20Th Anniversary (2000-2020)
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A Newsletter for Radio Maria20th USA Anniversary (2000-2020) Volume 13 Number 12 Radio Maria USA December 2020 Dear Radio Maria family, It is with great joy that I introduce myself to you as prayers. He has given us His very spirit, the Holy Spirit Radio Maria USA’s new National Priest Director. My to dwell within us, to guide, lead and enlighten us. And name is Fr. Daniel Reehil and I am a Catholic priest He also gave us his perfect mother, Mary. She is now from the Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee. I am so our mother too. excited to serve Jesus and Mary in this new way with Radio Maria! And let us not forget that He is coming back! We have so many reasons to rejoice and sing His praises. As we approach the Advent and Christmas sea- sons with great gratitude for all the gifts, graces and blessings of 2020, I want to personally “There is cause for rejoicing here. You may for a thank all of you for your wonderful and generous sup- time have to suffer the distress of many trials; port of Radio Maria USA. The whole Radio Maria team but this is so that your faith, which is more pre assistance in helping us to spread the message of the gold, may by its genuineness lead to praise, glory, gospel throughout America on Radio Maria. and honor when Jesus Christ appears. Continued on next page When we consider the miracle of Christmas, our hearts are humbled at how God entered into creation as a tiny, vulnerable baby, hidden within a stable in Bethlehem. And for two thousand years Jesus remains small, hidden and vulnerable under the appearance of bread and wine in the Most Holy Eucharist! We, like thank Him, and to praise Him. Christmas is always a time of tremendous hope! For it is the time of year to remember how God’s plan came into being with the Fiat of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Annunciation. How all of creation awaited those beautiful words from her lips, “let it be done to me according to Thy Word”. 2020 has been a challenging year for many people, and all have been affected in ways we could not have imagined. Despite everything, there is AL- WAYS hope because the Truth of the gospel has not changed. Jesus came into the world to rescue us. He died for our sins and to restore us to God the Father. He has not left us orphans. He ascended into heaven where He continues to hear and answer our Welcome our new national priest director, Fr. Dan Reehil Radio Maria would at 9 a.m. CT/10 a.m. ET. experienced and it was in like to welcome our new Join him each day to hear Boston that his formation national priest director, him speak about the tools to priesthood began. Father Daniel “Dan” Ree- He studied philoso- hil, from the Diocese of evil in the country today. phy and theology at Holy Nashville, Tenn. Father Dan was born Apostles Seminary but Fr. Dan replaces in Mineola, NY in 1965, to left before completing his Fr. John Fletcher, who parents Dan and Gladys. studies to become a con- served as interim priest He is the oldest of four templative hermit in Oma- director from June to Au- children. His father was gust 2020. a NYC Fire Chief and his was formed in the radi- “I am very excited mother was a court re- cal life of the Evangeli- about the opportunity to porter after the children cal Counsels of poverty, serve Radio Maria as were in school. Fr. Dan Reehil chastity and obedience. the national priest direc- After graduating from were planted when the He then went back to tor,” said Fr. Dan. “I look the University of Dayton, priest who heard his 20- forward to the challenge he worked in global trade year confession told him studies. ahead of me.” that he believed he had Near the end of his As national priest di- for American Express and a vocation to the priest- studies, he was invited to rector, Fr. Reehil will over- Citicorp for 10 years, and hood. Nashville by the bishop to see the spiritual needs then 3 years as the sales - come and see Middle TN. of the listeners through director of a corporate ing on the emptiness of Both Dan and the bishop programming, will spear- his life and praying for agreed Nashville would head all fundraising and In 1998, Fr. Ree- God to lead him. After be his new home. development activities hil made a pilgrimage September 11, 2001 he He was ordained on and communication ef- to Medjugorje. This was left NYC and moved to July 26, 2014. He was as- forts, and will assist with a life-altering trip upon Boston with a priest who signed to St. Edward Par- all other aspects of the ra- which he experienced a invited him to come and ish as the Parochial Vicar dio station. miraculous conversion see the life of diocesan and later pastor. He is Effective Dec. 1, he after being away from the priesthood. The priest, currently the pastor of St. will begin presenting a church for 20 years. This Fr. Tom DiLorenzo, was Catherine of Siena Parish weekly program “Battle is where the seeds of his the greatest priestly role in Columbia, TN. Ready,” Tuesday-Friday, vocation to the priesthood model Fr. Reehil has ever Fr. Dan’s Letter From page 1 Although you have never seen him, you love donation to support Radio Maria USA, go online at him, and without seeing you now believe in him, radiomaria.us. and click on “donate.” and rejoice with inexpressible joy touched with As a special gift to all of you, I will be celebrating a glory because you are achieving faith’s goal, your Novena of Masses for all your intentions from Decem- salvation”. His peace, hope and joy this Christmas! Christmas is also the season of light, the Light of the world! We Christians are called to illuminate our families, cities, nations, and all the whole world. May the light of Jesus shine through us to illumine His way, His Truth and His light to others. Rev. Daniel J. Reehil Won’t you please consider giving to Radio Ma- National Priest Director ria this Christmas so we can continue our mission Radio Maria USA of bringing the Light of Christ to others? To make a 10 things you may not know about Advent 2020 Season of Advent starts Sunday, November 29 The season of Advent Christ enters our dark developed in the Church world and casts away the over time. Here are 10 darkness of sin to redeem facts that you may not Blessing the Wreath Prayer us. He will come again as know about the roots and Lord our God, the light of the world. he is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples, 8. Advent has two parts. 1. Advent is a time he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us, of expectation and he is the Savior of every nation. Sunday of Advent until preparation for the birth Lord God, Dec. 16 is preparation of the Lord. The word let your blessing come upon us for the second coming “Advent” derives from the as we light the candles of this wreath. of Christ. The second Latin word “adventus,” May the wreath and its light portion from Dec. 17 to which means “coming,” be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salva- 24 directly prepares us and is associated with the tion. for the commemoration of May he come quickly and not delay. four weeks of preparation We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. for Christmas. Christmas. 2. Advent has a changing 9. The origins of Advent start date, but it always can be traced back to the contains four Sundays. Church in France. In the It starts on the Sunday 4th Century, the Church closest to the feast of St. in France used the period Andrew the Apostle (Nov. before Epiphany as a 30). It can begin as early time of preparation for as Nov. 27th or as late as baptism. It was called “St. Dec. 3. Martin’s Lent” for the 40 days that started on Nov. 3. Advent marks the will return again. It blends Christ entered the world. 11, the feast of St. Martin beginning of the liturgical together a penitential We are hopeful for the of Tours. year. Advent was chosen spirit, very similar to arrival of Christ again into to begin the year as Lent, a liturgical theme the world. 10. Advent as we know representative of the time of preparation for the today was developed in in history that Christ was Second and Final Coming 6. Advent is a reminder Rome. Pope Gregory I in not known to us. With His of the Lord, called the of the Old Testament the late 6th or early 7th birth the beginning of our Parousia, and a joyful promises of the coming of Century composed many faith was founded. The theme of getting ready for the Messiah. The Advent of the prayers, antiphons liturgical year ends with the Bethlehem event. The tradition of the Jesse Tree and psalm responses. the feast of Christ the traditional color of Advent consists of symbols of the Many themes and ideas King, His reign over the is purple or violet, which Messiah coming from the we now know can be universe.