President's Desk
JULY 2009

ORDINATION and MIRACLE

It has been an exciting month as we move to get the newsletter back out on the 1st of the month with Martin Doe writing the reflections as well as the new Year of the Priests for the front page this year. 

I attended the ordination of Father James Zakowicz, O.C.D. and Father Ramiro Sanchez, O.C.D. at St. Therese Church, Alhambra, California. It was very moving for me as I have been so fortunate to know both of these young men for a very long time. It is such a privilege to be at the ordination of our Carmelite’s after watching them on their spiritual journey and the excitement of the ordination day. 

His eminence Roger Cardinal Mahony was the Ordaining Prelate and Principal Celebrant. It was also a special joy to see Rev. Bro. David Guzman, O.C.D. proclam the Gospel (he is our Deacon from Tucson, Arizona and soon to be ordained as well.)

We also held our fund raiser the next day on Father’s Day here in Arizona so it was a fast weekend. That went very well, everyone had a really good time, enjoyed the food and music as well.

I had mentioned last month that a miracle has happened here in the ministry that I would share with you. Through the fact that the Cruise we were trying to book did not happen I met a lady who provides the wholesale part of the Pilgrimages we provide for our Priests. As she has been helping us with the new pilgrimages I emailed her the information for the Passion Play trip. If you will notice the date has changed. That is because the date the “old” providers gave me is not available to the general public. I often say I do not run this Ministry, Our Blessed Mother does and this is proof of how she knew we could never go on that date, just two days later and about $2,000.00 less and we now have a good chance to provide this trip for people that want to go to this rare event and to be able to take our newly ordained Father James with us.

We now have the numbers we need to go to the Holy Land and we will be working to provide a pilgrimage to France and Italy as well in the year 2010.

We are continuing our efforts to be debt free this year and to obtain the benefactors that will donate the money for the Resource Center that is so badly needed.

Please be assured of our continuing prayers as we approach the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

Gayle