I apologize for the delay in sending this update.  For those who have requested prayers for this update, I would remind you that God knows what is in our hearts and that the first intention of this online group and all of the Silent Strength groups within Marian Mantle is to offer prayer for the intentions of all members of the prayer groups.  Thus, your intentions are being prayed for as soon as you form them in your heart.

      It is difficult to write this today.  We have had deaths of  3 people we love in the past week.  The Holy Father’s death was the last.  A relative was another.  A dear, dear friend, and a Sister of Charity, Sister Eugenia died on Holy Thursday and was buried on Wednesday.  She was dearly loved and sorely missed by  the many who knew her from this group.  She strongly supported and encouraged me to speak out on this subject and prayed with me many, many times about it.  I remember vividly one Thursday when we prayed the chaplet of Divine Mercy together in the chapel at Sanctuary of Hope (an inner city retreat house when Bob and I are associate volunteers).  I suspect she was probably one of the first in line to give the Holy Father one of her famous hugs when he walked through the heavenly gates yesterday.

      Please visit the website at  www.marianmantle.com to view our humble MM tribute to Pope John Paul II.

       Our beloved Holy Father traveled the globe to bring the Good News of Salvation to people everywhere.  He carried his loved for the Blessed Mother to them, also.  He was especially fond of the youth and young adults throughout the world.  He worked tirelessly to bring everyone back to the arms of Holy Mother Church.  I don’t know about you, but I intend to begin saying a prayer for his soul, and then asking this beloved Pope to pray for our prodigals that they may find Jesus, through Mary, and come home soon.  In John Paul II we have a wonderful advocate for our efforts, and who now worships up close and personal to the throne.  Let us pray for him and ask him to pray for our beloved sheep who have strayed from the Good Shepherd.

         Perhaps you have seen the wonderful drawing in the paper today?  It depicts Pope John Paul II’s entrance into heaven.  In reference to his custom of kissing the ground of each country as he stepped of the papal airplane, it shows the gates of heaven opening and the Pope on his knees kissing the heavenly ground.    If anyone did not have it in your paper, let me know and I will send you a digital file of it.

May we console each other in our sorrow, but rejoice that Our Redeemer liveth! 

Peace,

“Be Not Afraid!”       ~found 365 times in Scripture~

SILENT STRENGTH PRESENTATION

+April 7 I will be speaking at Nativity of Mary in Independence.  This will not be the Silent Strength talk but will be the follow up one, Has Anyone Seen My Hula Hoop?  (making your intercessory prayer more effective)

Need more information? Please check the schedule on the web site for more information,

http://www.marianmantle.com/schedule.htm  or contact MaryAnn by email maryann@marianmantle.com or phone at 913-526-8977.

     If you would like help in getting these talks scheduled in your parish, please email  maryann@marianmantle.com

PRAYER CARDS

Prayer card with the image of Our Lady of Sorrows by artist Jay Crisafulli in color and the Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows for the return of our prodigals to the Catholic faith is available from the Marian Mantle Group.  Suggested donation is $1.50.  Size is approx 3”x5”.  Currently, orders can be emailed to pray@marianmantle.com   This will be available on the web site soon.

PRAYER GROUPS

Please pray for a new prayer group that is forming among people at Cure’ of Ars Parish in Prairie Village and for those who are searching for prayer partners and wanting to  form a group at Holy Cross parish in Overland Park.

Please continue to pray for those who have formed the new Silent Strength prayer group in Shawnee, KS.  For more information about any of these groups, contact MaryAnn by phone or email.

NEWSLETTER

    What action are you taking to bring your prodigal back home?  We welcome your input.  It will help the rest of us in our own prayers.  Please tell us about it.  We also need articles of 200-500 words for the next issue.  Please email editor@marianmantle.com  Meanwhile, please keep praying.  If you would be interested in helping with the newsletter in some way, please let us know by email or phone.  At Marian Mantle we can always use some help somewhere.

PLEASE SHARE YOUR STORY**

--If you are seeing prayers answered, we want to hear about it.**