I trust we are all listening closely to the Easter season liturgy.  Such hopeful, hope-filled words are in the Scripture readings!  We have several new members with us this today.  We welcome you and thank God you have joined in prayer with the rest of us.

     We were warmly welcomed by the Nativity of Mary rosary society last week.  It was a joy to return there and to share our message with them again.  We saw some old friends and made some new ones, too.  I thank Margaret Hall, their program chair, for all her efforts on our behalf.  Margaret handled the arrangements for our visit this year and last year, also.  The prayer team felt right at home and we all commented that Margaret, with her sincerity and love of people, would make a good president for that group some year.  I know I have her name in my book as someone to call on if we have a need here at MM in the future.

     Today, I am asking for your help, if you can spare a few minutes.  We are preparing a document to present to our new Archbishop to explain the efforts of the Marian Mantle Group to him.  (He and I were on the same speakers list at the Avila conference last year, but I don’t imagine my name stood out to him there.:-)  We will ask for his guidance and his blessing in continuing what was begun under the time of Archbishop Keleher.  This is not something he requested.  But, it is something we feel we should do. 

     The document will contain the why/where/how/who/etc. of the organization.  It will also include statistics, copies of newsletters, and comments from those who are part of this group. 

     I would like to ask each of you, whether or not you belong to the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, to consider sending me a short email with your comments as to the value you find in this online prayer group.  You might also include comments about any of the publications you have obtained from the web site or at a Silent Strength presentation if you have them. 

     I will include all comments—positive or negative that you send in regard to the Marian Mantle Group and its activities.  If you have seen changes which you believe are a result of joining with us in prayer, please include those comments.  One thing I do ask is that you send your contact information (parish, phone # etc.) to be included in case the Archbishop would want to contact you about it. 

     If you would like your comments to be included, please email them by next Friday.  Do not worry about the format.  I will put each email in letter form and print it so it can be included.

     Thank you for your time and for your help in this.

Peace,

I heard about this group from friends I met through a bible study.  I joined [the online prayer group] because I have been concerned about my sister and her husband who fell away from the faith over 30 years ago…I have "planted seeds" [among them and their children and grandchildren] several times over the years and thought this would be another excellent way to tend to those seeds and with God's grace and our  Lady's help, I might see them bloom some day.       ~Kansas

(fondly referred to as God’s phone number)
  Jeremiah 33:3

“Call to me and I will answer.”

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance. In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will. We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

~Romans 8:25-28,31~

A lamp is not lighted by itself, so the human soul does not give light to itself but calls out to God: "You indeed, O Lord, give light to my lamp."      ~St. Augustine

SILENT STRENGTH PRESENTATION

     If you would like help in getting these talks scheduled in your parish, please email  maryann@marianmantle.com  or phone at 913-526-8977.

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 at Holy Cross parish in Overland Park.

Please continue to pray for those who have formed the new prayer group in St. Joseph’s parish 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.**