The power of united prayer…
Again I tell you, if two of you join your voices on earth to pray for anything whatsoever, it shall be granted you by my Father in heaven. Where two or more are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst (Mt. 18:19-20).
We pray for…
2012… truth, justice, & integrity; Father Xaviour, whose maternal grandmother died in India, 5.2, & his family; Julie, whose father died, 5.1, in Baldwin, WI; Ofelia Gonzales, Liam Wilson (2 yrs old), Ted Hodges, Olga Herrera, & all of their families; John Shedd’s family, especially his niece in ICU & her family; Dinie & her mother; Stan Greenberg & his family; the Molinas (Mingo, Judy, Misa), Aunt Andrea, & the Hodges (Ted & Mary) on the loss of 16-year-old Teddy (4.1); Goya & her husband, Jonesy, who died 3.29; Gloria & her children; the Vara family: Manuel & Eileen, Harper Grace, Kerith, Sara, & Aiden; all ACTS retreatants;
Elena Martinez; Michael Apiado; Jess Veloria; Olga & Jose; Heidi Wilson & her two-year-old son, Liam, who’ll be undergoing tests for cancer; Sam Gonzalez, who’s in the hospital, & his family; Dave Taylor, Larry Felton, & Barb Galbraith; Father Sheehan (dob 3.2; retired Oblate);
Kayla Bagley, a five year old undergoing medical treatment in San Antonio & her family, especially her older brother; Don & Virginia Dagenais from Wichita, KS & their family, especially Jonathan & Lindan Blank & their granddaughter graduating from Navy boot camp this mid-March; the Harrisons from Alabama: Harold, Genevieve, & their grandson, Adam, who’s been recently diagnosed with cancer; Caitlin Kelly & hubby, Jose; Sharon & Joe Shaw (Stella Maris);
Laura Apiado; Alice & Roger Olaes on their anniversary, 1.29; SPC parishioners (Flour Bluff), especially Nelda & Lupe de Leon, Olivia & George Holt; Anna & Doug, Floyd & his family; Ron Ausmus & his family; Enrique Macias & his family; Mary & Jack; doctors; Jennifer Starns (Bay Area Hospital, 1.23), her mom & her little girl; Olivia’s surgery, 1.23; unborn babies; schoolchildren & their families; married couples; SJC parishioners;
2011… Thomas Murphy’s health; Gene’s friend, Tony, who’s battling cancer; Sam Apiado’s health; Gloria & Tom Eager; children whose lives are in danger; Acacia, Kylie, Ayden, & Karina; John Turany & his family; Gloria Dodd & all intentions at The Mary Page; Minga’s health & her family’s peace of mind; Mel’s health; Suzie, Nick, Marko, & Chris; friendship; Virginia & Gene; Father Joe Torres (dob 7.27) & Father Pasquale Lanese at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Brownsville; Neli-Beli’s family & her parents, Gabriel & Nenita Mesina in the Philippines; Oscar Diaz, KC Knight who’s in the hospital, his wife, family, & friends, John & Marla; Ben & his family & friends as he nears heaven; Christina B & all suffering from cancer; John Meyer & his family; Margaret & Richard; Jay, Roger, & their family & friends; Carol & her family; travelers; those searching for work, those suffering emotional distress, & those in need of stability in their lives; children in need of nurturing; families affected by the Mississippi River & other natural disasters; Pat & Eddie Lanoux; caregivers; service occupations employees; travelers; college students; Tara at Beaches; all in need of healing & consolation; Joe Bomarito, his wife, their daughter, & the good samaritans who assist them; Dora, her husband, & their family; stroke survivors; all who are experiencing difficulties; Prema’s mom; William; Mikey; Paul Doyno & his mom;
Paty’s uncle & her mother; Juan Chavez’s family; Gracie Paredes’s family; Steve & Mary Ellen Galvan & their precious granddaughter, Mary Cate; healing for Hannah so that Cammie can have peace of mind; healing for Carlos; the Ernst family; Mary Rodriguez’s family; the Heinens, John & Marla, whose mom had a stroke (1.13); Ed Schulz & his family; Julio Mendoza, who’s in ICU, & his loving family; Dora Doria & her good friend, Olga Cardenas, whose dad is in the hospital; Reggie & Tony; Mayra, two-month-old Mia, her mom, & her younger sister; Ruthie & Bill; Tina & her family; Trung & his friends at UTSA; Mary Mujica;
2010… Elizabeth Edwards, who valiantly battled cancer until 12.7, & all whose lives she touched & who will miss her; Rose & Gary Moeller; Frank Ernst, Jr., now in hospice; Adriana, little girl lost, & her family; Sharyn Kilderry; peace & harmony between & among family members; Phil, Seth, & Cammie, whose birthday is 11.5; Deborah & Dawn; John & Marla Heinen, whose sister, Mitzi Aldrich, died recently; the family of Sarah Maxham (10.22.09);
Edgar Garcia, his sister & loved ones; Paul (10.25-26) & his mom, a pastor; David Landin, Patty, Charlie, & Nina; Freda & her dad; Pat, Debra Dawn, & Chris; Terry Landin Longoria; Father Ralph Jones & his parishioners at Stella Maris Chapel in Lamar; Charles, Vivian, Innocente (son), Lt. Col. Charles, Jr. (son) who’s serving his seventh tour of duty in Afghanistan, Michael Zeplin (nephew), & John Ramos (friend), all from Victoria;
JLM’s mom, Ben, Gloria, & Marla; Carol at Macy’s; Mary Rodriguez; Maria & Bea; Toni & Ken Mencey; the repose of Cheri Lloyd Heather & those who mourn her loss (10.2); Candace to receive comfort, healing, & joy; Susan’s finding worthwhile employment; Azalia, Noelia, Rosita, & Julie, who needs a healing miracle; Rick, his wife, their two daughters (Julia & Amanda), & brand-new grandbaby; Margie, her two sons, & her dad;
Paty’s mom on her 70th birthday; Rosemary; Angie to receive the Holy Spirit; Sam Lee, who was recently deployed to Iraq, Carla, & baby Myah; Patty Reynoso; Dr. Vargas & Linda, who underwent heart surgery recently; Jack Rush, who’s presently in ICU; Veronica’s enlightenment;
Carlos to receive his medical treatment as prescribed by doctors so that he’s able to continue with the healing process; health insurance companies… that they may be compassionate toward patients undergoing chemotherapy and outpatient care for dread diseases and allow for prescribed medications so desperately needed;
Lupita & her family & friends; the Burroughs family, especially CJ (Clinton), who’s being deployed to Iraq (8.22); Betty & her family; Lorrie; Mary Ellen’s friends… Nancy & Olivia… & her family; Cammie, Phil, & their family; Pat, Carlos, & their family;
Angie’s improving health & her husband Maco, daughters, grandkids, 88-year-old ailing mother, brother Chuy & his family, & Aunt Angelita in Chicago; Heather & all caseworkers who seek nurturing, loving homes for children in need of foster care and/or adoption;
Eddie (dod 7.16), his family, & friends; Nick Doize; those we met in Nacogdoches… Fran at the farmer’s market, Denise at the Fredonia, Marissa at the museum, Mary & Margo at SHC; all who are, or will be, vacationing, especially Sabrina & her family, Robert, Pat, Jay & Roger, & others eagerly awaiting a respite from the routine; Ruth & all who love to read; Ramona, whom I met at the MPBC St. Jude Shrine (5.20);
Father Arul Mathias, presently at home in India, & his parents, especially his mom, who’s in the hospital; Orlando Whitehair, who passed away last week; good health for Tommy & Gladys Lane; beloved actress, Helen Wagner (1918-2010); Juanita, Jay, & all experiencing eye problems; Paty’s dad & all courageously battling skin cancer; all who are critically ill, especially Eddie; Becky & her children; Angie & Maco, whose mom died (4.29) at the age of 102, & their family & friends;
Baby Svana, who’s undergoing surgery (5.10) & whose birthday is 5.23; Baby Rebecca (dob 4.1); Pat’s dear husband, Carlos, on his job interview & all others seeking employment; Paty’s parents, especially her dad, who’ll undergo surgery, 5.3; Margaret & Richard;
Acacia-D (3.30.94), Michael (3.30.95) & all March birthdays; Julian, whom we met at Antonio’s in Austin; Baby Evan (dob 3.18) & his parents; Ben (with Jay, below); Baby Svana, who undergoes surgery again (3.19); Esmeralda & her children, especially Reymundo; Judy; Paty; Ben & Ruth, their family & friends; Nick Rowland, his family & friends;
Julie, Rosita, Azalia, Father Frank & OLG parishioners in Hebbronville; Brian & Conner Moeller, newlyweds; Rose & Gary who will travel to Germany (4.19); Diana’s daughter, Selina, married to a wonderful young man, Richard, & their baby, Rebecca, due 4.2; Father Jonathan, ordained 6.2009;
David, Rose’s beloved grandbaby, & all the Moeller family; Father Javier Barrientes, Jay’s dear friend from Peru; Steven & all who are struggling with flu-like symptoms, pneumonia, & respiratory ailments; Dr. Howard Jones, his family & friends, & others like them who are grieving the loss of a loved one;
2009… Baby Svana, Mark, & Rachael; Alyn, George, & CJ; Sondra & Tina; Baby Max (Maxson Drew Boaz), whose tiny arm was broken during his birth on Christmas Day; Max’s Auntie Cammie, who wishes him good health & much love;
Rosie & Sabrina, their friends & family; the family & friends of Carlos, former HEB employee who died 11.16; Father Sheehan, now in San Antonio; Father Deane & Kathleen; Steve, Mary Ellen, her sister Donna & their mom; Cathy Vera; Juanita, Jay Masterson’s friend; Carly Carlough’s father, Edward Roach, Jr. (dod 10.27); David Robert Lanoux (dod 10.31.07);
Mikey, who begins his military service in the Navy (10.28.09); Sarah Maxham (1968-2009) & her loved ones & friends; Marcy Thomas & her family & friends; William (dob 10.12); Prema (dob 10.15);
Joe Krueger; Curt Vorwald & Gladys Hilsenbeck; Bill Kelley, a 4th-degree Knight of Columbus who’s had hip surgery; Donna, Mary Ellen’s precious sister; David T. & his family; all undergoing medical procedures, especially Neli-Beli (8.17) and Cammie (Aug); Ruth Foley, her spouse, two sons, grandson, & mom, Chieko Hesch; Richard & Margaret Mueller; Tony & Mary Jo Patz; Jason Gutierrez & his family & friends; Bobby Richter; Bill Hellen’s mom & all of their family;
Sir Knight Steve Galvan, his wife Mary Ellen, & their family; Richard Garza & his family; all fathers everywhere on their special day (6.21), especially Manuel G. Vera & Julio Mendoza; Lety’s health; the family of George Barnes; L’il Eddie, who’s in ICU in Springdale, AR; those in the ER, especially Nory, & their families; Irene Pena’s family, especially her stepson Jay & her sister Goya; the health of Amy Michelson & her mother-in-law; Brian Moeller, on his transfer from Afghanistan to Germany; Josh Guidry, his friends & family; Lori LeMay Hamilton; Harry Frank, his wife Remi, their family & friends;
Nereyda Flores, Gloria Rodriguez, Mrs. Barbosa, & Mrs. Dimas, who are taking their Generalist Bilingual exam, 6.27; Tammy, Josh, & their infant Jazzlyn, who was stillborn; Toni Mencey’s granddaughter Selena, who turns seventeen, 5.10; Nereyda, who’s finishing her B.S. degree in education this summer, her son Manuel, & his family; the Lovely Ning’s family; Mary B’s brother John (dod 3.9) & his daughter Jennifer’s family;
Darlene, her UH dissertation process, & her family; Mary B’s longtime friend, Lona Paxman; the family of Father Xaviour, whose dad passed away 1.31.08; the family of Ann Coffen, whose dad, Tom Drake, died 1.24.09; Bob Clark & his family; Frank & Florence Kuzan; the Moellers & their family, especially their son, Brian, who’s in the service; all military families past, present, and future; those recovering from surgery, especially Ning Apiado & Irene D. Vera; Laura, Brandon, William, Prema, Veronica, Segy, Manny, & Mikey; Acacia, Kylie, Ayden, & Karina; the YWAM missionaries in India; all children, their parents, & their families; those undergoing surgery;
2008… Tasha; Elsa’s dad; Jay’s, Tina’s, & George’s friend & his family; Laura Saldana; Reggie’s healthy prognosis; Kevin & Phyllis; the victims of natural disasters; Paty, Kevin, & their family; all who work & all who seek employment; our loved ones, here & gone… Josephine Hutchins & Laquita Marcy Teller; all who are grieving; all who seek guidance; the terminally ill, their families & friends; Delia, Mary B, Mary M, Maribel, Catherine Goodwin; all who are coping with illness every day; & Toni Mencey’s granddaughter Megan.
A special request…
I would appreciate your prayers for Margaret and all those who are struggling with chronic illnesses. While I think the word is overused, the love God has for each of his children is TRULY awesome.
With much affection,
Jay Loretta Masterson
24 June 2008
I love the new website. The prayers of the community for my mom and us have meant so much over the past 18 months, but especially during her recent crisis…. She is now happily back at her own suite at Oak Crest after sustaining a sharp drop in hemoglobin that was life threatening. Three units of blood and 4 days in the hospital have enabled her to regain ease of breathing, an appetite, and even a return of her love for chocolate. Two other women in her age group died in the ICU of a Corpus Christi hospital of the same type of sudden anemia.last weekend. Truly our times are in His hands. Every day with her is precious. May God continue to knit our community together regardless of the distances that separate us part of the year.
Your photo graces the petitions page the same way your spirit accompanies me as I work on the church blog. I appreciate all you do, and I especially enjoy your enthusiastic… very genuine… support of us at SJC. I’m glad your mom’s feeling better! Hugsss to you…
This morning, Jay wants us to keep her very dear friend, Ben Jenkins, in prayer.
I am praying that God will grant him a peaceful and joyful end to a fruitful life lived with grace. He loves the Lord so much and credits Him with all the wonderful things that have guided his life. Selfishly, I would love for Ben to respond to natural alternative treatments and be with us for years. But I know that whatever God’s will for him is, it will be for his ultimate good. Hard for me to accept, but part of my being more mature in my trust in God’s best plan for those I love.
Please add my friend Fr Javier Barrientos to your prayers for our beloved priests. He is a young Salesian missionary from Peru who is stationed in Zambia. He is filled with talent, love, energy, and a generous spirit that makes him so effective. He serves in many capacities for his province. His special love is his work with young people who are studying trades and seminarians in formation. Sadly, he has contracted malaria, and the disease is not responding to medication. He is really down. I got his permission to ask all prayer warriors to join me in interceding before the Throne of Grace on his behalf. He has a deep faith and a willing heart. God is using him wherever he goes. May Jesus the Great Physician heal him in all areas of his life.
Isn’t it wonderful? By posting your comment, you’ve added Father Javier yourself. This is exactly why the move to WP works so well. It’s spontaneously interactive. I’ll add Father to the list above as well and keep him in my thoughts and prayers throughout the day…
Lord, please hold Father Javier Barrientos in your loving hands. You are the Creator of all things, please protect him, sustain him until he is strong enough to be sent to his loving congregation. You know how much he is needed and loved, oh Lord! For he is one of Your shepherds working so diligently wherever You send him. We ask you to be there by his side and guide his physicians until his recovery. We unite in prayer In Your name, oh Jesus. Amen.
On Sunday, 5.16.10, Jay shared the latest on her mom’s wonderful progress…
Deli, in reading the older petitions on St Joseph’s [blog], it occurred to me that I had not given feedback to those dear prayer warriors in St Joseph ’s network about the improvements in my mom’s condition since she nearly died in January 2010.
My mom is really responding to the extended rehab program now operated at Oak Crest Nursing Center. Those creative folks are using different therapies and working with her every day. She has been doing much more on her own (even going to the bathroom) and is stronger as well as more engaged outside her room. She is working at standing and walking with rails in the gym. She tools around the home and grounds in her wheelchair using her feet. She is participating actively in the occupational and physical skill building and the results are really evident. This week I am bringing in a stool, so she can start learning how to step up (yes!!). She is able to keep up with the conversations better and can add a lot to my queuing her on past events.
I bring our dog Bonnie out most every afternoon or evening. She loves Bonnie so much, and Bonnie gives her comfort and cuddling time. Her room is filled with live plants and flowers that I change out monthly. She has pictures up and lots of extra blankets in a hamper. She has St. Joseph’s Holy Family sculpture with flowers under her crucifix. The pictures I took of the Blessed Mother and St Joseph are mounted around the crucifix. She receives Holy Communion from the dear folks at Sacred Heart Church every week.
Margaret is even getting back to reading the newspaper regularly. The results of her recent laser treatments that opened the tear ducts seem to have reduced pain/pressure.
She loves the meals she receives at Oak Crest and mentions often how much she likes not having to get groceries.
She was so delighted to have a large milkshake and cups of coffee at Dairy Queen in Rockport with her grandson and great grandson today. She told me while the guys were getting drinks how much she treasures every visit with them (most every week).
God grants us so much more than we can ever ask or expect.
Thanks for all the work you do on the… blogs.
Affectionately, Jay
Dear Deli Lanoux,
Thank you for praying for me when I was in vacation. I appreciate it very much. May God bless you and all your undertakings.
Oh, Father! It is I who thank you for your thoughtful blessings!
I’m glad you’re back home safely from your native India, and I hope your mom’s health continues to improve.
God bless you and your family infinitely much!
What are you doing to help Fr John Corapi? I just turned 70 and was born into this Church. Cardinal Law is free as a bird in Rome, as he was guilty; and Father John Corapi knows not his accuser. Sad. Makes me quit. This is the second holy priest that I know of treated like this. What is the use when the devil has corrupted our Church? I won’t be a part of a Church corrupted by Satan himself.
Sheila, four thoughts came to mind as I read your comments:
A prayer… St. Jude, be my companion this week. When the temptation to glorify myself arises, remind me to give all honor to God. Amen.
A long-ago comment from Father Stembler… “Base your faith and your commitment to church not on the priest but on God.”
Two blog sources… The deacon’s bench and The deacon’s wife… with additional comments, of course, since folks are entitled to their own opinions.
And some food for thought… Jesus judged people and situations every day, but he never held hatred or resentment; he never tried to get revenge. Instead, he measured each situation based on the way his Father wanted him to act
(Mt. 7:1; the Word among us, June 2011, p. 39).
I wish you peace.
Ms. Ryan,
It is the mission of this blog, as I see it, to support Christianity, the Catholic faith, and
St. Joseph Church in Port Aransas. I don’t think it appropriate for it to become politicized and take a stance in the dissention between a single priest and the Diocese of Corpus Christi.
While the rights and sacredness of the individual are significant and must be fully respected, the weight of the “common good” still commands greater recognition. I believe that is the basis for the Diocesan decision.
I do not see the conflict between Corapi and the Church as evidence of widespread corruption of the Church by Satan. We need to be careful in broad condemnation of the Church or any other organization based on a single case or on a few similar instances.
After the poor handling of misconduct by priests that the Church demonstrated over the past decade, it should come as no surprise that there will be strong response to any such similar allegations. The Church caused many of its own problems by not acting promptly to charges but waiting instead for the full “due process” to determine guilt or innocence while offenders were continuing to commit their acts.
Each person should read and listen to the arguments on both sides and impartially form his/her own judgment on the merits and flaws that exist in those arguments. I do NOT encourage blind obedience to or belief in either side of the rift.
I offer a few things I noted…
- The Church has a limited tolerance for internal challenges, especially after the attacks it has weathered over the last years. (It is immaterial whether those attacks were justified or not.)
- Corapi was removed from “public ministry,” not from the missionary work of SOLT. Nor was he defrocked by the Church. He elected to renounce his sacred vows and leave the priesthood of his own volition.
- Corapi has managed to build quite a corporate empire– and a very profitable one– using the pulpit and the Roman collar as his admission cards, but it is very difficult to find out where the fortune goes and who are the profiteers.
- Corapi’s response to discipline is similar to a child’s: “I’ll take my toys and go home.” He will not abide by the rules the Church has determined to be in the best interest of the majority, so he is taking his followers and his preaching to a place where he makes the rules. I encourage caution in blindly following that lead.
Finally, I hope that your faith will help you weather this storm and that you will remain part of our Church. I appreciate that you believe Corapi was not well treated, but is that sufficient cause to reject Catholicism as a whole? Yes, the Church has many flaws and is out of tune with modern societal values in numerous ways; but it requires both commitment and an insistent effort from us within if it is to evolve in the proper direction. Abandoning the Church does not serve those purposes.
Steven M. Lanoux, Ph.D.
Knights of Columbus, 4th Degree