| For many years I prayed with Msgr. Philip Reilly and the Helpers of God's Precious Infants in front of an abortion mill in Queens New York. When I read this Newsletter, it brought back many memories, some really great, as when a baby was saved or a woman changed her mind about having an abortion. But there were some tough memories too, such as the many women who went into the mill to kill her baby, the poor young girls who were dragged in by their mothers or boy-friends, even some young girls who were mentally challenged and came from an institution. And there was the escorts who called us names and sometimes became threatening or physical; I saw the priests spit upon in their faces but did not say a word, just suffered for the unborn. One sad memory was when two elderly Jewish people was talking to the Msgr. and showed him their Concentration Camp tattoo's given them by the Nazi's. They said they were for abortion! We were shocked and so sad. I remember the Msgr. saying they took the Consecration Camp with them when they were freed! I guess he meant they were brain-washed. I posted Msgr. Reilly's picture here. See the Helpers praying for the unborn. That's what we did! Thank you Msgr. Reilly, you were such a great inspiration for me, especially my love for the Pro-Life cause! I loved assisting at your Mass and the wonderful homilies you gave. May the Lord and Our Lady continue to grant you many years of health and grace! Deacon John Giglio
Padre Pio Newsletter (October 2009) |
| Let us always keep before our eyes the fact that here on earth we are on a battlefield and that in Paradise we shall receive the crown of victory; that this is a testing-ground and the prize will be awarded up above; that we are now in a land of exile while our true homeland is Heaven to which we must continually aspire.
- St. Pio of Pietrelcina
Issue # 41 of our Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry quarterly publication is now on our website at this link: http://www.padrepiodevotions.org/2009Oct.asp
After opening Issue # 41 and reading the newsletter, be sure to click on the small red icon at the top of the page which says, "Download Newsletter," in order to read and/or print out a copy in newsletter format (Six 8 1/2 X 11 inch pages) complete with photos.
Issue # 41 is devoted to our recent interview with Sister Pia of Jesus Crucified.
Several years ago, someone mentioned to me that there was a nun named Sister Pia who had met Padre Pio. I did not give the matter much thought at the time but I obviously lodged the information in my memory banks. Several months ago I began to think alot about Sister Pia. I wanted to speak to her and learn her story about Padre Pio but I did not know what religious congregation she belonged to and I did not have any of her contact information. With a little persistence, I was finally able to locate her. We corresponded through letters, but I wanted to meet her in person and I asked her if it would be possible for Deacon Ron and I to visit her. Sister Pia received permission from her religious Superior for our visit.
We traveled to Sister Pia's convent on the East Coast and talked to her through the traditional convent "grate." Perhaps it separated us in body but not in spirit. Sister Pia is a cloistered Carmelite nun. The Sisters of her congregation stay within the monastic enclosure and lead a hidden life, totally dedicated to contemplative prayer and reparation.
Sister Pia shared with us her experiences of visiting Padre Pio in the early 1960's. It was beautiful to listen to her story and her insights on Padre Pio and on the spiritual life.
In addition to our story of Sister Pia, we have also put several new audio presentations on our site this quarter at the following link: http://www.padrepiodevotions.org/audiopresentations.asp
We have added three talks on St. Pio that were given recently at our annual St. Pio Celebration in San Diego. The talks include the Mass homily with reflections on St. Pio given by Aux. Bishop Gilbert Chavez as well as a talk on St. Pio by Father Carl Gismondi, the keynote speaker for our Celebration. Also included is a talk on St. Pio given by Father Louis Solcia, the spiritual director of the Padre Pio Prayer Group in San Diego.
Also included in the audio presentations this quarter is the homily given by Msgr. Philip Reilly at the Saturday morning Mass on August 29 at Our Lady of the Cenacle parish in Queens, New York. Msgr. Reilly is the founder of the worlwide organization, the Helpers of God's Precious Infants.
After presiding at the Saturday morning Mass at Our Lady of the Cenacle parish, Msgr. Reilly led the congregation in a pro-life march and prayer vigil to Jamaica Hospital. We knew what a privilege it was for us to be a part of this prayer vigil. Once we all arrived at the hospital, Msgr. Reilly solemnly led fifteen decades of the Rosary. All the while, it rained. Christian hymns were sung between the decades of the Rosary and at the conclusion, there was a time of silent prayer.
Msgr. Reilly has been praying in front of abortion clinics daily for more than twenty years. His monthly Saturday prayer vigils are always attended by one of the auxiliary bishops of New York. In the United States alone, more than one hundred Bishops and six Cardinals have participated in the Helpers of God's Precious Infants monthly Prayer Vigils.
Through Msgr. Reilly's efforts, thousands of lives of the unborn have been saved. Even though Msgr. Reilly is 75 years old, he still has the energy to travel all over the world, supporting the new chapters of Helpers groups that are springing up and training people in pro-life strategies. He has given his life to combating what Pope John Paul II referred to as the "culture of death."
You can learn more about Msgr. Reilly's important work or how to start a Helper's group in your own area by visiting his beautiful website at: http://www.helpersbrooklynny.org/
If you enjoy our Pray, Hope and Don't Worry quarterly publication, it has recently been made into a 400 page book called Pray, Hope and Don't Worry: True Stories of Padre Pio. Deacon Ron and I traveled to many different parts of the United States and interviewed more than thirty people, all who had met Padre Pio. More info: http://www.padrepiodevotions.org/padrepiobook.asp
Please pray for us as we pray for you,
In God's peace and blessings,
Diane and Deacon Ron Allen
Pray, pray to the Lord with me, because the whole world needs prayer. And every day, when your heart especially feels the loneliness of life, pray. Pray to the Lord, because even God needs our prayers.
- St. Pio of Pietrelcina. |
