Mother Mary Gabriel, our foundress, with the first two "pioneers" who joined our community 25 years ago - Sister Mary John Paul and Sister Mary Jacinta. This picture was taken on July 16th, 2012, the 25th anniversary of our founding!
Recently, in an EWTN interview, Father Apostoli stated that Our Lady of Fatima's request for the five First Saturdays' devotion has not yet been fulfilled. The "First Saturdays" are to be made in reparation to her Immaculate Heart. Father Apostoli said that the Lord is waiting for this reparation in order to inaugurate Our Lady's era of peace, which we so desperately need today. Johnnette Benkovic has given us permission to offer for your viewing Father Apostoli's programs on Fatima that Mother Gabriel found so interesting. Fatima: The Story and Its Times Fatima's Message: What Did Our Lady Mean?
Mother Gabriel has a real sense of urgency, for the sake of our nation and our world, for each of us to fulfill the five First Saturdays' devotion, and spread it to our family, friends, and parish. We as a community are doing this. Won't you join us? How to do the Five First Saturdays: There are four requirements to faithfully fulfill the First Saturdays' devotion. On the first Saturday of five consecutive months: 1. Go to confession (within 8 days before or after the First Saturday) 2. Receive Holy Communion 3. Say five decades of the Holy Rosary 4. Meditate for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary (separate from saying the Rosary) The Intention: To console the Immaculate Heart of Mary, offer reparation for the blasphemies and ingratitude of unrepentant sinners, and for peace in our world.
Reasons for this Devotion: On May 29, 1930 Our Lord complained that this request had not been fulfilled, and explained to Sister Lucia why He requested five First Saturdays: "My daughter, the reason is simple. Against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, five kinds of offenses and blasphemies are committed: - those committed against the Immaculate Conception; - those committed against the virginity of Our Lady; - those committed against the Divine maternity, refusing at the same time to accept her as the mother of men; - those committed to men who publically attempt to instill indifference, scorn, and even hatred for this Immaculate Mother in the hearts of children; - those committed by men who insult her directly in her statues." If you would like copies of our prayer card outlining the First Saturdays' devotion, please contact us. Our Lady is never outdone in generosity! She promised Sister Lucia on December 10, 1925, that she would "assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who on the first Saturdays of five consecutive months confess, receive Holy Communion, pray a Rosary, and keep me company for a quarter of an hour meditating on the fifteen mysteries with the intention of offering me reparation."
We thank you for your prayers for our community and our apostolate! Our two postulants received their habit and religious name on the day we celebrated our 25th anniversary. Father Lambert Greenan, OP congratulates Mother Mary Gabriel and the new novices, pictured above from left to right: Sister Mary Patrick of the Holy Trinity and Sister Mary Faustina of the Merciful Redeemer (and Prince joins in the celebration!)
With joy we share these pictures of the profession of First Vows of Sister Marie Therese of Christ's Redeeming Mercy and Sister Mary Jude of Christ our Hope on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, 2012! Bishop Robert Baker celebrated the Mass and Bishop Lee Piche, a long time friend of Sister Mary Jude, preached the homily.
In early July, our friends of many years, Father Michael Marascalco and his brother John Robert ("JR"), visited us a few days after Father Michael's ordination, to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at Casa Maria. Their beloved aunt and uncle joined us, as well as with Father Augustine Tran from Atlanta, who was here on a private retreat. A large part of our apostolate of hospitality has always been especially directed towards priests, for whom we pray daily and for whom we give God thanks!