M ore than 115,000souls pass from lifeto death each day.

Many do not know Jesus andmost cannot get to the taberna-cle, let alone receive HolyCommunion. By praying theDivine Mercy Chaplet beforethe Throne of Mercy in thepresence of the Most BlessedSacrament for all those that aredying, we “are bringingmankind” (one dying soul at atime) “closer to” Jesus (Diary,929). Saint Faustina had a greatlove for the dying, and “GODAND SOULS” was her motto.

Like Faustina, our ministry’sgoal is to help save souls. We areplanning to launch a new pro-gram this year, a program ofparishioners praying for theirfellow dying parishioners.

To date, the practice of praying at the bedside for thesick and dying has occurredmore on an individual basis, andhas not been organized in a sys-tematic parish-wide programuntil now.

The basis of this program isthe new booklet At the Bedside ofthe Dying: A Guide for Parish Ministry, Family, and Friendsthat I wrote with Kathy Wabick, a layperson from Buffalo,New York. By mixing Divine Mercy spirituality with practical guidance, we seek to inform, encourage, andinspire you to take up this great work of mercy. We hopeyou find this a handy introduction to the grace-filledapostolate of praying for (and with) the sick and dying.

The idea to pray at the bedside and at one’s home for the sick and dying in a more organized way came to KathyWabick as she was praying for her dying mother in 1999.Because of this experience, she started a ministry calledDisciples of Divine Mercy in the Holy Face of JesusTM, a layassociation of the faithful. I have had the opportunity to

work with Kathy and her min-istry for more than 15 years.

Those participating in thisministry of prayer are involved inone of two ways: actually going to the bedside and praying thechaplet for the sick and dying, orpraying for the dying whereverthey may be when called to pray.

During Lent, the new manualwill be available for members toread and discuss with their parishpriest. It is recommended thatmembers read the manual individ-ually and as a group watch Cenacleof The Divine Mercy: EWTNProgram Series I.This will givebasic formation in the message and devotion of Divine Mercy and help members as they pray forthe dying and assist family mem-bers prepare for the death of theirloved one. Call 1-800-462-7426to get the new manual (ProductCode: PMBK) or the EWTNProgram Series 1 DVD (CGDVD)and additional Compa nionGuides (CGER). If you have any questions about this pro-gram, please contact Kathy atTreasuresofGraceLLC.com or 716-662-6025.

EADM apostolate membershave been praying for the sick and dying in a coordinated effortsince January 1998, when the first Adoration Chapel for the sickand dying opened at St. Agnes Parish in Chicago Heights,Illinois. There, people in Eucharistic Adoration pray the DivineMercy Chaplet hourly for the sick and for all those dying in thathour. In 1999, Pope John Paul II imparted a special apostolicblessing to all those praying the chaplet for the sick and dyingduring Eucharistic Adoration, as well as to those dying in thathour. Currently, there are more than 700 chapels or churchesthat have Eucharistic Adoration where adorers pray the DivineMercy Chaplet for the sick and the dying. To obtain a copy ofthese apostolic blessings, please contact the EADM office at1-877-380-0727 or email us at EADM@marian.org.

RAYS OF MERCIFUL LOVEwww.thedivinemercy.org

“ Mercy is

Lov

e that se

eks t

o les

sen the mise

ry of o

thers”

Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy Newsletter Spring 2015

Bryan Thatcher, MD, has written At the Bedside ofthe Dying: A Guide for Parish Ministry, Family,and Friends to help parishes develop an organizedprogram for praying for the dying.

At the bedside of the dying:A new parish program

By Bryan Thatcher, MD

2

C E N A C L E S ’ U P D A T E

St. Mark the Evangelist is a large parish with more than 60 min-istries. Every Divine Mercy Sunday, we sing the Divine Mercy Chapletafter all the Masses. This past year was our 10th year together. We pur-chased a large Divine Mercy image and had it framed and hung high in our Christopher Hall Building. All entering the building are greetedby Jesus, the Divine Mercy! An image already hangs in the narthex ofour main sanctuary, the youth group gym, and the cenacle classroom.Deacon Steve Marques blessed our latest image.

The Divine Mercy Novena is something very special that we bringto our community with the delighted approval of Monsignor KevinRyan. Each year, more parishioners join us.

We are very active in the parish, furnishing Divine Mercy pam-phlets, information on Our Lady of Guadalupe, How to Pray theRosary, How to Make a Good Confession, and more to our parish min-istries, our Adoration Chapel, the A.C.T.S. retreat, our youth groups,our jail ministry, and all those requesting them.

It is hard to believe we started our cenacle 10 years ago using theEADM Cenacle Formation Manual. This has given us a strong foun-dation. We went through all three manuals four times. Now we havemoved on to Fr. Michael Gaitley’s 33 Days to Morning Glory.

Our cenacle is most proud of having supported six other cenacles withtheir start-up process and helped them become spiritually successful.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXASJeri Minyon wrote and told us:

We began during Lent almostthree years ago, and we meet onMonday nights. One night last year,Belinda, one of our faithful mem-bers, arrived at our Divine Mercygroup looking upset. She shared thatshe was pregnant. She was scared

This Divine Mercy group in Cuba was excited to receive a DivineMercy image and learn about God’s mercy.

KATY, TEXASKathryn Wohnoutka wrote

and told us:

because she was 42 years old and had three other children. She atleast hoped it would be a boy, as she had two girls and one boy. Theboy, Jonathan, at 3, is a handful. He’s all boy and full of energy.

Belinda said if the new baby was a boy, his name would beSamuel. We all prayed for her and the baby. A few weeks later, shearrived looking sad. The ultrasound showed that the baby was a girl.We were all thrilled and suggested she name the baby Faustina. Butshe already had a Christina and thought the names were too similar.

Each week we teased her about naming the baby Faustina. I startedcrocheting her a red and white blanket. Then, she came in and said theyhad decided on a name — Samantha Faustina. We were all thrilled!

A few weeks later, Belinda told us that she had called the churchto arrange for the baby’s baptism. The next day available for a groupbaptism was Sunday, April 27, which was Divine Mercy Sunday. Weall felt a movement of the Holy Spirit.

Then Belinda missed a meeting. We closed the cenacle meeting asusual with our prayer of petition for her to have an easy delivery andfor the health of the baby. As we were leaving, her husband,Kirkwood, walked in. Baby Faustina had been born at 8 p.m., and hehad rushed over from the hospital to show us the first pictures.

Her baptism on Divine Mercy Sunday was joyful. She is an angel— sweet disposition and beautiful with black ringlets. She is such aspecial child. She attends all our cenacle meetings with her mom,wrapped up in her red and white prayer blanket. We are so blessed!

CUBACoki Gonzalez, an American of Cuban descent,

shared this with us:

The EADM cenacle in San Antonio, Texas, which has been together10 years, recently purchased a large Divine Mercy image.

Baby Faustina

I am sending you a photo taken from a Divine Mercy group inCuba. The people were excited to receive a Divine Mercy Image. Thecommunity was very happy to learn more about the mercy of Godand to receive graces from the image. They’re poor and very simplepeople. They live a life filled with joy, in spite of their hardships.Please pray for all the images to be framed and spread across thecountry. Blessings to all!

3

DIVINE MERCY FLOOD MY SOUL

Father Leszek Czelusniak, MIC, joins Annie Karto on the Divine Mercy Chaplet and other songs as well as readings from St. Faustina’s Diary. Includes both a spoken and a sung version of the Divine Mercy Chaplet. CD: EV8-DMFMS $14.95

THE CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY IN SONG

This contemporary rendition of The Chaplet ofDivine Mercy in Song seeks to bring togetherChristians of every denomination to implore God’smercy for families and the world. If you loved theoriginal, get this second edition that calls on ourLord’s mercy, leading you to an even more powerfuland prayerful experience! CD: EV8-DMSCD2 $14.95

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More suppliesshipped toPhilippines in container

A shipping container of medical supplies and religious items was loadedin early January and is on its way toManila, Philippines.

The recipient and coordinator of the distribution of the contents is Sr.Marilena Narvaez, a nun in Manila who works with the poor and is doingtremendous work there. She is also thesister of Dario Narvaez, who, alongwith his wife, Purisima, is a long-stand-ing devotee and supporter of DivineMercy in the Los Angeles area.

“I am excited to send another con-tainer of valuable medical supplies andreligious items to the Philippines,” saidBryan Thatcher, founder of theEucharistic Apostles of The DivineMercy. “We are all brothers and sisters,as Mary is our Mother; it gives me greatjoy. I hope the items will help the peo-ple there who suffer because of poverty.”

OVERSHADOW ME

Songs praising God’sgoodness in voice andstring that call upon theHoly Spirit to renew us.By Annie Karto.EV8-OMCD $16

“I am excited to send another container of valuable medical supplies and religious items to thePhilippines,” said Bryan Thatcher, founder of the Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy.

4

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CENACLE FORMATION MANUALS

Guides prayer cenacles through the Diary of St.Faustina, integrating Sacred Scripture and the Catechismof the Catholic Church. By Dr. Bryan and Susan Thatcher.$13.00 EA.

CENACLE OF THE DIVINE MERCY:EWTN PROGRAM SERIES IJoin the cenacle members from aroundthe country in discussing the impact ofDivine Mercy on their lives. FreeCompanion Guide included! 4 DVDs.EV8-CGDVD $39.95

CENACLE OF THE DIVINE MERCY:EWTN PROGRAM SERIES IIJoin Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC, and BryanThatcher, MD, in further exploration ofthe riches of the Divine Mercy message.Free Companion Guide included! 4 DVDs.EV8 -CG2DVD $39.95

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Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, President of the PontificalCouncil for Healthcare Workers (from the Vatican), will bethe keynote speaker.

HealthcareConference –save the date

The 11th Annual Divine Mercy Medicine, Bioethics, andSpirituality Conference, sponsored by Healthcare Professionalsfor Divine Mercy, an apostolate of the Marian Fathers, willtake place May 6-7 at the College of the Holy Cross inWorcester, Massachusetts.

Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, President of the PontificalCouncil for Healthcare Workers (from the Vatican), will be thekeynote speaker. He is giving two talks: “The Recently RevisedCharter for Health Care Workers” and “Pastoral Care in Healthand the New Evangelization.”

Other speakers include: Prof. Christina M. Puchalski,MD; Bryan Thatcher, MD; George Delgado, MD; RonaldSobecks, MD; Fr. Mark Yavarone, OMV; the Very Rev. Fr.Kazimierz Chwalek, MIC; Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC;Fr. Chris Alar, MIC; and Marie Romagnano, RN. A paneldiscussion led by Bishop Robert McManus will concludethe presentations.

For more information or to register, call 1-800-462-7426or visit thedivinemercy.org/worcester.

At the Bedside of the Sick and Dying: A Guidefor Parish Ministry, Family, and FriendsMixing Divine Mercy spirituality with practical guidance,Eucharistic Apostles of the Divine Mercy founder BryanThatcher, MD, and Disciple of Divine Mercy in the Holy Faceof Jesus Kathleen Wabick inform, encourage, and inspireyou to take up this great work of mercy. A handy introduc-tion to the grace-filled apostolate of praying for (and with)the sick and dying.EV8-PMBK $3.99

MANUAL 1: EV8-CFM1MANUAL 2: EV8-CFM2MANUAL 3: EV8-CFM3

3-BOOK SET: EV8-SCFM ($35)ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH

5 © 2015 Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. 06510057

D o you know one of thosepeople who have to winevery argument? Or do

you know someone who frequentlyflies off the handle and the thingsthat come out of their mouthmake you shudder? Are you oneof those people? The tongue is asmall organ but it can commitgreat faults.

Every one of us at one time or another has said things weregret later, and St. Faustina wasno different. She wrote in herDiary, “I do not trust my tonguewhich, at such moments, isinclined to talk for itself ” (Diary,92). That entry made me recallincidents where, in a fit of angeror frustration, I said things thathurt someone. Later on, afterthings had cooled down, I wouldask myself, “Did I really saythat?” In some ways, my tonguedoes have a mind of its own!

Think of all the broken mar-riages, feuds in families, divisions incommunities, and yes, even wars, thathave started because people could notcontrol their tongues. During this Lenten sea-son, think about your tongue. Try harder toharness it and keep it under control!

Do you want to practice mercy on a dailybasis? Then consider watching your tongue— something very hard to do! In Scripture,James speaks to the heart of the problem formany of us. “In the same way the tongue is asmall member and yet has great pretensions.Consider how small a fire can set a huge for-est ablaze.” (Jas 3:5). Think of how muchdamage in personal relationships, family life,and the workplace has been done because ofthe tongue.

James continues, “The tongue is also a fire.It exists among our members as a world ofmalice, defiling the whole body and settingthe entire course of our lives on fire, itself seton fire by Gehenna. For every kind of beastand bird, of reptile and sea creature, can betamed and has been tamed by the humanspecies, but no human being can tame thetongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poi-son. With it we bless the Lord and Father, andwith it we curse human beings who are madein the likeness of God. From the same mouthcome blessing and cursing. This need not be

so, my brothers. ” (Jas 3:6-10).I remember reading a book as a child

about cowboys out West finding wild mustangs and trying to tame them. How difficult it was to get those wild horses undercontrol. The tongue is like that for many of us — so difficult to control! Saint Faustinaknew that and wanted her tongue to be usedonly for God. She wrote, “I want my tongueto praise God without cease. Great are thefaults committed by the tongue. The soul willnot attain sanctity if it does not keep watchover its tongue” (Diary, 92).

Reflect on those last words, “The soul will

not attain sanctity if it does not keep watchover its tongue:” I find myself trying moreand more to bite my tongue, to keep mymouth shut until things cool off, or perhapsspeak when I am not so tired and lessinclined to overreact. However, sometimesthe small organ takes off with a mind of itsown and continues its reign of terror. But we all need to continue to get up after wefall, and we need to be humble enough toapologize to those we hurt.

During the upcoming Lenten season, letus think before we speak and use our tonguesonly for building people up. May we onlyuse our tongues to give honor and glory toGod, making a conscious effort to avoid gos-sip, slander, and destructive criticism. As wetry to harness the wild mustang that we callthe tongue, let us remember the words of St.Faustina: “The soul will not attain sanctity ifit does not keep watch over its tongue.” Andin spite of all our shortcomings, especiallywith our tongue, let’s not lose hope. Ratherlet’s remember the words of our Lord to St.Faustina: The greater the sinner, thegreater the right he has to My mercy(Diary, 723).

This Lenten season, watch your tongue By Bryan Thatcher, MD

During the upcoming Lenten season, let us think before we speak and use our tongues only forbuilding people up. May we only use our tongues to give honor and glory to God, making a con-scious effort to avoid gossip, slander, and destructive criticism. “The soul will not attain sanctity ifit does not keep watch over its tongue” (Diary, 92).

“Think of all the broken marriages, feuds in families,divisions in communities,

and yes, even wars, that havestarted because people couldnot control their tongues.During this Lenten season,think about your tongue. Tryharder to harness it and keep

it under control!”

GET YOUR EADMLAPEL PIN FREE with a

donation of $25 or more

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NEED A SPEAKER?

I will be speaking at the Holy FamilyChurch in Port St. Lucie, Florida, on Feb. 7; atthe Holy Family Church in Victoria, Texas,on Feb. 8-11; at St. Luke Church in Ellington,Connecticut, on Feb. 21-25; at St. LucieChurch in Port St. Lucie, Florida, on Feb. 28;in Guam on March 11-16; at the BronxConference in Bronx, New York, on March21; in Pittsburgh, California, on April 24-26;and at the 11th Annual Divine MercyMedicine, Bioethics, and SpiritualityConference in Worcester, Massachusetts,on May 6-7.

I would love to come to your parish andspeak on Divine Mercy, the Eucharist, OurBlessed Mother, and pro-life issues, as well as our continuing efforts to ship medical supplies overseas to the poorest ofthe poor. For more information, call theEADM office at 1-877-380-0727.

— Dr. Bryan ThatcherEADM director

EADM relies on your generosity to keepthe ministry running. Many people writeus and thank us for our apostolate. Helpus continue to bring the message ofDivine Mercy to a hurting world.

Please donate to EADM today.

Call 1-800-462-7426,visit marian.org/eadm,

or use the enclosed envelope.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

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