Jesus in the streets of New York!/Ask, Seek, Knock - the Holy Spirit and Rain! - +JMJ+

John's 3 yesterday sharing a chair.  I love that all 3 are thumb suckers as I had my 4 girls all joining that club.  It sure makes for easy babies as they have their pacifier right there with them all the time.  Just for the record - we did not need to do braces for any of them!  

A wonderful gift for grandma!  All 3 happy and peaceful!  

Dad had to do a bit of shopping so we had a fun time playing shop owner.  Jude had many items including some of Birdie's socks that we put on Lucy.

Birdie came out to welcome grandma up the fun painted steps with pumkins.

Ruth and Paul did a big job - raking and baling 900+ corn stalk bales over these last few days after the corn was combined.  Showing their unity and attitude of thanksgiving for doing the jobs together - Ruth raking and Paul baling.  

2023 pose - today we are getting rain, so the men are working in the shop.

2022 - a year ago it looks more sunny and warm.

With Tom a year ago as he was a month away from being one on November 19th.

After the last bale was made - we tried to recreate last year with Tom, but he lost his smile for some reason. Still cute by grandma's standards!  

Many attempts, but the fingers were more tasty than a smile.

2023 when Tom is close to 2 years old in 5 weeks.  

We watched the last bale roll out of the baler, and Tom cheered!  

On their sidewalk - proud of their school just a half a block away.  Dad works there with an after school program, Jude is in preschool, and Birdie is in a faith group for 3 year olds. 

A memory from El Paso 11 years ago - Patrick 3 days old in NICU and improving every day.  Much like our Tom since his accident - today he had pool therapy at PT and loved it!  

On Tuesday evening hundreds joined in a Eucharistic Procession in New York City!  I will use an article about it - led by Fr Mike Schmitz!

PHOTOS: Eucharistic procession passes through the heart of New York City | Catholic News Agency  

By Jonah McKeown

CNA Staff, Oct 11, 2023 / 13:35 pm

A procession bringing Jesus in the Eucharist through the heart of the largest city in the U.S. attracted hundreds of participants on Tuesday evening.  

Participants marched reverently as the Body of Christ, housed in a golden monstrance, was carried aloft through the busy streets of Manhattan, passing right in front of the storied Radio City Music Hall as some bystanders looked on with interest and others dropped to their knees. 

The public procession, sponsored by the Catholic leadership organization Napa Institute, was part of the group’s 2023 Principled Entrepreneurship Conference, held Oct. 10-11 at The Metropolitan Club in New York. 

Father Mike Schmitz, a priest of the Diocese of Duluth and a popular Catholic speaker and podcaster, celebrated Mass before the start of the procession at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of New York. He was joined by dozens of priests from around the country as well as Bishop Edmund Whalen, auxiliary bishop of New York. 

“We have hearts that are a mess. And we need Jesus,” Schmitz said during the Mass, addressing the crowd of hundreds in the cathedral. 

“We don’t have the kinds of hearts that can love him the way he deserves … every one of us is a sinner, and we need Jesus to rescue us.”

Reflecting on the Mass reading from the Book of Jonah, Schmitz boiled down God’s message to the reluctant and rebellious prophet: “Go to the people that I love and bring me with you.” 

The priest admitted that he “felt like Jonah” when he was asked to celebrate the Mass before the procession. Schmitz said he sometimes is wary of the idea of processing the Eucharist outside in public spaces, where many onlookers may react with misunderstanding, indifference, or even hatred. 

“I don’t want to ‘ambush’ them with the Lord,” Schmitz admitted. “Most people will not have any idea what we’re doing.”

But, upon further reflection, he said, “I think it’s what we need to do.” He said he is reminded of Jesus carrying his cross during his passion — at the time, Jesus was “unnoticed, misunderstood, or hated” by almost everyone who saw him. 

Schmitz said the Eucharistic procession is an opportunity to glorify Jesus in a “hidden” form that most observers will not understand. And, perhaps, “someone will look up, glance over, and see the friends of Jesus and ask, ‘Who is that?’”

“Let this procession be your choice to say ‘God, I want you to recognize me in your glory. So I’m going to cling to you when you’re hidden … I want to be known as your friend when you come in triumph. So let me be your friend now,’” Schmitz said. 

The solemn procession, with Whalen carrying the monstrance, began immediately after Mass. 

Photos captured by Jeffrey Bruno show the monstrance being carried through the busy streets with dozens of priests, nuns, and laypeople following. Some observers on the side of the road dropped to their knees in reverence as the procession passed by.

Glorious Eucharistic procession today in Manhattan. This is the kind of healing our broken world needs. It was the most moving thing I’ve ever experienced as a Christian. There was no hostility on the streets from bystanders. Just the opposite. People stopped and watched with respect and reverence. The Holy Spirit is alive and well. Jim Hale

All reactions:

3Angela Cross, Mary Carstensen and 1 other

Fr. Mike Schmitz led a Eucharistic Procession with approximately 5,000 participants on the streets of New York City on Tues., Oct. 10, 2023. Attendees "were moved to tears" and said the procession "was one of the most moving experiences of their faith thus far."

Catholic News Agency 

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Participants marched reverently as the Body of Christ, housed in a golden monstrance, was carried aloft through the busy streets of Manhattan, passing right in front of the storied Radio City Music Hall as some bystanders looked on with interest and others dropped to their knees. https://bit.ly/3rNSSha

Bishop Edmund Whalen, auxiliary of New York, holds aloft the Blessed Sacrament during Benediction immediately preceding a Eucharistic procession through the streets of the city Oct. 10, 2023. Credit: Jeffrey Bruno

Tom and I took grandpa lunch yesterday as the gold flowed into the grain bin with the help of the auger. Pat was smiling about Tommy - "He was so cute on Sunday when he wanted to shake everyone's hand at the sign of peace!" Our greatest JOY is sharing our Faith as a family!

Grateful that we have a decent crop even with another summer of drought. Today we are getting some much needed rain, and work in the shop.

LOVE to watch his every move!

Corn chaff - red snow!

A memory with Pat's mom about 7 years ago when she was on hospice in her own home.

Another memory of Therese and Patrick with Berna and Josephine 7 years ago.

LOVE this lesson from St Mother Teresa of Calcutta on how we share The Truth about Mary and Jesus with those that don't understand Mary - "no Mary, no Jesus. No mother, no son..."

Dad's man, Brother Victor...

Dad today in Morning Prayer - learning a great prayer. He was so good about memorizing special prayers to use on his journey of Permanent Deacon in the Catholic Church for 44 years!

Come to Jesus through Mary! Ask, seek and Knock we are reminded in the Gospel today!

"And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What father among you would hand his son a snake
when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit
to those who ask him?"  Luke 11 

Turn away from sin and embrace the Gospel!

Lord, praying for peace in Israel!

How did it ever come to the point where a mother can choose to take the life of her innocent child in her womb? Lord and Lady protect all life from conception to natural death!

Ask, Seek, Knock - Mary intercede for us! May I die to self so that I may serve without counting the cost. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah

A young Massgoer prays at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City before a Eucharistic procession through the streets Oct. 10, 2023. Credit: Jeffrey Bruno

How I pray that we are raising lights for this world of sin and darkness!  Open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS is our motto we live by in our domestic Church/family.  Bless-bless, Barb and the 33 plus many Little sisters and Little Brothers.

Danielle Rose