Many prayer requests this time.  Please pray for each other’s intentions as always.

            Some good news, the rosary novena cd is almost completed.  I think back to the day that Laurie (the guitarist) said to me, “MaryAnn, stop worrying about the fact that you do not have the funds to do this professionally.  Let’s just go forward, do the best we can, and ask the Holy Spirit to make it acceptable to all the people who want to have this to pray along with.”  I took her advice.  Last night I gave the files to the production volunteer who will do the sound mixing, etc.  As we will print on the CD cover, we are not pretending that this is a professional production.  It was not recorded in a studio.  Some of those who have offered their services are professionals who are doing the best possible with audio that was recorded on amateur equipment.  That said, this IS a  production done with generosity and love by many people who love the Lord and are offering their talents and their time.  May the Holy Spirit anoint all our efforts and may the Grace of God be poured upon those who pray with it and those for whom the prayers are offered.   

            As if you all haven’t heard enough about my troubles, I’m going to tell you there is another little hitch in this earthly journey of mine.  I will be going in for more surgery on my arm.  This time a plate will be inserted and a bone graft done.  I ask you to please keep us in your prayers during this Lenten season that Bob will have the patience and strength to go back with me through the recovery process again and that I will have courage to face these trials and the grace of God to continue to hold fast to the Lord and trust in His Mercy and Love.

            At the moment some things have changed in my schedule.  The presentation at Sanctuary of Hope on April 2 will be re-scheduled.  You can check the SOH website www.sanctuaryofhope.org or call the office 913-321-4673 for an update or send me an email that you wish to be notified when the new date is set and I will let you know.  We have still not been able to make a decision about the Wisconsin presentation on March 11.  We are hoping to go, but have to see when surgery gets scheduled.  So, if you are planning to go, again, email me and I can notify you as soon as I know for sure, or call Rita at 608-788-0010   in Lacrosse.

            If you plan to attend in Wisconsin and would like to help Bob at the book table afterward, we really need you.  Leah, who usually is with us will not be able to be there so he really can use your assistance if you would be interested in providing it.  Please let me know by email if you could help.

            After surgery I have decided to take a few weeks and try to heal instead of trying to keep up with many commitments such as the publication of this online newsletter.  I will publish it whenever I am able, but it will not be done on a regular basis for awhile.  I ask you all to bear with us through this.  We may be slow to answer email or postal mail, but it will be answered eventually.  Mail will be answered on weekends with the help of other MMG members.  Please do not hesitate to keep in touch—phone, email, or postal mail. We are always happy to hear from you.

            I sometimes think this little effort that we are all involved in is having a greater impact than we might realize.  God tells us and Mary tells us and the saints tell us that prayer has power and can accomplish great things—your collective prayers for all of our beloved prodigals surely are having an impact.  Look at the wonderful stories of prodigals beginning to turn toward home that have been shared since this began!  Let us pray together longer and stronger and with more faith and trust than ever.   Let us stay focused on Jesus and His words to the centurion and others, “Your faith made the difference.”

            Please pray with me in faith and trust that this surgery and time to heal will allow me to gain renewed strength and purpose to get back quickly to working with all of you in asking God to make a way to turn our loved ones back to His Holy Catholic Church.  Please add a prayer for my full, speedy recovery.  May the Lord accept my trials this Lenten season in intercession for prodigal loved ones.  May we all have His “peace which passes all understanding. ” 

            Let us continue to exercise our “silent strength” and live in peaceful hope, while we wait for our time to speak those glorious words:  “The child for whom I have prayed has come home!”

Peace,

Dear Maryann,  Thank you for sending me the "Silent Strength" booklets and CD.  I just finished listening to the CD and I thank you so very much for sharing your story and reaching out to all of us that share in praying for our prodigals.  May God continue to bless you and all your family.

I, like you, have searched and searched for prayers and guidance,  I thank our Lord for bringing me to your website, it is truly and inspiration and encouragement of hope and help.   I hope someday that you can come to Dixon, IL, hometown of Ronald Reagan ;-) and share your message with so many of us here that have this common problem.  I will keep in touch and will continue to pray for all our prodigals.

            Again thank you so very much for your prompt reply for my request for these booklets.  May God bless you and protect you.  Love and Friendship,

                                                                                                       ~Illinois

Dear MaryAnn,

I just wanted to let you know that God does indeed work in mysterious ways. My brother, who left without telling anyone where he went, came home. His journey took him to a Catholic Church a couple states away, where he was able to receive the sacrament on Confession (the first in many many years). So thank you to everyone who prayed for my family and please continue to do so.

                                                                                                            ~Iowa

Hi, MaryAnn,

Our Lady has been busy.  We hold our prayer meetings in the rectory basement.  At our last meeting, we said a special prayer that Mary would hear and answer our prayers.  We were saying the Joyful Mysteries.  On the second decade, the Visitation, one of our members say a vision of Our Lady.  She was smiling.  The member was too moved to tell us until after our meeting.  WE feel she was very blessed.  We are grateful that Mary chose to give us a sign that she was listening to our prayer.  God Bless.     ~Missouri

If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you.

            For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance. In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will.  We know that all things work for good for those who love God, 6 who are called according to his purpose.

            What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? It is Christ (Jesus) who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?

            No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, 10 nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.                                 ~Romans 8:11, 24-28, 31-35, 37-39

You ask me a method of attaining perfection. I know of love - and only love. Love can do all things.              -- St Therese of Lisieux