Father Joseph Writes My Marian brothers and I serve the Church where the need is greatest. That’s been a critical part of our work for Christ and His Church ever since the time of the Marian Renovator, Bl. George Matulaitis-Matulewicz. Of course, that’s meant the Marian Fathers have been on the march across the world ever since, spreading the devotion to Mary Immaculate, the Holy Souls in Purgatory, and the message of Divine Mercy to millions. Here in the United States, of course, we have our parishes in Illinois and Wisconsin; the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts; and our houses of formation in Steubenville, Ohio, and Washington, D.C. Overseas, we have parishes and ministries throughout Poland and Eastern Europe, including in Ukraine. We’re present and at work in Rome, the United Kingdom, and in Fatima, Portugal. We have houses and ministries across Africa, in Cameroon and Rwanda (including Kibeho, site of incredible apparitions and miracles in the 1980s). We’re in Brazil and Argentina in Latin America, and in India, Vietnam, and the Philippines in Asia. Truly, God has blessed us richly! Visit Marian.org/Marians/ Where-We-Serve to learn more about our presence and service around the world. We don’t just support our own ministries and apostolates, but also support the Church where she is in need more broadly. One great example of this is the Marian Fathers’ collaboration with Fr. Richard Shuaibu, a priest from the Diocese of Sokoto, Nigeria. He’s been a regular visitor to the Marian communities in the United States, sharing with us his extraordinary stories of faith under fire. Recently, he went into the jungle to negotiate the release of priests and religious from their radical Islamic captors. We feared for his life. And yet, he secured the release of those he’d sought to free. We are fortunate to have his friendship and to welcome him into our communal life from time to time. But we plan to do more than that. Father Richard is also the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). We encourage donations to help our Christian brethren who endure persecution in Nigeria: please help at Marian.org/Nigeria. Looking ahead, 2023 offers exciting opportunities for catechesis and fellowship, including the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy in Samoa from May 21-25, 2023, and World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, from Aug. 1-6, 2023. I’ll be speaking at both, and hope to see Marian Helpers there! Thank you for the many Rosaries and Chaplets, for the Masses and swift prayers raised to Heaven. Thank you for the love and support for myself and my Marian brothers, especially during our 350th Jubilee. P.S. As we go to press, our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Puerto Rico, Florida, and other areas impacted by Hurricane Ian. We ask Mary Immaculate to intercede on their behalf as the long recovery process continues. “The sun never sets on the British Empire,” the saying went, an indication of its vast global reach and influence. Well, the same can be said about the Marian Fathers and you, our Marian Helpers. Today, we serve in 18 countries around the world, as you’ll see from the stories in this issue. Our Marian Helper Family hails from even more countries, including Australia. We’re a lot bigger and more diverse than you may think! THE SUN NEVER SETS “Father Joseph, MIC,” is the honorary title of the director of the Association of Marian Helpers. The current director is the Very Rev. Chris Alar, MIC, interim Provincial Superior of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy Province in the United States and Argentina. Marian Helper • Winter 2022-23 • Marian.org 3
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