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A few years ago the world watched with horror the devastation of the earthquake in Haiti, it was shocked, and aid poured in or at least it was pledged immediately. Such scenes were repeated over and over again about various human and manmade disasters all over. Last year, in the wake of the war in Syria we saw people fleeing in the thousands, leaving behind them their homes and livelihoods. In the biting cold
and in hostile surroundings we saw their humiliation as they scrambled for food, desperate for any scrap that would alleviate the pangs of hunger. But those scenes no longer shock or move us. Thanks to that wonderful 'cop-out contraption' the remote-control, we flip channels and voila! we're in tinsel town watching starry-eyed brides chasing hunky beaus and we snuggle a little deeper into our comfy couches ready to satiate our appetites with another serial hoping to drive out the images of emaciated men, women and hungry children hardly more than skeletons, staring blankly into our living-rooms.
Hunger is a terrible thing. It not only saps our energy, but it strips away our human dignity as well. We have every reason to be grateful that most of us have no experience of the pain and indignity of mass starvation.
But we do have another type of starvation here in our comfort-driven culture, no less real for being hidden from the television cameras and the newspaper photographers. In many of our wealthy neighborhoods today there is a kind of spiritual famine, a hunger for some meaning to life. In the midst of all the opulence, many people are lost and afraid, frantically searching for a purpose in their lives. Some people turn to New Age therapies in the hope of finding what would make sense of life. Others look to psychological fads to overcome their feelings of despair. Still others hope to escape from their hunger and pain in the abuse of alcohol or drugs or sex.
And all the time the food we crave is there for the taking: 'I am the bread of life,'
Jesus says; 'no one who comes to me will ever hunger.' What St. Augustine discovered for himself is still true for us today: 'You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts will always be restless until they come to rest in you.'
Easter is a time for our hearts to rest in the Lord.
God Bless you.
In Mary Help of Christians,
I remain,
Fr. Jim McKenna SDB
Director
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APRIL 13
St. Martin I
St. Martin I died at Kherson in the Crimea on April 13, 655. Born in Umbria in Italy, he became Pope in 649. One of his first acts in his six year reign was to call a council at the Lateran in Rome to condemn the heretics who denied that Christ had a human will (Monothelitism). The same council condemned a document promulgated by the Emperor Constans II. The Emperor was infuriated and he sent emissaries to kidnap the Pope and take him back to Constantinople. On arrival, Pope Martin I was sent to prison and though he was seriously ill, was later exiled to the Crimea. The emperor had actually condemned Pope Martin I to death, but his life was spared through the intervention of Paul, Patriarch of Constantinople.
Since he had been condemned to death and spent the last few years of his life in such misery and want, he is venerated as a martyr. He was finally condemned unheard in a mock trial as a heretic and a rebel. He succumbed in exile to ill-treatment and starvation, having being sent to the island of Kherson where a famine was raging. He is the last Pope to be honored as a martyr. The example of his steadfast courage can be an inspiration to all of us
APRIL 16
Join us at the Shrine for
the Jubilee year of Mercy
with Cardinal Dolan.
Confessions
Chaplet
Adoration
Benediction
Mass
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 HAPPINESS
After years of hard and dedicated service to his Company, Jimmy was being appointed at an elegant reception as the new Director.
It was a small function where his wife Anita, a Home Executive and some of the wives of the other persons in top management were also present.
In an adjacent room, Ann, the wife of the CEO of the Company, asked Jimmy's wife a very odd and unusual question; "Does your husband make you happy?"
Jimmy, who at that moment was not at her side, but was sufficiently near to hear the question, paid attention to the conversation.
To his surprise, she replied simply; "No, no he doesn't make me happy..."
The room became uncomfortably silent, as if everyone were listening in to the spouse's response. There was a sudden coldness in the air. The husband was petrified. A frown appeared on his face. He couldn't believe what his wife was saying, especially at such an important occasion for him.
Anita sat up firmly and explained in a modest but stern tone to the other wives who were present; "No, he does not make me happy... I AM HAPPY. The fact that I am happy or not has nothing to do with him, but on me. GOD has granted each of us intellect and discretion to reason, interpret and decide. GOD made me the person upon which my happiness depends.
I make the choice to be happy in each situation and in each moment of my life.
If my happiness were to depend on other people, on other things or circumstances on the face of this earth, I would be in serious trouble!
Over my life I have learned a couple of things: I decide to be happy and the rest is a matter of 'experiences or circumstances' like helping, understanding, accepting, listening, consoling. Honestly true happiness lies in being content"
Relieved and reassured, a smile was clearly noticed on Jimmy's face.
Happiness will always be found in contentment, forgiveness and in loving ourselves and others. To truly love is difficult - it is to forgive unconditionally.
Being Happy is an attitude about life!
Being Happy, depends on us!
It Depends on Me.
I fall. I rise. I make mistakes. I live. I learn. I've been hurt but I'm alive. I'm human. I'm not perfect but I'm Thankful.
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 Laughter the best medicine
Smart Cop
A senior citizen drove his brand new Mercedes to 100 mph, looking in his rear view mirror , he saw a police car behind him. He floored it to 140 , then 150, ... then 170, ... Suddenly he thought, "I'm too old for this nonsense !" So he pulled over to the side of the road and waited for the police car to catch up with him .
The officer walked up to him, looked at his watch and said, "Sir, my shift ends in ten minutes. Today is Friday and I'm taking off for the weekend. If you can give me a good reason that I've never heard before for why you were speeding. I'll let U go."
The Man looked very seriously at the police man, and replied :- "Years ago, my wife ran off with a policeman, I thought you were bringing her back." !!!
The Cop left saying, " Have a good day sir...
Hallelujah
A Preacher said: "If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river".
And the congregation cried, "Amen! "
"And if I had all the wine in the world, I'd take it and throw it in the river".
And the congregation cried: "Amen!"
"And if I had all the whiskey and rum in the world, I'd take it all and throw it in the river". Again the congregation cried: "Amen!"...
The preacher sat down. The deacon then stood up and said: "For our closing hymn, let's turn to page 126 of our hymn books and sing,
'We shall drink from that river".
THE CONGREGATION SCREAMED: HALLELUJAH"!!
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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.
I am grateful to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady Help of Christians for answering my prayers. The three Hail Marys works wonders for me and my children and their spouses and also my grand children. I am grateful for all the favors I have received and I continue to receive and I continue to pray for all our illnesses. Keep us Mother
Mary, in your loving care always. Mrs. Gracy Amato, NY
I am most grateful to Our Blessed Mother through the faithful recitation of the three Hail Marys both my sons got into their desired field of work. Jenn McBride, Staten Island, NY
Thank you dear Mary Help of Christians for all the favors received. Delialah Andrysiak, NJ
Thank you Mother Mary for blessing my sister with a beautiful baby girl through the powerful devotion to the three Hail Marys. Helen Gorka, NC
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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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