Chinese Ministry p.24 | Saint ALIVE p.28 | Lifelong Inspiration p.38 SPRING 2020 | 1 Saintly Visitors The Miraculous Medal Shrine is a home for all the faithful, who are each “called to be saints” in his or her own lifetime. However, over the decades, the Shrine has also been home to some individuals who, after their deaths and a long process of investigation, have been give formal, ecclesial recognition as saints—or are on the official “path” to sainthood. Philadelphia-native St. Katherine Drexel (1858-1955) was born a wealthy heiress, yet she gave herself and her inheritance to God by founding the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, which provided services to Native Americans and African Americans. St. Katherine also founded St. Catherine of Sienna Parish in Germantown and asked the Vincentians to serve there as pastors and parochial vicars. (The parish has since merged with St. Vincent de Paul Parish.) By the time of her death, St. Katherine’s ministries had more than 500 sisters teaching in 63 schools throughout the country and 50 missions for Native Americans in 16 different states. She was canonized on October 1, 2000, by Pope John Paul II. By all accounts, St. Katherine Drexel and students from her school were regular attendees of the Monday Perpetual Novena at the Shrine. She would sit in the third- pew nearest the main shrine to Our Lady. Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979) was an American archbishop known for preaching on his Emmy Award® winning television show, Life is Worth Living, which reached an audience of millions. Venerated in 2 | MIRACULOUS MEDAL MESSAGE HONORED GUEST SPEAKER AT SHRINE Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was a welcome visitor to the Shrine (pictured second from left). Along with Archbishop Sheen are (left to right): Bishop John Graham; Archbishop Sheehan; Fr. Robert Cawley, CM, CAMM Director; Bishop Edward Hughes; and Fr. John Nugent, CM, Eastern Province Provincial. 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis recently approved a miracle attributed to Archbishop Sheen, making possible the American television catechist’s beatification at a yet-unannounced date. Archbishop Sheen was a friend to the Vincentians of the Eastern Province, even having a Vincentian priest, Fr. Vincent Nugent, CM, as his secretary. While it is uncertain just how many times Archbishop Sheen visited the Shrine, we do know that he delivered the homily at the Shrine for the 1976 Feast Day Mass of the Solemn Novena. Likewise, the Venerable Fr. Michael J. McGivney (1852–1890) founder of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic, fraternal men’s organization, has been reported to have visited the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at St. Vincent’s Seminary before it became the Shrine. Even more interesting, it is reported that Fr. McGivney formed the idea of the Knights of Columbus during two years of his seminary training at the College and Seminary of Our Lady of Angels, which became Niagara University, a Vincentian Institution. Like Archbishop Sheen, Fr. McGivney also had a Germantown-based Vincentian as his secretary. Two well-known Germantown-based Vincentians, Fr. Thomas Judge, CM, and Fr. William Slattery, CM, whose causes for sainthood are being considered, have a natural connection to the Shrine. Fr. Judge (1868-1933) was an early promoter of layperson leadership in the Church, and Fr. Slattery (1895-1982) was the first American to serve as Superior General for the Congregation of the Mission and the Daughters of Photo courtesy of Ducournau Archives Charity. SPRING 2020 | 3 MESSAGES Dear Devotees of Mary Immaculate, Dear Miraculous Medal Family, May Mary, our mother, be our constant The world is having an extraordinary companion! moment. The Miraculous Medal Message is a This edition of our magazine, The Every nation has been impacted by the publication of the Office of Marketing Miraculous Medal Message, focused on the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Countless and Communications of the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal. many faces of Mary found in the shrines devotees from across the globe have reached within the Shrine Church (page 14). out to us to share stories about how the Telephone: 215.848.1010 The Blessed Virgin Mary has made herself virus has impacted their families, friends, Email: [email protected] and her universal care and love present in co-workers, and communities. Our online Website: MiraculousMedal.org many devotions throughout our world. All the prayer community from around the world has Editor: Trish Shea nations of the world have been touched by her asked that we pray with them to our Blessed maternal care. Mother for guidance and grace during these Contributors: We have many of those manifestations unsettling times. Danielle Ferrari; Mary Peterson; Christopher Grosso; Trish Shea represented throughout the Shrine and look We have been asked to pray with them to forward to the imminent addition of the Our Lady of Guadalupe, Vailankanni, Fiat, Cover Image: shrine of Our Lady, Queen of Ireland, to our Fatima, Lourdes, and Knock, along with Our Collage of artwork from grounds. Lady of the Globe—the Miraculous Medal. The Miraculous Medal Shrine Art Museum Being at the Shrine every day, I am blessed Every culture prays to Mary in their own way, to see the many faces of devotees who come to but regardless of the cultural nuances, we all Archival Photos: pray and place their needs in Mary’s hands. agree that we are praying for the intercession Courtesy of Ducournau Archives Some of our visitors express their reverence of the Mother of Our Savior, Jesus Christ. by removing their shoes, others by bringing At the request of the various communities fresh flowers, and even more by lighting in our Shrine family, we are honored to share candles at the various shrines. the many faces of Mary. In the coming pages, The Blessed Virgin Mary truly is mother you will learn more about these shrines. SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK to all peoples and all nations. Mary, Our During this time of uncertainty, we invite To provide feedback or send a letter Mother, intercedes for each of us, whatever you to pray with us to Our Lady each Monday to the editor, email communications@ the language of our prayer. as we livestream the 9:00 a.m. (EST) Mass and cammonline.org. Novena. Join us daily as the Vincentian Priests Yours in Mary Immaculate, lead us in prayers for Mary's protection. Fr. Michael Carroll, CM Lastly, whatever trials, fears, and Director, The Miraculous Medal Shrine uncertainties come your way, never forget the Spiritual Director, message and promise Jesus and Mary gave to READ MORE ONLINE Follow the web references for Central Association of the Miraculous Medal St. Catherine Labouré: additional stories, videos, and “…Those who wear the medal will receive photos. Visit the magazine website at great graces, especially if they wear it around MiraculousMedal.org/Message. OTHER SHRINE NEWS SOURCES the neck. Those who repeat this prayer with devotion will be, in a special manner, under the GET SOCIAL The Shrine's Facebook, protection of the Mother of God. Graces will Instagram, and Twitter be abundantly bestowed upon those who have platforms carry the most confidence. Oh Mary, conceived without sin, JOIN THE CONVERSATION up-to-date prayers, news, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” We invite you to share your thoughts, events posts, and Marian stories, and photos from The reflections. Yours in our Blessed Mother, Miraculous Medal Shrine and the Mary Jo Timlin-Hoag Eastern Province ministries. Contact GET ONLINE Chief Executive Officer [email protected] or follow us The Shrine has a new Central Association of the Miraculous Medal on social media. look to its website. Enjoy more Marian-focused Mary’s Miraculous Medal Family information, news, and @Miraculousmedal devotional interaction. MarysMiraculousMedal GET UPDATES @MiracMedlShrine Receive our monthly newsletter, InSPIRE, by Postmaster: Send address changes to: Office of Marketing and Communications, signing up at Central Association of the Miraculous Medal miraculousmedal.org/ 475 E. Chelten Ave., Phila., PA 19144 request-newsletter 4 | MIRACULOUS MEDAL MESSAGE Keep hope ALIVE Features CANDLE OF HOPE The Vincentian Priests placed a blessed candle at the foot of the Altar of Mary at the Shrine. 14 20 MANY FACES OF MARY VINCENTIAN PANAMA It is often said that God’s ways CAMM staff member, Danielle are mysterious. We could say Ferrari, travelled to Panama the same thing about Mary. to document the Vincentian missions there. 24 32 The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted CHINA & MARY PRIESTLY PUPS every society, challenging people of faith One Vincentian's mission to These canine confreres have throughout the world to adapt creatively China established devotion to become part of the fabric of the during a time of confusion and uncertainty. It Mary and her Medal. Eastern Province family. is a time when we instinctively seek comfort and support from one another. As a Catholic organization, The Miraculous Medal Shrine, offers spiritual support through our prayer request phone line and webpage, daily prayers by our Vincentian priests, and our virtual prayer family-all of us asking our Blessed Departments Mother to intercede for her children. The Shrine’s flexibility is evidence of something we have always known to be true: NEWS & EVENTS The significance of the Shrine itself is in its The Miraculous Medal Shrine and the Eastern Province are community of the faithful, who the pray the 6 vibrant with activities, events, and news. Novena with us. Throughout this outbreak, we have been encouraged by the prevalence of PEOPLE virtual opportunities for prayer, offering our People are the Shrine's and Vincentian community’s greatest Novena online and crafting weekly emails with assets.