Marian Helper Fall 2015

FATHER JOSEPH WRITES First, the urgent appeal. Every time we have had a crisis, our Marian Helpers h ave come through and assisted us, allowing us to continue our ministry for God’s Kingdom. In our urgent appeal, made through a mailing, our Facebook page, a nd websites, I requested donations that would allow us to replace our 40-plus- year-old heating system, which was repeatedly and increasingly breaking down. When we made this appeal to you, we were in the midst of record-break- ing winter temperatures. Yes, we bundled up here at the Center. Yes, we made it through. (We’re tough New Englanders, after all!) But considering that the Marian Helpers Center serves as the very epicenter of th e Marians’ publishing apostolate — the place from which we spread throughout the world the message of Divine Mercy a nd devotion to Mary Immaculate and the Holy Souls in Purgatory — we knew that to try to make it through yet another winter with a timeworn and unreliable heating system would be irresponsible and jeopardizing the mission our Lord has given us. The long and short of it is, we sought to raise $250,000 in donations. We greatly exceeded our goal! What that means is not only are we replacing the heating system, but we are now making plans to install insulation and new, air- tight windows for the Center. (The building is not insulated, and we have windows falling apart that date back to the early part of last century, when our printing press room was a horse barn.) Again, thank you for your donations, and thank you for your prayers to make this project happen. This brings us to the petition drive — another proj- ect we call upon you to support. Please get your pens ready. As many of you know, we Marians and Marian Helpers have been spreading the Divine Mercy revela- tions of St. Faustina since 1941, a mere three years after the death of the Lord’s “secretary” of Divine Mercy. All the while, we have witnessed how her life and writings have renewed the lives of millions world- wide. No exaggeration: We —Marians and Marian Helpers — have helped make the Divine Mercy mes- sage and devotion the greatest grassroots movement in the history of the Church. So, together, let’s take this one step further. Let’s petition the Holy See to declare St. Faustina a Doctor of the Church. Saint Faustina is the saint for our times. She has clarified for the Church and the world today the mystery of God’s merciful love a nd his call for trust. Pope Francis has expressed a love and appreciation for St. Faustina. We also know he values the desires of the faithful. Together, let our voices be heard! Sign your name to the petition. Send the petition back to us. Please. Thank you! Visi t TheDivineMercy.org/doctor for more informa- tion on our petition drive. “Father Joseph, MIC,” is the honorary title of the director of the Association of Marian Helpers. The current director i s Fr. Chris Alar, MIC. I wish to say “thank you” to you all, and then “please” to you all. “Thank you” for your response to our urgent appeal last winter for funds to replace our heating system here at the Marian Helpers Center in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. And “please” join us in our petition drive to declare St. Faustina a Doctor of the Church, introduced in this magazine’ s cover wrap. THANK YOU, AND PLEASE M arian H elper • F all 2015 • marian.org 3 Fr. Joseph thanks Helpers for their assistance. Join Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, (Fr. Joseph) on a special pilgrimage to Italy.