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It seems like only yesterday that I was writing the December page for 2006. Does it seem to you that time is going very fast or is it just me?

This month I would like to share with you the events that led to you receiving the information on the Cruise planned for November of 2008. We thought it important enough that you learn about it before it is advertised which will start this weekend in the Vision.

As I am sure you are aware we rely on donations and events to keep this ministry going. We have not located a benefactor that can give us the necessary funds to get the resource center that we desperately need. That need is increasing as time goes on with the people that have come in for counseling and the fact that we do not have the place to give the conferences, hold the healing masses especially intergenerational conferences and masses. There is a need but we have no place to hold them.

Along with the prayers we offer as a ministry for all prayer requests we have also asked for a way to get into a larger place. I would now ask you to pray for this in your intentions which will include getting enough people for this Cruise. It has obviously been given to us by Our Blessed Mother who guides us every day.

As I was waiting on a customer standing at the counter the phone rang. I just reached out and answered it without looking to see who it was. This is not done here and I can easily say not ever by me. We do not answer calls from unlisted, unknown, long distance or 800 numbers. Most of the time they are advertisers that are time consuming. If in the few instances the person needs something they leave a message which is checked very often. As I picked up the phone I realized it was an “unknown number” but at that point had already answered. It was a gentleman from Athens, Greece wanting to talk to me about doing the “Footsteps of St. Paul” by Cruise Ship.

I have to admit I was very leery and told him so. We already had a trip planned for November of ’08 which he was aware of. He had seen it on our web site. That made me feel good as we are reaching people, even in Athens, Greece. We talked a little but I could not see how it could fit into our ministry to Priests but I agreed to look at the information he would email me regarding the trip. I still didn’t feel very comfortable with it but took it to prayer.

As I looked over the information I just wondered if we could possibly book the whole ship for the cruise. That started a series of phone calls and emails with the President of the Cruise Line and myself. I requested three cruises be put into the one taking us on a pilgrimage where we travel the Sea of Faith where religions and cultures of the world started. We worked together to combine the Footsteps of St. Paul in Turkey and Greece, cruising to the Holy Land to Jerusalem then back to Athens to travel the ferry to San Giovanni Rotundo and by land to Rome for an audience with the Holy Father and of course to the major churches including St. Paul Outside the Walls. They came through with their original statement that it would be inexpensive for what we would get.

Within two weeks I had realized that I picked up the phone to talk to these gentlemen because this can be the biggest fund raiser we have had. I also reflected on the fact that our prayer for this year included asking for St. Paul’s intercession. This was written way before we knew that the Holy Father was going to name 08-09 The Year of St. Paul. People became excited, Father Justin called me from Florida (this is his dream trip as well) and would like to get people from there to go, my guide has dealt with over 500 people before and he is excited about the adventure, a friend and pilgrim from Ohio is excited and wants to help as well as Father Fernando from Santa Cruz already giving the brochures to his friends and family in California and agreeing to be one of the Priest Spiritual Directors for the cruise.

I really feel that I am on the ship but not steering it which is how we try to live our lives, letting Our Blessed Mother do it for us. The response and excitement is greater at this early time than I thought possible. If these people come through we will be on our way to the minimum number we need very shortly.

We will be doing some major advertising for this cruise which may help to get the one to the Holy Land to go for Father Isaac that we have been trying to do. My friend, Claudia from the Vision is eager to help as well. We will also be able to take Priests from across the country as well as local ones which will make the cruise very spiritual and keeping our commitment to celebrating Mass every day and confessions available on all our trips.
As I reflected on what to write for this month I felt it would be good to share how things happen here in the ministry. Mostly we learn by experience and still do but the letting go and letting God is what gets us through as it will you. This cruise can take care of the rest of the outstanding obligations we have assumed because of some bad times in the past and set us up for the future in a bigger place.

I am happy to announce that we have enough people to take Father David Reinders on his dream trip to see St. Therese of Lisieux and Padre Pio in April, 2008 (with a few seats left)  and have a group of young people from Coolidge working on WYD to be with the Holy Father.

As we prepare for Advent we have so many answered prayers, people’s healings, conversions and miracles that have happened this past year. We will relate some of them in January’s President’s page.

As I close I pray for each of you to have a Happy, safe and blessed Holiday Season. May the Christ Child shower you with the warmth of his love and His Mother keep you protected throughout your entire life.

May God Bless You today and always.

Gayle