The Newsletter

July - August - September 2016 I Volume 05 No. 21 of the Betania Foundation

A Word From the President of the Betania Foundation, Mr. Geo Bianchini Giani The 12th anniversary of the passing of the Servant of God Maria Esperanza was held on August 7, 2016. We are always with you, Maria Esperanza. You are always in our minds and in our hearts, we love you infinitely. Many people joined us that day, because they remember you because of all the graces you scattered here on earth. Right now you must be enjoying the kingdom of God. This is what we all dream of. It is the dream I always have in mind, to reach that kingdom. Lord, may I be worthy! Let me pay for all my sins! May I be yours forever, Lord, so one day I may accompany you for all eternity! This is the true dream that every Christian, who has understood the meaning of his life, has. Thank you, Maria Esperanza for your love, for being with us in our suffering, our pain. We are with you. Bless us.

The Betania Choir in the The 12th anniversary of the Solemnity of St. Charbel passing of the Servant of God Maria Esperanza

21 st APPARITION April 9, 1989 The Betania Choir with Msgr. Abad Agustin Saab in the Monastery of Saint Charbel Holy Mass in the Chapel of the Eastern Cemetery, in Caracas, 2:00 p.m. The Solemnity of St. Charbel, the Patron Saint of Lebanon, was celebrated on Sunday, July 17, 2016 at the Monastery of Saint Charbel The 12th anniversary of the passing of Excerpt of a Message of Our of Caracas, organized by Msgr. Abad Agustin Saab. Holy Mass was the Servant of God Maria Esperanza Lady Given to Mrs. Maria presided over by His Excellency Msgr. Aldo Giordano, the Apostolic Medrano Bianchini was celebrated Nuncio in Venezuela, accompanied by Cardinal Jorge Urosa Sabino, with Holy Mass on August 7, 2016 at Esperanza Bianchini the Bishop of the Armenian , Maronite monks and other 11:30 a.m. Bishop Georges Kahhale, priests. Melkite Greek Catholic Exarch, was Little children, I am here among The Betania Choir had the honor to be part of the ceremony, while the principal celebrant of the Mass you once again, calling you to singing during the Solemnity of the saint. Before concluding Mass, and concelebrating were Father be optimistic, constructive, with commemorative pins of St. Charbel were given to ecclesiastical and Timothy Byerley, the Vice-Postulator the new hope of the apostles of civil authorities, as well as to the director and members of the Betania of the cause of beatification and this motherly Heart, in order to Choir. The Betania Choir closed the celebration with the official World canonization of the Servant of God Youth Day Anthem, 2016 Krakow: Blessed Are the Merciful. Maria Esperanza, and other priests. be builders, prodigious ones as Bishop Kahhale highlighted the work time elapses, and to overcome left by the Servant of God Maria yourselves [...]. Ascend, my The Feast Day of the Parish of El Hatillo Esperanza and encouraged the children, full of contentment like small innocent children, thinking Was Held With Great Joy audience to “live the joy of knowing Jesus better, and, in his name, work that to live in the Lord is to be The feast day of St. Rosalia of was celebrated on Sunday, for his love among men.” After the eternally joyful! September 4, 2016 with a beautiful Mass, presided over by Cardinal Eucharist, the president of the Betania Jorge Urosa Savino in the Church of El Hatillo, Miranda State. This date Foundation, Mr. Geo Bianchini said: was propitious to welcome the new pastor of the community, Father “We have been called to evangelize. Angel Rios. Cardinal Urosa also recalled another reason to celebrate: What does this mean? It means we the canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta that had taken place that need to transmit the divine love that Sunday morning in St. Peter’s Basilica, in Rome, Italy. “With great joy we join ourselves to the happiness of the universal Church of seeing this is constantly forming us to the heart of extraordinary woman of the twentieth century brought to the glory of the all the souls we meet; the love of the altars, [...] a woman who stood out with a wonderful and extraordinary Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” work of serving the poorest [...]. Mother Teresa of Calcutta gives us a wonderful example of charity,” noted the highest hierarch of the Church of Venezuela. MRS. BIANCHINI

Words of the Vice-Postulator Reflections of the Servant of God Maria Esperanza Bianchini Dear Friends of Betania, Just a few words today on the virtue of balance. Mrs. Maria Esperanza Bianchini’s Speech at Our Lady Of This was one of the distinctive features of Maria Martyrs Shrine, Auriesville, New York, USA, Esperanza’s life. Even though she was living the Sunday, May 7, 1995 heights of mystical union with Christ, she was a wife, mother and grandmother who behaved in the most natural manner. She was always joyful, fun to be with, possessed a contagious laugh, and was “totally normal” in the sense that It is so beautiful to go to heaven, to have she completed the routines of marriage and a little place there to see Jesus! And feel motherhood in the classical way. Religion was that all those who have stayed on earth are not something that made her “weird”, but rather reviving that little piece of heaven also to be gave her a natural and spontaneous spirit that spread peace and harmony to comforted and soothed in their grief, in their those around her. Maria Esperanza taught us that our Catholic religion, when pain, and sorrows in a world that is asking lived deeply and authentically, enables us to reach the highest nobility of our for mercy. Jesus is giving it to us… his open human nature. The Holy Spirit infuses us with supernatural life that heals the Heart. wounds of our fallen nature and enables us to become the unique individuals The Heart of Jesus appeared to Saint God created us to be. Through divine grace we arrive at the fullness of our God- Margaret Mary Alacoque in times of great given personalities. Dysfunction, disorder, duplicity and extremes are replaced calamity and hardship for the People of with equilibrium, moderation, peace and joy. Thus the sincere Christian manifests God. And now, I would say, in these times an exquisite balance of personality that reflects the integrity of “the new man in Blessed Faustina with his Divine Mercy, Jesus Christ”, as St. Paul describes it. May we always pray and strive for this mercy on mankind, mercy on man, mercy quality that we witnessed in the Servant of God Maria Esperanza. on the innocent child, mercy on all the Many blessings, elderly stooped by age. Yes, on us the Fr. Tim Byerley elderly, by the way, receptive to the love, Vice-Postulator and unlimited trust in the mercy of the Lord. PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus, have mercy MARIA ESPERANZA on us and on the whole world. This is so beautiful!

Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Thee I trust, my beloved One. I believe in your love of mankind.

Spiritual Maxims of the Servant of God Maria Esperanza Bianchini

God Our Lord is mercy for his children. He does not want us to perish. He does not want us to suffer. He only wants our well-being; and we have to expect all sorts of goods. Good comes from heaven, the good of the love of God, the good from Jesus Merciful Father, You blessed Maria Esperanza with an abundance who, with his Blood shed on the Cross, came to purify us, cleanse us, make us of spiritual gifts for the consolation of your people. She served You better in life. aswife, mother, and missionary to promote the unity of the family and the reconciliation of all peoples. You enabled her to be the We must learn how to wait, trusting in divine providence, in the mercy of God and central figure in the manifestations of the Virgin Mary, under the especially trusting that our actions are all dedicated to the Lord and his Mother. title of Reconciler of all Peoples and Nations, in Betania. Grant us With this, the world can be saved; the world will be saved. the grace to follow her example of humility, hope, and unconditional love. Through the intercession of your servant, Maria Esperanza, we Let us start a new life. This is a new year [1999], the year of forgiveness and mercy, the year of goodness, the year of humility and justice, the year of the desire of pray for the healing and reconciliation of our families, and for the cooperating with our brothers in any possible way: with a word, a glance, a small fraternal unity of the entire human family. Especially, we beseech You detail. to grant us the favors we now request (mention your intentions here) through the merits and prayers of your servant. Likewise, we humbly Chronological Data on Maria Esperanza implore that she be inscribed in the Church’s catalogue of saints, as a universal model of the beatitudes.We pray all this according to •On March 21, 1976 Our Lady announced to Mrs. Bianchini that on March 25th of your holy will, cherished by your servant until the end, through Jesus that year she would make herself visible. Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen. •On March 25, 1976, in Finca Betania, on the day of the feast of the Annunciation, With the ecclesiastical approval of Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski of the Blessed Virgin appeared to Mrs. Bianchini as “Mary Reconciler of All Peoples Metuchen, New Jersey, December 4, 2009 and Nations”.

For more information or to report a miracle go to: www. • In August of 1976 all the Bianchini family returned to Venezuela from Italy, mariaesperanza.org and/or www.betania.org.ve because Mrs. Bianchini was told that the Blessed Virgin would have another apparition.

02 www.betania.org.ve / www.mariaesperanza.org COMMUNITIES OF BETANIA AND THE CHURCH

Betania V, Delray Beach, Fl., USA The Wonderful 31st World Youth Day

Members of Betania V in the Cannon family’s home On September 25, 2016 the Bianchini-Hernandez family and myself had the honor to

participate in the meeting of Betania V, in Delray Beach, at the residence of the Cannon- Pope Francis in the 31st World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland. Photo: Henriod family, since we were in the country on vacation. Like us, the seminarian Jose L`Osservatore Romano Gregorio Arrieta, of Betania Venezuela, was also looking forward to sharing with the The 31st World Youth Day was held from July 27 to 31, 2016 in community of Betania V. Krakow, Poland. Pope Francis made an apostolic journey to Poland The meeting began at 5:00 p.m. with the rosary. Members of Betania V and new visitors to share this celebration of faith that had the motto “Blessed are the attended. The Cannon family then introduced us all and asked us to share our experience merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Mt 5:7). with my grandmother Maria Esperanza Bianchini. During the Mass held in the Campus Misericordiae in Krakow, Pope I addressed the young ones, inviting them to give space in their lives to God and to be Francis said that “we can say that World Youth Day begins today natural, as my grandmother loved the ease of participating in everything except in sin. I and continues tomorrow, in your homes, since that is where Jesus mentioned that to be close to God does not mean you have to live your life praying and wants to meet you from now on. The Lord doesn’t want to remain refraining yourself from going to parties, the movies or other events, but rather being of in this beautiful city, or in cherished memories alone. He wants to enter your homes, to dwell in your daily lives: in your studies, your God meant enjoying the things of the world evaluating if those things pleased God and first years of work, your friendships and affections, your hopes and did not offend him. dreams. How greatly he desires that you bring all this to him in Members of Betania V raised questions related to God, of how to be balanced with prayer! How much he hopes that, in all the “contacts” and “chats” spiritual things, of why some people suffer so much, and of why the world is in such of each day, pride of place be given to the golden thread of prayer! chaos. My parents answered these questions, and they spoke of the message of peace How much he wants his word to be able to speak to you day after day, so that you can make his Gospel your own, so that it can serve and reconciliation for the new world of love that my grandmother spoke of where joy will as a compass for you on the highways of life!” * reign, thanks to our heavenly Father. The beautiful meeting ended with a snack in which we had the privilege of meeting * Francis. (2016). Homily 07-31-2016. Vatican City. Taken from: https:// everyone personally and of sharing more deeply with them. w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2016/documents/papa- Maria R. Bianchini francesco_20160731_omelia-polonia-gmg.html

AGENDA

Concerts Pilgrimages East Cemetery Chapel, La Guairita Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 9, 2016; group of consecrated of the Andes Institute of August 7, 2016; 11:30 a.m. Lomas de La Lagunita Caracas Holy Mass on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of July 16, 2016; 5:30 p.m. the passing of the Servant of God Maria Esperanza Holy Mass on the occasion of the feast of August 27, 2016; Father Fernando Correa and group of Los Medrano Bianchini Our Lady of Mount Carmel Teques; Sister Aracelis of the Missionaries Servants of the Word and group of the Parish of Cartanal, Valles del Tuy Saint Rosalia of Palermo Church, El Hatillo Saint Charbel Church, Quebrada Honda September 4, 2016; 5:00 p.m. July 17, 2016; 12:00 p.m. September 3, 2016; group of the parish of the Assumption of Holy Mass on the occasion of the celebration of Saint Solemn Mass on the occasion of the feast of Mary, Cartanal, Valles del Tuy Rosalia of Palermo Saint Charbel Cathedral of Caracas Church Saint Anne, La Lagunita September 11, 2016; 10:00 a.m. July 26, 2016; 6:30 p.m. Holy Mass on the occasion of the feast of Our Lady Holy Mass on the occasion of the of Coromoto celebration of Saint Anne and Saint Joaquin Sanctuary of Betania Church Saint Anne, La Lagunita September 17, 2016; 11:30 a.m. August 6, 2016; 1:00 p.m. Holy Mass on the occasion of “The Diocesan Holy Mass Catechists Pilgrimage “

www.betania.org.ve / www.mariaesperanza.org 03 AGENDA

Events Betania XVIII, Dallas, TX, USA August 21, 2016 Meeting of Betania XVIII with the Bianchini-Hernandez family and celebration of the 21st KJON Guadalupe Radio AM 850, Dallas TX, USA anniversary of priesthood of its spiritual director, Father Antonio Liberman July 11, 2016 Interview with Pio Luigi Bianchini, as representative of Betania XVIII Betania X, Our Lady of Peace, Williamstown, NJ, USA August 21, 2016 Residence La Estancia del Senor Mass and meeting of seminarians with the Marrero-Bianchini and the Schultz-Marrero families July 25 -29, 2016 40 hours of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Betania III, St. Mary of the Pines, Manahawkin, NJ August 28, 2016 Mass and meeting of Betania III with the Marrero-Bianchini and the Schultz-Marrero families Residence La Estancia del Senor July 31, 2016; 4:30 p.m. Betania X, Our Lady of Peace, Williamstown, NJ, USA Meeting of the Betania Foundation chaired by Mr. Geo Bianchini September 1, 2016 Meeting of Betania X with the Marrero-Bianchini and the Schultz-Marrero families East Cemetery, La Guairita August 7, 2016 Betania V, Delray Beach, FL, USA Rosary, Holy Mass and words at the tomb of the Servant of God Maria Esperanza September 25, 2016 Medrano Bianchini on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of her passing Meeting of Betania V with the Bianchini-Hernandez family

Betania XI, Collegium Center, Haddon Heights, NJ, USA August 18, 2016 Meeting of Betania XI with the Marrero-Bianchini and the Schultz-Marrero families

PETITIONS

Petitions of the Communities Urgent intentions: Let us pray for the necessities of our Holy Church and of the world, and Betania I: Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity of Mother Therese of Calcutta in Petare, especially for our brothers and sisters who have the following requests: Sisters of Father Machado, Brother Gabriel, Arteaga family, Gebran family, Maria In Thanksgiving: Viso, Machado family, Dereck Toro, Dalida,Cacciabaudo family, Meaury family, Jesus Alvarado, Ruben Fuenmayor, Karim family, Fontes family, Pilar, Souto family, Coco Drija family, Fuenmayor family, Norma Varone and Carias family. Urrutia, Erika Guevara, Nena Gutierrez, Aranza Mesia, Gina Chawa, Katherine Chebly, For the health of: Berdasco family and Bexsy. Betania VI: Rodrigo. Betania XVI: Ania and Debbie Pryor. Betania I: Bishop Georges Kahhale, Father Juan Carlos Silva, Sister Mayra, Sister Betania XVII: Yamila Perez. Salome, Mathias Soler, Blanca Capiello, Christian Strathause, Jose Almarza, Abraham Special Intentions: Rondon, Agustin Gabante, Yohana Gonzalez, Beatriz Granados, Fiorela, Nelson ·For the entire Church, Pope Francis, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, all the bishops, Somoe, Oscar Vera, Iginio Morales, Jose Gregorio, Augusto, Ana Souto, Melani Merks, priests and religious that form part of our Betania family, especially those who work for Francisco Brito, Charlis, Yeritza Baffi, Hilda Duran, Tibisay Alzuarge, Jasmin Capiello, the Cause of Maria Esperanza. Alexandra Cardenas, Alejandro Cardenas, Pedro Rodriguez, Mery Souto, Raul Ram, ·For the religious who are persecuted, for those who have doubts. Miren Urrutia, Jorge Gaviria, Spitia family, Enrique Perez, Rojas family, Fredy Gomez, ·For Pope Francis in his mission to the 8th World Meeting of Families. Abband Drija, Nadia Zoppi, Miguel Delgado, Maria Alzuarge, Mary Delgado, Maria ·For an end to the persecution of Catholics in Iraq and Syria. Gebran, German Yoll, Avelina Colmenares, Luis Peinado, Clemencia, Maria Cruz, Maria ·For the Cause of Beatification of Maria Esperanza and for Father Timothy Byerley who Luciani, Ana Paparoni, Shirley, Preciosa, Maurin Macías, Gloria Santiago, Beatriz, gives it impulse. Daniella Fossi, Josefina Cabrera, Ana Carolina, Jose Rojas, Francesco, Mauro Burgos, ·For all the Communities of Betania around the world. Elba Bedetti, Gabriela, Kilian Tovar and Enrique Lloves. Betania V: Cecilia. Betania VI: ·For priestly and religious vocations. Jazmin, Jorge, Guido, Luz, Lucia, Gregorio, Mabel, Susie, Enrique, Gonzalo, Salvador, ·For the rulers of all the countries of the world, and for those who have political and Juan Cruz, Blas, Connie, Augusto, Silvia and Jeronimo Bello. Betania VII: Juan Pablo economic power, so they may all have the well-being of the nations at heart. and Fatime. Betania X: Chip Jorganson, Lorex Jorganson, Fred Mahoney and Mary ·For peace, love, and reconciliation in Venezuela. Giblin. Betania XIII: Tom Bedalian. Betania XVIII: Alfonzo Callejas. ·For peace in the Middle East and the whole world. For the cancer patients: For the victims of the terrorist attacks in France, Turkey, Iraq, Belgium, Lebanon, and Betania I: Maria Galvez, Keyla Tineo, Fernando Perez, Jesus Garcia, Mumir Yebaile, ·Syria. Jonas, Rosalia Barberi, Ydma Vanessa, Rosarito, Claudia Montisci and Maria Lopez. ·For families, for couples that are going through a crisis, so the Blessed Virgin and Saint Betania VI: Pucky and Gregorio. Betania VII: Ricky, Juan Roffo and Claudia Haro. Joseph may lead them through the path of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Betania X: Deacon Joseph Izzo. Betania XVI: Cynthia Benson. Betania XVIII: Nate ·For the Bianchini family and for Mr. Bianchini, so the Holy Spirit may always guide his Johnson. steps, and God may grant him grace, health and strength to continue working for God and the Blessed Virgin. Petitions for the deceased: Betania I: Rafael Espina, Daniella Esperanza, Alex Stazewich, Gladys Henriquez, Vicente Mancera, Mr. Leal, Nidia Delgado, Gabriel Caraballo, Roi Ledo, Vicente Father of Goodness, listen to our prayer and grant unto your servants, who trust in You, the gift of your grace to embrace your love in unity, and reach Pacheco, Carlos Padron, Eduardo Perez, Margot, Maurizio Busnardo, Miren Urrutia, with your mercy, after this life, the eternal kingdom, through Jesus Christ, Our Blanca Chacon, Gladys D’Armas, Veronica Figueroa, Josefina Cabrera, Tomás Carpio Lord. Amen. and Victoria Coto. Betania VI: Sergio and Agustin. Betania VII: Jorge. Betania IX: Oscar Estrada and Lucia Fernandez. Betania XIII: Anthony Ciuffo.

Informative Table Acknowledgments to: Fr. Timothy Byerley Edition: The Bianchini Family and the Betania Foundation Additional information: www.betania.org.ve and/or Design: The Betania Foundation www.mariaesperanza.org Photography: The Bianchini Family and the Betania Foundation Suggestions and/or comments: [email protected] Research: The Bianchini Family and the Betania Foundation

04 www.betania.org.ve / www.mariaesperanza.org