LEAVES Website for March-April 2004 issue

Excerpted from "Leaflets" Column

 

    Easter Sunday, April 11th this year, should be a time of great celebration. It used to be that religions would convert pagan celebrations into religious feasts. Today it seems to work the opposite way. Christmas focuses more on Santa Claus than on the Infant in the manger. At Easter the bunny gets more promotion than the Resurrection.

If all things have cycles, perhaps it is time to bring back the religious meaning to holidays and let the secular take a backseat. Much of the value of our celebration depends upon our preparation. There is still time to dedicate yourselves to a worthy Lent.

Prayer, fasting, charity and other good works should be hallmarks of our efforts during these weeks before Easter. If sticking to your Lenten obligations and devotions is difficult, team up with a friend. Prayerfully support each other and check in every so often. Sometimes having to report progress to another can inspire us to do even better than if we go it alone.

The better you spend your Lent, the greater your Easter Alleluias will be. May all those in our dear LEAVES family find Easter a most glorious celebration. May God grant you abundant blessings always - Father Thomas Heier, C.M.M.



Excerpted from "Our Family Album"

An Unusual Occurrence or
Sign of Things to Come?

Recently we had a scare at the five p.m. Saturday evening Mass in Lourdes Cathedral, Spokane, WA. No, it wasn’t a burglary or sudden violence, but it still was unwelcome. Is it possibly a look into the future?

At five minutes to five the deacon was notified there would be no priest available to say the Mass. He immediately checked to see how many consecrated hosts were in the tabernacle. As deacon, he has no power to consecrate them. Finding more than enough, he proceeded to put everything in place that is used for Mass. He prepared for a Communion Service.

To start, he informed the congregation that there would be no Mass, merely a Communion Service. It resembled parts of the Mass: Scriptural readings and the Gospel, bringing forward the gifts, distribution of Communion and closing of the service.

I’m certain the average parishioner noticed little difference, but it wasn't a Mass! It can and may occur more often in the future unless there are more priests. Let us pray and work for more priestly vocations! - A.K.



Chaplet of
St. Therese Offered

A chaplet of St. Therese and a short explanation of how to pray it will be sent free of charge to any reader who requests it. Please send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Melissa Valle, 7233 Tulip St., Philadelphia, PA 19135-1413.





Excerpted from Father Engelmar Testimonies

There is now available a booklet of the novena to Fr. Engelmar Unzeitig, C.M.M. You may receive a free copy of it by sending a stamped (postage for one ounce, currently 37 cents), self-addressed envelope to us at:

LEAVES
P.O. Box 87
Dearborn, MI 48121-0087

    Special thanks for many, many favors received. I know that some of my requests were large, but Fr. Engelmar never let me down. I had a real down time in my life and he was always there for me. For me, each time I pray the novena, I always have a feeling of calmness, as though Fr. Engelmar is reassuring me that things will be all right. I am again asking for help from Fr. Engelmar for a very special request. It is so important to me - like a piece of puzzle that has been lost and needs to be found so the puzzle can be completed. I am also asking for extra prayers for this request - C.C.M.

+ + +

My son worked long hours and often six days a week as a department manager in a large retail store. He felt he was not spending enough time with his wife and children, so he applied for a position with a large company and was one of seven applicants being considered. After several more interviews he was one of three. I prayed a novena to Fr. Engelmar and my son also prayed to Fr. Engelmar. A week later my son was notified that he was the one they felt was the best applicant for the position. He and his family are very happy, thanks to Fr. Engelmar - M.B.

+ + +

        I had been praying through the intercession of Fr. Engelmar for a job in the aviation field and I did receive an offer; however, because of financial reasons, I did not accept this job. Hopefully another will come along through prayers - M.DeC.

+ + +

        Father Engelmar has answered three prayers of mine and favors were received through him - Mrs. J.P.


 

Way of the Cross

Blood of thorn-crowned head
now mingles with His tears,
the tears Our Lord so freely shed
for mankind's sins, both yours and mine.

And now the wood He does embrace:
that's the reason why He came.
The cross He carried in our place;
No greater love was ever known.

He scans the crowd beside the cross,
as on the way in pain He goes.
His chosen ones, oh, where are they?
Alas, alas! No one knows.

Through all the years to come and go
Our Lord a question asks of you:
"Stay with Me, or will you leave?
I ask of you, What will you do?"

               By Bernice Laux



My Love Poem

I love the rain.
I love the snow.
I love the breezes
when they blow.

I love the stars,
the moon and sun.
I love the land,
the clouds and sea.
I love all these
gifts God gave to me.

          By Rosemary Kurkowski

 

In Brief

I have had so many prayers answered. To me they seemed to be miracles, things I know would not have been possible without God. I would like to acknowledge the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, Fr. Engelmar, the Holy Spirit, St. Ann and many other saints - Name Withheld.

I have been praying for months for an answer to a special intention, but it has not been answered. I have faith that, if it is not God's will, He has something better for my nephew in His plans - M.O.