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IMMACULATA MAGAZINE (MI NEWS)

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2005 Issue

October / November / December 2005
July / Aug / Sept 2005
January / February / March 2006
April / May / June 2006

MI Youth Retreat at Marytown. (See more info below).

Magi Bearing Gifts: On July 14-18, sixty-one youth and leaders attended the MI retreat at Marytown. During one day of the retreat, each spent partnered time with a resident at the Little Sisters of the Poor. Each youth decorated a box to give filled with religious articles and prayer notes. On the last night of the retreat, they prayed for the residents during all-night adoration at Marytown.

Happy Feast Day!
Special celebration was held August 13, the Vigil of the Feast Day for St. Kolbe at the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe. The Solemn vespers was celebrated by Fr. John Grigus, ofm conv., and Br. Martin Schmitz was the special speaker for the occasion. Br. Martin was one of the pioneers in the establishment of Marytown, USA, along with the founder, Fr. Dominic Szymanski, ofm conv. Many people were able to venerate the first-class relic of Saint Maximilian following the service.

On August 14, the Saint's Feast Day, the Eucharist was enhanced with beautiful music supplied by Marytown's faithful volunteer organist, Ann Klytta. Fr. Steve McKinley encouraged the faithful to take Saint Maximilian as their example of serving others.

 

Happy Feast Day!: A full chapel of people waited in line to venerate Saint Maximilian's first-class relic on August 14 after Mass.

September 8, 2005, the birthday of Mary, was celebrated this year at Marytown in a special way. Br. Jim O'Brien made his Profession of Solemn Vows! He made his total consecration to Mary on March 25, 2001. Brother Jim has been active for many years in accompanying the sick on pilgrimages as a registered nurse to Lourdes, France. He is now Marytown's Infirmarian.

Holocaust Tour
On the evening of August 13 and on August 14, during the day, about fifty people with small groupings of families, Polish-speaking persons and two survivors of Auschwitz viewed pictures demonstrating the life of Saint Kolbe and the atrocities of the Holocaust.

One group in particular that Br. Louis Schmid guided through was a survivor of Auschwitz with her daughter and son-in-law. The woman showed her arm tattoo. He proceeded to show pictures and explain Saint Maximilian's mission and life and then they went to view the Auschwitz pictures. There they paused and Brother Louis said to her, "What can I say at this point? You experienced this first hand." "She related such horrific memories and I was left speechless and saddened," said Br. Louis Schmid.

MI Prison Ministry
"As my patron saint I chose Saint Maximilian, since he, too, knew the hardships of prison....I am always in search of more ways to be used by the Father to reach out to others in his love so that they too may feel this ever increasing joy that I now have. Thank you so much for the privilege of being part of the Militia of the Immaculata and one of the Knights at the Foot of the Cross." Inmate, North Carolina

MI Village, CA
A Mystical Rose Village leader emailed, "Our Village is going very well now that we have this new location. The sisters are very supportive. Also many of their elderly residents are coming and making their consecration. It's wonderful!"

 

"David Eich came and gave a talk. The kids really loved him," says Stephanie LaFramboise, MI leader.

MI Michigan, Way to Go: This past May 13-15, this MI youth group (ages 16-26) celebrated their 30th MI Retreat and a one-day Junior MI Retreat took place on the 14th! Over sixty young adults participated. Fr. Fortunato led the retreat held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, South Lyon, Michigan. "It was unprecedented that we had three priests most of Saturday," says Mark Luther. The retreat consisted of four guest speakers, spiritual direction, confessions, Mass, Rosary, Adoration, great food and recreation.

MI Contemplatives: This past May 29, 2005, the Handmaids of the Precious Blood in Lake Villa, IL, celebrated their 25th Jubilee of presence in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Mass was celebrated, followed by a Eucharistic Procession on their grounds. Their charism is prayer and sacrifice for the sanctification of the priesthood. For information about the Order, please call Rev. Mother John Paul, 505-829-3906.