Father Carl's Stepping Stones; little reminders to keep us on the right path!

~
Father Carl Schulte, CM, author of A Guiding Star, the story of the life of Sister Marie, is so generous with his time and sends Erin and I emails that are filled with little pearls of wisdom. They are reminders of the Liturgical Calendar saints, feast days, and historical events. It's meant so very much to us so, with his permission, we would like to share them with you. We'll call them Father Carl's Stepping Stones; little reminders to keep us on the right path! The imagery of the stones on this "path" calls to mind the pathway into Mary's House in Ephesus, discovered and preserved thanks to Sister Marie. Mary's House is a symbol of Mary's Heart. With Sister Marie's prayers and Father Carl's encouragement and little lessons we'll all one day be together in Mary's House, Her Heart.

Join us on the path to Mary's Heart with this First Stepping Stone:

My Friend - Every time we celebrate this great feast of Christ the King I am reminded of the young Mexican priest, Blessed Miguel Augustin Pro who stood before the firing squad, lifting a crucifix in one hand and a rosary in the other, shouting out his forgiveness for what they were about to do to him and the others - and he shouted out "Viva el Cristo Rey!" and breathed his last. Father Pro was a favorite to the seminarians in San Antonio when I was there 1949-1955. - Carl Schulte, CM

Blessed Miguel Pro, pray for us.

~

Ephesus and Paris October, 2009

Here are the photos from our trip last month. In the set of photos from Ephesus, Turkey you'll see Erin and I attending Mass in the ruins of the Council Church of Mary. This is the one time a year when the Turkish government recognizes and permits a public Catholic Mass. There are photos of Erin and I with a member of the de Mandat-Grancey family, The Papal Nuncio, and Archbishop Franceschini. It was during the conversations after Mass that Archbishop Franceschini expressed his desire to assist Sister Marie! Now, a month later he has written the letter to the Congregation of the Saints. In the next set of photos taken in Paris, France at Rue de Bac at the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal you'll see Erin and I with the Archbishop Bernardini (retired Archbishop fo Turkey),Mother Superioress of the Daughters of Charity, Sr. Evelyne Franc, along with our friend Sr. Loretto. It was a blessed and very fruitful trip! Thank you Sister Marie!

~

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!" (Phil 4:4)

~

My heart bursting with joy and thanksgiving as I sit to write to you. With fingers trembling and eyes filled with tears I'm trying to find the keys! Erin just got word today that Archbishop Ruggero Franceschini, O.F.M., Cap., Bishop of Izmir, Turkey has written the letter to the Congregation of the Saints on behalf of Sister Marie! All praise and thanksgiving be to Our Heavenly Father! There will be more news to follow in time but for now REJOICE with us.

And...now is the time for saturating prayer. It's as if heaven is poised and waiting for the voices of us here on earth to fill it with our prayers for the opening of the Cause for Sister Marie. Lift up your voices! Share the good news! Place your trust in Sister Marie and her intercessory power with Jesus Christ through Blessed Mother Mary.

Adopt Sister Marie as your special patroness and sign up your prayer group. Print out the sign-up sheet in the toolbar to the left and fill heaven with your prayers as you gather prayer groups for Sister Marie.

We love you Sister Marie!

We rejoice with you!

~

Marian Conference 2009

~

On All Saints Day Erin and I spent the day sharing the good news about Sister Marie with the many conference attendees at "A Day With Mary" hosted by Our Mother Queen of Peace apostolate under the direction of Fino Giordano. The day was a loving tribute to Mary, Our Mother. We opened with the Rosary and then the day was filled with exceptional speakers like Father Andrew Apostoli speaking about the cause for Venerable Fulton Sheen; Mother Nadine, Foundress of Intercessors of the Lamb; The Esperanza family telling the story of Maria Esperanza of Betania, Venezuela; and Bud McFarlane. The highlight of the day was the Healing Mass and Adoration. The Main Celebrant was Father Giordano Belanich whose homily will give us all much to think and meditate about in the coming year. He called on us all to be saints reminding us that this is our calling...it's for everyone. Mass and Adoration was a most moving experience of the awesome power and love of the Divine Physician, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We were able to collect many signatures for Sister Marie and many, many prayer groups adopted her as a special Patroness for their prayer group. Word is spreading and Sister Marie is finding her way around the world. Praise God!

Foreign Language Translations

It is with humble thanksgiving to God and with great pleasure that I can report I have just added foreign language translations of the Sister Marie prayer to this blog. On the left tool bar just underneath the printable Sister Marie prayer card you'll find links to translations in Polish, Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and French. Please keep in your prayers the intention of getting actual prayer cards made and printed in each of these languages and more!

Thank you Sister Marie!

~

Sharing a Religious Icon

Enjoy this interesting article by a Brown University student. It begins:


In some parts, the concept of the Virgin Mary is not limited to Christianity.

By Ben Schreckinger (Brown University) Student Correspondent Corps
Published: October 2, 2009 12:13 ETUpdated: October 11, 2009 13:17 ET

EPHESUS, Turkey — "The angels said, 'Oh Mary! God has chosen you and purified you, chosen you above the women of all nations.' "

You will not find this passage in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John.

It comes from the Koran....



Find entire article at: http://mobile.globalpost.com/dispatch/study-abroad/091002/whos-your-mama

~

A Day With Mary

A Day With Mary

(click the above title for a printable PDF flyer!)

~

Marian Conference
Sunday, November 1, 2009
8:00am Breakfast - Mass 4:15pm
Conference begins 9:00am
Kellenberg Memorial High School
1400 Glenn Curtiss Blvd, Uniondale, NY
516-292-0200

Only 1200 seats are available – First Come – First Served – Open Seating. Seat Donation $20.00 - At the door $25.00 – No Refunds. Continental Breakfast & Lunch Voucher $17.00, includes all drinks, juices, coffee, tea, no soda.

.

Limited Tables for vendors contact – Tony Ciuffo – 516-712-7005 All Religious are FREE - Priests, Brothers, Sisters, Deacons, Seminarians but you must register in advance for a seat.

Send all seat donations and food vouchers payments to:

~

Our Mother Queen of Peace,
PO Box 117,

Glenwood Landing,

NY 11547.

~

You will receive all tickets in the mail. If you can afford to donate extra this would help us pay for all the expenses and assist those who cannot afford a ticket. No one at OurMother Queen of Peace is salaried. This is why the seat donations are so reasonable. You may bring your own lunch & beverage. Water and chips will be available to purchase.

For Ticket Information Call: Gina DeLucia, 516-676-1669
For Conference Information Call: Fino Giordano, 631-651-2606
Further information: http://www.ourmotherqueenofpeace.com/

.

The Sister Marie de Mandat-Grancey Foundation

will have a table there.

~

Stop by and say hello!

~

Adopt Sister Marie as your prayer group's special patroness!

We are collecting the names of prayer groups who will ask Sister Marie to be their special patroness and include the Sister Marie prayer as part of each of their prayer meetings. (Print a free copy of the prayer card and information about her life from the left toolbar.) Also, spreading the word about Sister Marie's life and praying for her cause for beatification is included in this special patronage. The Sister Marie prayer is especially powerful when combined with the Holy Rosary because of course Sister Marie had such a great love and devotion for Our Lady! Sister Marie devoted her life to serving and educating the Children of Mary. Any children's prayer groups, homeschool groups, catechism groups, mother's groups, father's groups, family groups, singles groups, religious groups...all are encouraged to join in the growing number of those who are praying that God will beatify Sister Marie and hear her prayers of intercession on behalf of the Children of Mary. Join us! Please drop me an email at sr.marie@yahoo.com if you would like your prayer group added to the growing list.

Visitors, Writing, Travels, Conferences and More!

.

Hello Friends. The Sister Marie de Mandat-Grancey Foundation has been VERY busy with the cause for Sister Marie. Many interesting and exciting things are occurring behind the scenes and we hope and pray that day by day and very soon Sister Marie will be known by many new friends all over the world.

Recently we were blessed to be visited by Archbishop Bernardini, retired Archbishop of Turkey and the dear friend of Sister Marie who blessed the prayer card with his Imprimatur, along with Father Benedict Groeschel and Brother Frances of the Grey Friars. (If you are ever in need of a true reason to joyfully hope in the renewal of our Church in these days it is in the young Grey Friars! Today, on this Feast Day of St. Francis let us prayerfully unite in begging God's abundant blessings on them!) Of course Archbishop Bernardini continues his prayers and support for the cause of Sister Marie. Father Benedict Groeschel was so pleased to meet Archbishop Bernardini and graciously listened to the story of Sister Marie. We all sat down to a lovely luncheon and were blessed to listen to these two holy men of God, both Capuchin Fransicans, share their stories and their love for our Holy Catholic faith. It was edifying beyond words. And all this on the Feast Day of the Capuchin Padre Saint whom we all love...Saint Pio!

The writing of the book, A Guiding Star, by our dear friend Father Carl Schulte, C.M., is almost complete! Praise God! It has been an heroic work done with great perseverence and devotion. May God bless Father Carl abundantly and Sister Marie keep him in her fervent prayers always. The editor has begun to review the chapters and we pray that very soon God will send us the perfect publisher.

Next weekend Erin and I will travel again to Sister Marie's beloved Ephesus, Turkey where we will attend the only public Catholic Mass offered in that country each year. The Mass takes place in the ruins of the Council Church. This is the location of the Council of Ephesus in the year 431 AD.; the very same council to pronounce Mary as Mother of God. What a privilege it is to pray along side all the many gathering clergy for this remarkable and beautiful event. Of course we look forward with great expectation to another visit to Mary's House where I promise you our prayers for your intentions.

Immediately after the Mass we head over to France to visit the Daughters of Charity in Paris. We hope to share many bits of good news with them and beg their continued prayer and support.

November has us at a large Marian Conference on Long Island called "A Day With Mary" where we will again be sharing with all these Children of Mary about one of Mother Mary's favorite daughters, our beloved Sister Marie.

Please keep all these efforts in your prayers. Sister Marie, pray for us.

+JMJ+

The Assumption of Our Lady and Her House in Ephesus

Please enjoy this homily by Father Tommy Lane in which he mentions Sister Marie! May you be blessed on this beautiful Feast of Our Lady.

Father Carl Schulte, C.M.

Hello Friends of Sister Marie!

Well, Erin and I are travelling again. This past weekend we visited the author of A Guiding Star, the story of the life of Sister Marie, in Kansas City Missouri. His name is Father Carl Schulte, C.M. and he is the Vincentian priest so taken by the life of Sister Marie that he is writing a book about her! I have been blessed to assist him with this task for the past six months or so. Recently he took ill and had to put aside the writing for a few weeks but he is better now and this past weekend we made some excellent progress together plowing through the remainder of the manuscript text making additions and editing a bit. Father lives in Independence, Missouri at the Vincentian Fathers Mission House, just south of Kansas City. Here are some photos of the visit with Father Carl to enjoy.

I'll now be busy fine tuning those chapters with this weekend's notes. Father Schulte is a special priest; a model of persevering faith and good humor in the midst of the suffering that comes with some major medical issues and of course the later years of life. He offered private Mass two days in a row for Erin and I. Such a blessing. I was sad to say goodbye. We left with the promise to return to celebrate a "Published Book Party" with him, God willing. Please keep Father's continued recovery in your prayers.

We had the blessing of visiting the Priory of Our Lady of Ephesus as well. It is the most amazing order of Benedictine nuns. http://www.benedictinesofmary.org/ Very traditional. Young happy faces! They invited us to join them for their afternoon prayer where they chanted the most beautiful hymns and psalms etc. All were in full habits. They are in the process of constructing a very big and beautiful compound, including chapel, school, visitors quarters, priests residence, farm land (with cows too!), all under the direction of Bishop Finn. I was very touched by their genuine joy and the peace of their life. Mother Therese welcomed us with open arms and we are certain to be in contact with her again. I purchased a CD of theirs filled with the chant called Echoes of Ephesus. Why not support them by ordering your own copy. I think you'll like it.

The travelling will continue in October, God willing. Erin and I will travel to Paris to visit with the Daughters of Charity regarding Sister Marie de Mandat-Grancey. We'll also go to Ephesus for the Anniversary Mass at the Council Church (Church of Mary) con-celebrated by many Bishops and priests of Turkey and elsewhere... and of course we'll visit Mary's House!

Things are moving along for Sister Marie's cause for beatification. Please keep this intention in your daily prayers and remember that Sister Marie is answering many prayers of people all over the world. Bring to God your petitions through her intercession and if it is God's will your prayers will certainly be answered. We continue to collect amazing testimonies of her intercession. Spread the word!

Sister Marie, pray for us.

James Kilbane Performs "Mary's House, Our Lady of Ephesus" on EWTN

James just dropped me a note to tell me of his performance on EWTN. Mary's House, Our Lady of Ephesus. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did. Please consider supporting James in his music ministry by ordering his newest CD.

+JMJ+

It's been way too long...

...I'm so sorry but rest assured I am not being lazy! I am assisting the most delightful and holy priest named Father Carl Schulte, C.M., as he writes the book about Sister Marie. You are in for a real treat when this book is published, soon, God willing. Please keep him and his book in your prayers. He is soon to celebrate his 89th birthday and his desire is to complete this book before too long! He is a model of Vincentian charity and spirit, most certainly beloved of Our Lady.

God bless you. Sister Marie, pray for us all. Amen.

+JMJ+

More than ever....

Dear Friends of Sister Marie,

More than ever we need your prayers, signatures, and efforts to share the story and extraordinary intercessory power of Sister Marie. Please write to me to find out how you may be an apostle for peace in these times while working for the opening of the Cause for the Beatification of Sister Marie De Mandat-Grancey, Daughter of Charity and Foundress of Mary's House (Meryem Ana Evi) in Ephesus, Turkey. It's so very easy. It includes sharing the good news of Sister Marie's life and mission, a joyful love for Mary our Mother, a deep desire for the Triumph of Her Immaculate Heart, and a true hope for lasting peace in these times.

Write to me at sr.marie@yahoo.com and I'll help you begin.

Please visit the links to the left to read and print out the new booklets Mary's House and Sister Marie and Why Sister Marie? Why Now? Also please consider ordering them in printed form from the Foundation (address above) for a small donation ...

...OR you may order them in lots of 50 or more directly from the printer!

~

Contact:

~

Minuteman Press at 631-427-1155 or

Email them at jatprint@optonline.net.

~

Request the booklets by name. Ask for printing prices and per book prices for quantities of 50, 100, 250, 500. Also available are printed prayer cards.

God bless you and may Sister Marie pray for us all!

+JMJ+

James Kilbane, Irish Tenor

Listen to his beautiful new song entitled Mary's House, Our Lady of Ephesus. Look for Sister Marie's photo!


+JMJ+