Prayer Requests
December, 2009

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; for the success of MGC Fall Conference '09, held on November 11 to 15, at the Carmel Retreat Center, Mahwah NJ and for the profession of first vows by Br. Raymond Patrick McGarr MGC; 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 10th anniversary of the consecration of Br. Stephen Edward Burke MGC as a bishop in the American Catholic Church of New England, to be observed on November 27, 2009; the elections of Deacon Tom Bello of Arlington VA as national minister and Elaine Hedtke of Port Angeles WA as vice minister of the Secular Franciscan Order (SFO) in the USA; enactment of the Matthew Shepard/James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act, signed by President Obama on October 28; the recently-announced scientific progress that may lead to an anti-AIDS vaccine; the appointments* of (Roman Catholic) Bishop Jerome E. Listecki as metropolitan archbishop of Milwaukee WI and Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades as bishop of Fort Wayne- South Bend IN [November 20]Fr. Joseph M. Siegel as auxiliary bishop of Joliet IL [October 30], Fr. Paul D. Etienne as bishop of Cheyenne WY [October 23], Msgr. Paul D. Sirba as Bishop of Duluth MN ; Fr. Fernando Isern as Bishop of Pueblo CO , and Msgr. Robert C. Evans as Auxiliary Bishop of Providence RI [October 16], and Msgr. Bernard A. Hebda as bishop of Gaylord MI [October 9]; the many blessings 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 appointment or election 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 thwar-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, please click: http://www.cmep. org/boldaction. [submitted by Br. Richard Robert MGC].
 
                    ** March 19, 2009, 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 dyingand Iraq still waits to rebuild in earnest. [For further information go to Pax Christi at www.paxchristiusa. org .]

           ***  It has been eight years since the United States military began operations in Afghanistan in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. We lament the suffering, violence, and death on both sides of the conflict. Our scriptures and history teach us that war is not the answer to building the peace and security we are striving for in this world. Unfortunately, the options being debated are far too narrow and are unlikely to bring the peace and stability we desperately need to end this war. The two strategies in the forefront - counterinsurgency, requiring a substantial escalation of troops, and counterterrorism, relying on precision targeting technology to apply military pressure on the most dangerous operatives, often at the expense of civilian lives - don't address the deep moral and practical issues we face in Afghanistan .

                We await President Obama's speech to the nation, scheduled for December 1, when he is to announce his strategy for Afghanistan. It's not too late to join other people of faith in praying for him and urging him to begin with bold humanitarian aid and development instead of more military escalation. Please click on this link: Tell President Obama: We need a whole new approach in Afghanistan. [Taken from a message by Sojourners. More info at www.sojo.net]

FOR SPECIAL INTENTIONS ... that our political leaders and expert economists will resolve the country’s financial crisisfor aggressive research to discover the cause(s) and hopefully a cure for autism; the 1,100+ killed, and many others injured and displaced by the powerful earthquake in Indonesia on October 1, and that the community's ad in the September 18 Vocations issue of the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) will generate a large number of qualified inquiries.

FOR THOSE WHO RECENTLY DIED ... Fr. Lawrence P. Deery OMI, Fr. Edward H. Gallagher OP, Arthur E. Lake , and Gerald J. Mailhot Sr. [November 27], Lucille C. Beaudet, Carol E. Dumouchel, Jeannine Garcia, Maxwell Mays, Daniel P. McKiernan Sr., Army Specialist Benjamin Sherman (died in Afghanistan) , and David Weinburgh [November 20]; Harold B. Anderson, Rene R. Champagne, Robert J. Curran Jr., Chief Thomas M. Harrington, Fred McCarthy (former OFM friar, creator of “Brother Juniper” cartoons), and Kyle J. McLaughlin [November 13]; deceased members of religious communities, all who have been killed in current wars, and all the faithful departed and their mourning families and friends. 
We also are asked to pray for the 12 military and one civilian killed, and all those wounded in the shooting massacre at Fort Hood TX on November 5, and that God have mercy on the alleged perpeterator.

FOR THOSE WITH HEALTH CONCERNS ...
all infected/affected by HIV/AIDS and the current H1N1 virus epidemic; Daniel Ashlock; Gerald J. Bee (formerly Br. Gerald Joseph MGC); Omer Benoit; Raymond Boswell; E. Marie and Jean Burgess; Br. Stephen Edward Burke MGC; Julius Carneiro; all children with autism; Collette and Stephen Couture; Br. Gerardo DeFillippes OAR; Jim Finn; Louis Gencarella; Mercedes Jacobo; Susan Jencks; Fr. Michael Kearney; Vivian Kelly (aunt of Br. James Bernard MGC); Jim Kenney; Carolyn King; Edward J. LeBlanc aMGC; Florence Marshall (mother of Br. Peter Christopher MGC); Sr. Alice McGinn MM; Br. Bill McKenna SFO; Travis Mizerny (grandson of  Maria-Carol Ritter-Guthmiller aMGC); Stephen Michael Rabi ; Br. Max Bartholomew Scott MGC; Ann P. Senerchia; Fr. Alexander Bernard Sinclair III; Claire M. Smith, (sister), Normand B. Crepeau (brother), and George A. and Lorraine Crepeau (cousins) of Br. Ron Francis MGC, and for himself; Fr Paul Soper (facing serious neurological issues and for discernment during times of trial); Br. Donald Columba Steele MGC; Blanche and Richard Sutherland; Jason Travis; Steven Valdez; Philip A. Vose, David Weinburgh, and all other MGC members, associates, relatives, friends, and benefactors who are suffering from various illnesses and conditions.

FOR GOD'S LOVE AND MERCY ... All children; church and civic leaders dealing with homosexuality; Br. Ron Francis MGC, special intentions; federal and state courts/ lawmakers that they resolve the civil rights issues regarding marriage; all persons who are homeless; Jason (last name withheld), discernment of vocation and acceptance of his application for postulancy in the Holy Name Province, Order of Friars Minor (OFM); Br. James Bernard Kelly MGC, personal intentions; Edward J. LeBlanc aMGC, special intention; Fr. Tyrone Monroe aMGC (formerly Br. Joseph Cupertino MGC), discernment of an important decision; people who are poor; prisoners held captive by humans and systems; Mary Frances Raum; Rose Rolling aMGC, that she may resolve marital issues and be relieved of post traumatic stress disorder symptoms; Fr. Alexander B. Sinclair III, retired after 52 years in priestly service and for continuing good health as he ministers as a part-time chaplain at Whiteman AFB in Missouri; Fr. Paul Soper, who continues faithfully in ministry and discerns his path at his new parish, St. Albert the Great, Weymouth MA, despite his Parkinson’s disease and amid the changes in the Archdiocese of Boston; 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 Shweta K. in India : healing of hyperacidity, hypertension, and severe headaches, and that she find a good groom. From anonymous in Hong Kong, China: For his and his family’s spiritual growth; improvement of their employment situation and safety in their workplaces; that a financial injustice against his mother be rectified now that one of the perpetrators has been arrested and the investigation continues; in thanksgiving for his new psychological medications and that he not suffer side effects; that his mental health be restored; that he be cured of obsessive thoughts and  self-destructive actions; that he and his mother can use their spare time during the holidays to distribute and study bible materials; that his parents will improve their relationship and not become divorced; that God will forgive him and not punish him for his past sins; that he develop his relationship with his new Christian wife; that his  brother be cured of substance abuse and gambling addiction, and that his nephew be spared from danger.   
HAPPY BIRTHDAYS ... Geoff Goucher aMGC (December 2), Br. Raymond Patrick McGarr MGC (December 7), Maria-Carol Ritter-Guthmiller aMGC (December 13), Ron Falkenstein aMGC (December 14), Bishop Joseph A. Johnson aMGC (December 14), Roger Alling aMGC (December 15), Br. Donald Columba Steele MGC (December 17), Tony Cable aMGC (December 23), Joseph John Jurgensen aMGC (December 26), and all others who are celebrating over the coming month! 

Please e-mail your weekly prayer intentions, by not later than Thursday at 5pm, to ensure publication on the next day, to Br. Ron Francis at MGCPrayers@gmail.com.  If you are not on e-mail, please write by snail mail to MGC Prayers c/o Br. Ron Francis, Mercy House, 45 Mendon Road, South Attleboro, MA 02703, or call me by telephone at (508)639-9287.  Kindly provide the full name of the person and the proper category.

Please help keep this list current by advising when prayers have been answered, and/or when individual names should appear in different categories, or should be removed.  Thanks! To add, delete or change a listing contact: Br.Ron, MGC