Excerpted from "Leaflets" column

The Holy Father's August intention of the Apostleship of Prayer is for all Christians to become "ever more aware of their calling to be missionaries in and out of season." As members of the precious Catholic Faith, we must not only support missionary work, we must become missionaries.

Mission work is not simply for far-away places. There are opportunities in our own backyards. If we mow the grass for an elderly neighbor, we might forgo payment and consider it a service in honor of the Lord. If we are the elderly neighbors and can only pay a small amount for the assistance we receive, we certainly can add our heartfelt prayers on behalf of those who help us.

By offering a "God bless you" or "I will pray for you," we inject an element of Faith into everyday situations. That just may be the spark that ignites someone's curiosity to learn more about the Lord and His Church. Who knows what the result may be.

Another way to mine the mission field is to talk about the Faith to those who are not presently practicing their Faith. Perhaps a gentle invitation to come back might encourage them to return. It is always worthwhile to pray for those who have fallen-away. Pray that the Lord will touch their hearts and lead them home to Him.

At Mariannhill the missions are our work and our passion. We devote our lives to missionary work. This August and always, know that we offer our grateful prayers of thanksgiving on behalf of all of you who make it possible for us to share the Kingdom of God. May God grant you abundant blessings always - Father Thomas Heier, C.M.M.

Excerpted from "Our Family Album"

St. Anthony Comes

Through Again

Thanks to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Blessed Virgin Mary, Ss. Joseph, Jude, Anthony, Therese, Holy Spirit and Fr. Engelmar. We promised public thanks if our house would sell over the weekend. It had been on the market for five months with many people looking, but no buyers.

Our prayers were answered. A couple came to look at our house on Saturday and the following Monday our realtor called to tell us that our house was sold. We do believe in miracles and the powerful intercessory prayers of the saints.

I want to especially mention the powerful intercession of St. Anthony. I lost the diamond from my engagement ring. I searched everywhere. My husband even took the sink drains apart. I thoroughly vacuumed the floors, but ‘- no diamond. I gave up ever finding my diamond, but continued to pray to St. Anthony.

Two weeks later I swept the kitchen floor, which I had done every day, but this time as I swept the dirt into the dustpan, there was my diamond to my amazement! Where was the diamond all that time?

St. Anthony came through again as he has so many times before. It was truly a miracle. Thank you, St. Anthony - J.A.T.

St. Therese Helps Gracie

In 1995 my granddaughter, Miranda Grace, was born premature. She had a collapsed lung and a problem with her spine. There was a chance the she would not be able to walk. She was sent to three different hospitals.

My son and daughter-in-law were adopting Miranda. Whenever she was in the hospital, so was all the family. When her lung collapsed and she was rushed to the hospital, I prayed to St. Therese and asked her to show me some pink roses to let me know that Gracie (that's what I call her) would be all right. Within a few minutes of my prayer, three people walked by me with three bouquets of pink roses.

I cried when Gracie was three months old and had to have surgery on her spine. Again I turned to St. Therese for her intercession. Doctors found water around the spine. As of today, Gracie is almost 10 and plays baseball and has several trophies. She is fit as a fiddle.

Now I'm again praying for Gracie and her brother who is six years old because their mother wants a divorce and wants to take them away from their current way of life. I am praying that does not happen.

My thanks to St. Therese. She has been my patron saint since my First Communion in 1947 - G.J.H.

Excerpted from Father Engelmar Testimonies

A "Novena in honor of Fr. Engelmar Unzeitig", is now available. We will send a copy of the novena free to whoever requests it. Send your request with a stamped (postage for one copy of the novena, currently 39 cents), self-addressed envelope to us at: