Word of Life Catholic Charismatic Renewal Center

June/July 2014

“Go into the world and tell the Good News to all creation.” Mark 16:15

Are you a prophet? By Jack Heintzel

Don’t say “no” too quickly. another for prophecy. You might According to The Word Among Us Because if you are baptized in the be the one used for speaking a (May 2002), from that moment on, Holy Spirit then you have the prophetic word. they were new persons, full of Charismatic gift of prophecy. It How might the Holy Spirit use courage, fearlessly preaching may be latent – never used – but you? When I was baptized in the Jesus. Only love can achieve that. that gift is available to you because Spirit I was prompted by God to St. Paul wrote in Romans 5:5 that it is part of the “package” of gifts begin a study of these gifts, “God has poured out His love into that God gave you. As a refresher, particularly prophecy, because He our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reread the list of blessings known was beginning to use me in this whom He has given us.” as the Charismatic gifts in 1 gift. He began to put thoughts in So I urge you to pray seriously Corinthians 12:4-11. my head that I felt He wanted me about how God might use you in In a meditation from The Word to share. I knew I had all the gifts His love. Maybe it will be the gift Among Us for Lent 2014, we are in my possession, including a of prophecy. If you get a message given an interesting explanation of prayer language, but prophecy was that seems to apply to others – the gift of prophecy. The author the gift I was drawn to. I am not individually or in a group - take a says this: “It has become common strong in all the gifts, but I know chance and share it with them. to think of a prophet as a person that God might use me for any of Take a step of faith. It’s a learning who can foretell the future. But them at any time He chooses. I process, but God will guide you as really, a prophet is someone who have to be ready. you walk with Him. hears from the Lord and shares On June 8, 2014 we will ______what he has heard with the people celebrate the feast of Pentecost. around him.” When Jesus poured out His Holy St. Paul, in his instructions to the Spirit on His disciples they Corinthians, listed nine gifts that received what we now call the each believer receives when he or Charismatic gifts. This included she is baptized in the Holy Spirit. the gift of prophecy, as well as a These spiritual gifts are prayer language, discernment of momentary (given for a particular spirits, word of wisdom and other moment) and are given for the gifts that enhance our Christian common good (of the church). ministry. God wants us to use God uses these gifts as He sees fit, these gifts for the good of the Body distributed among His people as of Christ. With the outpouring of needed. At a given time He may the Holy Spirit on the first use one person for healing, another Christian Pentecost the apostles Pentecost: June 8, 2014 for word of knowledge, and experienced something powerful. Centering in ● Prayer brunch in June  Summer finances By Liz Geary This is just a reminder of the I would like to take this time to prayer brunch scheduled for thank all of the Center’s faithful  June & July combined Saturday, June 21st. Please contributors for their tireless Reflections editor Jack seriously consider attending. efforts and financial Heintzel and I have decided to Our speaker, Susan Yurkewicz, contributions that keep the try something new this year with has a very powerful testimony. Center running. That being said, our combined issues of the Jim Dzuricky will be providing I need to remind everyone that newsletter. For 2014 we are music ministry and leading with the onset of summer, the going to try combining the June praise and worship. Please look Center traditionally sees a drop- and July editions into one for more details and a off in financial contributions. edition. In the past, there was a registration form on page 7 of Because of this, I humbly ask separate June edition but the July this edition of Reflections. You that you please remember to and August editions were always will notice that the brunch fee send in your pledges and gifts to combined. Our decision to has increased to $8.50 to keep the Center even though you may change was made to give the pace with the costs associated be busy or traveling over the Center a better ability to with putting on the brunch. summer months. Your advertise our fall events. You Those involved in planning the contributions are vital to keeping will still get eleven issues of brunches do everything possible the ministry of the Word of Life Reflections, they will just be to keep costs to a minimum, but Center running. We cannot do mailed out a little differently from time to time it is necessary this work without you. Please than what you have been to increase fees to keep pace use the enclosed envelope to accustomed to. After this issue, with costs. I thank you in send in your financial look for the next issue (August) advance for your understanding contributions, words of to arrive the first week of as changes are made to keep the encouragement, and prayers. August. Thank you so much for Center and all of the Center They are much appreciated. your understanding as we try to sponsored events financially May God bless you richly for all find better ways to serve you and solvent. Reservations are kindly that you do for the Center. our Lord. due by June 16th.  Pentecost Sunday  LSS at Albion prison  Day of Renewal A time to celebrate! This is Please pray for an outpouring I have great news! Speaker just a reminder that Pentecost of the Holy Spirit on both the Renée Marazon has graciously Sunday is on June 8th. Please team and those being baptized in accepted an invitation to speak remember to wear red and the Spirit during the Life in the on Saturday, September 6th at St. celebrate the fire of the Holy Spirit Seminar scheduled for Joe’s/BOL for a Day of Renewal Spirit! Plan a celebration and Saturday, June 28th at the Albion sponsored by the Center! Many mark a very special day on the Men’s Correctional Facility. of you will remember Renée as Church calendar! Many thanks to the team for all the dynamic speaker for many of of their efforts and especially to the Charismatic women’s  Happy Father’s Day Dan Zuba for all of his time and retreats sponsored by the Center. I would like to wish a very talents in organizing the day- Please look for further details on happy Father’s day to all the long seminar. page 5 in this edition of Dads on Sunday, June 15th. Reflections. I do hope that you Thank you for answering the seriously consider attending. special call to Fatherhood. May God bless you!

2

Susan’s journey home She began experiencing actual A new old way to pray By Kathy Wilcox hunger pangs which food did not An ancient Jewish form of satisfy. Then certain words from prayer, still in use today, involves I recently connected with an old the Mass started playing in her sprinkling one’s day with short friend, who over 30 years ago led mind: “When we eat this Bread prayers of gratitude to God. The me to Christ and prayed with me and drink this Cup, we proclaim prayer typically begins: “Blessed for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Your Death, O Lord, until You are you, O Lord our God, king of We recently visited after not come again.” These words from the universe, who …” and seeing each other for over 15 her previous life as a Catholic concludes with a phrase that fits years and spent an afternoon would not stop coming to her. the specific situation. Such a catching up. She shared the The moment came when she prayer works well in both good following amazing chapter of her needed to act. Sunday morning, circumstances and bad. For life. instead of driving to her example: When the priest scandal flamed Presbyterian church, she headed • “Blessed are you, O Lord our into the news over 12 years ago, to our Catholic parish. But the God, king of the universe, who Susan Kirby was upset and so Mass times had changed, and has provided clean water for my distressed that she decided to when she saw from the sign she shower this morning.” leave the Catholic Church. She was there at the wrong time she • “Blessed are you , O Lord … found a home in a small continued to drive. She found who brings friends to support me Presbyterian church. There she herself at the parking lot of the in my grief.” found others who loved the Lord, Catholic Church where she had • “Blessed are you, O Lord … faithfully read and memorized been baptized, had received her who has blessed me with keen scripture, and worshiped Him First Communion, and had been mind; please help me focus while reverently. confirmed. The lot was empty but I take this test.” Susan quickly became a she parked her car and • “Blessed are you, O Lord … participating member of the approached the door to see if it who holds my children in congregation and was drawn to was unlocked. She walked in and unconditional love.” the communion service. After the immediately felt a peace that Try using this form of prayer congregation left, her group confirmed her decision. As she liberally as a way to “pray without gathered the remnants of the slowly walked up to the front of ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) celebration. She was then the church, an elderly woman and to weave your faith instructed to pour the grape juice turned and walked toward her. It throughout each day. (the wine substitute) down the was a lifelong friend of her ______drain and toss the remaining bread deceased mother, and when she out in the yard for the birds. came to Susan she gathered her in Sometimes a prayer Sue shared with me that she her arms, simply saying request is in order became increasingly upset with “welcome home.” this practice and finally expressed Sue ended her story by telling A parent was having difficulty her discomfort with the others. me that she now attends daily keeping his five-year-old son They gently dismissed her Mass and just can’t get enough of quiet during worship. Finally, concerns, and it became a Jesus in the Eucharist. She when he saw that he wasn’t common theme to smilingly chide understands that it was He who succeeding, he picked up the little “Susie” for being overly sensitive. called her back to the church of lad and hurried toward the door. Years went by, and yet Sue’s her childhood. There she could As they neared the exit, the boy uneasiness could not be put aside, not only hear His Word, and yelled loudly: “Pray for me!” even though she realized that praise and worship Him; she – King Duncan these people really loved Jesus could also receive His In Amusing Grace and did not believe that they were consecrated Body and Blood. doing anything wrong.

3

Healing Mass Memorials Our Lady of Peace 2401 W. 38th St. 7:30PM Wednesday June 4; July 2, 2014 In memory of Requested by

Contemporary Mass Claudia Rush Jean & Jack Heintzel St. Joseph Church Audry Dietz Carol Mando Bread of Life Community 11:00AM every Sunday Contributions have been made for the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Children's Liturgy of the Word Prayers will be offered for the comfort and support of the families. 1. I Perpetual Adoration n Bread of Life Chapel St. Joseph Community Center m e Chaplet of Mercy m Every day at 3:00pm in Bread of Life The greater part of our happiness or misery Chapel o depends on our disposition and not on r St. Joseph Novena our circumstances. y St. Joseph Church Bread of Life Community – Martha Washington o Every Wednesday 7:00PM f

All Scripture quotes in this newsletter are from the New International Version unless noted otherwise R e q u PRAYER GROUPS e

s † Sunday † Thursday: Wildfire Prayer t Shalom in Jesus Prayer Group River of Life PG 2nd & 4th Monday evenings Meeting e In home 6:30PM nd 2 Tuesday of month 4:30PM d Rick Kenawell (814) 375-0328 7:00PM St. Bridget Ch., Rm. 4, Meadville, PA 5031 W. Ridge Rd.. DuBois, PA S.S.J. Living Center June 1,8,15,22,29; July 6,13,20,27 Amy Mosbacher (814) 724-6104 b June 9,23; July 14,28 Sr. Gerry Olon 836-4165 July 8 No mtg. in June y Acts II Community † Tuesday: St. Julia Church 6:30 PM St. Joseph Church Bread of Life M West 8th & Powell Ave. Son of God Prayer Group Holy Rosary Church Prayer Meeting 7:00PM a Jack Heintzel 838-1325 th 2701 East Ave. 7:00PM 139 W. 24 St. – Upstairs in Center x June 1,8,15,22,29; July 6,13,20,27 Regi Connoly (814) 866-0505 Pat Montefiori 823-3968 i June 3,l0,17,24; July 1,8,15,22,29 June 5,12,19,26; July 3,10,17,24,31 † Monday: (Call first) n Disciples of the Holy Spirit e St. Mary's Church Annex 6:00PM Chosen Prayer Group St. Boniface PG 139 Church St., St. Marys, PA St. Theresa Church, 7615 Wattsburg Rd. 7:00PM A Mary Ellen Frank (814) 781-3904 Shinglehouse, PA 10AM - 12Noon John Griebel 825-3588 June 2,9,16,23,30; July 7,14,21,28 Mary Kuhn (814) 697-7519 June 5,12,19,26; July 3,10,17,24.31 . June 3,10,17,24; July 1,8,15,22,29 Leopold Center S th 1017 West 8 St. † Wednesday: † Friday: c Mary Lou Peterson 866-5678 St. Mark’s Prayer Group Light of the World Community h Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Rosary St. Mark Church 7:00PM In Home Prayer Meeting – Call for At 3:00PM (before Mass) Religious Education Center Location 7:30PM l June 2,9,16,23,30; July 7,14,21,28 Emporium, PA Bob Zimmer 868-5344 o (Except major holidays) June 4,11,18,25; July 2,9,16,23,30 June 6,13,20,27; July 4,11,18,25 s s 4 e r

Center to host Day of Renewal Praise the Lord! Now and America’s powerful document By Liz Geary forever! By Jane Guenther One of the few remaining copies You are invited to save the date of the Declaration of of Saturday, September 6th, 2014 Pope Francis, in his January 28 Independence was put on display on your calendars. The Word of homily, shared on the importance last October in Phoenix. A reporter Life Renewal Center is hosting a of freely praising God in our for The Arizona Republic asked 11 Day of Renewal from 8:30 AM prayer, and warned against an citizens why the document was until 4:30 PM at St. Joseph attitude which can be judgmental still relevant today. Here is a Church/Bread of Life Community of others who do not follow certain summary of their comments: Center, and we are inviting “formalities.” He said, “You’re “It is like a Bible that has been in everyone to attend. The featured able to shout when your team the family for speaker, Renée Marazon from the scores a goal, and you are not able generations.” Diocese of Toledo and former to sing praises to the Lord? To “It is one of Charismatic women’s retreat come out of our shell ever so the world’s speaker for many years, will be slightly to sing (his praise)? He most precious giving three talks on the title, gave a compelling homily documents.” “Fully Catholic, Fully highlighting that it is not difficult “It is a living Charismatic.” Bart Foradora and to pray in thanksgiving or in breathing document with basic friends will be leading praise and petition, but when it comes to values underlying it.” worship during the day and prayer of praise we leave it “aside “It began with some rabble- leading a PraiseFest to cap off the – it does not come to us so easily.” rousers who believed we should be day. Prayer teams will be He reminds us, “Prayer of praise is free, that we should be able to available during the day to pray for a Christian prayer, for all of us.” choose our own destiny.” your intentions and/or for healing. Practice makes perfect. Since “The document is very much Please join me at St. Joseph we aspire for heaven, where we alive. It’s organic. It is not archival Church/Bread of Life Community join the angels and saints in material. It’s real.” Center for this Spirit-filled day. praising the Lord, we should join “I think the overwhelming You will also be welcome to have in more fervent prayer praising the message of the declaration is that your confession heard at St. Joseph Lord now. it’s okay to disagree with the Church starting at 4:00 PM and to Adapted from Pentecost Today, government.” celebrate mass at the church at Vol. 39, Number 1, Spring 2014. A pastor, Dr. William H. Stewart 5:15 PM. ______Sr., of the First Institutional The registration fee will be $20 Baptist Church, summarized the per person and a free-will offering general consensus with these will be taken to benefit the words: “It is one of the greatest ministry of the Word of Life documents that has ever been Renewal Center. Those attending written about people seeking are invited to a “brown bag” lunch freedom from an oppressive with the Center providing drinks. power.” A registration form will be While political and personal available in the August edition of freedoms are not the equivalent of Reflections. spiritual freedom in Christ, they are blessings that should be available to all. Jesus, after all, identified himself as one coming to “proclaim release to the

Independence Day, July 4, 2014 captives” (Luke 4:18).

5

Is God calling you to prison ministry? The Word of Life Center is entering into a process in order to help potential volunteers discern if they are called to help in prison ministry, either in Albion with men and/or in Cambridge Springs with women. This ministry is in an active growth stage. If you have ever felt or are feeling called to this work, we would encourage you to please fill out the following discernment tool and forward it to the Center using the envelope enclosed in this edition of Reflections. As always, if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact the Center directly. Please try to have this paperwork to the office no later than June 30th. Thank you in advance for answering God’s call and considering to work in the vineyard of this vital ministry. If you have answered “yes” in the form below, additional discernment paperwork will be sent to you to aid in this process. Once that discernment paperwork is received, you will be contacted by one of the prison ministry coordinators in order to continue the discernment process by scheduling a face to face conversation. May God bless you.

------

(Cut on dotted line and return bottom portion)

______NAME PHONE NUMBER

______MAILING ADDRESS

______E-MAIL ADDRESS

______I am not called at this time, but please accept this donation to assist with the costs of prison ministry.

______I am interested in further pursuing volunteering with the prison ministry of Word of Life. Please send me discernment paperwork by way of ______mail (or) ______e-mail*.

* Choosing e-mail saves the Center on postage costs. Please choose this method if possible.

______I am interested in prison ministry; please accept this donation to assist with the costs of this ministry.

6

Prayer Brunch

SPONSORED BY WORD OF LIFE CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL CENTER Held at St. Joseph Bread of Life Community Center 147 West 24th Street, Erie PA DATE: 6/21/14 ON 9:30—NO Susan Yurkewicz lives with her husband Stephen and their seven children in Erie, PA. Though she’s up to her eyebrows in laundry, school art projects, dishes and sports schedules, she has managed to carve out time to write her first book and do that which she passionately • Fellowship believes in: encouraging others to utilize and share their God- • Brunch given talents. Susan’s blog, HarborlilyCreative.com, is • Praise & where she shares her maternal wisdom and “keeps it Worship Susan Yurkewicz real” as she lives out her own life and mission. • Talk Susan has recently written a book titled: “Triumph: A Story of Finding • Prayer for Hope in a Love That Knows No Bounds” (Foreword by Fr. Larry Richards). personal needs It’s a personal story which offers a universal and powerful message of hope. The Yurkewicz family was expecting their seventh child in 2008 when their Brunch fee: $8.50 son was diagnosed with a chromosomal defect – Trisomy 18 – a condition Must accompany doctors told us was “incompatible with life.“ Susan shares the journey reservation. through that pregnancy, joy-filled birth, and the heart-wrenching farewell to their son a mere 48 hours after birth. Their incredible journey not only A free will offering will impacted their family, but profoundly touched their community as well. Su- be taken. san will share this powerful story of hope and healing during this presenta- tion. You won’t want to miss this powerful testimony so get your reserva- tions in early.

Please keep top portion for future reference Prayer Brunch Registration Saturday, June 21, 2014 $8.50 ______Deadline for registration is June 16, 2014

Name ______

Address ______

City/State/Zip ______Phone No. ______

Make checks payable to Word of Life Center and send to: Word of Life Renewal Center, 429 E. Grandview Blvd., Erie, PA 16504 DIOCESE OF ERIE Non-Profit Organization WORD OF LIFE U.S Postage PAID Catholic Charismatic Renewal Center Erie, PA Permit No. 285 429 East Grandview Blvd. Erie, PA 16504

Reflections is published monthly by: Word of Life Catholic Charismatic Renewal Center 429 E. Grandview Blvd. Erie PA 16504 (814) 824-1286 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.wordoflifeccrc.org

Office hours: M-W-F. 8am – 2:30pm

The purpose of this newsletter is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to provide teaching, news and calendar of events, which help to foster Catholic charismatic renewal throughout the diocese of Erie. Editor : Jack Heintzel Writers: Liz Geary, Kathy Wilcox, Agnes Helsley, Amy Mosbacher Typist: Carol Mando

Volume XXVIII Issue No. 6/7 June/July 2014