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Writer's pictureProfiles in Catholicism
Jan 28, 201917 min read

February 2019 Issue

Updated: Feb 23, 2019


A Message from the Editor


My close friend Alwin Rex in India is seriously ill and needs your help. Please read the interview with Father John Kumar. Alwin needs monthly medical care and surgery to resolve his pituitary gland tumor which could affect his vision and brain if it is not removed.


Here is a some background on Alwin.


I am suffering from various ailments even from my childhood. Due to certain issues in my hormones, tumors developed in my chest and were removed. Thereafter surgery was done for kidney stone and treatments continued for Thyroid. I have completed my Degree course.


To be frank, my bad health conditions, physical pain, poverty and my search for a shelter showed me the path to serve the God. Therefore I joined the Carmelite Monastery and studied seminary. After more than an year of study, I was forced to discontinue my studies and I returned home in 2014. On examination, the doctors informed me that I have been affected by pituitary adenoma. They advised me to take medicine for four years. That was why I was unable to go to seminary to continue my study.


While I was living a solitary life, one poor lady was got married to me. We decided to do a small business to earn for our livelihood. Arranging a debt to start a small business, we started a small shop. The income was too meager that I could not manage to lead my life, meet my domestic expenses and find money for my medical expenses. For my continuous treatment I had incurred lakhs of rupees as debt. Money lenders banned up business.


In this bad situation I am mentally and physically affected. There is delay in getting the operation done. Doctors had suggested me to take surgery in 2017. I had told my misery to the parish priest. With the recommendations from the parish priest I have been receiving support from churches for the last 18 months. But in my very poor even not able to meet daily food. It finds very difficult to go for operation and treatment the huge amount. Now my life is the hands of goodwill people Because the day passes. I am not able to lead a normal life because I fall down may times due to fix and to unable to do any personal matters without help. Since I am not able to stay alone my wife also not able to go for work.I am staying in rented house.


My family had 1.5 cent land and built a house. But we have taken loan for my treatment. now we are in depth of house to take away by the bank. So whole if my family is facing much problems. My parents also depended us, Since they are old and not able to do the work. In my family my brothers also suffering due to various sickness and very poor. So not able to help me to do the treatment. In order to meet the expenses of surgery,

I humbly request your goodness to treat my cause with a kind heart and also assistance for my survival, for which my family will be grateful to your goodness, till our life.


God’ commandment is to love our neighbors as ourselves. I hope we will reflect on the infinite value of human life and what we should do when our friends need help. I am asking our readers to send a donation in any amount to Alwin via Father Thomas Ayyaneth in the United States who will forward the donations by international banking procedure. Even a few dollars will be helpful.

What would you do if your close friend was seriously ill and needed help? If you are unable to make a donation, please pray for Alwin and for those who make donations.


Prayer of the Month


A Prayer for Migrant Children


Good Lord, who said “Whoever receives one of these little ones, receives me,” bless the little ones who are caught in the struggle of migration, separation, and abuse.

Give all those adults who are responsible for them and for their welfare the wisdom and courage to do the children justice and to protect them.

Make our hearts more loving and willing to do the right thing by them. May we see in all people young and old your image and so reverence their great dignity.

We make our prayer through you who came among us as a child and who was forced to flee the threat of violence Amen

by Father Louis J. Cameli Profiles in Catholicism


Quote of the Month


We can either be governed by fear - fear of immigrants, fear of Muslims, call the press the enemy of the people, tear kids away from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border - or we can be governed by our ambitions and our aspirations and our desire to make the most out of all of us. And that's America at its best. by Beto O'Rourke


Interviews

General Articles/Commentaries

FEATURED REPORT

Advocacy


Please support one of our organizations and people who need help.

  • Please send a donation for help save the life of Alwin Rex. Please read the article How do we love our neighbor as ourselves? If just a few of our readers could send a donation of $10.00 toward his healthcare costs to Father Thomas Ayyaneth with a notation that the donation is for Alwin Rex. Father Thomas will process donations and send them to his pastor.

  • When Children are Set Free by Shay Cullen, Mssc Preda Foundation

  • Aiming high: Irish charity wants to impact five million African students by Susan Gately Catholic Ireland.net

  • Donation request for mentally retarded children in India Help International Rescue Committee save lives in Yemen and worldwide.

  • Help save the lives of people in Kenya who are dying from lack of access to clean water. please read our interview with Father Joseph Mungai, FMH.

  • Whether They Are Young or Old, Hungry or Addicted, Homeless or Friendless... Catholic Charities sees the face of God in those in need. By providing food, clothing, shelter and counseling, we bring hope to the hopeless in the city of Chicago and its suburbs. With 150 programs at 153 locations throughout Cook and Lake counties, we serve virtually every neighborhood and parish in the Chicagoland area. Through our broad spectrum of services, we annually assist more than 1 million persons in Cook and Lake counties without regard to religious, ethnic or economic background. For more than 98 years, Catholic Charities has empowered families and individuals of all races and religious backgrounds to realize their full potential. Our services help people from the point of conception through the last stages of their lives. We keep mothers and their babies well-fed, prepare children in low-income families for school, keep youth in school and out of gangs, counsel and give job training to adults with economic troubles, provide affordable housing for seniors, and organize in-home care services for seniors who need help caring for themselves. donations@catholiccharities.net Only 8 cents of every dollar donated goes toward our administrative expenses; the rest goes directly to help clients. While Catholic Charities raises funds separately from the Archdiocese of Chicago, we serve as the social service arm of the church

  • Support Capuchin Community Services At the Capuchin Community Services, we support those who cannot support themselves. We are grateful to you for your support whether it be through prayer, through donated goods, or through financial donation. Please be assured that we are careful stewards of your trust. We welcome contributions of any size. All are acknowledged and are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Capuchin Community Services is a ministry of the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph. Unless otherwise directed, donations support the local ministry and the Province. To donate through the mail: Capuchin Community Services PO Box 05830 Milwaukee, WI 53205-0830


Book Reviews/Commentaries

Film Reviews/Commentaries

TV Reviews/Commentaries

Art Reviews/Communities

Feasting with the Saints

Prayers

A Prayer for Those Who Have Suffered Abuse by the Clergy


God, in your providential love you comfort those who are wounded and afflicted.

Hear our prayers for those who have suffered abuse by those in their families or by those entrusted with their care.

In a special way, we pray for those who suffered abuse by clergy who betrayed a sacred trust and who were meant to stand for your loving presence in their lives.

May those who have been hurt find support and encouragement in communities of faith, hope, and love.

May they discover healing in genuinely loving and caring relationships.

May they reclaim hope for themselves.

May they be strengthened and confirmed in their resolve to set things aright.

May they rest in you who make all things work for the good. Amen

by Father Louis J Cameli Profiles in Catholicism


A Prayer to Prevent Nuclear War

Lord God, you created life and beauty in this world. You then entrusted the human community with caring for, and enhancing, your creation. Strengthen us, we pray, in this challenging time when the power to destroy this creation has grown so dangerously. Lead us on a road of peace, a road that includes a program of removing all nuclear weapons from our earth. We cannot hope to meet this challenge without your continuing presence and support. For this we make our prayerful plea in your name. by John T. Pawlikowski, OSM, Profiles in Catholicism


A Prayer to Prevent Antisemitism


Lord God, through the covenant you established with the Jewish People, we Christians have been grafted into this covenantal tradition according to St. Paul. But very often throughout history we have shown ourselves ungrateful for this gift given us through Jesus who imbued in his teachings this Jewish covenantal tradition through acts of antisemitism. We join with Popes St. John Paul II and Francis in confessing our sins of antisemitism past and present. Through this prayer we commit ourselves to the elimination any remaining anti-Semitic teachings in the Catholic community and pledge to add our public voice in denouncing any manifestations of antisemitism in contemporary society. We ask your blessing so that we may have the strength to fulfill this pledge we make in your presence.

by John T. Pawlikowski, OSM, Profiles in Catholicism


A Prayer to End Racism

As we gather together for prayer and communion, we are reaffirming our commitment to love unconditionally, welcome all people and work to root out the cancer of racism that betrays our faith and country’s highest principles.”

by The Rev. Dr. Darryl Roberts, Senior Pastor, Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, Washington. DC


A Prayer for East Africa

O Lord, with so much tragedy going on in our own country, children separated from their parents at our borders,

needy asylum seekers turned away,

against the spirit of all that we stand for,

as stated on the Statue of Liberty,

help us to think of, pray for, and find the means to help others

around the world, especially the millions of people facing starvation in East Africa.

We are called by the Jewish prophets and by Jesus

to help all in need, and our country has the resources to do so.

Help us to work together with other nations around the world

to raise awareness of the desperation of the East Africans,

and to pool our resources to send them food and medical aid,

so that they may survive and help others to survive and thrive.

We ask this in the name of our Loving Father, the Son who sacrificed his life for all,

and the Holy Spirit who permeates all reality and the hearts and souls of all humans.

Amen by Dr. Eugene Fisher Profiles in Catholicism


A Prayer for Healing Victims of Abuse


God of endless love,

ever caring, ever strong,

always present, always just:

You gave your only Son

To save us by the blood of his cross.

Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace,

join to your own suffering

the pain of all who have been hurt

in body, mind, and spirit by those who betrayed the trust placed in them.

Hear our cries as we agonize

over the harm done to our brothers and sisters.

Breathe wisdom into our prayers,

soothe restless hearts with hope,

steady shaken spirits with faith:

Show us the way to justice and wholeness,

enlightened by truth and enfolded in your mercy.

Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts,

heal your people’s wounds

and transform our brokenness.

Grant us courage and wisdom, humility and grace,

so that we may act with justice

and find peace in you.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

by Christian Peschken Profiles in Catholicism

A Prayer to End Gun Violence


Lord Jesus, as you approached the city of Jerusalem,

Before your passion,

As your people waved palms in your honor,

You saw the city and wept over it because you

Loved it.

You knew of the violence and chaos you would suffer

In that beloved city

still you loved it and wept over it.

Lord Jesus, look upon our cities, weep over them,

Love them and protect them.

Weep over us and strengthen us as we suffer

Violence and chaos.

Weep over us and love us.

Lord Jesus, weep over us and love us. (See Lk 19)

by Father David O. Brown, O.S.M. Profiles in Catholicism


Prayer for Immigrants and Refugees

Lord Jesus, when you multiplied the loaves and fishes, you provided more than food for the body, you offered us the gift of yourself, the gift which satisfies every hunger and quenches every thirst! Your disciples were filled with fear and doubt, but you poured out your love and compassion on the migrant crowd, welcoming them as brothers and sisters.

Lord Jesus, today you call us to welcome the members of God's family who come to our land to escape oppression, poverty, persecution, violence, and war. Like your disciples, we too are filled with fear and doubt and even suspicion. We build barriers in our hearts and in our minds.

Lord Jesus, help us by your grace,

To banish fear from our hearts, that we may embrace each of your children as our own brother and sister;

To welcome migrants and refugees with joy and generosity, while responding to their many needs;

To realize that you call all people to your holy mountain to learn the ways of peace and justice;

To share of our abundance as you spread a banquet before us;

To give witness to your love for all people, as we celebrate the many gifts they bring.

We praise you and give you thanks for the family you have called together from so many people. We see in this human family a reflection of the divine unity of the one Most Holy Trinity in whom we make our prayer: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops


A Prayer for the End of Human Trafficking


God of freedom, beauty and truth

we believe that your deepest desire,

your most powerful energy,

is that all creation might know abundant life.

We raise our voices in anguished prayer

for our sisters and brothers,

women and girls, men and boys,

who are modern day slaves;

They are your beloved daughters and sons,

exploited sexually or forced to work

because of human violence and greed.

Fill us with your holy anger and your sacred passion

that those who are trafficked might know healing and justice;

that traffickers will come to repentance and conversion;

that all of us might live in such a way

that others are not made to pay the price

for our comfort and convenience.

Hasten the coming of the day when all people

and our precious Earth itself

will be treated, not as a commodity,

but as radiant images of your freedom, beauty and truth. Amen. May it be so.

by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, N.J.


Videos


The Church & Immigration by Father Mike Schmitz Ascension Presents


What Does the Bible Say? Refugees, migrants and foreigners? by Fr. James Martin


Journey to Seamus Heaney HomePlace Read by Liam Neeson


Prophesies of Our Lady of Good Success 1600's Hidden until this century


Painting The Impossible by Akiane Kramarik


Saint Maria Goretti forgives her murderer


Luiza Palma - Gender Parity Lable – Interview by Christian Peschken


Ave Maria dedicated to Pope Francis accordion piano soprano






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