Dear Friends in Christ,

Transcription

1 October 2012 Proclaiming Jesus through Catholic Renewal and Evangelization Dear Friends in Christ, A letter from Ralph Martin Thank you for a great course. You have made a bunch of evangelists out of us! I need to ask your prayers for the three weeks that I ll be spending in Rome this month. I ve been asked by the Pontifical University of St. Thomas (the Angelicum) to teach a course on The Theology and Spirituality of the New Evangelization for graduate theology students during the World Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization. This is the same course that I taught to graduate theology students at Franciscan University of Steubenville this past summer and I am excited about the effect it had and can have also in Rome. Here are some comments from some of my students this summer: We ve been talking among ourselves how perfect this class is for those of us for which this is our last class in our MA program. Not only have you given us lots to think about, but you ve given us a much better sense of how much there is for us to do now, and how important it is that we do it. All by the grace of God of course! Thank you for a great course! I thoroughly enjoyed it and have picked up many things to use both with my students and with adults in the future. Thank you again. This has been an amazing class! Thank you for a very fruitful class. It was the perfect capstone to my program here and the perfect launching pad into the seminary. I pray that our paths may cross again and that we get to work together in some way to share the joy of Christ with those who don t know Him. Thank you for a great course. You have made a bunch of evangelists out of us! Please pray that the Holy Spirit brings to the class those whom He wants there and that He helps me in teaching and the students in listening. I also suspect that the Holy Spirit has some other things planned while I am in Rome which will probably only unfold when I am there. So, thank you for your prayers. I ll be leaving towards the end of the first week of October and home on October 31. On another note, I d like to share with you a wonderful encounter Anne and I had with Catholics who work on Capitol Hill assisting the Senators and Representatives with their work. continued on pg 2 Inside This Issue Mission to Slovenia Page 3 Mission to Samoa Page 4 Embarking on the Year of Faith Page 6 A Special Discount Page 7 On the Road Page 8 Ralph spoke to an impressive group of Catholics who work for various Senators and Representatives and special committees on Capitol Hill.

2 Dear Friends in Christ, continued from page 1 A young Catholic lawyer and a committee sponsor a monthly luncheon and half hour talk for Catholics who 2 work on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. I am also pleased to announce that Sister Ann Shields, SGL has been honored with the Benemerenti Medal, awarded by the Holy Father as a mark of recognition to persons in service of the Church. Ralph and Anne were warmly hosted by the organizing committee for the luncheon on Capitol Hill. Here they are in the Science, Space and Technology Hearing Room where the luncheon and talk were held. A young Catholic lawyer and a committee sponsor a monthly luncheon and half hour talk for Catholics who work on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. In July I gave the talk there on holiness and was very impressed by the interest and variety of those who were present. Keep praying for our country! Also this month I d like to draw your attention again to the fact that the book I have been working on for many years is now available. We will be making it available at a discount for the next few months. You can see the enclosed reply card for the details. I continue to be grateful for the amazing endorsements that key Church leaders have given it (see the September newsletter at: and click on Newsletter where I reported on some of the endorsements) and you can also read some of them in the ad on page 7 of this newsletter. Pray that the book reaches those who can be helped by it and that it makes a positive contribution to restoring our confidence in the truth of the Gospel and the urgent need for Jesus to be proclaimed. I ll try to send back some reports during my time in Rome and keep you in touch with what s happening. We ll send these out to those of you who have given us your address (you can send your address to us by filling out the reply card where there is room for your address) and also post them on the Bulletin Board on the homepage of our website. I am also pleased to announce that Sister Ann Shields, SGL has been honored with the Benemerenti Medal, awarded by the Holy Father as a mark of recognition to persons in service of the Church. Sr. Ann received the award last month from Bishop Earl Boyea in a ceremony at the Cathedral in Lansing. We rejoice that her gifts are giving honor to God and are at the service of the New Evangelization. More information is available on the Bulletin Board of our homepage (renewalministries.net). There were also some very fruitful opportunities in the past few months to speak to priests, deacons and seminarians. Fr. Francis Martin, the noted scripture scholar and friend of Renewal Ministries, held a week-long seminar on preaching and I gave four talks there. It was a joy to see these priests, deacons and seminarians eagerly receiving the Word of God and wanting so much to pass it on to their people. It was also a joy to meet one of the other presenters, Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P, the editor in chief of Magnificat, the monthly prayer/scripture publication that so many of us benefit from using. I also very much enjoyed a return to Steubenville later in the summer where I spoke on spiritual warfare at the Applied Biblical Studies Conferernce and on the New Evangelization at the Defending the Faith Conference. God s people are hungry and these conferences are providing food for thousands. Thanks be to God. The adventure continues! Your brother in Christ, Ralph Martin

3 Mission to Slovenia By Don Turbitt Slovenia is a s m a l l c o u n t r y of about two million people and 1,600,000 self identify as Catholics, although only an estimated 20% attend Sunday Mass. I have been coming to Slovenia for about ten years and I have seen a growth in the charismatic renewal, although it is still predominantly led by women. This year I introduced Men of St. Joseph, its goals being to bring men into a personal relationship with Jesus and to encourage them to attend prayer meetings. Each night during my ten day mission, I traveled to a different city, attended Mass, taught, then I prayed with many people. I prayed for one woman with pain in her hips and growths in her breasts. She came to the very next city where I was ministering to tell me how she was healed. Another evening I ministered in the Maribor diocese with 200 people in attendance and five priests who came forward for prayer. In between meetings the man driving me home asked if we could stop at his house. He was involved with the renewal but his wife was not. I prayed a blessing over their home and as I prayed over his wife she began to weep and experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit. The husband was thrilled and said to me, This is the reason you came to Slovenia. I stayed in a retreat house and the director of the house, a priest, asked me for prayer. He desired healing for past hurts and greater freedom. When I returned to the house later that evening that same priest was waiting to speak with me. For two hours I shared with him everything I understood was needed for a personal relationship with Jesus. The next morning he asked me to pray over him for the gift of tongues! We talked, then prayed and sang in tongues together. While I was at the retreat house a woman with multiple sclerosis came in and the priest sent her to me for prayer. Another woman on retreat there asked for prayers to be healed of cancer. Even the cook asked for prayer! We met for an hour with Auxiliary Bishop (From l to r): Janez, Bishop Anton Jamnik, Don, and Leon Anton Jamnik of Ljubljana. We talked about Renewal Ministries and the need to evangelize. I introduced the idea of the need for men s ministry and the Bishop became very excited about it. He asked me to write a full page article on the need for evangelizing men in the Catholic Church and he said he was going to present these ideas at the upcoming Bishops Conference. Marija, a woman who received prayer and physical healing at one of the sessions When I returned to the house later that evening that same priest was waiting to speak with me. For two hours I shared with him everything I understood was needed for a personal relationship with Jesus. 3

4 Mission to Samoa I want you to make our youth love Jesus and the Catholic Church. Af t e r s e v e r a l c o n n e c t i n g f l i g h t s and 24 hours in flight we arrived at Pago Pago in American Samoa. We attended Mass at Hope House, a Catholic home for the aged and had the privilege of sharing the Gospel and inviting people to make a renewed commitment to Jesus. We then joined the priest in praying for healing for the elderly people as well as the Dominican Sisters of the Trinity who work at there. The next day after a short flight, we were met by our team at the airport in Western Samoa Carol Ah Chong, our contact in Samoa, Kristin Taylor, who is an official Princess of Samoa, and Ray Hurley, Lolly Schmidt and Jane Yonky from Florida, who joined us for prayer support. We came for Samoan Youth Day 2012 at the request of Bishop Alapati who said, I want you to make our youth love Jesus and the Catholic Church. The Bishop brought in more than 3,000 Samoan youth from Auckland, Christchurch, New South Wales, and other cities in New Zealand, from Sydney, Melbourne, and Victoria in Australia, from Hawaii and other Pacific Islands as well as several cities in California. All the youth rotated between four different venues. Renewal Ministries taught the Catechetical tract, at another venue they focused on Divine Mercy, at another the theme was vocations and another communication. We had four days to minister to a different group of kids each day. Our program was similar each day. After a time of praise and worship Carol Ah Chong This photo captures some of the excitement and energy of the youth who attended the Samoan Youth Day in Tofafamoa. 4 introduced the team and program for the day. She told of how she became involved in ministry and about Baby Miracle, a severely handicapped child left to die but rescued who is now famous throughout Samoa. Because of Baby Miracle, severely handicapped children are no longer kept hidden for the rest of their lives. Kristin then shared some of her music and her testimony. She encouraged the youth to be bold in using their own individual gifts for the Lord and to expect God to use them in powerful ways! Lloyd then presented the basic Gospel message and used scripture to tell them of God s perfect plan for their lives. He wove in Catholic apologetics and then led them in a prayer to give their lives to Jesus. I spoke about blocks to receiving the love of the Father, the keys to freedom and the many gifts of the Holy Spirit. The final talk was on forgiveness and I led the group in a prayer to forgive others. Lloyd also taught on Reconciliation and the Eucharist and it was evident that many eyes were opened to the truth of our Catholic faith. In the late afternoon the youth were brought into Apia to do evangelization on street corners. Each evening a different group presented very elaborate dances and music to express some theme of evangelization. It was all very colorful and kept the youth involved and excited. Our team also walked among the youth and prayed for a number of people. One evening the team prayed for a group in which there were a number of problems and people in need of healing; it appeared that the Lord worked powerfully! One infant with a heart murmur that greatly concerned the parents and doctor went back to the doctor after prayer and the murmur was gone! At the closing Mass two priests were ordained and it was a real witness for the youth to see how the Church honored these two men. The next morning we headed back to

5 By Nancy Greenhaw These are some of the youth of American Samoa who attended a diocesan program entitled, Say No to Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco. American Samoa. We attended a special youth Mass and all the diocesan youth (at least 200) joined our program in the parish hall at the Cathedral. The theme the diocese adopted was Say No to Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco. With this in mind I gave my testimony and talked about getting and staying free from things that trap us in the bondage of sin. Kristin gave a powerful talk about the personal devastation of drugs and alcohol on her family. One of her sisters died in car accident driving under the influence and the other died of heartache after her sister s death. She also mentioned the daily problems with her eight adopted teenagers. Lloyd presented the basic Gospel message and led the youth in a prayer to invite Jesus to be the Lord of their lives. The kids were very attentive and I believe they really wanted a change in their lives and were convinced that Jesus was the only answer. Despite the incredible beauty of the people and the area, Samoan youth are still at high risk for suicide. Children are to be seen but not heard. They have no vote or say in any decisions that affect them. Teens and young adults are expected to get jobs and send the majority of the pay check to the parents and family. The Chief has the final say on everything. We heard a story of a teen who tried to communicate the emptiness and hopelessness to his parents, but he was denied the opportunity to express his feelings. Finally, he told them he would commit suicide, but he was still not taken seriously. So he climbed a tall tree in his front yard with rope in hand, while the younger siblings were playing beneath and the mother was watching TV. He stepped out into space and into eternity carrying out this bizarre and incredibly tragic action. The smiling mask these young people wear often covers up their true condition. Any time we get an opportunity to minister to youth it is a privilege and a blessing. We brought an essential message to the thousands of Samoan youth and gave them an opportunity to encounter the living God. We led them in prayers of forgiveness and acceptance of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Their future is in God s perfectly capable hands. Our team: (l to r): Nancy, Kristin, Carol, Gruna, Lolly, and Jane; Ray, Fr. Timu, Fr. Gerry, Lloyd, and Bishop Alapati. 5

6 From the Heart By Sr. Ann Shields, SGL Faith is not a thing of the mind; it is not an intellectual certainty, or a felt conviction of the heart. It is a sustained decision to take God with utter seriousness as the God of my life it is a decision to shift the center of our lives from ourselves to Him Embarking on the Year of Faith In the May 2012 issue of this newsletter, I wrote about faith and quoted from The Essence of Prayer, by Sister Ruth Burrows: Faith is not a thing of the mind; it is not an intellectual certainty, or a felt conviction of the heart. It is a sustained decision to take God with utter seriousness as the God of my life it is a decision to shift the center of our lives from ourselves to Him God pours out the grace for us to receive and grow in faith but it is not magic. We have to decide to do what Sister so eloquently and succinctly calls us to embrace. The Year of Faith, beginning this month, is a time to receive the grace God desires to pour out on us. The Pope has called us to grow in faith and God will respond with abundant help. This is a year of divine encounter but we have to be willing to take it seriously. Neither you nor I know what awaits us in the growing political, racial, and religious storms all around us, but neither can we afford to ignore them. Pope Benedict has called us to grow in faith. What better way to be ready than to daily ask for the grace. Sister Ruth tells us in another chapter of the same book: Each of us has the choice to either live by faith or to live by flesh. To live by flesh is to live within the limits of our own potential, within the limits of our own perception and understanding, according to how things seem and feel, according to our natural experience. It is instinctive for us to live thus, taking for granted that our conscious experience is to be trusted, that it is the way things really are, the way we are, the way God is we want to remain on this level because it is within our grasp; it is ours and affords a sort of security and assurance. This is so natural to us that we are unaware of how much of our life is lived from self, relying on self, and not on faith in the Son of Man. Such a conversion, and conversion it is, is necessary to grow in faith. How much day to day do I rest in God, seek His wisdom, His encouragement, His strength, His patience all of which He wishes to give. How much do I put Him in the center of my life: my thoughts, my relationships, my work, my play? Is He the center around which my daily life revolves or do I give Him my daily prayer time and token reference throughout the day when I think of it? Do I seek His will throughout the day, especially when events or relationships are difficult? Ask yourself in this Year of Faith a number of questions until you see who really is in the center of your life. But first, ask yourself if you believe that God is nearer than your very breath, that He knows all about you and loves you and desires to be an intimate part of your life. He is your Father, Your Savior, Your Shepherd, Your Sanctifier, daily and without limit, if we choose to take ourselves out of the center and put Him where He truly belongs. I remember years ago when I was still trying to govern my own life, by myself, I was going about my daily work when, clear as a bell, I heard these words in my mind: Who is sitting in my chair? I was immediately reminded of the nursery story of the Three Bears but quickly realized that God was asking me a serious question one that if honestly answered had the potential to turn my life upside down and inside out. By the grace of the Holy Spirit I was honest and said, I guess I am sitting in your chair. In other words, I had myself at the center of my life and God was a good adviser. (Remember that Sister Ruth says that we want to remain on this level because it is within our grasp it affords a sort of security.) That s how the world thinks and we easily, even while professing to be good Christians, nevertheless do not live out of faith but out of self sufficiency. I can hear the critics say, But we are supposed to be adults and think for ourselves. When we put God in His rightful place at the center of our thoughts, decisions and actions, we will gain a wisdom and insight that will make us truly mature and confident and reliable. We will become true disciples who can be used by the Lord. So, as we embark upon the Year of Faith, let this be truly a year of growing in faith. Let s fight the battle to get ourselves, by His grace, out of the center and allow God to establish His rule, His authority over us daily situation by situation. Even in the midst of trials, His life will sustain and guide, comfort and strengthen because He will be on His rightful throne in your life. Ask the Holy Spirit moment by moment to change the orientation of your daily life. Open the gates; That the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter in. Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on thee, Because he trusts in thee. (Isaiah 26:3)

7 Discount! Will Many Be Saved? What Vatican II Actually Teaches and Its Implications for the New Evangelization By Ralph Martin, S.T.D. The Catholic Church is intensely focusing on the need for a new evangelization. But the question in the back of many people s minds is: does it really matter, isn t almost everyone saved? Ralph Martin s new book, hailed by Cardinal George as uniquely important, examines what precisely Vatican II teaches on this most important of all issues. Special discount through our Newsletter and Website! When ordering online enter coupon code WMBSNEWS On the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, the missionary purpose and inspiration of the Council is being revisited. Ralph Martin clarifies a doctrinal point that has been often obscured but must be recovered as a necessary foundation for the new evangelization. This is a uniquely important book. Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago The New Evangelization involves a personal deepening and renewal of our faith, a confidence in that belief, and a willingness to share it. Dr. Ralph Martin s book Will Many Be Saved? contributes significantly to a richer understanding of our faith, helps restore confidence in the Gospel message and engenders a desire to share the truth of Christ s message. An important contribution to the pastoral strategy of the New Evangelization. Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, D.C. If the pastoral strategy of Vatican II has led to practical universalism in certain quarters, this reading of the Council provides a refreshing reminder of the undiminished urgency and validity of the missionary mandate of Jesus to his followers to evangelize. Peter Cardinal Turkson, President, Pontifical Council for Peace and Justice At the heart of the Church s mission is the ongoing need for evangelization. Our response to the new evangelization will lack enthusiasm, and conviction, if we don t realize what s truly at stake here: our eternal salvation in Christ. Ralph Martin s book provides much-needed clarity on these very important issues. Archbishop Robert Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis See enclosed reply card or visit website at to order! Please Pray... for Ralph as he teaches a three week course in Rome. May the Holy Spirit bring to the class those whom He wants there and help Ralph as he teaches about the New Evangelization. for deeper conversion, an increase in faith, and a zeal for evangelization in the Church in this Year of Faith. for the prayer intentions of all our supporters and their family members, especially as they face the challenges of illness and economic uncertainty. Thank you for your continued support through prayer as we labor together for the Gospel and the renewal of the Church. 7

8 On the Road At this very moment I may, if I desire, become the friend of God. Saint Augustine October 2012 *Colorado Springs, CO Legatus Chapter Meeting October 3 Debra Herbeck *Denver, CO, Legatus Chapter Meeting October 4 Debra Herbeck Brooklyn, MI, i.d.916 Young Adult October 5 7 Contact: intentionaldisciples@gmail.com or pburak10@yahoo.com *Green Bay, WI, Diocesan Clergy Congress October 8 9 Ralph Martin, Peter Herbeck *Monroe, MI Directors of Religious Education Meeting October 13 Sr. Ann Shields, SGL *Ann Arbor, MI Renewal Ministries U.S. Board Meeting October Peter Herbeck, Sr. Ann Shields, SGL *Rome, Italy, The Angelicum, Theology and Spirituality of the New Evangelization Course October Ralph Martin *Columbus, OH, Legatus Chapter Meeting October 18 Sr. Ann Shields, SGL Mission to Slovakia October 18 November 3 Tom Edwards and Team Contact Kathleen Kittle: ext 132 or kkittle@renewalministries.net Vero Beach, FL, Holy Cross Parish Mission October Peter Herbeck Contact Jim Manhardt at: Vancouver, British Colombia Crossing the Goal Conference October 27 Peter Herbeck and Crossing the Goal Team Contact: danny@crossingthegoal.com Lansing, MI, Diocesan Women s Conference October 27 Debra Herbeck Contact: November 2012 Mission to Croatia November 7 11 Deacon Zoltán Kunszabó and Team Metuchen, NJ Diocesan Faith Formation Conference November 10 Ralph Martin Contact: jdangiolillo@diometuchen.org Racine, WI, Magnificat Women s Event November 10 Debbie Herbeck Contact: judy@banenelson.com Mission to Mexico November Jim Murphy and Team Contact Kathleen Kittle: ext 132 or kkittle@renewalministries.net *Pittsburgh, PA, Legatus Chapter Meeting Thursday, November 15 Debbie Herbeck *Events not open to the public R e n e w a l M i n i s t r i e s In the United States Episcopal Advisor Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, St. Louis, MO President Ralph Martin In Canada Episcopal Advisors Cardinal Thomas Collins, Toronto Bishop M. Pearse Lacey, Ret. Auxillary, Toronto Chairman of the Board Msgr. Gregory Smith, Vancouver Renewal Ministries is a Catholic ministry committed to renewal and evangelization in the Church. It seeks to proclaim Jesus Christ through its TV and radio outreaches, as well as through books, tapes, conferences, retreats and other international evangelistic events. Editor Design Debra Herbeck Anne Martin 2012 by Renewal Ministries 8 P.O. Box 1426 Ann Arbor, MI phone In Canada P.O. Box 400 Station U Toronto, ON M8Z 5Y8 phone