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April Fools Day is celebrated in most parts of the world in varying degrees. I am sure many of us have played pranks with one another or with family members or even with our colleagues.
Each of us are called to be FOOLS for Christ. Don Bosco was considered a fool by his very clergy and others members of society, so much so that they nearly put him into a lunatic asylum, thinking him to be mad. St. Francis of Assisi was rejected and worshiped, scorned and adored. He called himself a fool for God.
The Holy Father is neither Left nor Right, neither conservative nor liberal. He is listening to a different drummer. As people wait for the rules and regulations of the Church to change, like St. Francis, Pope Francis is embracing the poor and asking everyone to restore forgiveness and compassion in our hearts. Enough with pomp and ceremony or telling others what they should or should not be doing. Taking a look in the mirror and seeing our own nakedness, our vulnerability, is perhaps our best first step to seeing what we can do to begin changing the world.
We can blame and complain, rant and rave but it is our own hearts which are sore and needing our attention. The enemy, if there is one, is our own burdened mind with too many thoughts and not enough joy. It is that much needed joy that Pope Francis is showing us as he mingles with the crowds, embraces the children, the poor and the unwanted. St. Francis cried for life's beauty, life's aches and pains. St. Francis cried for everyone who could not cry.
Let's be fools for Christ; let's be crazy for God as Don Bosco was!
As Pope Francis says again and again, let's get out of our buildings, our comfortable homes and institutions and discover the hurt and laughter in the streets. St. Francis made it a practice of loving those who no one loved. It's all about love. Of course we know this. But for love, we must be fools for God. Actually we are all fools for God, even if, we act properly and behave just right every day. We are all called to celebrate God, love, in whatever form it maybe!
Happy Fools Day!
In Mary Help of Christians,
I remain,
Fr. Jim McKenna SDB
Director
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LOOKING AHEAD
APRIL 16, 2016
Cardinal Dolan
will be visiting the
Marian Shrine
to celebrate the
YEAR OF MERCY.
Walking through the
Holy Doors
Hearing Confessions
Adoration with Benediction
Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
Please keep yourself free to attend and participate in this wonderful moment of Grace.
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 Easter
by Sayaha Raj
Yesterday while I was attending a morning mass at St Xavier's church, a 60 year old woman came in suddenly and caused quite a disturbance!
Standing at the door with two photographs in her hand, she tried to speak over the sounds of the choir. Though everybody near her tried to tell her to leave the church, she stayed in the church near the doors. I symbolically motioned for her to wait until the end of mass.
I thought she understood me, but when I went up to the altar to receive holy communion, the woman came up behind me and disturbed the priest with her photographs.
All the people near her, including me, judged this woman to be mentally retarded so I took her by the arm and escorted her outside where I questioned her to find out why she was disturbing our church service.
She again showed me the two photographs, and she explained that she was part of a group who had traveled over 250 kilometers to search for the boy in the photographs.
Apparently, the woman was Hindu and did not know the procedures of our religion which is why she had entered the church to ask the priest to make an announcement asking if any of the congregation had seen the boy... this boy who happened to be the woman's mentally retarded son.
Upon seeing the photographs, I immediately recognized the boy because I had seen him two days earlier on my way to the college where I am Vice Principal. At that time, he was dirty and his clothes were in very bad shape.
Anyway, I gave the woman my cell phone number and told her where I last saw the boy as well as some clues that I hoped would help her find her son. Later that afternoon, I received a call from that woman telling me that they found her son, bathed him, dressed him in new clothes, and were finally taking him back home.
Though her son had no practical purpose in her life... he could not do much, he could not earn money, etc., she still needed him.
The boy did not have the mental capacity to understand the salvation his mother brought him, nor could he understand the salvation that he brought her. Still, she loved him, so much so that she searched for an entire month to find him. She showed the deep love that only a parent usually knows.
Just as I had initially believed that the woman was mentally retarded, I realized through this experience that I had not yet fully understood God's true nature either.
My perceptions are forever changed, and I now understand the unconditional love that God has for me.
Just like that affectionate mother who came in search of her son, I realize it does not matter who I am...
It does not matter what I am...
It does not matter if I believe in God or not...
Or whether I even understand God...
And it does not matter if I am grateful to God or not...
God loves me. Period.
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 Laughter the best medicine
Humorous One LinersRegular naps prevent old age, especially if you take them while driving.
Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right and the other is the husband!
I believe we should all pay our tax with a smile. I tried - but they wanted cash.
A child's greatest period of growth is the month after you've purchased new school uniforms.
Don't feel bad. A lot of people have no talent.
Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.
My wife and I always compromise. I admit I'm wrong and she agrees with me.
Real friends are the ones who survive transitions between address books.
Saving is the best thing. Especially when your parents have done it for you.
Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools talk because they have to say something.
Wife: Darling today is our anniversary, what should we do?
Husband: Let us stand in silence for 2 minutes. | |
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 The Devotion of the Three Hail Marys
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.
My son met with a car accident but he got out with minor injuries. I am grateful to Mary Help of Christians for protecting him. Elizabeth Mathias, FL
Many many thanks dear Mother Mary for the successful operation of my son.
Mrs. Barron, NY
My sincere thanks to Mother Mary for the favors I received. Alice, NY
My sincere thanks to Mary Help of Christians for a successful hernia operation.
John, MD
Many thanks to Jesus, Mother Mary and all the saints for helping me out of a minor depression and a brain surgery. A Devotee
Thank you, dear Mother Mary for granting my husband employment through the recitation of the three Hail Marys and for many other favors received. A. Cota, SC
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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 MaryShrine@aol.com.
Bookstore hours: Monday - Saturday - 10 am to 5 pm, Sundays: 12 - 4 pm
Confessions on weekdays begin at 11.30 am.
Weekday Masses: 12 noon.
Sunday Masses: 11 am and 12.30 pm
Other activities: Day Retreats, Weekend retreats, Don Bosco Summer Camp, Friday night Lenten Pasta 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
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Marian Shrine
174 Filors Lane, Stony Point, NY 10980
(845) 947-2200
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