YOU NEVER KNOW, DO YOU?

There are times, as you plug along, when you wonder to yourself, am I making a dent here. As a priest, I have seen so many people who I have grown to love and respect, show their enthusiasm for the church and then they just stop coming. And I find myself alone at the altar wondering : Lord is it something I said or did. And I am never really sure what makes a person show up, stay for a while and then leave, to not see or hear from them again. So its when incidents happen, such as this past week, that I am instilled again with zeal and joy in helping people gather , see God working in their lives and in others lives and coming together as a worshipping community.

Michael (no last name please) grew up Catholic in the mid west and for a long time has not been attending church. We met Michael here in Wilton Manors as he had been working tireless in helping a friend of his get a business venture up and running. It has been indeed a very difficult time
for both of them. Father Larry and myself offered our prayers and blessings. It had been over two months when we ran into Michael at a Coffee Shop, told him of our move to a new location for Sunday Mass and invited him to come. Low and behold he showed up the next day, and with tears in his eyes, he said after Mass that he had been missing it so much.

Two days later Michael came to the rectory for coffee and he confessed his past and received absolution in confession. The change in Michael is like night and day and there is now a radiance about him that not only Father Larry and I see but so do others.

And then there is Jeff, a man who was led to us from the internet and began attending Mass and after his fourth Sunday he asked if he could be baptized and receive confirmation. He never received these sacraments while growing up. He expresses gratitude and joy and he will be baptized and receive confirmation on Sunday, All Saints Day, November 1, 2009. We will all come back , after Mass ,to the Rectory and have a celebration, cake, food and drinks. Father Larry and Deacon Gregory will perform the Baptism and Father John Joseph (Bishop) will officiate at Jeff's confirmation.

To be part of Jeff and Michael's lives and to see the New Catholic Community of Divine Mercy grow, gives me a good feeling and as I write this, I thank God for for the blessings that he has bestowed upon me, Father Larry and Deacon Gregory. More will be revealed.

PUBLICITY ETC.

Its amazing the numbers of people who have seen our ads in the Pelican and the Blade as well as the pictures and articles in both newspapers and tell us about it. Each time I hear that , I in turn use this as an opportunity invite them to come and worship with us.

We never know. by keeping our name out there, whether in print, by our website or talking to people , what effect it has. We just keep letting people know that our Chapel is a place of love and in God's time, He will lead people to the Chapel door.
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Of course, you know we are going to have fun at Wicked Manors, Halloween night on Wilton Drive. As I mentioned before, we have been offered space for a table and we are taking the producers up on their generous offer. Now Father Larry, Deacon Gregory and myself will be wearing our usual clerical garb. I hope they dont confuse us with some kind of costume because on Halloween you see lots of Firemen, Nuns with mustaches and oh so pretty (and some not so pretty) "ladies". Heres a good example of us getting out where the people are .... Letting them get to see us and also know us.

Somewhere, and my very dear friend Celeste knows this, there is an old nuns habit, hanging in the back of some closet. Think the Fathers will pass on this though. If you want to borrow it and you wont disrespect it, then you are welcomed to borrow.

Last Sunday I got inspired, guess by the Holy Spirit, to adjust certain prayers in the Mass. For instance just before Communion we asked God's Mercy, Penitential rite, shared The Kiss of Peace right after and then gave Glory to God. We then moved onto to the Liturgy of the Eucharist. At the beginning of the Mass we received the Blessing by the Priest, shared our profession of faith (who we are) prayed our general Intercessions and then were ready for the Liturgy of the Word and Fathers homily. It seemed to flow easier and as we prayerfully moved along in the mood of sacred worshiping We will do that again this Sunday.

I love the beauty and the sanctity of the pre Vatican II Latin Mass, with the Gregorian chants. But I have come around to see also the liturgical music of today with its spirit filled energy. A mixture of the old and new
makes a good fit for the New Catholic Communities.

See you at Church Sunday, 1:30 PM

Father John Joseph

Last Sunday at Mass 11/5/2009

Well we were pleasant surprised to see 5 more people attend our liturgy Sunday. . Two couples from Wilton Manors...Ruth Ann and Skip and also a new resident couple Denise and Emilio. Denise and Emilio brought along their little white terrier "Murphy" and we gave "Murphy" a special blessing. Billy, a man who helped us . many years ago, to drum up attendance at another church, found his way to us also.

Patrick, who used ot have a restaurant in Spain, cooked up a fig and apple pie for us to have with coffee. It was gone in a few seconds.

We are praying for Jeff, he is going on two job interviews this week and we hope one of them is the job God wants him to have.

Deacon Greg is going to Michigan this weekend to attend a wedding and will be driving Diane, his wife, back with him. We will be happy to see both of them back with us

Halloween Wilton Manors florida

We have been offered free space for our information table on Wilton Drive during the Wicked Manors Festival, October 31 from 6 PM to Midnight. We can staff our table, interact with the many who will be attending the Festival and also have some fun ourselves gawking. Come join us at our table...we could use some help. Father John Joseph Reid, Newdivinemercy.org

Serenity Mass

Father Larry Turner, Divine Mercy, New Catholic Communities, Wilton Manors is pleased to announce the first Serenity Mass to be held at the Shrine on Monday, October 5, 2009 at 7:30 PM. Father Larry is inviting all members of the recovery community as well as others in the 12 step programs . Divine Mercy Shrine is at 2749 NE 10th Ave., Wilton Manors, Look for the Lighted Statue of the Blessed Virgin on the lawn in front of the Fathers of Divine Mercy Residence. For further informtaion please call Fther Larry at 954-567-1930