Marian Helper Winter 2012-2013

MOMM’s goal: Make Year of Faith ‘time of grace’ T he Year of Faith, which began Oct. 11 and runs through Nov. 24, 2013, is a time in which the faithful are called to embrace a deeper relationship with Jesus, espe- cially through encountering Him in the Eucharist and the other Sacraments. The year has one simple purpose: to help us rediscover our faith in Christ. As a lay apostolate of the Marian Fathers, Mother of Mercy Messengers (MOMM) will be working hard to help Catholics deepen their knowl- edge of the faith through their presentations to parishes and schools across the country. MOMM’s acclaimed multimedia presentation for parishes, Tell All Souls About My Mercy , brings viewers into dynamic contact with the heart of the message of Divine Mercy. MOMM also has programs and materials geared toward reaching youth. “We are filled with joy, yet humbled, by the number of ways we are able to respond to the Holy Father’s directives and wishes for the Year of Faith,” says MOMM’s Joan Maroney, along with her husband, Dave, MOMM’s cofounder. At the invitation of Pope Benedict XVI, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith put forth a letter with recommenda- tions “to encourage a ready response to the invitation of the Holy Father to live fully this Year as a special ‘time of grace.’” “We have been blessed to create presenta- tions, products, support materials, and services that have centered on living and spreading the fullness of the Catholic faith, particularly through the message of and devotion to Jesus, The Divine Mercy,” Joan says. “During this spe- cial year, we will work to help the local Church respond to many of these recommendations.” For example, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith proposes that “every ini- tiative that helps the faithful to recognize the special role of Mary … as a model of faith and virtue is to be encouraged.” To that purpose, MOMM has developed a beautiful meditation in Tell All Souls About My Mercy called “Mary’s Way of the Cross,” which strengthens souls in accepting God’s will as she did in all things, in both the joys and the sorrows of life. The Vatican Congregation also calls for catechetical events, especially for youth and those searching for a sense of meaning in life, and for paying greater attention to Catholic schools. Here, MOMM has developed youth pro- grams that catechize, inspire, and build faith. “Perhaps most exciting for us is the opportunity to help respond to the call for penitential celebrations and to help support greater faith and frequency in the reception of the Sacrament of Penance and the fervent celebration of the Eucharist,” says Dave. Parishes interested in MOMM’s programs can call Joan or Dave at 1-830-634-7765 or visit thedivinemercy.org/MOMM. In the News: Marians’ Divine Mercy Apostolates Joan (above) and Dave Maroney, cofounders of Mother of Mercy Messengers are working hard to help children and youth understand and live the faith through their multimedia presentations at schools across the country. C OURTESY OF J OAN M ARONEY MH DIVINE MERCY APOSTOLATES WANT TO COME TO YOUR PARISH! The Divine Mercy Apostolates represent four unique lay outreach ministries of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. These four apostolates bring the message of Divine Mercy to churches and communities throughout the country. For more information, contact Mark Fanders at 1-866-895-3236 or [email protected], or visit thedivinemercy.org/ministries.