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Showing posts from January 25, 2013

Prayer Request

I had the opportunity to pray and celebrate the anointing of the sick with a 49 year old mom who is dying from tongue cancer. She has two children and a loving husband. She wasn't actively dying but is on hospice so her transition from this world to the next will probably be very soon. Please pray for Anita and her family. Her husband seemed very overwhelmed by the whole situation, and I can't even begin to imagine how he must feel. The number of family who came to pray with us was incredible! Anita has a very loving family. I greatly appreciate your prayers. Thanks!  in Christ, Fr.Jim

The Conversion of St. Paul

Today the Church celebrates the conversion of St. Paul. What an amazing testimony his life is to the power of God's grace and the joy of conversion. I remember well my first trip to Rome in 1999 and our pilgrimage to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. As I knelt at the tomb of St. Paul I got goosebumps thinking about his life and what a powerful witness he was after his conversion. The Lord told him through Ananias that he would suffer much for the Lord's name (cf Acts 9:16). He soon launched into the great adventure of discipleship and discovered that his willingness to experience suffering for the Lord's sake bore tremendous spiritual fruit leading him to say the following: "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word