Let's Pray the Rosary to Alleviate Hunger & Global Food Insecurity

PEACE BE WITH YOU.

Join us in the Church of the Holy Family in Manhattan, right after the 5:30 pm Vigil Mass for Rosary Night on the 5th, first Saturday of February 2011. At 6:30 p.m., we will pray the Rosary of the Virgin Mary to alleviate hunger and the growing food insecurity around the world. Then, let us be inspired by a multi-media presentation by Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, Founder & CEO of Mary’s Meals (formerly known as SIR or Scottish International Relief), an international movement to set up school feeding projects in communities where poverty and hunger prevent children from gaining an education. Mary’s Meals provides daily meals in school for over 450,000 children in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.

Learn of the loves of Magnus for the Blessed Virgin Mary, his work at Mary’s Meals, and his enriching experience in Medjugorje (not an official pilgrim site, but also visited by soon to be beatified Pope John Paul II, Servant of God). Magnus, who is in Haiti helping to rebuild after the earthquake, intends to make a short stop in New York especially to be with us, on his way home to the Highlands of Scotland. Please mark your calendars & be with us to welcome Magnus one of CNN Heroes in 2010.

Do not be afraid, but speak & do not be silent...(Acts 18:9)

And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man shall attack you to harm you; for I have many people in this city." And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. (Acts 18:9-17)

Do Not Be Silenced. Let Christians walk in wisdom in "the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God..." (2 Cor. 6:6-7), and let them be about their task of spreading the light of life with all confidence and apostolic courage, even to the shedding of their blood. (Dignitatis humanae, 14)

Prayer: O God, may we remain true until death to the faith we profess.

(Source: St. Paul for Every Day of the Year, Edited by the Daughters of St. Paul, 1979)

St. Paul the Apostle, pray for us.
St. Timothy and St. Titus, Bishops, pray for us.

St. Pauls by Westminster Cathedral, London

On 31 Dec. 2010, after receiving end of year blessings in a Holy Mass in Westminster Cathedral in London, my husband (who took these photos) and I walked next door to St. Pauls (books and media center). It's the largest Christian bookstore I've ever seen; that is after having been to St. Paul's Temple in Alba, Italy last Oct. 2010.

Entering the bookstore, I was very much impressed by the words of Blessed James Alberione, Primo Maestro. The engraved sign on the wall (as shown in center photo above) said that St. Pauls (bookstore) is not just a commercial venture but a place that radiates the truth about Jesus Christ & His love. Below the sign was a wonderful portrait in mosaic style of Blessed Alberione.

Brother Paolo Putti, SSP, who is featured in the photos above (one solo and one with me), hails from Padua, Italy. He was so kind to give us a tour and I found newly released books, including those written by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, and books on the works of Blessed Cardinal Newman. Thanks to Brother Paolo, I also found a book on the Spirituality of our dearly beloved Blessed James Alberione that was written by Dr. George Kaitholil, SSP.

In his book, Dr. Kaitholil, SSP, cited the fruitful & admirable qualities and attitude of Blessed James Alberione, such as self-awareness, humility, industriousness, compassion, patience and perseverance, honesty, fortitude, firm determination, deep sense of belonging to the Church, simplicity, spirit of penance, deep prayer, constant effort for self-improvement, surrender to God's will, clear vision & deep conviction of his mission, seeing all things in the light of faith, constant availability to God's service, love for Christ, love for neighbour, desire for holiness, sensitivity to the needs of others, and unshakable trust in God.

It is good to learn to live some of Blessed Alberione's virtues, so as to embody the traits of our blessed Founder of the Pauline Family, who leads us to Our Divine Master when he said, "If Jesus Christ alone is the fullness of salvation, it is necessary to find it in him alone. And the more we become part of Him, the more we will live in spiritual health. Living Christ integrally, the whole man will be sound -- sound in mind, heart, will and body, morally sound. We have been given a pledge of future glory" (Carissimi, 1224).

Brother Paolo Putti, SSP, is a good follower of our Christ-centered Founder. He followed obediently the requests of Blessed Alberione for him to go on mission to Africa, America, Australia, , & more. In Africa, he experience evacuation from the Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire) to Congo/Brazzaville en route back to Italy. Blessed Alberione asked Br. Paolo to write to him whenever he writes to his earthly father. Brother Paolo Putti, SSP, was so fortunate to have such close relationship with Blessed Alberione that he received personal letter replies in return which he treasures to this day. I am very grateful for the opportunity of meeting Br. Paolo Putti, SSP, in his present duty station--St. Pauls in London, UK--a great gift from above!

May God continue to bless the Pauline Family and their loved ones & may God make their prayers & works in the service of God & our neighbours--humanity--be fruitful for His glory through Jesus Master, Way, Truth and Life. Amen. Mary, Queen of Apostles, pray for us. St. Paul the Apostle, pray for us. Blessed James Alberione, pray for us.

In Christ's peace,
Margie Skeels
Pauline Cooperator

Cardinal O'Malley of Boston imparts blessings on image of Blessed James Alberione (Beato Giacomo Alberione)

Dear Pauline Family,

Today Sunday, 16 January 2011, as a parishioner of Church of the Holy Family which is designated as the United Nations Parish, I felt privileged to have had amongst our midst His Eminence Sean Cardinal O'Malley of Boston, as the Principal Celebrant of the 12:00 noon Holy Mass. I enjoyed his homily very much on the truthfulness and humility of St. John the Baptist in bearing witness to the real Messiah, Jesus Christ. (Ref John 1:29-34)

Today's second reading 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 was also special. St. Paul the Apostle reminds us that we are "called to be saints" (1 Corinthians 1:2). He was addressing the Corinthians and, equally so, "all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." That includes us who call on the name of the Lord.

Blessed James Alberione, our Founder, heard St. Paul's words so clearly that he dedicated his life to proclaim the Gospel and established ten (10) branches of the Pauline Family to whom he passed on the teachings and the work of spreading the Good News.

I take this opportunity to extend a million thanks to Cardinal O'Malley. For today just before the Holy Mass, while in the Sacristy of the Church of the Holy Family, he imparted his blessings so very kindly to the image of Blessed James Alberione. (See photo above.) I will treasure this memento from the Pauline Cooperators Pilgrimage organized by the Daughters of St. Paul (USA) to the Primo Maestro's house in Fossano last October 2010. This I will treasure as a reminder of the "call" to live the gracious gift of our baptism. What does this entail?

Jesus Master, Way, Truth & Life, have mercy on us. Mary, Queen of the Apostles, pray for us, St. Paul the Apostle, pray for us. Blessed James Alberione, pray for us.

Respectfully,
Margie Skeels

Happy New Year from Maryann!

Folks,

Maryann Toth posted this on New Year's Day, but at the moment she is not yet able to post directly to the Cooperator's blog. She is getting this straightened out, but meanwhile wants you all to see her greeting.

A very Happy & Blessed New Year to all Pauline Cooperators and other members of the Pauline family. May this new year be filled with many blessings for you and your families. The first reading from today's Mass expresses my wishes to you. "May the Lord bless you and keep you! May the Lord let His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!"

As we begin this new year, let's ask the Lord to give us the clarity and courage we need to fulfill our call to evangelization. Happy New Year!

Clarity and courage for evangelization, indeed. Great thought, Maryann. Happy new year, Cooperators!