Prayers for Europe

Credit to www.fraternitiesop

The Master of the Dominican Order has asked his order to pray for peace and order in Europe.  I thought it would hurt to have everyone in the world to pray likewise.  We are asking for the intercession of St. Catherine of Siena because she is co-patroness of Europe.  Please pray with us:

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and

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I am a Lay Dominican

The poem below is obviously inspired by Langston Hughes', Negro.  It is in no way an imitation except in style.  I yield to Langston Hughes.  But I am grateful for the impetus to meditate upon whom I am.

I am Catherine of Siena:
     I served all in bondage:
     sick, poor, prisoners, the unloved.  

I am Margaret of Castello:

     hunchbacked, dwarfed, blind, lame.
     They wish to abort me still.

I am Rose of Lima:
     I am virginal and holy.
     I am the Americas first saint.

I am Zdislava:
     blessed to give rather than receive.
     I pray for healing.

I am Pier Georgio Frassati:
     I am handsome, young, and joyous.
     I am a man of the beatitudes.

I am a Lay Dominican:
     I radiate the presence of Christ
     in the midst of the world.   

Day to Honor Our Blessed Mother

Fr. Myers, O.P.

Yesterday, I went down to Thomas Aquinas Priory, in Providence, RI, for a Day to Honor Our Blessed Mother, Queen of the Holy Rosary.  It was sponsored by the Lay Dominican Chapter of Our Lady of Divine Providence and St. Thomas Aquinas.  They always do something to honor Mary in October.  It's a time of Marian reflection.

Fr. Petri, O.P.

Ms. Catherine Perrotti, O. P.

Yesterday was no exception.  The day began with a welcome from the prior, Very Rev. Edward T. Myers, O.P.  He was very gracious.  I also know him as the religious assistant to the St. Martin de Porres Chapter, in Natick.

Next, Miss Catherine Perrotti, O.P., led us in prayer and singing.  The main speaker was Father Thomas Petri, O.P..  His approach was through Mary, you find her Son.  The title of his talk was, "Mary: Disciple of Her Son."  His spin was different.  We were led to see Jesus as a mother would see a son, as a good Jewish daughter to Yahweh, as someone  graced to share in the Redemption.  I'm still reflecting upon these various images and reflections.

Father Petri also heard Confessions and celebrated Mass.  Of course we prayed the Rosary, during Confession.  It's simply, a simple day of recollection, focusing on Mary.  That's enough.

Call to Prayer

Below is a request for the Lay Dominicans in the Eastern Province to pray the powerful Dominican Litany of Saints, as a novena from Oct. 19-24. The request is a response to the violence that surrounds St. Dominic's in Youngstown, OH.  Last year a couple was shot leaving the church.  Recently, a family was shot, as they exited the church.  The neighborhood surrounding St. Dominic's is crime ridden.  A safety-summit has been called for all concerned to brain storm ideas as how the end the violence.  Please keep the success of the summit meeting in your prayers.  Everyone needs to pray.  If you are a Dominican, then you know the effectiveness of the Dominican Litany of Saints.  Ora pro nobis. 

My dear Brothers and Sisters,

I'd like to thank all of you for your continued prayers for the recent victims of violent crime and the Dominican parish community of St. Dominic's in Youngstown, OH.    I have spoken with Fr. Maturi (Prior Pastor) and he is very grateful for all of your prayers.   Jackie Repchik (the wife/survivor of the most recent ambush) had to have her one leg amputated, had developed an infection, ended up in Intensive Care, but is doing better.  Please remember in your prayers the repose of the soul of Jackie's husband, Thomas Repchik, who was murdered in the ambush. 

Fr. Maturi has been very pro-active in his efforts to stop the crime and violence surrounding the parish and Youngstown, as a whole.  His efforts have been rewarded with government, law-enforcement, and community representatives agreeing to meet for a "SAFETY SUMMIT".  This Summit will occur on Wednesday, October 27th.  Here's what I'd like everyone (especially the Lay members) to do:

Starting TUESDAY, OCT. 19th:  Join in praying a novena of the "Litany of Dominican Saints and Blesseds"  (attached following this letter) for the following intentions:

1.    For the success of the "Safety Summit" that concrete resolutions will be implemented in a timely (prompt) manner

        without impediments of potential political posturing;

2.    For the tearing down of all blighted houses within the community, especially those that lend themselves to criminal    

        activities and havens for the lawless;

3.    For all elected officials, law enforcement officials and officers, the community of Youngstown, those victimized

        by the violence, the parishioners of St. Dominic's, and last, but certainly not least, our friars who serve this special Faith-       community.

I thank you in advance for your cooperation and collaboration in this effort.   I have always been humbled with the efficacy of your prayers.   May God continue to bless and protect you through the intercessions of Our Lady, St. Joseph, and all the Dominican Saints and Blesseds!

Please share this "Call to Prayer" with those who do not receive the e-Lumen.

Marianne

(Ms.) Marianne T. Jablonski, OP
Provincial President
Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic
Province of St. Joseph (Eastern USA)

Another Life Sentence

"Be praised my Lord that you have given here a renewed, rejuvenated form of your eternal mercy, that you have given to the world a new proof of the all powerfulness of your grace and infinite love."  fr. M. Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P.

My Brothers, what do you seek?

Moved by God's mercy, we have come here to experience your way of life, following the example of St. Dominic, St. Catherine of Siena, Fr. Jean Joseph Lataste, and others who have gone before you, and who have illuminated the life of the Order and of the Church, first so that we may give witness to our faith, and effectively hear the needs of people of our time, and so that we may early serve the truth.  Therefore, carefully considering the particular goals of the apostolate of the Church today, we seek to be aided, moved and in a special way, to show forth true compassion toward all anxieties, to strive vigorously for freedom, and to promote justice and peace.


These are the words our "cloistered brothers" used when making their promises.

It wasn't the words that made Sister Ruth cry.  It wasn't the power of the consecration, that almost choked Fr. Wayne Cavalier, O.P., the Mass celebrant, up.  It wasn't the act of putting the scapular over the head of a candidate, that choked him up.  And it wasn't just emotion wrought by the charismatic music that tugged at everyone's heart.

It was the Holy Spirit touching us.

Whew!  He's powerful.  Our prayers to the Holy Spirit were answered when we invoked him to strengthen the bonds made in Baptism.  We were touched.

Today we witnessed the Reception and Perpetual Promises of our "cloistered brothers" into the Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominic.  A few months ago, Moses, one of my cloistered brothers said, "When I heard "for life!" my heart stopped.  I realized that this was another life sentence. Whoa!  Do I really want this?  I have to think about this--really think about this."

Today, we heard him proclaim in a loud voice his promises to Sister Ruth, and Father Wayne Cavalier, O.P. (in place of the Master of the Order).  Yes, today he was the one who freely, whole heartedly, chose another life sentence. 

Deo Gratias.