January 19, 2015
Marian Shrine  E-Newsletter
Volume 3, Issue 24
Fr. Jim McKenna

Whether you reach success or failure in life has little to do with your circumstances; it has much more to do with your attitude...with your faithful courage...with your choices!

You see, non-achievers blame their circumstances; winners rise above their circumstances. Some concentrate on the blank wall that boxes them in; winners always look for a way to get under it, over it, around it, or through it.

 

The law of inertia holds that a body at rest tends to remain at rest, and
a body in motion tends to remain in motion, at the same speed and in the
same direction, unless acted upon by an outside force.

With one major difference, that law applies very well to the pattern of our lives.

People who are successful tend to remain successful.
People who are happy tend to remain happy.
People who are respected tend to remain respected.
People who reach their goals tend to go on reaching their goals.
So what's the major difference?

In physics, inertia is controlled by outside forces; but the real changes in the directions of our lives come from inside us. As William James said, "The greatest discovery of my generation is that a person can alter his life by altering his attitude of mind."

You can live every day of your life. You can be alive to the tips of your fingers. You can accomplish virtually any worthwhile goal you set for yourself.

 

God bless you.

 

In Mary Help of Christians,

I remain,

Fr. Jim McKenna SDB

Director 


Walking with the Church

 

Q. Could you please tell me the Church's position on cremation. Also is there a preferred position on the

storing of ashes. Is it allowable to spread the ashes in a favorite place?

A. Catholics may be cremated is the answer to the first part of your

question. In other words

cremation is an acceptable form of the final disposition of the human body. There are special prayers in the 'Order of Christian burial' for the final ceremony before the body is sent for cremation.

Our civil law does not stipulate what needs to happen to cremated

remains. They can be buried or given to families, who, frankly can legally do  anything they want with them. But the Catholic Church's teaching on the disposition of the ashes is very clear: "The cremated

remains of a body should be

treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they come. This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the manner in

which they are carried, the care and attention to appropriate placement and final disposition.

The cremated remains  should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium (a special mausoleum for cremated

remains only). The practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground,

or keeping cremated remains in the home of a relative or friend of the deceased, are not the reverent disposition that the church requires."

(Order of Christian

Funerals 417)

 


Change is Good... You Go First
By Mac Anderson and Tom Feltenstein

Something magical happens when we accept personal responsibility for our behavior and our results. But, it's not easy, because it's human nature to "pass the buck." I (Mac) know there have been times in my life when my business was struggling where I found myself blaming others, blaming the economy, blaming this, blaming that! But as I've gotten older (and a little wiser) when things go wrong in my business, or my life, I can always find the culprit...in the mirror. In every instance, it always comes back to choices I've made in my life that put me exactly where I am today. I have to say, that this one "tweak" in my attitude may sound like a little thing, but it has made a big difference in my life.

What does all this have to do with change? Plenty! As a manager, one of the most important things you can do in times of change is to get your people to understand how taking personal responsibility and recognizing problems as opportunities, will not only help the company, but will help them as individuals. In other words, sell the idea of...what's in it for them?

Authors B.J. Gallagher and Steve Ventura wrote a great little book about achieving success through personal accountability titled: Who Are "They" Anyway? I like their list showing how each individual in the company can benefit by adopting a "personal accountability attitude":
  • You have more control over your destiny
  • You become an active contributor rather than a passive observer
  • Others look to you for leadership
  • You gain the reputation as a problem solver
  • You enhance your career opportunities
  • You enjoy the satisfaction that comes from getting things done...the power of positive doing
  • You experience less anger, frustration and helplessness-all leading to better physical health
  • You realize a positive spillover effect into your personal life at home
According to Gallagher and Ventura, the most important words of personal responsibility are as follows:

The 10 most important words:
I won't wait for others to take the first step.
The 9 most important words:
If it is to be, it's up to me.
The 8 most important words:
If not me, who? If not now, when?
The 7 most important words:
Let me take a shot at it.
The 6 most important words:
I will not pass the buck.
The 5 most important words:
You can count on me.
The 4 most important words:
It IS my job!
The 3 most important words:
Just do it!
The 2 most important words:
I will.
The most important word:
Me

Laughter the best medicine

AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE

A gorgeous young redhead goes into the doctor's office and said that her body hurt wherever she touched it.
 
'Impossible!' says the doctor.. 'Show me.'
 
The redhead took her finger, pushed on her left shoulder and screamed, then she pushed her elbow and screamed even more. She pushed her knee and screamed; likewise she pushed her ankle and screamed. Everywhere she touched made her scream.
 
The doctor said, 'You're not really a redhead, are you?
 
'Well, no' she said.'
 
'I thought so,' the doctor said, 'Your finger is broken.'
  
KNITTING
 A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway. Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the woman behind the wheel was knitting!
 
Realizing that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled, 'PULL OVER!'
 
'NO!' the woman yelled back, 'IT'S A SCARF!' 
 
WATCH DOGS 
A girl was visiting her friend, who had acquired two new dogs, and asked her what their names were. The friend responded by saying that one was named Rolex and one was named Timex. Her friend said, 'Whoever heard of someone naming dogs like that?'  'HELLLOOOOOOO......,' answered the woman. 'They're watch dogs'!

 


The Devotion of the Three Hail Mary's

The devotion of the THREE HAIL MARYS is a very simple yet most efficacious devotion.

Everyday, recite Three Hail Marys, adding the invocation: "O Mary, My Mother, keep me from mortal sin." Many people recite the Three Hail Marys as part of their morning and night prayers. To practice this devotion in time of danger, stress, special need or temptation, is a sure means to obtain Our Lady's help.


I am deeply grateful to the Holy Spirit and Our Blessed Mother. I was diagnosed with ovarian cysts and was very frightened having heard stories of others who had suffered the same problem. I prayed fervently and the following month, the cysts disappeared. I am also grateful my father had a successful brain surgery after having been disgnosed

as having a large blood clot in his brain. Rubina Gonsalez, NY

 

Thank you, Mother Mary for saving my husband and me and two of our neighbors from a terrible accident when the front tire of our vehicle burst. We have a rosary in our car and I believe Our Lady saved us because of it.  Mrs. E. Sullivan, NY

 

My heartfelt thanks to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and Mary Help of Christians for the gift of life and all that God has done for me.  M.W. Dodd, PA


 

In Closing 

Dear devotees of Our Lady and Don Bosco,

If you have received a miracle through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, we would like to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

 

Bookstore hours: Monday - Saturday - 10 am to 5 pm, Sundays: 12 - 4 pm

 

Weekday Masses: 12 noon. Confessions on weekdays begin at 11.30 am.

Sunday Masses: 11 am and 12.30 pm

 

Other activities: Day Retreats, Weekend retreats, Don Bosco Summer Camp, Eucharistic Adoration, Friday night Lenten Dinners, 50/50 raffle, 350 club, Rosary Madonna Statue. Rent Lomagno Hall, Rent our Banquet Hall.

 

MEMORIES

Remember a Loved One: Engrave plaques on Wall of Memories, adopt a Tree, Engrave blocks on Walk of Honor, All Souls, All year Candle lighting, Holiday (Christmas and Easter), Flowers, Schedule a Mass, Bell Chimes.

 

MASS INTENTIONS

To offer a mass intention, please write to

Fr. Jim McKenna SDB

174 Filors Lane,

Stony Point, NY 10980

[email protected].


 

 


Our ministry is only possible with your help.  

Visit our website: www.marianshrine.org to donate.

 

Marian Shrine

174 Filors Lane, Stony Point, NY 10980