Marian Helper • Summer 2023 • Marian.org 27 Afew of my most favorite things to do as a Marian priest are to spread Divine Mercy; connect with and inspire youth; visit family; and make new friends. On a recent trip to St. Mary’s Parish in Lake Leelanau, Michigan, for a men’s retreat and Lenten mission, I was able to do all these things and more. I am extremely grateful to God and His people for this wonderful experience. I would like to share some of the many “Godincidences” (I don’t believe in coincidences; only “Godincidences”) with you. Small world When Peter and I first started working on scheduling some parish missions for me this year (I have been developing my skills in my recently-acquired role as retreat master at the Immaculate Conception Center in Putnam, Connecticut), my ears perked up when he said that there was a pretty long-standing request from a parish in the Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan. I began thinking, “I wonder where in the diocese it is, because I have family in the area?” When he told me it was in Lake Leelanau, I started laughing. “My grandma graduated from St. Mary’s School, and I am related to at least half the people in the town!” I exclaimed. “If the dates work out, let’s book it.” Well, the dates did work out, for a parish mission, a men’s retreat, and a school visit. I was super excited because not only would I get to spread Divine Mercy, but I would also get to encounter men seeking to grow in their faith and share with students that it was my faith, and especially the Divine Mercy message, that I encountered in high school that helped me find meaning in my life during a critical stage. When I arrived, my cousins Jim and Madeline picked me up at the airport. They always pick my brain about the latest things going on in the Church, the family, and the world. The next day, I met up with the pastor, Fr. Ben Martin, and enjoyed a Lenten fish fry. Boy, was it good! As is typical for our parish missions, I preached at St. Mary’s weekend Masses and gave evening conferences, with Confession available beforehand each night. The talks were recorded and posted on the school’s Facebook page. I was also able to spend time with the students during school hours. I visited classrooms; gave a presentation on the Shroud of Turin; had lunch with the kids; played volleyball and chess; listened to their perspectives; and answered questions. I was impressed with the high level of integration that I experienced there. The Catholic faith indeed permeates the whole curriculum. Memory shared While I was impressed with all the students’ work, one piece particularly caught my attention. As many know, in the Diary of St. Faustina, Jesus tells her to “Paint an image according to pattern which you see …” (47). One student was excited to show me that she had done just that. Willa Lampe, a sophomore foreign exchange student from Cologne, Germany, who at first struggled to paint anything at all, showed me her beautiful rendition of the Vilnius Divine Mercy Image. I blessed her work; the art teacher, Deb Shutt, got a couple good photos; and we all gained a memory to share forever. While at the parish and school, I was reminded of how Divine Mercy and Divine Providence are at work in every place and at every time. I am extremely grateful to everyone, especially Fr. Martin, Tom Alflin, Maria Putt, and Michael Wiggins. To inquire about having a Marian priest visit your parish for a mission, contact Peter James: [email protected] or (413) 298-1303. Divine Mercy, Divine Providence By Fr. Allen Alexander, MIC
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