Greece: In the Footsteps of St. Paul

Open the link in the upper left to read all about an extraordinary pilgrimage planned for this upcoming May...and you're invited!

M.O.M.S.

It was my total pleasure to speak about Sister Marie last evening at a local gathering of mothers at St. Anthony's Church. Moms get it. We work and pray for peace in this world not for ourselves but for our children and grandchildren. When moms who understand the power of prayer get on their knees and unite in prayer for peace for their children, God's children, the heavens rejoice!

A quotation of Sister Marie's seemed to really touch their hearts and so I share it here at the request of one of the moms who asked me to do so. It is so tied to who we are; mothers. But it also shows us that those who have not had children can still have the heart of a mother....especially when united to the Blessed Mother. What prayer power. Praise God!

" I am not a priest and cannot bless them, but all that the heart of a mother can ask of God for her children, I ask of Him and will never cease to ask Him." ~ Sister Marie

Thank you Sister Marie. You indeed have the heart of a mother. Your heart was completely united to the Heart of the Mother of God. In this way you took on Her children as your own. This explains your life's devotion to the association of the Children of Mary. Please continue to pray for us. We take such comfort in your words. They bring a special hope to our hearts.

I think that the Cause for Sister Marie may have just added some very precious and strong prayer warriors. Watch out world!

We come begging...

Things are really happening for the Cause for Sister Marie. This means costs are rising. Printing costs alone are astronomical. Booklets, prayer cards, DVDs, CDs, stationery, petitions, and of course postage costs. A recent huge bill for making copies of documents from archives has just about depleted our very meager savings. Would you please consider making a donation and start this year off under the special patronage of Sister Marie? In so doing you will become an active apostle for peace in our time. Sister Marie will surely repay your donation in abundant grace through the intercession of her powerful prayers. I have no doubt.

We are a tax exempt Foundation and all donations are tax deductible. Times are tight, I know, but it is often when this is so that God asks us to give trusting His Providence. God is never outdone in generosity!

Please, please, please... make your tax deductible donation to:

The Sister Marie DeMandat-Grancey Foundation
P.O. Box 275
Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724

Thank you so very much. May God bless you ... and I am certain Sister Marie will too.

+JMJ+

Peace on Earth

Our beloved Holy Father has again asked us to pray for peace on earth in light of the recent violence erupting on the Gaza strip. He also tells of a little Church in Gaza in an article from Zenit. He speaks of it as a reason to hope. We too know of a very little chapel in Ephesus, Turkey for which we also have great reason to hope! We must join our Holy Father in prayer and we can do this in a very powerful way through the intercession of Sister Marie, Foundress of Mary's House in Ephesus, Turkey, where Muslims and Christians pray side by side in peace as they honor Mary, Mother of Jesus. Read below the words of Pope Benedict and how he again places the hope for peace at the feet of Mary:

The Pontiff spoke of the "profound desire to live in peace in the hearts of the
great majority of the Israeli and Palestinian populations, which is once again
endangered by the intense violence."

In this regard, he expressed his "well-founded hope that, with the wisdom and farsighted contribution of everyone, it will not be impossible to listen to one another, to go out to meet each other and give concrete answers to the widespread aspiration to live in peace, in security and dignity."

Benedict XVI made special mention of the pastors of the local Churches, and particularly "those of the small but fervent parish of Gaza." With these faithful, the Pope "placed at the feet of Mary the concerns of the present and the fears for the future," and he asked her intercession to "obtain from God the gift of peace for the Holy Land and for all of humanity."

Read the entire article at: http://www.zenit.org/article-24688?l=english

+JMJ+

Mary, Mother of God - January 1st

With me please consecrate this new year of 2009 to the Mother of God through the intercession of Sister Marie de Mandat-Grancey and pray for peace on earth to Mary's little child, the Prince of Peace. As I sang this hymn (below) at Mass last evening I was so touched by the lyrics and wanted to share them with you. They are a beautiful meditation on this holy day as we again step in faith into another year on this earth. Mary, our Mother, Queen of Peace leads the way. Let us fearlessly follow her into 2009 confidently holding the hand of Sister Marie.

Sing of Mary

Sing of Mary, pure and lowly,
Virgin mother undefiled,
Sing of God's own Son most holy,
Who became her little child.

Fairest child of fairest mother,
God the Lord who came to earth,
Word made flesh, our very brother,
Takes our nature by his birth.

Sing of Jesus, son of Mary,
In the home at Nazareth.
Toil and labour cannot weary
Love enduring unto death.

Constant was the love he gave her,
Though he went forth from her side,
Forth to preach, and heal, and suffer,
Till on Calvary he died.

Glory be to God the Father;
Glory be to God the Son;
Glory be to God the Spirit;
Glory to the Three in One.

From the heart of blessed Mary,
From all saints the song ascends,
And the Church the strain reechoes
Unto earth's remotest ends.