH HEALTH CONCERNS ... all AIDS-infected/affected persons;
Doris Arnold (mother of Br. James Anthony
Arnold aMGC ); Daniel Ashlock; all children
with autism; Gerald J. Bee (formerly Br. Gerald Joseph MGC; Florence Belliveau; Omer Benoit; Madeleine M. Bradstreet (cousin of Br. Ron
Francis MGC); E. Marie and Jean Burgess; Br. Stephen
Edward Burke MGC; Charles A. Chenard; Claire M. Smith, (sister), Normand B. Crepeau
(brother), and George A. and Lorraine Crepeau (cousins) of
Br. Ron Francis MGC, and for himself; Jim Finn; Fr. Richard B. Gates; Robert Goldstein; Joseph Holmes; Mercedes Jacobo; Susan Jencks; Fr. Michael Kearney; Vivian Kelly (aunt of Br. James Bernard MGC; Sen. Edward M. Kennedy; Jim Kenney; Caroline
King; Br. Timothy James Larson; Edward J. LeBlanc aMGC; Florence Marshall (mother of Br. Peter Christopher MGC); Eric Messier; J. Gregori Montano; Br. Stephen Michael Rabi MGC; Deborah Sarno (and intentions of husband
John Sr. and their son John Jr.); Br. Max Bartholomew Scott MGC; Fr. Alexander Bernard Sinclair III; Fr Paul
Soper (facing serious neurological issues
and for discernment during times of trial);
Br. Donald Columba Steele MGC; Blanche and Richard Sutherland; Steven Valdez; Philip A. Vose, and all other MGC members, associates,
relatives, friends, and benefactors who are
suffering from various illnesses and conditions.
FOR GOD'S LOVE AND MERCY ... Fr. Arsany (for strength to cope with personal
issues); all children; Br. Ron Francis Crepeau-Cross MGC (special
intentions); church and civic authorities dealing with issues of homosexuality; Fr. Alberto Cutié (Catholic priest struggling
with mandatory celibacy who converted to the Episcopal Church); Br. Thomas Bonaventure MGC (travel mercies as he visits Barcelona, Spain , from July 7 to 21); federal and state courts/lawmakers (that they resolve the civil rights issues regarding marriage); all persons who are homeless; Br. James Bernard Kelly MGC (personal intentions); Edward J. LeBlanc aMGC
(special intention); people who are poor; prisoners held captive by humans and systems; Fr. Alexander Bernard Sinclair III and the
parish of St. Gabriel the Archangel in Kansas
City as they grow together in ministry and
love for the Lord; David Speer (son of Br. William John MGC, that he make life choices that will help him realize his
fullest potential); Steve (last name withheld, who feels unloved by his wife, suffers from
drug addictions, has employment problems,
and is facing financial bankruptcy); the ministries of MGC members and associates, and those of all others serving Jesus Christ;
the sanctification of all priests, clergy,
and religious, especially those who are challenged
by sexual and other personal issues; the children in Ireland who were abused by the Sisters of Mercy and Christian Brothers from 1910-1990, and healing for those who are still alive, and all other victims, survivors, and their families and
supporters, as well as the perpetrators of
sexual abuse and church leaders who have
denied and covered-up these atrocities, and
that everyone take greater care to safeguard
minors from further abuse; all victims of
violence; that we all be granted the graces
of repentance for our sins, humility of heart
and soul, simplicity of mind, and righteousness
in the sight of God, and for all persons
who are in need and do not have anyone else
to pray for them.
COMBINED REQUESTS … From Renee: For illness: Aaron, Dennis, Isabella, Kris,
Linda, Maria, Michael, Paulie, Raymond, Sandra,
Stephanie, Steve, Susan; for relationships:
Michael and Paulie's marriage and their new
home; for other intentions: Gus, Helen, Jeff,
Jennifer, Joanie, Lou, Michaellena, and Auntie
Tutu. From Stephen M. Kariuki (Nairobi, Kenya): Praise to God for the
gift of family life; for deceased Kariuki,
Wanjiru, Waithera and Njeri; Ndungu, Cathrine,
and Annastacia who are ill; for the families
of Njihia and Mwangi; Kangethe who needs
employment; blessings on Sarah and Alice,
and on Stephen’s wife who is starting a new
business, and that Stephen himself be freed
me from debts. From Alma Franc: healing of her severe health problems and
resolution of financial issues. From Billie Krantz: Dorothy and Leigh (illness), Bruce (financial
matters, and her own employment issues.
HAPPY BIRTHDAYS ... Br. Peter Christopher Marshall MGC (July 3),
Roy Garcia aMGC (July 4), Roger L. Edens
aMGC (July 12), Edward J. LeBlanc aMGC (July 15), Thomas W. Cruse aMGC (July 28), Bruce F. Bennink aMGC (August 2), Dan Lykins
aMGC (August 3), and all others who are celebrating over the coming 30 days!
