One group in Middletown, New Jersey, came up with a beautiful way to help our Marian seminarians. Their generosity allows us to give these men the best education and preparation we can, and we are grateful for their efforts! Divine Mercy Society The Divine Mercy Society of the Parish of St. Mary, Mother of God Church has been going strong for over 20 years. As a society, they meet each month to pray the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy, the Rosary, and benediction and veneration of St. Faustina’s relic as they honor the memory of Vatsala Gopinathan, the woman who founded their group. “Our motto is, ‘Merciful like the Father,’” says member Debbie Schneider. “We are encouraged and inspired by Pope Francis to know the face of God’s Mercy and show the face of mercy to the world through our words and actions.” As a society, they have a “Prayer Warrior” list that reminds them to pray for priests, members of the parish, and their families. They also distribute a prayer card teaching “How To Pray The Chaplet,” as well as Rosary beads to those in the local hospitals. Here’s where their creativity comes in! Because they know how much the Church is in need of holy priests, they created a “Pennies to Educate a Seminarian” campaign. When Debbie first told me about this, I immediately thought of what Jesus said about faith — that we only need to have faith the size of a mustard seed — and we can do great things! It sounds so easy! Such a small thing yielding such amazing results! Small change, big donation That’s exactly what happened when the Divine Mercy Society launched their campaign. They set up a container at each Mass, collecting pennies and any other spare change that folks wanted to drop in. “Initially, our goal was to help with the Marian House of Studies near the campus of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, but our fundraising efforts were curtailed with the pandemic,” Debbie explains. Pandemic or not, the society kept the faith! Those pennies have added up to $1,000 for our Marian seminarians, and the Divine Mercy Society continues their support with prayers. Supporting Marian seminarians, the priests of tomorrow, amounts to an investment in eternity itself! Ilove hearing stories from our Marian Helpers about how they became familiar with Divine Mercy and the Marian Fathers. As a new Catholic, I find them inspiring. I’m also inspired by the creative ways our Marian Helpers find ways to give. I always assure folks that prayers for our priests and seminarians are precious and always appreciated, too! PENNIES FROM HEAVEN Outstanding Helpers Hope Ponsart Hansen is a major gifts officer for the Marian Fathers. Contact her at (413) 298-1387; [email protected]; or Association of Marian Helpers, Stockbridge, MA 01263. Visit Giving.Marian.org to learn more. Marian Helper • Winter 2023-24 • Marian.org 31 The Divine Mercy Society of the Parish of St. Mary, Mother of God Church in Middletown, New Jersey, raised $1,000 in pennies for the Marian seminarians.
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