Catholic priest wins the 2019

May 25-26 2019: 6th Sunday of Easter

Catholic priest wins the 2019 "Best Citizen of India" award Fr. Vineeth George left a secular career to serve God and the Church.

With more than 1.3 billion inhabitants, India is making strides towards overtaking China in the near future as the most populous nation on earth. By way of comparison, the USA has a population of approximately 327 million people—about one third of India’s population, spread over an area roughly three times that of India.

In this sea of souls, the Catholic Church has roughly 17.3 million faithful, less than 2% of the total population. The overwhelming majority Indians are adherents of Hinduism.

Despite this context, it’s not unprecedented that great Catholic apostles receive wide recognition; just think of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. This year, another representative of the Catholic Church is being honored for his dedicated service to people in need there: Fr. Vineeth George.

On April 16, International Publishing House, which specializes in biographical publications, granted the

"Best Citizen of India" award to Fr. George, a 38-year-old Catholic priest.


The member of the Claretian religious community is being recognized specifically for his pastoral work with marginalized people in northern India.

Fr. George was born in Hyderabad, and studied at Loyola Academy, a Jesuit school. In an interview with Asia News, he said,

My vocation is a gift, born during my childhood. I have always thought of having to use the talents that God has given me for the Church.

A graduate of Jain University in Bangalore, he continued his studies at the Matrusri Institute of Post Graduate Studies, and then held a variety of jobs, working at different times for Dell Computer Corporation, General Electric, the Deccan Chronicle (as sub-editor), and the Ministry of Energy of the Indian government.

Despite his excellent career, he was unsatisfied. Faithful to his childhood desire to serve God, he left everything behind, and joined the seminary, being ordained in January 2014. In the Asia News article, he says:

"Thank God, in 2006, even as a seminarian, I was chosen by my superiors to start lecturing Management at St. Claret College. A year after my ordination, I was appointed as vice principal of the same college and I kept that role until December 2018. Since January this year I have been pursu-ing a PhD in Organizational Behavior as a research scholar at the Indian Institute of Technology in Hyderabad, one of the most sought after institutes of higher learning in all of India."

In his service to those in need, Fr. Vineeth has also worked as a professor at a vocational training centre in a remote part of the archdiocese of Delhi. There, his mere presence was a form of evangelization. "The school is located in an area inhabited only by Hindus, where there is no Christian presence," he explains. "The centre welcomes 30 boys and girls who have dropped out of school; the girls pursued sewing and beautician courses; the boys pursued electrician and plumbing courses."

Since his ordination, while working on his doctorate, he has been also been involved in parish work. "My first assignment was in the Garhwa district, in the state of Jharkhand," he told Asia News. "I was the assistant parish priest of the church of St. Peter, in the diocese of Daltonganj. There I was also engaged in teaching English to the tribal children who attend the school adjacent to the parish."

Currently, besides his other activities, he is involved in pastoral activities in the Archdiocese of Hyderabad and in the Diocese of Shamshabad.

Fr. Vineeth George is being publicly recognized, but this award should remind us of the countless priests, religious men and women, and lay missionaries around the world who are giving the best of themselves to help those in need, in many different ways. May their example inspire us all to serve our fellow human beings, especially those most in need, according to our own vocation and opportunities.

 

Aleteia | May 07, 2019
 

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Pope reminds us of Fatima's message: Say the Rosary and repent!

May 18-19 2019: 5th Sunday of Easter

Recalls John Paul II's assertion that his life was protected by Mary's intercession.

Pope Francis concluded the Wednesday general audience with a greeting to the Polish-speaking pilgrims that praised their favourite native son. Pope St. John Paul II.

The Holy Father noted how this week's celebration of Our Lady of Fatima also marked that anniversary of the assassination attempt on John Paul II in St. Peter's Square, on May 13, 1981.

"The day before yesterday we celebrated the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Fatima. May 13 is the day that recalls her first apparition, which coincides with that of the attempt on the life of Saint John Paul II.

Let us remember his affirmation:
'In all that happened, I saw the special maternal protection of Mary.' "Francis said.

Pope Francis added:
Let us also remember the words of the Madonna:

"I have come to warn the faithful to amend their lives and ask for pardon for their sins. They must not offend Our Lord any more, for He is already too grievously offended by the sins of men.
People must say the Rosary and repent of their sins".

Let us listen to his recommendation asking Mary for her maternal protection, the gift of conversion, the spirit of penance and peace for all the world. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us. I bless you from my heart.

Kathleen N. Hattrup | May 16, 2019

Mary’s Holy Rosary In War

May 11-12 2019: 4th Sunday of Easter

His rosary fell out of his pocket. I asked was he a Catholic. The answer was No, but he owed his life to Our Lady and he would keep his promise to carry it always with him and say it every day. I asked for an explanation.

“It was May, 1940,” he said, “and we had joined the Air Force in late September. At Halifax, we were given an intensive training course, because they needed us overseas, and to us young lads, the whole program was exciting.
“We were grouped into squadrons, each of which consisted of six to ten planes, and each was trained to maneuver as a unit. Therefore about thirty to fifty men made up a squadron, along with the squadron leader who gave all the orders and kept the group functioning in unity.
“In May, our squadron was told we were going over-seas and would be in action at once. We would work on nightly missions over enemy territory until the war was over. We were waiting for our new squadron leader, due to arrive in two days on a 9:00 p.m. air-force flight. Being an officer, he would, we thought, go at once to the officers’ quarters.
“We watched the plane, glimpsed him from the distance, and resigned ourselves to waiting until the next day to “size him up.” A couple of hours later, this squadron leader, Stan Fulton, in full uniform, entered our bunk house. ‘Well men, we’re going to spend some dangerous hours together, but let’s hope we all meet back here when it’s over. Ah, there’s a free bunk and I am tired! I’ll meet each of you tomorrow.’
“With that, he threw his bag on an upper bunk. Our squadron leader, an officer, sleeping here with us! We liked him at once and our liking and our admiration grew each day.

“That first night he knelt on the floor and prayed his Rosary in silence. Astounded, we were struck dumb. When he finished, he looked at us with his friendly smile and said, ‘I hope you guys don’t mind a fellow saying some prayers because where we’re going, we’re going to need them.’

“The next day our manoeuvre practice, under his command, assured us that Fulton was not just our military leader, but our friend. He was one of us; he never tried to intimidate us with his rank.

“That night, he repeated his prayer session. Although our group had trained together for six months at least, I had never seen anyone kneel in prayer, and had no idea

that any of our group was Catholic; but the third night three of our companions joined Fulton in saying the Rosary. The rest of us did not understand but we kept a respectful silence.

“A few nights later — we were quick learners — we all answered the Hail Marys and Our Fathers. Fulton looked pleased, and thus we ended each day in prayer.

“On June 1, 1940, we were to leave Halifax to begin a series of night raids from England over Germany. The evening before, Fulton gave each of us a Rosary. ‘We shall be in some tight situations, but then, if you agree, we’ll say the Rosary. If you will promise to keep the Rosary with you always throughout your life and to say it, I can promise you that Our Lady will bring you all back safe to Canada.’

“We answered, ‘Sure thing.’ Little did we dream we would be in action for four years, many times in dreadful danger with fire all around us. At such times, Fulton’s voice would ring through each plane, ‘Hail Mary…’ How reverently and sincerely did we respond! How many hundreds of Rosaries we must have said.

“After two years, it was noted that ours was the only squadron that had not lost a plane nor a single life. We said nothing, but we knew.

“Finally, the terrible war was over. During those years, we lost all sense of excitement and adventure. All that concerned us was survival! We did survive, too. All returned to Canada in 1945, fully convinced that Our Lady had taken care of us.

“So I never forget to keep my Rosary with me and say it every day although I am not a Catholic. When I change my trousers, the first thing I transfer, even before my wallet, is my rosary.

“And where is this squadron leader now?” I asked.

“Stan Fulton? He had some business to settle in England, right after the war. Besides, he had married a beautiful Scottish girl and needed her papers to bring her back to Canada. Just before leaving England, the British Government sent him to Paris on some business. On his flight back to London, a heavy fog came up. He crashed into a cliff and was killed, but I think Our Lady was waiting for him.”

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Meet the nun who found the house where Our Lady lived with John

May 4-5 2019: 3rd Sunday of Easter

One of the holiest shrines in all of Christendom was hidden and unknown for centuries, until it was found in 1891 by a determined French nun. Servant of God Sister Marie de Mandat-Grancey (1837-1915) had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This devotion eventually led her to search for the home of Mary in Ephesus, in modern-day Turkey. Tradition tells us that after the dying Jesus entrusted Mary to the Apostle John, the two settled in Ephesus some time after the Resurrection. They lived in Ephesus for several years, until God assumed Mary into heaven.


The home where they lived was lost to history until Sister Marie worked to find and preserve it.
Marie was raised in a noble family and entered the community of the Daughters of Charity in 1857. Her first assignment was at a French orphanage, where she and six other sisters cared for 55 orphans.
She became head of the Association of the Children of Mary and loved teaching children to be closely united to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. “Be like Mary,” Sister Marie would tell them.
In 1886, she was assigned to a French hospital in Smyrna (now Izmir), Turkey. The hospital was in a deplorable condition, and Sister Marie again used her own family funds to make improvements for the patients and staff, while she lived in poverty.
It was during her time there that she read German mystic Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich’s writings on the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John at Ephesus.
Emmerich’s writings are based on visions she had of Mary’s life, including visions of Mary’s house.
Convinced that this sacred site must be located and honored, Sr. Marie began a mission to find it. She urged two priest friends to read Blessed Anne’s writings, and the three of them determined that the house would have existed just a short distance from where they were all providentially assigned.
The first search expedition to find Mary’s house took place in July 1891. The group, made up of the priests, Sr Marie, and guides, went by donkey and used Blessed Anne’s book of private revelations as their map. On July 29, they believed they had found the house.
Under Sister Marie’s guidance, archaeologists identified the ruins of a 1st-century home, with a church from the 4th century having been built over it.
On Oct. 21, 1891, Sister Marie received permission to purchase the property in her name. She asked her father for the money needed to buy not only the area of the house, but the whole mountain on which the house stands.

The property was purchased on November 15, 1892. She then worked tirelessly to restore the house, making it a place of pilgrimage. Sister Marie remained in this area, caring for Muslims and Christians, until her death.
During restoration, three stones from the hearth, believed to have been built by the apostle, were found. The corner-stone was given to the de Mandat-Grancey family chapel in France in acknowledgement of Sister Marie’s holy life.
Sister Marie lived a life of detachment, virtue, obedience and charity. Her cause of beatification was opened on January 21, 2011.
Pope Leo XIII encouraged visits to the site, declaring it a place of pilgrimage. On Aug. 18, 1961, Pope St. John XXIII granted plenary indulgences upon Mary’s house for all time. Popes Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI each made trips there, and more than one million people visit every year. For Christians and many others around the world, it is a sacred site to visit.
You can do a virtual tour of the house and learn more about Sr. Mary and the sacred area www.SisterMarie.com
“From here in Ephesus, a city blessed by the presence of Mary Most Holy — who we know is loved and venerated also by Muslims — let us lift up to the Lord a special prayer for peace between peoples.” – Pope Benedict XVI, Papal Homily at “Mary’s House” in Ephesus, Turkey, November 29, 2006.
Patty Knap, Aleteia | Apr 24, 2017