Father Joseph Writes Fast forward to today, and the Association is two million strong — and growing! Wouldn’t it be a great diamond anniversary gift to take up Fr. Joseph’s pledge and invite “at least one new member” to join the Association? As a Marian Helper, you know the benefits — the bullet pointed list is on the opposite page. Helping souls to grow in holiness and guiding souls to Heaven is what the Association is all about. God wants to empower you and me to serve the Church and spread the Good News of the Gospel. And He wants us to invite others to a better way of daily living in intimate union with Him, and with Mary Immaculate as our spiritual Mother — and guide — in Heaven. So let’s shoot for four million Marian Helpers! As members of a spiritual family, we walk together with Jesus and Mary on our daily journey towards Heaven. We are all “On the Paschal Path,” meaning we are on the road to the Cross, Resurrection, and glory. That is the theme for this year’s observance of the 350th Jubilee of the founding of the Congregation of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. During the holy season of Lent, the Paschal Path passes through Holy Thursday, the Last Supper, and the institution of the Eucharist, the source and summit of our Catholic faith. The Eucharist has been in the news lately, and that is welcome news. The U.S. bishops have announced plans for a three-year Eucharistic revival, with the stated mission “to renew the Church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.” Many dioceses have launched a “Year of the Eucharist,” including our home diocese here in Massachusetts, the Diocese of Springfield. “Jesus does the work if we let Him,” Bishop William D. Byrne says. “We will have many media and in-parish opportunities for people to learn about Jesus’ Real Presence, but the real key is for us to offer Adoration so that Jesus can do the real work in people’s hearts.” Amen to that! Parishes throughout western Massachusetts will offer the Forty Hours’ Devotion throughout the year, and Bishop Byrne has invited the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy to participate. This penitential Lenten season, as you practice the traditional pillars of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, spend time with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, before the tabernacle, or in Eucharistic Adoration. Jesus told St. Faustina, “My great delight is to unite Myself with souls. Know, My daughter, that when I come to a human heart in Holy Communion, My hands are full of all kinds of graces which I want to give to the soul” (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1385). These graces are ours for the asking. The God of mercy awaits our call. We will honor Him in a special way on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 24. Rest assured of our blessings and remembrance for you and your loved ones. This year Marian Helper turns 75! Our very first issue appeared in January 1947, just three years after the Association of Marian Helpers was founded. “You are 2,000 strong now!” my predecessor as Fr. Joseph wrote in that first issue. “But let’s not sit on our laurels! The ‘harvest is indeed great, but the laborers are few.’ That means that, like Christ, we have to go out and look for laborers. Our goal for the coming year — to have every present member send in at least one new member!” 75 YEARS OF GOOD NEWS “Father Joseph, MIC,” is the honorary title of the director of the Association of Marian Helpers. The current director is Fr. Chris Alar, MIC. Marian Helper • Spring 2022 • marian.org 3
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