Are you ever asked to secretly pray for something? It usually goes something like this. "Don't tell anyone but my brother is going in for some tests, please keep him in your prayers" or "I am interviewing for a new job, keep me in your prayers" or what I find to be the best of all "I haven't told anyone yet, but we are having a baby, please pray for us."
This week alone (well in the last 10 days) I was tasked with 5 different secret prayer intentions.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching the Chrism Mass of EWTN. After watching the Chrism Mass I was driving in the car listening to 740 and the priest on the radio was talking about the Chrism Mass. I was half listening to the radio and half listening to my kids so pardon me as I explain what was said.
He (and Pope Francis) both were explaining the significance of the chrism and how each of us as Christians have a responsibility to allow our chrism to "drip from our cloaks". Through Baptism and Confirmation we are called to be evangelists and to spread the Word. To be shepherds. The people around us know that they can ask us to pray for them (even when they can't even share their circumstances with the world) because we allow our cloaks to drip. If we live our lives as Christians and show those around us that they can trust us with their intentions we are fulfilling our roles as shepherds in the Church. Bringing the people in our lives closer to Christ through prayer and example.
My message today is this. Through Saints Helping Saints we are often asked to pray for "special intentions", few of us know the true intentions for which we are praying. I believe that even though these special intentions aren't fully known, they are equally worthy of our prayers and that our prayers for the health, safety and well-being of our SHS community are powerful.
So, I am asking all of you to please pray for the "special intentions" in our community. For the sick, and the suffering. For those secretly celebrating with great anxiety and for those anxiously waiting results and news. Your prayers are felt and appreciated.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Volunteers Needed: Setonsation Parking
Each year we help Seton High School with Setonsation on April 13, 2013 by parking cars at the event's valet parking. Last year we raised over $200 and the year before we raised nearly $400. This money goes to Saints Helping Saints to be used to support our fellow saints in need.
If you are interested in volunteering we can use your help in two different shifts:
First Shift 4:30-7:30 - welcome guests, park cars in garage/front lot and direct guests to the event
Second Shift 7:30-11:30 - thank guests, retrieve car from carage or front lot, collect donations
Susan Zupan Creech is responsible for managing our volunteers for this evening. Please feel free to contact her via facebook or email Saints Helping Saints to commit to volunteering.
You can also buy event raffle tickets here.
If you are interested in volunteering we can use your help in two different shifts:
First Shift 4:30-7:30 - welcome guests, park cars in garage/front lot and direct guests to the event
Second Shift 7:30-11:30 - thank guests, retrieve car from carage or front lot, collect donations
Susan Zupan Creech is responsible for managing our volunteers for this evening. Please feel free to contact her via facebook or email Saints Helping Saints to commit to volunteering.
You can also buy event raffle tickets here.
Send a card to our Mady Mouse
If we could have a favorite Saint it might just be Mady (we really do love all of our Saints but Mady has a special place in our hearts). Mady was one of our two VERY FIRST Saints that we started supporting and we are so proud of how far she has come. Her mom Stephanie Branham Rouse graduated in 2003.
Mady was diagnosed with Leukemia at four months old. She immediately began treatment and after chemo, remission, relapse, chemo, remission, bonemarrow transplant, remission, relapse, chemo and chemo again she finally had the opportunity yesterday to have another bone marrow transplant. This little fighter has spent half of her life in a hospital and we have FAITH that this will be her chance for a cure and the chance at a normal childhood and life.
To show Mady and her family how much love and support we have for her we want to encourage all of you to send make or send her a card telling her to KICK CANCER's @$$. Please send cards to:
To show Mady and her family how much love and support we have for her we want to encourage all of you to send make or send her a card telling her to KICK CANCER's @$$. Please send cards to:
Mady Rouse
Seton High School c/o Jennifer Dunaway
3901Glenway Ave
Cincinnati, Ohio 45205
We will make sure your notes get to Mady and her family.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Pray for Laura Krommer Ostertag 2
This is a follow-up on the prayer requests for Laura Krommer Ostertag. Our hope is that you have been following her CaringBridge Page and some of you were able to pray with her at Our Lady of Victory this evening. Thank you to everyone who prayed with us for Laura today. Please continue to keep Laura and all of our Saints in need in your prayers.
Laura did have her biopsy today and the tumor is still there. She is meeting with the surgeon tomorrow and oncologist on Friday. Laura is in possession of the skull camp of Pope John Paul II and is the process of a saying a novena for his intercession. I personally BELIEVE in intercessionary prayer. Laura is on day 4 of 9. Please consider joining her OR begin your own novena.
Laura did have her biopsy today and the tumor is still there. She is meeting with the surgeon tomorrow and oncologist on Friday. Laura is in possession of the skull camp of Pope John Paul II and is the process of a saying a novena for his intercession. I personally BELIEVE in intercessionary prayer. Laura is on day 4 of 9. Please consider joining her OR begin your own novena.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Bowl for TOMorrow
Saints, please pray for Tom Pragar. Tom is the husband of Mary Welch Pragar '82 and Junior Sami Pragar. He was diagnosed with cancer this past fall and has been undergoing treatment.
Ever since his diagnosis the students at Seton have been praying for him. Each senior is responsible for a senior project and Jordan Schmidt, a friend and teammate of Sami's, decided to do her project as a fundraiser to help ease the burdain of medical bills and expenses related to his treatment and care.
You can help the Pragar family through prayer and participating in Bowl for TOMorrow at Western Bowl on April 7, 2013. The even goes from 1-5 and the cost is $15 (this includes bowling, food, drinks and a t-shirt). You can register by check or cash, checks can be made payable to Seton High School.
We are also collecting gift certificates for their family. If you have any you would like to donate please contact us at saintshelpingsaints@gmail.com.
Find more information here: Bowl for TOMorrow.
Ever since his diagnosis the students at Seton have been praying for him. Each senior is responsible for a senior project and Jordan Schmidt, a friend and teammate of Sami's, decided to do her project as a fundraiser to help ease the burdain of medical bills and expenses related to his treatment and care.
You can help the Pragar family through prayer and participating in Bowl for TOMorrow at Western Bowl on April 7, 2013. The even goes from 1-5 and the cost is $15 (this includes bowling, food, drinks and a t-shirt). You can register by check or cash, checks can be made payable to Seton High School.
We are also collecting gift certificates for their family. If you have any you would like to donate please contact us at saintshelpingsaints@gmail.com.
Find more information here: Bowl for TOMorrow.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Kathy Brennan Mullen '66
Please pray for Kathy Brennan Mullen '66. Kathy suffered a brain aneurysm 3
weeks ago and is in the process of recovering. Kathy has a long road to recovery
ahead of her. Kathy has been moved from ICU and is now on a rehab floor where she will recover and work on repairing her memory loss. Her family is asking for prayers for healing as well as prayers for patience. Please consider not only keeping her in your prayers but also
sending a note of encouragement or a card to her. You can send cards to
Kathy Brennan Mullen
Seton
High School c/o Jennifer Dunaway
3901 Glenway Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45205
We will make sure they get to Kathy's family
to share with her.
Please pray for Laura Krommer Ostertag
Please pray for Laura Krommer Ostertag '84. Laura had been diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon cancer. After clear three month scans her 6 month scans came back with a scary and aggressive lesion on her liver coupled with elevated levels in her blood work. Tuesday she will have a biopsy done which will decide her treatment going forward, including the decision to continue treatment as a Stage 3 or to elevate her condition to Stage 4 Colon cancer.
In support of Laura we would like to ask everyone to pray for Laura on Tuesday. Every hour please say a prayer for Laura. On the even numbered hours please say a prayer directly to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the divine physician for her doctors and her that the lesion is benign and treatable. On the odd numbered hours please pray for the intercession of Mary and Joseph to present our prayers to our Lord by saying a Hail Mary and then a personal prayer to St. Joseph (the patron Saint of the Catholic Church and whose feast day is Tuesday).
After her biopsy comes back, Laura will have a need for additional treatment regardless of the outcome. Please continue to support her through prayer.
In support of Laura we would like to ask everyone to pray for Laura on Tuesday. Every hour please say a prayer for Laura. On the even numbered hours please say a prayer directly to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the divine physician for her doctors and her that the lesion is benign and treatable. On the odd numbered hours please pray for the intercession of Mary and Joseph to present our prayers to our Lord by saying a Hail Mary and then a personal prayer to St. Joseph (the patron Saint of the Catholic Church and whose feast day is Tuesday).
After her biopsy comes back, Laura will have a need for additional treatment regardless of the outcome. Please continue to support her through prayer.
Saints Praying for Saints
This blog post is written with a heavy heart. We have several saints within our community that are in need of prayers and support and we would like to ask you to please pray for each of them. Specifically we have four ways you can support our saints this week and in the coming months.
1. Please keep in your prayers the following saints and their families. Gina Harbison and her son John Paul. JP was just released from the hospital and was diagnosed with the flu. What makes his case particularly difficult and scary is that he has special needs following an accident from when he was 3 years old (9 years ago) resulting in a permanent severe brain injury.
We are also praying for the family of Carrie Vanover the mother of Kathy Vanover Kelsey '01 who was recently diagnosed with cancer and is beginning treatment.
Please continue to pray for Mady Rouse, daughter of Stephanie Branham Rouse '02 who is undergoing chemotherapy in preparation for her bone marrow transplant.
Last, please pray for Melissa Weber '03 and her family who recently lost their father.
2. Please pray for Mary Pragar and her husband Tom. Tom has been undergoing treatment for cancer and they have a daughter at Seton. You can support their family by providing gift cards please e-mail us if you have a gift card we can provide their family. Or consider participating in Bowl for TOMorrow - this is an event put together by a teammate and friend of their daughter.
3. Please pray for Kathy Brennan Mullen '66. Kathy suffered a brain aneurysm 3 weeks ago and is in the process of recovering. Kathy has a long road to recovery ahead of her. Please consider not only keeping her in your prayers but also sending a note of encouragement or a card to her. You can send cards to Seton High School c/o Jennifer Dunaway. We will make sure they get to Kathy's family to share with her.
4. Please pray for Laura Krommer Ostertag '84. Laura had been diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon cancer. After clear three month scans her 6 month scans came back with a scary and aggressive lesion on her liver coupled with elevated levels in her blood work. Tuesday she will have a biopsy done which will decide her treatment going forward, including the decision to continue treatment as a Stage 3 or to elevate her condition to Stage 4 Colon cancer.
In support of Laura we would like to ask everyone to pray for Laura on Tuesday. Every hour please say a prayer for Laura. On the even numbered hours please say a prayer directly to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the divine physician for her doctors and her that the lesion is benign and treatable. On the odd numbered hours please pray for the intercession of Mary and Joseph to present our prayers to our Lord by saying a Hail Mary and then a personal prayer to St. Joseph (the patron Saint of the Catholic Church and whose feast day is Tuesday).
After her biopsy comes back, Laura will have a need for additional treatment regardless of the outcome. Please continue to support her through prayer.
1. Please keep in your prayers the following saints and their families. Gina Harbison and her son John Paul. JP was just released from the hospital and was diagnosed with the flu. What makes his case particularly difficult and scary is that he has special needs following an accident from when he was 3 years old (9 years ago) resulting in a permanent severe brain injury.
We are also praying for the family of Carrie Vanover the mother of Kathy Vanover Kelsey '01 who was recently diagnosed with cancer and is beginning treatment.
Please continue to pray for Mady Rouse, daughter of Stephanie Branham Rouse '02 who is undergoing chemotherapy in preparation for her bone marrow transplant.
Last, please pray for Melissa Weber '03 and her family who recently lost their father.
2. Please pray for Mary Pragar and her husband Tom. Tom has been undergoing treatment for cancer and they have a daughter at Seton. You can support their family by providing gift cards please e-mail us if you have a gift card we can provide their family. Or consider participating in Bowl for TOMorrow - this is an event put together by a teammate and friend of their daughter.
3. Please pray for Kathy Brennan Mullen '66. Kathy suffered a brain aneurysm 3 weeks ago and is in the process of recovering. Kathy has a long road to recovery ahead of her. Please consider not only keeping her in your prayers but also sending a note of encouragement or a card to her. You can send cards to Seton High School c/o Jennifer Dunaway. We will make sure they get to Kathy's family to share with her.
4. Please pray for Laura Krommer Ostertag '84. Laura had been diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon cancer. After clear three month scans her 6 month scans came back with a scary and aggressive lesion on her liver coupled with elevated levels in her blood work. Tuesday she will have a biopsy done which will decide her treatment going forward, including the decision to continue treatment as a Stage 3 or to elevate her condition to Stage 4 Colon cancer.
In support of Laura we would like to ask everyone to pray for Laura on Tuesday. Every hour please say a prayer for Laura. On the even numbered hours please say a prayer directly to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the divine physician for her doctors and her that the lesion is benign and treatable. On the odd numbered hours please pray for the intercession of Mary and Joseph to present our prayers to our Lord by saying a Hail Mary and then a personal prayer to St. Joseph (the patron Saint of the Catholic Church and whose feast day is Tuesday).
After her biopsy comes back, Laura will have a need for additional treatment regardless of the outcome. Please continue to support her through prayer.
Prayers and Praying
I have been wanting to write a post about prayer for a long time but found myself in the midst of an internal battle. One would think I would have prayed on this to come to the right conclusion but rather, God intervened and sent me one reason after the other this week on why I should write this blog post.
From the beginning of Saints Helping Saints we have always held to the fact that we are a faith community first and foremost and all that we do is instilled in prayer. When I talk to people about prayer I 9 out of 10 times hear one of two things. The first is "I don't know how to pray" and the second "I am not very good about praying". I hope through this post to cast away these insecurities and recruit you among our ranks as prayer warriors.
First "I don't know how to pray"- although you may believe this, I don't. You know how to have a conversation and prayer is a conversation with God. God is easy to talk to but sometimes it is hard to start the conversation. My suggestion is to quiet your heart, make yourself aware that you are in the presence of our Lord and begin an honest conversation. Sometimes this is as easy as a prayer of thanksgiving "Thank you Lord for this day, I enjoyed spending time with my family and look forward to another day full of your blessings tomorrow". Other times its not so easy, just like asking anyone earthly for something or trying to understand a disappointment or overcome your own sorrows these conversations are hard. But, know that having these conversations with God are meaningful, effective and become easier with times.
Second "I am not very good about praying"- I think this statement can be taken two different ways. You either feel as if the prayers you offer up are not organized or well said or you are concerned that you aren't taking the time to pray that you would like to or you can't "find" the time to include prayer in your day. Just reading that seems silly doesn't it? I would offer that prayer can take place anytime and anyplace. I find myself often praying while in an elevator, waiting for a page to load, in the shower and while I fall asleep.
The best way, in my opinion, to overcome the thought that "I am not very good about praying" is offer up prayers immediately once you agree to pray for someone. For example: your friend tell you something terrible that has happened to someone you both know and asks you to please keep them in your prayers. Use that time right then to offer up that prayer, you may remember it again later and right when your remember it, offer up that prayer. Not pushing off opportunities to pray to a later time is a great way to keep constant prayer in your life daily.
From the beginning of Saints Helping Saints we have always held to the fact that we are a faith community first and foremost and all that we do is instilled in prayer. When I talk to people about prayer I 9 out of 10 times hear one of two things. The first is "I don't know how to pray" and the second "I am not very good about praying". I hope through this post to cast away these insecurities and recruit you among our ranks as prayer warriors.
First "I don't know how to pray"- although you may believe this, I don't. You know how to have a conversation and prayer is a conversation with God. God is easy to talk to but sometimes it is hard to start the conversation. My suggestion is to quiet your heart, make yourself aware that you are in the presence of our Lord and begin an honest conversation. Sometimes this is as easy as a prayer of thanksgiving "Thank you Lord for this day, I enjoyed spending time with my family and look forward to another day full of your blessings tomorrow". Other times its not so easy, just like asking anyone earthly for something or trying to understand a disappointment or overcome your own sorrows these conversations are hard. But, know that having these conversations with God are meaningful, effective and become easier with times.
Second "I am not very good about praying"- I think this statement can be taken two different ways. You either feel as if the prayers you offer up are not organized or well said or you are concerned that you aren't taking the time to pray that you would like to or you can't "find" the time to include prayer in your day. Just reading that seems silly doesn't it? I would offer that prayer can take place anytime and anyplace. I find myself often praying while in an elevator, waiting for a page to load, in the shower and while I fall asleep.
The best way, in my opinion, to overcome the thought that "I am not very good about praying" is offer up prayers immediately once you agree to pray for someone. For example: your friend tell you something terrible that has happened to someone you both know and asks you to please keep them in your prayers. Use that time right then to offer up that prayer, you may remember it again later and right when your remember it, offer up that prayer. Not pushing off opportunities to pray to a later time is a great way to keep constant prayer in your life daily.
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