Winter ramblings

Sorry it has been so long since a decent update! Life has been crazy in NYC this Winter. We have gotten a lot of snow and bitter cold weather. All of my ministries take place outdoors, so I have become a pro at layering!! I, as I know we all are, look forward to spring with much anticipation! This week we have had a few days that were in the 60s. WOW! I cannot believe how amazing it felt. I cannot wait for things to start turning green and camping and fishing season to start.

Life in community is good. I love the women I live with. We all are very happy. With the normal little bumps in the road we all get along famously. You always have someone to talk or do something with. Although I have lived on my own for so long it has been an adjustment living with others and trying not to be so independent. But thanks be to God He has been giving me extra doses of grace to handle it all.

The ministry has been hard. I have had to confront the culture head on. The message we are preaching is so counter cultural. This work is simply not possible without the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of those with whom we serve. Sometimes when you look at how depressing NYC it can be overwhelming but it reminds me that much more of how dependant on the Lord I am. The main focus is always Jesus, but I have felt it pressed upon my hear to share more and more with people the grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is overlooked so many times by Catholics. We must return to what we know and come running home to the Father’s house as in the prodigal son. My friends that are reading this blog, please remember this message is for you as well. During this Lent, make a trip to confession. I promise you will not be sorry. If it has been a long time or you have any questions, please feel free to contact me and I will be happy to speak with you about it.

This Lent I am trying to focus on the Passion of Our Lord and contemplate
His marvelous love for me. I cannot tell you how hard that is to grasp. God really loves me? I am uniquely and wonderfully made the way He wanted me to be? He would fight for me? He doesn’t just love me the way I am, he loves because of the way I am? He doesn’t just overlook my flaws, he wants to mend them? He doesn’t just want my heart, he wants to make it whole? Another WOW and an AMEN is due here!! I can’t believe how much He loves me. And He loves YOU in the same way!

Well on that note folks, I gotta run. Life is calling and I am ready to respond! “Speak Lord, for you servant is listening!”


Picture of me with the directors of LAMP they day I got my LAMP Crucifix



Father Groshel with other friars at the March for Life (I am such a groupie of the CFRs!!) They let me come with them to the March for life! It was such a great blessing. The Friars and the Sisters are such rockstars!!




This is a picture from a bank on the way to the lake with my parents. This is not been doctored! Hope it makes you giggle as much as it did me!

March for Life

On the anniversary of Roe Vs Wade (The law forcing states to legalize abortion) 200K-300K pro-lifers took to the streets of Washington DC and March from the Lawn to the Supreme Court in protest of the horrific slandering of unborn babies. It was so encouraging to see so many people affirming life in this culture of death. During the time of our nation elevating elected officials to the status of Messiah and equivocating the life of a human being to nothing more then a clump of cells, it is good to know that we do not stand alone!! No my friends, many people are fighting for the right for ALL human lives!

****for more than 30 years, federal law has allowed doctors and nurses to decline to provide abortion services as a matter of conscience, a protection that is not subject to rulemaking. The Obama administration will move to rescind a new but controversial rule that allows health-care workers to deny abortion counseling or other family-planning services if doing so would violate their moral beliefs. The move by the Department of Health and Human Services to throw out the "conscience rule" is being made quietly as the budget plan is made public. But the administration is looking for input from people across the ideological spectrum before it finalizes the rollback after the standard 30-day comment period.*****

Eddie

Thought you might like see a face of some of the people I have the joy of serving!

Above is a picture of Eddie. He is a man that comes to the LAMP Cafe.He came from a Catholic home. He was the whole nine, alter boy and everything. He is a former Marine who served our country in Vietnam.
When I first came out and meet Eddie it touched me how open he was with us. His love and joyful spirit always lifted me up. I am so grateful to him. when I first began on the Cafe I was pretty overwhelmed but it was people like Eddie that made me feel at home.
I just wanted to share a bit of his story, but in keep with the dignity of the person I don't want to reveal all that was said. But there was a incident with a person in the Church that turned Eddie off from the faith. It is just a constant reminder for us to be always cautious with our actions. The ramifications can be detrimental. It is also a call for us to remember forgive as Jesus has forgiven us.
I would like to ask my family and friends to please pray for my friend Eddie. Pray for hope, peace, and reconciliation.

PS Eddie gave me permission to post his picture and name