“Jesus, we trust in You!” Never has that prayer been more powerfully needed than the last year or so with the COVID-19 crisis around the world. That was, of course, also true for our Divine Mercy Cenacle group at Our Lady of the Rosary in Land O’ Lakes, Florida. Trust in our Lord had to be foremost in our minds as we struggled to keep our cenacle group together for prayer and study as we navigated means to continue our group sessions of prayer, study and service. Our group’s emergence started with many challenges as well. Our group’s humble beginnings date back to the 1990s. Over time the group grew into about a dozen members, but life commitments and circumstances gradually diminished the group to only two people. Those two people continued for two years, meeting twice a month until the idea to re-energize the group took hold and eventually in 2016 the group grew again to around 20 people. That group then met to study and pray the first and third Wednesdays for several years until COVID-19 entered into our world. It was the decision of most of our membership not to meet in person due to the danger of COVID-19. In the summer of 2020, the group’s leaders devised a plan to reach out to its members in a new, untried manner. The summer was spent having the table facilitators learning how to use Zoom themselves and in turn instructing their various “table participants” how to use Zoom, as well. Our group had four-day Zoom meetings and one evening get-together. There was also one small group whose comfort level determined that they continue to meet in person in an individual’s home. For the most part, this was successful. There were still others in our membership who were not comfortable or had no means of using the Internet to meet with their group. It was decided that they could meet by using their phone in a “study buddy” fashion, one on one. They would do their upcoming study using their Cenacle Formation Manuals to prepare for the next assignment, then call each other, praying the Chaplet and discussing the study questions for that session. There were six individuals who used this method. This allowed everyone to stay connected until Jan. 2021 when it was determined it was acceptable for everyone to meet back in person. Our Lord’s merciful blessings became even more evident as we continued to trust in His benevolence. We had record numbers in attendance at our parish’s last Divine Mercy Sunday Celebration this year, giving out more than 150 Divine Mercy Rosaries our group produced. What was more amazing was the fact that our cenacle membership actually grew during this time! We increased our membership from around 34 to over 40 participants. Eventually, as COVID-19 diminished its grip, our members were able to go back helping the parish in their many service capacities as well. As of Aug. 2022, we have 44 individuals planning to meet for our “in person” sessions, breaking up into small study and discussion table groups. We also have over 10 individuals serving as prayer warriors at home, committing to pray for all our members and those in our parish in need of God’s mercy. In God’s plan also, our pastor, Fr. Justin Paskert, has now given approval to start a Hispanic Divine Mercy Cenacle group. God has indeed shown us that when we give ourselves over to His will, He will show us a plan to be there for our members and others as well. Trusting in God’s mercy has and will continue to be the foundation of our Divine Mercy Cenacle at Our Lady of the Rosary! “Mercy is love that seeks to lessen the misery of others” — Bryan Thatcher, MD Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy Newsletter Fall/Winter 2022 RAYS OF MERCIFUL LOVE Cenacle thrives amid challenges The Divine Mercy Cenacle group at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Land O’ Lakes, Florida. By Elizabeth Montgomery WANT TO START A DIVINE MERCY CENACLE OF PRAYER? For a free packet on how to get started, please call the EADM office at 1-877-380.0727 or email Diane at [email protected] and include your regular mailing address.
2 C E N A C L E S U P D A T E CONVERSE, Texas Frances Flores wrote and told us: Greetings from Divine Mercy Cenacle (English) at St. Monica’s Church in Converse, Texas! On July 17, 2022, we celebrated our first year anniversary with a Mass, followed by a luncheon. Last April, we were joined by members of the Spanish Divine Mercy Cenacle as well as many St. Monica parishioners as we celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday with a Mass and a Holy Hour at 3 p.m., followed by a reception in the church hall. Our cenacle continues to thrive and grow spiritually, meeting every two weeks. We are on target, having completed 26 lessons in Book 1 of the Cenacle Formation Manual. We have enthusiastic participation at each meeting, and there is great joy and excitement at each meeting. Our Divine Mercy Chaplet prayer group continues daily through Zoom, while on Fridays we pray the Chaplet in the Adoration Chapel at St. Monica’s at 3 p.m. We are also now praying the Chaplet in the homes of sick persons who have invited us to do this, besides praying for them during our daily Chaplet prayer. Among the Acts of Mercy we have organized was collecting toys and baby/children items for Seton Home, which we delivered right before Christmas. We also participated in a sock drive with the Knights of Columbus during which we gathered over 100 pairs of socks and delivered them to two nursing homes. At one of the St. Monica activities, we had a plant sale and donated the funds collected to our church. We are currently collecting blankets for veterans, a drive sponsored by a local group. We continue to encourage our members to participate in Holy Hours to pray the Chaplet with us daily as well to visit the Adoration Chapel as often as possible. In May 2022, we organized a pilgrimage to the consecrated grounds of the Divine Mercy Mission in New Braunfels, Texas, to pray for a child who has leukemia. He was getting discouraged with his treatments. We are happy to hear that his outlook has improved, and we continue to pray for him. Another specific objective of this pilgrimage was to pray for the people of Uvalde, Texas, who suffered a horrific tragedy at a school there. Our visit there included Scripture prayers at four of the praying sites, including a Rosary at the Blessed Mother’s site, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m. in the chapel there. A second pilgrimage is planned for next month. Periodically, we host a Holy Hour on a Thursday, and continue to support other parish events such as St. Monica’s Feast, and events sponNote: Dr. Thatcher will be speaking at St. Cecilia Church on Nov. 10. For more information, please contact the church office: 239-936-3635 Our EADM group at St. Cecilia’s Church began in May 2016 with five members. We have grown, and currently we have 19 members. All love the Lord and the message of Divine Mercy, and are growing spirituality. Being involved in the Divine Mercy cenacle has helped me feel part of this beautiful church community, and I am growing each day in understanding His love and mercy. The Diary readings and discussions have helped make me more aware that I can attain a closer union and more intimate life with Him as spouse and lover. Being an Apostle of Mercy has changed my view of life. Spreading “Jesus, I trust in You” to hurting souls has given me much peace and joy; reading the Scriptures and the Diary, and praying the Divine Mercy FORT MYERS, Florida Esperanza Lisziewski wrote and told us: sored by the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters or Guadalupanas, and the Divine Mercy Cenacle Spanish group. On Aug. 27, we distributed prayer cards and invitations for joining during the St. Monica Feast Day celebration. Our plan now is to begin other cenacles so that we can continue to spread St. Faustina’s message of Divine Mercy. With 35-plus members in our two English cenacles, we are ready to expand to more cenacles. I am confident that this will be very probable very soon because of the growth, knowledge, and enthusiasm that exists and is transmitted during our meetings. Many members often express their love for our cenacle, and the fellowship has resulted in beautiful friendships among members that did not exist before. We find our members often give testimonials of past experiences on how they came to fall in love with St. Faustina’s story and the Divine Mercy. We feel confident that we will soon be able to open up more cenacles as the excitement is great in St. Monica’s Parish for this ministry. Something beautiful and spiritual has occurred with this Divine Mercy ministry, and it is bringing together many of us who will continue to learn and spread the Divine Mercy message of love. Continued on Page 3
3 C E N A C L E S U P D A T E Chaplet daily has helped keep my focus on Him. God’s Divine Mercy is amazing! His love for us is shown throughout the Diary, and St. Faustina is such an inspiration. The cenacle is beautiful, and I love sharing the faith and the readings. Saint Faustina served and is a role model for living a Godly, spiritual life, and being in a group of other Godly people assists me in my own growth. The cenacle gives me courage to know our Father’s mercy in a deeper way, and this has led me to intercede with prayer for the souls of the dying as never before. Prior to joining the cenacle, I knew that God was merciful, but now I realize that His mercy is unfathomable, and now I intercede for the dying souls to trust in His incomprehensible mercy. The Diary readings, Scripture, and the Catechism help me to enter into such a deep examination of conscience, contributing and aiding all our efforts to become saints. Every gathering lifts my soul to aim and continue the journey and aim for the mountaintop seeking the Lord. I want to give others in cenacles encouragement to persevere and spend more time with the Lord. Jesus, I trust in You! Fifth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy is coming The Fifth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (WACOM) will be held in Samoa in the beautiful Polynesian Islands from May 21-26, 2023. More information will be forthcoming, but please save the date. Visit wacom5samoa2020.com for more information. Dr. Bryan Thatcher has visited Samoa three times. This photo is of an EADM cenacle there. SAVE THE DATE Don’t forget to watch or listen to Dr. Bryan Thatcher’s weekly interviews with priests, nuns, healthcare professionals, scientists, and other laity at DrBryanThatcher.com Continued from Fort Myers, Page 2
4 DIVINE MERCY AS A WAY OF LIFE Live the message daily through forgiveness, trust, and mercy. EV-DWLN $3.99 Spanish: EV-DWLS $3.99 LIVING THE MESSAGE OF DIVINE MERCY The role of suffering, humility, and spiritual poverty in our lives. EV-DWL2 $3.99 RACHEL, WEEP NO MORE Find healing from the aftereffects of abortion through Divine Mercy. EV-RWNM $3.99 PRAYING THE CHAPLET FOR THE SICK AND DYING How we can obtain grace for the dying souls most in need. EV-DMPBA $3.99 Spanish: EV-SDB $3.99 CENACLE FORMATION MANUALS Here are the official guides for prayer cenacles, using the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska and integrating it with Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. By Dr. Bryan and Susan Thatcher. $13 EACH CENACLE OF THE DIVINE MERCY: EWTN PROGRAM SERIES I Join the cenacle members from around the country in discussing the impact of Divine Mercy on their lives. Free Companion Guide included! 4 DVDs. EV-CGDVD $39.95 CENACLE OF THE DIVINE MERCY: EWTN PROGRAM SERIES II Join Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC, and Bryan Thatcher, MD, in further exploration of the riches of the Divine Mercy message. Free Companion Guide included! 4 DVDs. EV-CG2DVD $39.95 Additional Companion Guides for each series can be ordered for group use. Call for quantity pricing; use codes EV-CGER and EV-CGE2. PAMPHLET FOR SICK & DYING: EV-CSDEA AT THE BEDSIDE OF THE SICK AND DYING: A GUIDE FOR PARISH MINISTRY, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS Mixing Divine Mercy spirituality with practical guidance, Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy founder Bryan Thatcher, MD, and Disciples of Divine Mercy in the Holy Face of Jesus founder Kathleen Wabick inform, encourage, and inspire you to take up this great work of mercy. A handy introduction to the grace-filled apostolate of praying for (and with) the sick and dying. EV-PMBK $3.99 MANUAL 1:EV-CFM1 MANUAL 2:EV-CFM2 MANUAL 3:EV-CFM3 3-BOOK SET:EV-SCFM ($35) ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH To order: Visit ShopMercy.org/eadm or call 1-800-462-7426. THE CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY IN SONG This contemporary rendition of The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in Song seeks to bring together Christians of every denomination to implore God’s mercy for families and the world. EV-DMSCD2 $14.95 BLESSED HANNA CHRZANOWSKA, RN: A NURSE OF MERCY BY GOSIA BRYKCZYNSKA Blessed Hanna Chrzanowska, RN: A Nurse of Mercy was the first lay registered nurse to be beatified. This book recounts the extraordinary life of this holy, 20th-century woman. EV-HANBK $12.95 IMMACULATE CONCEPTION LAPEL PIN Measures ¾" x 1". EV-IPIN $5.00 IMMACULATE CONCEPTION POCKET-SIZE PRAYER CARD Immaculate Conception image with the Memorare prayer on the back. EV-ICBC DIVINE MERCY AND IMMACULATE CONCEPTION DOUBLE-SIDED KEY CHAIN Double-sided key chains featuring the Divine Mercy Image on one side and the Immaculate Conception image on the other. These handcrafted, high gloss epoxy images are very durable and are the perfect size for your pocket or purse. Small: 1 ½" x 1". Large: 2 ¼" x 1 5/8". Small: EV-SMKY $5.95 Large: EV-LGKY $7.95 Prayer cards: 10 FOR $1.20 100 FOR $10.00 • 1,000 FOR $60.00 DIVINE MERCY FOR AMERICA PRAYER GUIDE Use this Divine Mercy for America Prayer Guide to pray for our nation and the whole world. EV-DMAMC $1.00 DIVINE MERCY HOME ENTHRONEMENT & FAMILY CONSECRATION KIT Claim ground for Christ in a real way. This kit makes it easy to solemnly enthrone Jesus, the Divine Mercy as King of Home and Family. EV-HENT $5.95
5 14510012 The 10 evangelical virtues of Our Lady When we think of one being a devout follower, the words “committed,” “fervent,” and “dedicated” come to mind. Mary is called “most devout” because she was willing to do all for her Son and Savior with an attitude of commitment, fervor, and dedication. She not only professed her love of God, but she also allowed the Word of God to come alive in her and guide her every action. Mary dedicated her life to God and to the service of others, all out of love of God. Mary’s devotion to God manifested itself in a variety of ways: through her humble surrender at the Annunciation, her concern for others at her visitation of Elizabeth, thanksgiving and the praising of God in her Magnificat, obedience to the laws and customs of her faith in her presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple, and painful acceptance of God’s will on the road to Calvary. These are but a few examples of her devotion and fervent love of God. Mary did not rest on her laurels of being chosen as the Mother of God; she said “yes” to God and later left for the hill country where she cared for her elderly, pregnant cousin Elizabeth. Likewise, we must not only have a healthy prayer life, but it must be balanced. We must pray and then follow through with deeds of mercy done out of love of God. Let us pray and ask for the fervor of Mary to carry out the will of God. Mary is called “most devout” because she was willing to do all for her Son and Savior with an attitude of commitment, fervor, and dedication. © 2022 Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. Most Sorrowful Most Merciful Most Patient Most Poor Most Pure Most Obedient Most Humble Most Prudent Most Faithful Divine Mercy Pilgrimage Next Year! Deacon Mark Taylor and his wife, Cindy, from Nativity Catholic Church in Brandon, Florida, will be leading a pilgrimage to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, with a visit to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, May 31-June 4, 2023. They will leave Tampa and head to Washington, D.C., for a visit to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. They will then head to Philadelphia for a stop at the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and then on to the National Shrine of St. John Neumann, and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Finally, on to Stockbridge in time for Mass at the National Shrine, talks on Divine Mercy, and reflection time. Dr. Bryan Thatcher will assist Deacon Mark in daily teachings on Divine Mercy, Eucharist, Our Lady, and a history of all the Shrines visited. For more information on the pilgrimage, please visit eocatholic.com or call EO Tours at 1-800-247-0017. Part 5 Most Devout
COME HEAR BRYAN SPEAK GET YOUR EADM LAPEL PIN with a donation of $25 or more to the ministry. EV-LPEADM Dr. Bryan Thatcher, director of Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy, will be speaking: ● November 10, 2022: St. Cecilia Church, Fort Myers, Florida. For more information, contact Esperanza: (239) 822-8655. ● December 13, 2022: 9 a.m. talk on the Blessed Virgin Mary at Prince of Peace Church, Sun City Center, Florida. For more information, contact the church office: (813) 634-2328. ● March 29, 2023: at the Malvern Retreat House in Malvern, Pennsylvania. For more information, contact the retreat house: (610) 644-0400. If your cenacle would like to have Dr. Thatcher speak at your parish, call the EADM office at 1-877-380-0727. EADM LOGO SHIRTS POLO-SHIRT $25 EV-PSEAS EV-PSEAM EV-PSEAL EV-PSEAXL EV-PSEAXXL VILNIUS IMAGE SHIRT Wear your faith on your sleeve, or at least on your shirt, with these Ts and polos. $22 EV-DMTSS EV-DMTSM T-SHIRT $15 EV-TSEAS EV-TSEAM EV-TSEAL EV-TSEAXL EV-TSEAXXL EADM KEY CHAIN Bring this symbol of your faith with you on your daily commute. EV-DMKC $12 EADM TOTE BAG Be organized and share your faith when you use this delightful tote bag! EV-TBDM $15 Evangelize on the Go! with our exclusive line of EADM products EV-DMTSL EV-DMTSXL EV-DMTSXXL To order: Visit ShopMercy.org/eadm or call 1-800-462-7426. EADM relies on your generosity to keep the ministry running. Help us continue to bring the message of Divine Mercy to a hurting world. Please donate to EADM today. Call 1-800-462-7426, visit Marian.org/eadm, or use the enclosed envelope. WE NEED YOUR HELP! WANT TO START A CENACLE? Call the EADM office toll free at 1-877-380-0727, and we’ll send you a free informational packet with a DVD on the ministry. PERFECT SACRIFICE Rekindle Eucharistic amazement with this contemplative CD by Annie Karto. EV-PSCD $15 OVERSHADOW ME Songs praising God’s goodness in voice and string. By Annie Karto. EV-OMCD $16
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