Maggie admits that she has had many struggles in her life. That might be why she’s convinced that “it’s so important to treat others with respect and to try to understand where they are in their lives. God loves every person, even if they have done bad things.” This conviction inspired Maggie to start sending a daily text message to her children to remind them that they are connected to each other. The message often encourages small acts of kindness, volunteering, and, of course, prayer. Along with prayers for an end to the war in Ukraine, Maggie frequently asks them to pray for the sick, for the deceased, and for family unity. Maggie also treasures her connection with the Marian Fathers, which started at the beginning of the pandemic when she discovered the daily livestream of the Mass, Chaplet, and Rosary from the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. She’s very happy that they continue to stream these services onYouTube, Facebook, and TheDivineMercy.org. The pandemic also brought her back to praying the Rosary, which she learned as a child. She recalls how her parents would pack her and her siblings in the car to go visit her grandparents, and her mother would lead them in praying the Rosary. “It helped keep everyone calm.” Today, driving and praying still go together. Each time she gets behind the wheel, Maggie folds down the visor and prays the prayers for protection she has taped there. If her sister is with her, they then pray the Rosary as they drive along. There are other ways that Maggie followed her mother’s example. Like her mom, when she retired, she volunteered to serve as a Eucharistic Minister and bring Holy Communion to the homebound and people who are in the hospital or nursing homes. “Mom struggled financially,” she explains, “but she managed to make gifts to support seminarians. After she retired, I was concerned that she would run out of money because of the cost of her care, but God took care of her. “For many years, it was not possible for me to donate. And now, with the price of everything going up, you have to pick and choose what you can support. I’m very happy I can help my parish and the Marian Fathers.” Maggie is also happy that she found a way to arrange a gift that does not cost anything now: She named the Marian Fathers as one of the beneficiaries on her retirement plan. This allows her to use the account during her lifetime. Then, if there is anything left, it will go to the beneficiaries she has named, including the Marian Fathers to support their mission to help souls turn to God with trust. Visit Marian.org/will if you would like to use our online tool to create a plan for your beneficiaries or explore other free tools to create your estate plans. And always feel free to contact me if you have questions. While she is humble, Maggie has a clue about how to save the world. Maggie says, “If people don’t start turning back to God and praying, nothing will change.” This is exactly what our Lord told St. Faustina: “Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My Mercy” (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 300). PRAYING FOR CHANGE Outstanding Helpers Ellen Miller is director for Special Gifts. Contact her at [email protected]; (413) 298-1380; or Association of Marian Helpers, Stockbridge, MA 01263. Visit Marian.org/PlannedGiving Marian Helper • Summer 2022 • Marian.org 31 Maggie P adds her prayers to the Marians’ daily livestream of the Mass on YouTube.
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