Picturing St. Joseph l Rosary Confraternity l Divine Mercy rescue Charlie in 1983 Marian.org Winter 2023-2024 Inspiration and news from the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception Marian Helper TIME CAPSULE Charlie in 2023 Fifty-five years of service
Wish your loved ones a blessed Christmas with our exclusive cards. They’ll be remembered in the three Masses on Dec. 25 at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. Enroll a loved one today! 1-800-462-7426 Marian.org/b60/sc Your offering helps support the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. B60-SC232 Baby Jesus Gold Foil More than a card — it’s Three Masses on Christmas B60-SC231 Mary & Baby Jesus Gold Foil B60-SC233 Three Kings Gold Foil
AMH Director/Publisher: Very Rev. Chris Alar, MIC — “Father Joseph, MIC” Executive Editor: Dr. Joe McAleer Designer: Andrew Leeco Writer, assistant editor: Chris Sparks AMH General Promoter: Br. Andrew R. Mączyński, MIC Vol. 80, No. 4 Winter 2023-24 14 March of Time Mission Statement Marian Helper is intended to serve members of the Association of Marian Helpers (AMH), a spiritual benefit society of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The magazine seeks to provide spiritual nourishment, education about the Catholic faith, and information about the mission and good works of the Marians. It also provides information about Association services and presents opportunities to support the mission and good works of the Congregation. Marian Helper is published quarterly by the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. It is sent free of charge to active members of the Association. Printed in the USA with ecclesiastical approval. Copyright © 2023 Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. All rights reserved. Send all correspondence to: Association of Marian Helpers, Editorial Dept., Eden Hill, Stockbridge, MA 01263. Email: [email protected] Website: Marian.org The Marians’ longest-serving employee has now retired. Charlie Parise, “looking” at his former self and the late Fr. Walter Pelczynski, MIC, on our cover, clocked up 55 years of loyal service in the Marian Press print shop of the Marian Helpers Center in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. What a legacy! 3 Father Joseph Writes 4 Marian Helpers in Action 6 Father Joseph’s Picks 7 Notes from Rome 10 On Eden Hill 17 Around the World 28 New from Marian Press 31 Outstanding Helpers 33 Graces Received 36 From the Vaults Departments All hope seemed lost — until the Divine Mercy Image in the victim’s wallet was revealed. Kidnapped in Mexico! Heavenly light in darkness 18 War has come to the Holy Land, but the ray of hope continues to shine from Bethlehem. Newly-ordained Dcn. Stephen Castellano, MIC, wears the newly-restored white habit. New habit, new deacon 12 The campaign to build a new Marian monastery and chapel on Eden Hill is gaining momentum. ‘Let’s get it done!’ 13 24 Jesse’s legacy 20 The tragic miscarriage of a Holy Innocent has unexpected results for a grieving family. Picturing St. Joseph There’s a new graphic novel on the “Terror of Demons,” drawn by a talented artist on an iPad. 22 Page A chapter of the worldwide Confraternity of the Rosary has been established at the Shrine. Join the Confraternity! 8 First Ukraine and Russia, now Israel and Palestine. As wars rage on, what can we do to help? Peace in our time? 9 Father Andy Davy, MIC, and his pilgrims were among the million-plus at World Youth Day. ‘Jesus is looking at you now’ 26 When his flight was delayed, Fr. Fidele Malanga turned to prayer — and attracted a crowd. Rosary ready for takeoff 29
Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception The Marian Fathers are a Congregation of nearly 500 priests and brothers in 19 countries around the world. We support the Holy Father and embrace the official teachings of the Catholic Church in our special calling to: ● Spread devotion to Mary as the Immaculate Conception. ● Offer our lives for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, especially the victims of war and disease. ● Operate publishing apostolates and assist where the need is greatest in parishes, shrines, and missions. ● Promote the Divine Mercy message and devotion. ● Organize people of good will to work with and through us to bring Christ everywhere. Association of Marian Helpers — Join us! Established in 1944, the Association of Marian Helpers is a spiritual benefit society that prayerfully and financially supports the priests and brothers of the Congregation of Marian Fathers. Your enrollment means that, by a decree of the Holy See, you share in these graces: ● A daily Mass offered for all Marian Helpers. ● A share in the prayers, good works, and merits of the Marian priests and brothers around the world. ● A special Mass offered on feast days of our Savior and His Blessed Mother. ● A monthly Mass on each First Friday and each First Saturday. ● A Mass offered for deceased members on All Souls’ Day. ● The perpetual Novena to the Divine Mercy. l Deepen your commitment of prayer and support by joining one of our three spiritually nourishing prayer clubs: Marian.org/clubs l Support a particular ministry: Marian.org/give l Create a memorial or tribute: MemorialsOnEdenHill.org l Arrange a special gift of stock, a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA, a grant from your donor-advised fund, a gift through your will or trust, or annuity: Giving.Marian.org Call 1-800-671-2020 to make a gift by phone or for assistance. Free online help for your will, visit Marian.org/will. A sample form of bequest to the Marians is: I give and bequeath to the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. (Tax ID #20-8599030), Stockbridge, MA 01262, ____% of my adjusted gross estate (or $_______, or a specific asset) to be used for its religious and educational purposes. Marian Helpers Center Stockbridge, Massachusetts Headquarters and publishing center for the Association of Marian Helpers. 1-800-462-7426 National Shrine of The Divine Mercy (413) 298-3931 For pilgrimages: (413) 298-1119 ShrineOfDivineMercy.org Mercy Apostolates Learn about our lay ministries: Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy Dr. Bryan Thatcher TheDivineMercy.org/eadm 1-877-380-0727 Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy Marie Romagnano, MSN, RN, CCM TheDivineMercy.org/healthcare John Paul II Institute of Divine Mercy Dr. Robert Stackpole TheDivineMercy.org/JPII 1-866-895-3236 Mother of Mercy Messengers Joan and Dave Maroney TheDivineMercy.org/momm 1-830-634-7765 Evangelization Team Invite the Marians to speak at your parish. (413) 298-1349 [email protected] Intercessory Prayerline Send us prayer intentions. 1-800-804-3823 Marian.org/prayer Websites Marian.org TheDivineMercy.org ShopMercy.org DivineMercyPlus.org Who We Are Other ways to support God’s mission Sign-up is easy: Visit MICPrayers.org Visit marian.org/social 2 Marian Helper • Winter 2023-24 • Marian.org
Father Joseph Writes Of course, I’m not leaving you; I’m merely stepping aside as Fr. Joseph to concentrate on serving the Marian Fathers in the United States and Argentina as provincial superior. I’ll still be based at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy on Eden Hill in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, just in a different role. Next year I will mark my 10th anniversary as a Marian priest, and I am excited to be “turning the page” and embarking on a new adventure. I’d like to give a shout out to all our Marian Helpers. Father Joseph, MIC, is the director, but can’t do the job without all of you, those of you flung far across the map as well as those who work at the Marian Helpers Center in Stockbridge. I'm reminded of my ordination as a deacon on Sept. 21, 2013, the feast of St. Matthew, apostle and evangelist. It was written about right here in Marian Helper. In the article I thanked Marian Helpers for their prayers and support. “We owe everything to you,” I said. "Each priest, after he is ordained, offers his first Mass for a special intention. Mine will be offered for all our Marian Helpers." And I did just that, on June 1, 2014! I took up the position of Fr. Joseph, MIC, right after my ordination, and it has been an incredible journey. I couldn't in my wildest dreams have predicted what would come, including an extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy; a global pandemic; and my election as provincial superior. In this time, I’ve written two books (After Suicide: There’s Hope for Them and for You and Understanding Divine Mercy); done more than 150 “Explaining the Faith” talks; launched our weekly EWTN program “Living Divine Mercy,” now in its third season; and much more. In fact, many of you have been there at the parish missions, gone on the pilgrimages, and made the conferences or congresses a success. My final year as “Fr. Joseph” has reminded me how much the message of Divine Mercy has spread across the globe. I’ve been to Samoa, for the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy; Australia; New Zealand; the Solomon Islands; and the Philippines, where I was blessed to give a retreat to all 850 bishops and priests. The Divine Mercy is on fire there! I’ve traveled to Ireland, twice; Northern Ireland and London; Rome for our General Chapter; and British Columbia, Canada. I’ve spoken at conferences from Florida to South Carolina to California. Wherever I go, I have been inspired by the fervency of the faithful, the desire to learn more, and the commitment to transmit the faith and the Divine Mercy message. It's thanks to you that these past 9 ½ years have been a success, building on the hard work and sacrifices of my predecessors and Marian Helpers across the decades. Thank you. Please pray for me, and I promise I’ll be praying for you. May the Virgin Mary's Immaculate Conception be our health and our protection! This will be my last column as Fr. Joseph, MIC. The next issue of Marian Helper magazine will have a column written by the new Fr. Joseph, MIC, to be announced soon — he’s a good man and a solid priest. I know you will be in excellent hands with him at the helm of the Association of Marian Helpers. MY FAREWELL “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, Provincial Superior of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy Province in the United States and Argentina. Marian Helper • Winter 2023-24 • Marian.org 3
A love that endured Marian Helpers in Action Daniel’s devotion to the Eucharist and Divine Mercy is a gift he received from his parents, Ken and Joanne Clough, who were dedicated volunteers at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy for many years. Joanne passed away in March 2018, after 56 years of marriage; Ken followed her in April 2023. While they lived, the couple bore witness to God’s mercy to nearly everyone they met. Their gratitude for His many blessings would not let them keep silent. Faith and family Joanne was always devout. She pursued spiritual union with God as a Third Order Carmelite, advocated for the unborn, and faithfully raised a large family in a small house filled with love. Joanne did not drive, but when she was home alone with the children, she often walked them to the church By Marian Friedrichs Daniel Clough recently moved from his home state of New York to Virginia, but the increased distance from Massachusetts will not stop him from serving as volunteer director in the Adoration Tent at the annual Divine Mercy Sunday celebration in Stockbridge. Daniel cherishes Eucharistic Adoration because “it’s just you and God. His Mercy is coming forth from the Eucharist.” 4 Marian Helper • Winter 2023-24 • Marian.org Ken was delighted when Daniel brought him his Divine Mercy Sunday volunteer hat and lanyard in the hospital.
Even the different circumstances in which Ken and Joanne left this world seem to correspond, somehow, with the distinct ways they lived in it. On March 2, 2018, while Joanne was at home with Ken and speaking to Daniel on the phone, her heart failed. It was a First Friday, dedicated to the Sacred Heart, and earlier that day she had been to Mass. It was a snowy day, Daniel says, “but that never stopped my mother from going to church. You could usually find her in church, praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament.” In the ambulance, Joanne’s heart restarted. (“She always prayed for people in ambulances," Daniel recalls. “It makes you wonder if someone prayed for her.”) Joanne never regained consciousness, but for six days she was visited by priests and all of her children in her hospital room. Joanne died on March 8, at a moment when only Ken was at her side, talking to her and holding her hand. Five years later, as Ken lay dying of cancer, “all he talked about was the Shrine,” Daniel says. Ken was very disappointed not to be present on Eden Hill for the Feast of Mercy. Daniel served in the Adoration Tent as usual, and when he visited his father afterward, Ken eagerly asked how everything had gone. “He wanted to make sure things were done the right way. He was dying of cancer, and all he wanted to do was go help other people.” Ken was delighted when Daniel brought him his volunteer hat and lanyard in the hospital. After Ken died, the hat and lanyard were placed in the casket with him. “Love has to spread and grow,” Daniel says. The friends and family of Ken and Joanne Clough remember them as a couple whose love spread and grew within and beyond their home. “Their charity kept increasing,” explains Daniel. “In Heaven, it won’t stop increasing.” Through their prayers, Daniel believes, his parents will continue to draw souls closer to God. “They’re not going to stop helping people just because they died.” Visit ShrineOfDivineMercy.org/volunteer to honor the Cloughs by taking up the work they loved. a mile from their home so they could visit the Blessed Sacrament. Daniel remembers his mother teaching him and his eight siblings that “you need two things — Jesus in the Eucharist and Mary.” Ken’s journey was different. Ken was not raised Catholic, and although he attended Mass with his wife and children, “he didn’t really buy into it,” says Agnes Bourque. As coordinator of volunteers at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, Agnes got to know Ken well during the final two years of his life. He told her about experiencing chest pains while on a trip to Italy in the late 1990s. Back home, doctors discovered that one of Ken’s arteries was 90 percent blocked; in the hospital, he promised God to start going to daily Mass if he lived. “He kept that deal,” says Agnes. Mary Kay Volpone, provincial coordinator of the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception at the National Shrine, also remembers Ken’s eagerness to share his conversion story. Ken told Mary Kay that much of his resistance to Catholicism stemmed from his reluctance to confess his sins to a priest. When he finally converted and received the Sacraments, Ken “was overjoyed that God accepted him and loved him in spite of his past,” Mary Kay says. Daniel witnessed that joy. “You could see the change when he started receiving the Sacraments,” Daniel recalled. “He was more calm, happier.” Pondering in her heart Joanne was more focused on the interior life than Ken was, but she was still warm and open, especially when given a chance to help others grow closer to God. Ken told Mary Kay that, in his volunteer work, he aspired “to do what Joanne did, to be able to talk to people and share, because he saw how much comfort she gave to people.” Mary Kay remembers the couple as an excellent team: “They learned so much from each other. I think Joanne was put in Ken’s life to help him get to Heaven.” Marian Helper • Winter 2023-24 • Marian.org 5 “Their charity kept increasing,” says Daniel Clough of his parents, Joanne and Ken. “In Heaven, it won’t stop increasing.”
Visit ShopMercy.org/b60 or call 1-800-462-7426. Father Joseph’s Picks As we complete our November remembrance for the Holy Souls, we enter the season of Advent to prepare ourselves for Christmas. Here are some great Christmas gifts that will help share the faith! By Jacqueline St. Clare When Esther falls in love with Lazarus of Bethany, she thinks that her role as a woman will be complete with their marriage and children. This extraordinary first novel, in the style of “The Chosen,” is a sweeping saga of first-century Palestine and the life of Jesus of Nazareth, as seen through the bright green eyes of His fictional cousin, Esther. You may know the Gospel story and how it ends, but you will be enthralled seeing the power and the glory unfold anew, Through Esther’s Eyes. $17.95. B60-TEBK THROUGH ESTHER’S EYES: A NOVEL By Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC; Several popes have referred to St. Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868) as “the Apostle of the Eucharist.” But when it comes to worldwide recognition of his extraordinary life, as well as the many amazing things he did to foster a greater love for the Blessed Sacrament, most Catholics are unfamiliar with him and have never heard his name. Join Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, on a 30 Day Eucharistic Revival intended to help you, your children, your grandchildren, and all future generations rediscover and experience a revival of belief in the Real Presence, especially during the period of National Eucharistic Revival in the United States. $15.95. B60-ECHR 30 DAY EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL: A RETREAT WITH ST. PETER JULIAN EYMARD By Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle orn Helena Kowalska, a simple Polish peasant farm girl at the dawn of the 20th century, Faustina was chosen by God to teach the world about His unfathomable Divine Mercy. She went on to become one of the world’s most popular saints. Befriend this lovable, down-to-earth saint through the work of celebrated author Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, a master storyteller who presents St. Faustina’s life in this page-turning novel for all ages. $15.95. B60-UNST DIARY OF A FUTURE SAINT: FAUSTINA’S INCREDIBLE JOURNEY NEW! NEW! NEW! 6 Marian Helper • Winter 2023-24 • Marian.org By Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC Eucharistic Gems is an aid to the Eucharistic Revival currently under way in the United States. What better way to make sure there always remains ongoing fruit from the Eucharistic Revival than to have a book that offers timeless quotes on the Eucharist — 366 quotes, in fact — from popes, saints, blesseds, venerables, and servants of God. Eucharistic Gems is intended to be a book that can be read and re-read for years to come, and keep the Eucharistic Revival ever in our hearts. $13.95. B60-EUGM EUCHARISTIC GEMS: DAILY WISDOM ON THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Notes from Rome By the Most Rev. Joe Roesch, MIC We Marians are approaching the conclusion of our 350th jubilee celebrations of our founding. One unforgettable grace of the jubilee is the approval, during our general chapter meeting in February and then subsequently by the Holy See, of our Marian priests and brothers having the right to wear the white habit once again. Our Founder, St. Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary (16311701), wanted us to wear a white habit as a sign and symbol of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Our Congregation wore that habit for over 200 years until we were forced to live clandestinely at the beginning of the 20th century because of religious persecution. For the next 100 years, we did not wear our religious habit. It has always remained part of our patrimony. During the general chapter meetings held every six years, the idea of returning to the wearing of the habit was often discussed but never approved until this year. Perhaps it was a grace of the jubilee that it was accepted this year as our solemn garb to be worn especially on our Marian Community feast days. Since those who entered during the last century have not worn a habit thus far during their religious lives, the Holy See recommended that we give the option to our members either to wear the habit or to continue to wear what they have been wearing thus far during their religious lives. The habit will be given to all those who profess their perpetual vows, and all those already in final vows will have the option to wear the habit. It might seem a bit confusing at times to see different Marians wearing different religious garb. However, the Church moves slowly. We will see over the course of time what God had in mind by this change that He inspired during our general chapter meeting. I believe this change will help to strengthen our Marian identity and deepen our understanding of our religious charism, which has the mystery of the Immaculate Conception as its essence. This mystery teaches us that God ardently desires the salvation of everyone! He saved Mary in an extraordinary way through the Immaculate Conception, which we celebrate on Dec. 8. He saves us through the ordinary means of the Sacraments. As our Marian Constitutions state, “From her conception, free from sin and full of grace and filled with the gratuitous love of the Holy Spirit, she is the fruit of the paschal victory of Christ and the first partaker of the redemption.” Mary teaches us how to follow her Son. “By this mystery above all, Mary urges the confreres to trust in the unlimited fruitfulness of the work of the redemption, to avoid all sin, to love purity of heart, to imbue life fully with divine grace and charity, and to so build up the Church in unity ‘that it be holy and immaculate’” (Eph 5:27). Please pray that we will be able to live out our charism as God calls us to do! STRENGTHENING IDENTITY It certainly has been an eventful year for me! I began the year in January attending the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI here in Rome. In February, I was elected the 40th superior general of our Congregation. Since then, I have travelled to the United States, Poland, Lithuania, and Rwanda. A trip to the Philippines is scheduled for later this year. The Most Rev. Joe Roesch, MIC, is the superior general of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. He lives in Rome. Listen to his new podcast, “Venerable Casimir and Our Lady,” on TheDivineMercy.org/podcasts and DivineMercyPlus.org/podcasts. Marian Helper • Winter 2023-24 • Marian.org 7 Father Joe talks about the white habit.
8 Marian Helper • Winter 2023-24 • Marian.org Fittingly on Oct. 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (also called Our Lady of Victory), a chapter of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary was established at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. “The Rosary Confraternity is a great way to share in the prayers of others praying the Rosary,” says Fr. Matthew Tomeny, MIC, Shrine rector. “It’s a great way to be placed under the protection of Our Lady as we fight the spiritual battles of our times. What a wonderful way to be connected to all the other shrines throughout the world where the Rosary Confraternity is established!” Enrollment easy and free Enrollment is free and easy, via a link on ShrineOfDivineMercy.org. What is required? Each member of the Rosary Confraternity promises to pray 15 decades of the Rosary each week and to include the other members of the Confraternity (in general) around the world in their intentions. This is the sole obligation of membership, and does not bind under pain of sin. In addition to the graces included in praying the Rosary, Confraternity members enjoy: • The special protection of the Mother of God. • A share in the prayer of the countless Confraternity members around the world. • A share in the prayers, Masses, and apostolic works of the entire Dominican Order. • The intercession of the entire heavenly court. • Various plenary and partial indulgences. The Rosary Confraternity is a collaborative effort of the National Shrine and three organizations: the Dominican Province of St. Joseph; the Mother of Mercy Messengers, an official apostolate of the Marian Fathers; and the Coalition of Eucharistic and Marian Apostolates (CEMA). Their focus is on a three-fold effort to promote participation in the Confraternity of the Rosary, Marian consecration, and Divine Mercy Sunday. Storied history According to best-selling author and Mariologist Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary was founded by St. Dominic (ca. 1170-1221), who is most famous as the founder of the Order of Friars Preachers, or Dominicans. “At various times it was described as the Confraternity of Prayer, the Confraternity of the Rosary, the Sodality of the Rosary, or even the Society of the Rosary,” explains Fr. Calloway in his Marian Press book Champions of the Rosary: The History and Heroes of a Spiritual Weapon. One of the greatest benefits of membership is that all members include the intentions of all other members along with their own with each Rosary they pray. “They form a union of hundreds of thousands of the faithful throughout the world who, along with their own intentions, include the intentions and needs of all its members,” explains the Dominican Fathers’ website for the Confraternity in the United States. “As St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars, said, ‘If anyone has the happiness of being in the Confraternity of the Rosary, he has in all corners of the world brothers and sisters who pray for him.’” Unity of prayer “You definitely want to participate in the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary and be part of this worldwide movement of prayer in the Church,” says the Very Rev. Chris Alar, MIC, provincial superior. “It’s uniting pilgrims and shrines, and Eucharistic and Marian apostolates, together to magnify the efforts to reclaim our families, our churches, and our nations for Christ, and to promote peace around the world. Please join us!” Visit ShrineOfDivineMercy.org/RosaryConfraternity to enroll in the Confraternity. Join the Confraternity! By Chris Sparks
Marian Helper • Winter 2023-24 • Marian.org 9 By Chris Sparks First, Ukraine and Russia. Now Israel and Palestine. Such terrible suffering. Such awful destruction and violence. So many innocent civilians put in harm’s way by history, or by greed, or by political maneuvering. What, in the end, can we do? The foundation I know people are so sick and tired of empty words that, whenever someone suggests prayer these days, they are tempted to scorn and scoff. And indeed, prayer has been abused by those who wanted to avoid having to act. It’s an easy thing to promise someone that they’ll be in your prayers. It’s harder to fulfill your commitment. Harder still to abide in the patient perseverance that world-changing prayer can often require of us. Hard to watch and wait and pray seriously, to make prayer a habit and a way of life rather than a verbal shield to deflect having to think about tragedy or take action to prevent the next such tragedy. Prayer is the foundation of all other efforts, though. Real prayer, honest prayer, persistent prayer makes possible the victory of goodness in the world because God is a gentleman; with divine generosity and courtesy, He never forces or compels a positive response from His creatures. God is the source of free will because God is love and truth, and so will be pleased by nothing less than true love from persons made in His image and likeness. Evil is the consequence of free will being misused. The fall of the devil with his angels contributed to the fall of our first parents. Those falls set the stage for everything else — for human beings born with an inclination to evil; for physical illness and death; for a world at war with us, and neighbors turning on neighbors, and brothers stabbing each other in the back. Those falls disrupted the ordinary easy transparency of the created world to the light of Heaven. By Christ’s coming, His self-sacrifice, the Sacraments, and grace, and prayer, the world once again invites in that light of Heaven. The sanctity of the saints leaves traces on the world around them — that’s why we have relics, and stories of extraordinary miracles, and works of mercy beyond what human nature alone can achieve. It’s that same light of Heaven that we welcome into the world with our prayers, and when we offer up suffering. The light of Christ courses through the Body like sap from a vine to the branches (see Jn 15:5), and wherever it’s allowed to shine out into the world, good things happen. Path to peace The path to peace has been laid out for us again and again across the last century, in the teachings of the popes and Vatican II, in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, and in apparitions to saints and mystics. Continue to say the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, to obtain the peace of the world and the end of the war, because only she can obtain it — Our Lady at Fatima, Portugal, July 13, 1917. And how would Our Lady obtain peace in the world? We do know the ultimate end of all her efforts: bringing us all back to Jesus, the Divine Mercy Incarnate. Jesus said to St. Faustina: “Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy” (Diary, 300; see also 699). Please pray for peace. If you can, pray the Rosary every day for peace in the world. A chapter of the Rosary Confraternity has just been established at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, with some extraordinary promises for membership. Please enroll! Details at left. The Rosary itself has some incredible promises attached to it. If you haven’t already decided to take it up, please let the terrible events of these past weeks be your encouragement. PEACE IN OUR TIME?
ON EDEN HILL Vietnamese Day on Aug. 26 attracted a large group of pilgrims to Eden Hill, all attired in colorful costumes. The archway reads, “Welcome, guests! God’s mercy never ends. God’s mercy is unmatched.” That’s true in any language! Bishop Frank Caggiano of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut, celebrated the Mass. Father Dan Cambra, MIC, was the keynote speaker at the 13th annual Mercy for Souls Conference, held on Sept. 9 in the National Shrine. The theme was, “Trusting Jesus: A Post-Pandemic Response to, ‘I am with you always …’ Mt 20:28.” “It is important for us to aim higher, as St. Maximilian Kolbe would say,” Fr. Dan told the assembly. “Aim for Heaven, because you wouldn’t want to aim for Purgatory and miss.” Fore! The 27th annual Slice of Heaven Charity Golf Classic was held on Sept. 11 at the Berkshire Hills Country Club in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, raising $30,000 in scholarships for Marian seminarians and St. Agnes Academy in Dalton, Massachusetts. This year’s honorees were Megan and Brian Duquette, both graduates of St. Agnes and PTO president and chair of the school board, respectively. 10 Marian Helper • Winter 2023-24 • Marian.org
Marian Helper • Winter 2023-24 • Marian.org 11 Proudly displaying Our Lady of Czestochowa are pilgrims from Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Stamford, Connecticut, at the annual Polish Day at the National Shrine on Sept. 16. Under sunny skies, pilgrims recited the Rosary in Polish, and attended a bilingual Mass at the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine, celebrated by Fr. Andrzej Gorczyca, MIC. Bishop William Byrne of the Diocese of Springfield led the Eucharistic Procession closing the week-long Rosary Congress at the National Shrine. For seven days and seven nights, Oct. 7-13, volunteers spent time with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and prayed the Rosary hourly. “The National Shrine is a true powerhouse of God’s love and mercy,” Bishop Byrne said in his homily. “In a special way, I’d like to thank those here who devoted themselves and committed time to be in the presence of the Lord this week. The gift that you have given the Church is greater than you will ever truly understand in this life.” Hundreds of pilgrims visited Eden Hill on Oct. 5 to celebrate the feast day of St. Faustina. A highlight was a talk by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, author of the new Marian Press book, Diary of a Future Saint: Faustina’s Incredible Journey. Donna-Marie described the deep devotion St. Faustina had for the Eucharist, and offered St. Faustina as a model for us in this time of the National Eucharistic Revival.
New habit, new deacon By Dr. Joe McAleer Deacon Stephen Castellano, MIC, achieved three firsts over the summer: he became the first Marian in this province to receive the white habit, and — in personal firsts — professed perpetual vows and was ordained to the transitional diaconate. “I am very excited to take this first step in the Sacrament of Holy Orders and, God willing, to be ordained to the priesthood next year,” Dcn. Stephen says. “I am so grateful to our Marian Helper family for their prayers and support, not just for me but for all of our seminarians.” Vows and habit On Aug. 16, during Marian Week, then-Br. Stephen professed his perpetual vows during Mass at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. The Most Rev. Joseph Roesch, MIC, superior general, invested him with the white habit, recently revived by the Marian Congregation after a 100-year hiatus. “Honestly, receiving the white habit is like a dream come true,” Dcn. Stephen says. “The color white highlights in a very specific way our charism, which is the mystery of the Immaculate Conception. The habit is a sign to the Church and to the world of who we are.” Diaconate ordination On Sept. 2, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., Dcn. Stephen was ordained to the transitional diaconate by the Most Rev. Roy Edward Campbell, Jr., auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington. As a deacon, he will continue to reside at the Marian Scholasticate in Washington, D.C., and assist the Marian priests there in their ministries. Growing up close to church A native of Montgomery Village, Maryland, Dcn. Stephen, 32, is one of seven children of Ellen and Anthony (Tony) Castellano. He credits the foundation of his vocation to his parents, and an upbringing steeped in the Catholic faith. “When I was 7 years old, we moved next door to the church St. John Neumann,” Br. Stephen recalls. “I grew up physically close to the Church and in time became more spiritually tied to it.” Attending the parish youth group during high school had a big impact. “It was a very good way to be immersed in the faith during my formative years,” he says. “We had great catechesis, but also a lot of fun.” Years later, then-Br. Stephen, like all Marian seminarians, had to take on a pastoral ministry assignment during his theological studies. He was encouraged by his formators to return to St. John Neumann to minister to that same youth group. “It was fascinating to go back now as a leader, to see the new generation and observe how the Lord works in young souls,” he says. Deacon Stephen joined the Marians in 2018. “It has truly been a total joy from day one,” he admits. “The time has flown by.” Join the Together for Christ campaign and help build our new Monastery and Chapel! Visit Marian.org/GivingTuesday or call 800-462-7426. Nov. 28, 2023 A special challenge this year!
Marian Helper • Winter 2023-24 • Marian.org 13 Progress in the “Together for Christ and His Church” campaign for the Marian Fathers is bringing the vision of a new monastery and chapel into sharper focus. The latest news is very encouraging! l More than 9,300 donors have stepped forward with gifts. l Nearly 300 donors have made multi-year commitments to the project. l Another 300 donors have made second, third, or more gifts. Thanks to the prayers and support of Marian Helpers we’re on our way to meeting our goals! Important stage “We are at an important stage for the campaign and project,” said Ben Davis, director of mission advancement for the Marian Fathers. “As we close in on the initial fundraising goal, we are advancing construction planning. This also means receiving updated pricing, which has increased from initial estimates in 2020. Raising the next $2.2 million by year-end will allow us to lock in costs and move to the construction phase in 2024. “Pilgrims throughout the summer and fall have been excited to learn more about the project, especially after seeing the ‘vintage’ buildings currently used as residences for our religious community,” Davis explained. “Seeing Marians together during Marian Week and other events helped donors realize the importance of the new residence to the community.” Take Bob N., for example. He admits he was essentially only a "Sunday Catholic" when he had an epiphany in his faith caused by reading about Medjugorje and St. Faustina, and watching EWTN and Fr. Chris Alar’s talks online. A visit to Eden Hill, not far from his home, made him realize the ‘Let’s Get It Done!’ By Chris Sparks Evelyn F. from California (near right) committed to the "campaign this spring when she heard about the project, making an initial gift and pledging support for the next four years. In October, she and friends Arsie and Rolie made an annual pilgrimage to Eden Hill. She saw the site of the new monastery, and decided to advance her future gifts. Her comment was, “Let’s get it done!” Jeannette B. (center) from Florida participates remotely in devotions from the National Shrine, including Fridays and First Saturdays. In June, she made her first trip to Eden Hill as part of a Marian pilgrimage organized by Dr. Bryan Thatcher of the Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy. Following the visit, she added to her commitment, and is starting a Divine Mercy cenacle at her parish. Capital campaign gains momentum buildings were way too small for all the work the Marians were doing. So, Bob decided to use the skills he developed as a stockbroker for over 48 years to work at accumulating funds for the Marians to get the project started. There are many more epiphanies out there, Bob believes, but too many people are still unaware of the “great project” about to start atop Eden Hill. “Spread the word!” he says. Visit TogetherForChrist.org to learn more and to sign up to contribute to the campaign.
WITNESS to HISTORY Bursting with memories and stories, Charlie, 72, is a kind of living time capsule of Marian history, a witness to big achievements, major news, and incredible graces. When he joined the MHC in 1968, the Divine Mercy message and devotion were still under an ecclesiastical ban as a result of faulty translations. He was with us in 1978, when that ban was lifted by Pope St. Paul VI. He was with us when the Diary of St. Faustina was first published in English in 1987. (You’ll see his name in the preface). By Dr. Joe McAleer The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, Oct. 7, 1968, was the first day of work for Charlie Parise at the Marian Helpers Center (MHC) on the campus of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. “I remember that day as if it was yesterday,” Charlie says. “I didn’t think anybody would stay around this long.” But Charlie did, for 55 years, until his retirement this year as manager of the Marian Press print shop. Fifty-five years in the MHC In the early 1980s, Charlie Parise oversees the collating of Roze Maryi, the quarterly Polish-language magazine. 14 Marian Helper • Winter 2023-24 • Marian.org
Charlie watched Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC, when he posed for the artist Walter Skemp for a new Divine Mercy Image. He was around when the beatification and canonization of St. Faustina took place, when the extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy took place, and when the Marian Founder St. Stanislaus Papczyński was canonized. “I’ve been blessed,” he says. Go-getter In 1968, Charlie was 17 and in his final year at a technical high school in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. “Jobs were scarce,” he recalls, “but our printing teacher kept an eye out for openings. He saw an opening at the Marians, and I applied. I worked full-time for my final year of high school.” Charlie started out helping wherever needed, mostly making boxes. “At that time the print shop worked six days a week, Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. I made $1.60 an hour. We had a half-hour for lunch.” At 10 a.m., everything stopped for a coffee and donuts break. “A little lady named ‘Mrs. Sam’ [Catherine Samul] had one of those 100-cup urns on a trolley in the hallway,” Charlie remembers. “As she filled a Styrofoam cup, she often had an empty one between her teeth. We all tried not to get a cup with teeth marks on it!” There were 12 workers in the print shop when Charlie started. Not long after he arrived, he says, fate intervened. “I was always a go-getter, going 100 miles an hour and speaking my mind,” he says. “I was mesmerized by the printing machines. I’d never seen anything like them. One day, I peeked around the corner and watched the guy running the folder. The machine was making a funny noise. No one could figure out the source. I walked over and said, ‘I think it’s right there.’ And it was.” Charlie reported immediately to Br. Francis Horkey, MIC, who oversaw the print shop. He graduated from making boxes to running the cutter and, before long, the presses themselves. “In those days, before the ban was lifted, we were running anything related to Mary, such as the PR2,” he says, referring to the product code for the “Pray the Rosary Daily” pamphlet, still very popular. “We also did huge fundraising appeals and mailings.” Vote of confidence After 14 years as a pressman, Charlie was promoted to manager of the print shop by then-director Fr. Walter Pelczynski, MIC, also the legendary first “Fr. Joseph” when the Association of Marian Helpers was founded in 1944. “Looking back, it was a big vote of confidence in me, as I was still in my 20s,” Charlie admits. “There were some Marians who were not happy, as a Marian had always run the print shop and the other departments.” His responsibilities came to include overseeing pre-press and composition, as well as maintaining the archives for a time and handling the printing of the Marian Helpers Bulletin. He remembers “Father Pel” as kind but serious, and careful about expenses. “He would have the maintenance guys take the bag out of the vacuum cleaner and empty it to check for paper clips or rubber bands," he says. “Once I asked him if I could purchase some notebooks. ‘Now Charles,’ he said — he always called me Charles. ‘We don't want to be buying notebooks. Come with me.’ And we found this closet way upstairs covered in dust, and inside were some notebooks.” On his 25th anniversary, Charlie receives a plaque and a handshake from Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC. Below, Fr . Walter Pelczynski, MIC, founder of the Association of Marian Helpers, inspects color proofs with Charlie on the new Mann Roland Press. Marian Helper • Winter 2023-24 • Marian.org 15
16 Marian Helper • Winter 2023-24 • Marian.org Thank you and Godspeed! Christine Mountain Senior data entry operator 46 years Congratulations to five other employees at the Marian Helpers Center who retired this year after many years of service: Stephen Hamberg Mail inserting supervisor 45 years David LeFave Computer desktop administrator 33 years Off to the races When the ban was lifted in 1978, it was literally off to the races. “That was a big deal,” Charlie says, remembering the excitement of Fr. Seraphim. “We went upstairs and emptied all the closets of stuff that was printed about Divine Mercy before the ban and had been stored for 20 years. Now it could be brought out and distributed.” The election of the first Polish pope in history later that same year added to the momentum. “All of a sudden we didn’t have enough print capacity,” Charlie says. Expansion was on the cards, and technology improved with computers. Charlie oversaw the purchase of a new press, the biggest single expenditure on equipment in the Province’s history. He worked closely with Fr. Seraphim on the design and composition of the first English-language edition of the Diary. “It was a challenge,” he admits. “We had to take photographic prints of each page and put them in order on sheets. We printed 3,000 copies of that first edition.” Today, literally millions of booklets, pamphlets, and prayer cards continue to be produced in the MHC print shop. Of the largest and most consistent jobs, the “How to Pray the Rosary” pamphlet shares top billing with the “M17,” Fr. Seraphim’s booklet The Divine Mercy Message and Devotion. “It’s not unusual to print a quarter-of-amillion at a time,” he says. Stories abound about the helpful role of the Holy Spirit over the years. “There have been times when we just could not get a machine working, and I called a Marian in to bless the equipment — and it always helped,” Charlie says. Making a difference Charlie leaves behind a dedicated print shop team, including his younger brother Joe, who is Press Operator III. Joe joined the MHC in 1981, which means he has 13 years to go until his 55th anniversary! In retirement, Charlie will spend more time with his wife of 49 years, Jane, and his two grandchildren. There’s also his favorite pastime: car racing. Looking back, Charlie says he will miss the people the most. “I’ve made good friends here, my co-workers as well as the Marians,” he says. He’s also proud of the work the print shop has done for evangelization. “Father Walter always spoke of ‘the printed word of God,’” he recalls. “For everyone who works here, it’s more than just a job and a paycheck. It’s humbling when you think of the millions of items we have produced and sent around the world, and the work that was done in tough times and challenging circumstances. It makes you feel good that we’ve all made a real difference.” “There have been times when we just could not get a machine working, and I called a Marian in to bless the equipment — and it always helped.” Susan Booth Assembler Order Packer 33 years Mary Clark Video production manager 10 years
Marian Helper • Winter 2023-24 • Marian.org 17 The Very Rev. Chris Alar, MIC, visited the Philippines from July 28–Aug. 7, offering talks to thousands of people around the nation on the theme, “Deepening the Message of Divine Mercy." Among the highlights was the invitation to give a retreat (right) to 850 Catholic bishops and priests in the country. Father Chris was even invited by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. (above), to bless the entire nation of the Philippines. Around the World From Oct. 5-11, Fr. Chris toured Ireland and the United Kingdom, speaking to record crowds on Divine Mercy. In Ireland and Northern Ireland, he was hosted by Veritas, the publishing partner of Marian Press, which distributes Fr. Chris’ two books, Understanding Divine Mercy and After Suicide: There's Hope for Them and for You. In London (shown here), Fr. Chris visited the church of Our Lady, Mother of the Church in Ealing for his first Divine Mercy Retreat, hosted by the Divine Mercy Apostolate (DivineMercyApostolate.co.uk).
Advent is coming, with its final act set in Bethlehem. We all imagine the setting: a cold Christmas night with a brilliant star overhead; the simple manger with animals and shepherds gathered around as the Word was made flesh and our world was changed forever. Heavenly light in darkness Painting attributed to Hubert Sattler (1817-1904), public domain 18 Marian Helper • Winter 2023-24 • Marian.org An artist’s view of the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, with the star (bottom left) marking the site of Christ’s birth. By Chris Sparks
I paid my first visit to Bethlehem this year, on a Holy Land pilgrimage with my parish the week after Divine Mercy Sunday. It was a blessed experience throughout, but one lived in the context of a beautiful Middle Eastern springtime with flowers blooming everywhere. It’s a stark contrast to the terrible suffering unleashed by Hamas’ invasion and hostage-taking that began on Oct. 7, the Jewish feast of Simchat Torah (the joy of the Torah, or the Word of God) and the Catholic Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. As I write this, it’s the early days after the attack, while Israel is still preparing its ground invasion. I shudder to think what further suffering is coming for the innocent civilians of Israel, Palestine, and the wider Middle East. It makes my memories of my pilgrimage all the more precious now. Cracks and corners My pilgrimage group partook of the hospitality and expertise of Palestinian and Israeli Christians, visiting shops that sold Rosaries and devotional art made from the wood of the trees of Bethlehem, and visiting as well the churches that have stood for centuries, long since built, rebuilt, renovated — churches where cracks and corners reveal art or architecture from ages past, where the changing hands of Jews, Christians, or Muslims have left their mark. I have touched the stone where it is said that Mary lay, visited the spot where, tradition tells us, the shepherds were tending their sheep when the angel came. I have been to the key spots of the Incarnation now. Each time, I was amazed at the beauty of the land, the blessedness of the country, and yet this land hasn’t been fully, properly at peace since long before Christ ever walked the earth. This land, where God walked, where the devil tempted Him as well as those who persecuted Him — this land means too much, now, to both Heaven and hell for there to be full, true peace till the coming of Christ Himself, I think. And yet in the midst of all those struggles, when you come to the holy place, when you touch the stone or stand in silent prayer before the tabernacles of the churches, you realize that the true peace, the peace of the Prince of Peace born in Bethlehem that long ago time, is there. It’s in the very rocks, in the land and the water, in the air — because this land is holy. It was sanctified long ago by a native son who was the Son of God, and all the devil’s rages can’t make that mark go away. Jesus our Host I was there in Bethlehem, and Jesus knew I would be there one day. He knew all of the pilgrims that would come, would visit this town named after Him. He loved us all to life, and sustained us on our journey; He hosted us in Bethlehem, just as He hosts us in the cosmos, in His Father’s house, in the Church and the world. The little Child was the bedrock on which the manger was set. He rested in the manger, and sustained the star that shone overhead. The little Child is the Lord of life, of light, of all things, and it is by His gift that we make little statues of Him, and celebrate Mass at Christmas, and come home to Him again and again in Confession, in Mass. In Hebrew, Bethlehem means “House of Bread,” and in Arabic, Bethlehem means “House of Flesh.” How appropriate for the birthplace of Jesus, who was Bread from Heaven and the Lamb of God, who would be our Eucharistic Lord, really, truly present with us under the appearances of bread and wine down till the end of the world. The home of the sons of David, of Joseph and Jesus after him, was long ago prepared for the coming of this special Son, in the workings of Divine Providence. I was in Bethlehem in the spring. In the eyes of God, I’m there still, for He gazes on time from eternity. When I go before the judgment seat, some part of that judgment will see me in Bethlehem, visiting the place where the Judge was born. Forever and into eternity will be that memory, that reality, that pilgrimage. Forever a part of my life, and so a part of me, and of the Mystical Body of Christ of which I am a member. At every Mass The same can be said of all of us every Christmas. Every Mass we attend is a participation in eternity; every Mass offered for another, a work of mercy that will be attested to as part of our judgment. Every Mass, we stand at Calvary, and in the House of Bread, the House of Flesh. Every Mass is part of every other Mass, and of the life of Christ. Every Mass is a participation in the grace that comes from Jesus Christ, from His Incarnation. Every Mass is part of the gift of God, given to us in a special way at the first Christmas, the first Noel. You can share that gift even with those who don’t believe by enrolling their names in our three Masses at Christmas. Allow the divine fire from outside of time to touch their lives, their minds, their hearts. Allow Jesus to enter the Bethlehem of their hearts and bring a star that will lead them to God. Welcome the Child Jesus into the dark and cold of the modern day, and it will be as it was in Bethlehem, in Romanoccupied Judea — hope against hope; a light shining in the darkness, and the darkness not comprehending it. Pray for peace in the Middle East. Ask our Lord’s help and Our Lady of the Rosary’s intercession for their earthly homeland, and the spiritual homeland of us all. We invite you to send us your intentions for the Three Christmas Masses on Dec. 25 at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. Visit Marian.org/b60 to have your intentions remembered. Marian Helper • Winter 2023-24 • Marian.org 19
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