(191) Irene Kobak Surber (1931-2017).........She was ready to personally meet her Good Shepherd

AMDG

Charles and Irene Surber

      The following are excerpts of the letter Irene wrote to her family, friends, and fellow members of the Secular  Franciscan Order a month before she died.  As requested, parts specifically addressed to her extended family are omitted.

“COME TO ME ALL YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND ARE BURDENED…….AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.”  (Matthew 11:28)

My Dearest Charles and Friends:

My earthly pilgrimage has ended.  As my life drew closer to the 11^th hour, I felt a need to share some final thoughts with those who have touched my life in so many meaningful ways and supported me along the journey HOME….I re-wrote this message several times…..this is my final revision.  I return to the ONE who fashioned the stars, wove the tapestry of the skies, crafted the universe with HIS word alone and created all of us in His Image and Likeness.

Countless graces and blessings energized my life of Faith, sustaining me through joys, questions, sorrows, doubts and challenges.  Believing that Jesus’ life, teachings and resurrection set us free, that we are a redeemed people, made it comforting to listen expectantly for the voice calling me HOME.  Like all faith-filled Christians, I realized life is a brief journey in which we walk hand in hand with life’s companions, reaching for the PEARL of great Price, trusting in God’s eternal promise.

As the years wore on, the lessons our dear parents, Joseph and Helen instilled were never forgotten.  We were raised in a home where prayer, Church attendance, Mass, the Holy Eucharist, religious practices and expressions were of primary value.  Ours was a faith-filled Catholic Christian home.  Mom and Dad set an example to the best of their capability and understanding.  What a joy to be seeing them again, meeting our deceased relatives and above all……meeting our Grandparents for the very first time.

Religious life added a rich spiritual and social dimension on the Journey affording innumerable opportunities for spiritual and professional growth and guidance…..As we know, vocations are nurtured in a family setting.  We were not short on encouragement.  We grew up being challenged and reaching for the IDEAL!

I was accompanied on my journey by members of the Secular Franciscan Order.  They provided the companionship, challenge and Franciscan spirituality that filled my heart and enlivened my spirit.  We walked the journey with freedom and fraternity, inspired by the example of our dear St. Francis and St. Clare.

I can never thank you enough for all your love and generous FORGIVENESS.  I beg you to remember me in prayer and ask you to rejoice with me.

 

And like the repentant thief, I beg YOU, Lord Jesus, for mercy and forgiveness.  I pray that I am worthy to hear Jesus’ reassuring words:

“TODAY, YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.”

(Luke 23:43)

Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd (John10:11)

EULOGY (Delivered at Irene Kobak Surber’s Funeral at St. Louis Church on July 17, 2017)

       As an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister since 2009, I had the opportunity to know Irene well.  In fact it was Irene who encouraged me to volunteer for that ministry and my wife Jaga joined me.  It was an awesome privilege to bring Christ Himself and His love to her in Holy Communion every Sunday, to pray with her, and to help her in a little way for her encounter with the Lord in eternity.

I was supposed to minister to Irene, but she ministered to me more than I did to her.  She placed great value on the Eucharist and she did a lot of spiritual reading.  She was faithful to her Catholic Church to the very end.  She kept coming to Sunday Mass until only a couple of months ago when it became practically impossible since she was dependent upon oxygen.  Even then she would assist at Mass via EWTN television and we would complement that by bringing her Holy Communion.

Irene never bore any children of her own, but over a career of some 40 years she was like a mother to hundreds if not thousands of children, most of whom were developmentally challenged.  She recognized their great dignity, created according to the image and likeness of God.   She loved them dearly; she saw their potential; and helped to make them productive members of society.  In retirement she visited the aged as a volunteer in nursing homes in the area.  She was a Third Order Franciscan and emulated St. Francis as well as St. Clare.

Irene was a Pollyanna type, always positive, encouraging, kind, and patient.  I really appreciate her encouragement of my writing.  I never heard her make any disparaging remark against anyone. 

   

       One priest commented that “Those who die of cancer die like saints.  That statement is certainly true in regard to Irene.  She was ready.  She taught us how to live and she taught us how to die.  She confronted her cancer with faith and courage.  Irene did not give up; she really wanted to take care of Charlie and did not want to leave him, her extended family, and friends, but was completely resigned to the will of God with great trust in His Providence……..that no matter what, it would all turn out for the best in the long run.  Each time I saw Irene, there was a certain joy and peace about her……..even a joyful expectation of eternity.

       Irene planned out every aspect of her funeral.  For the first time in my memory, has a laywoman been laid out at the front of our church.  We’re going to have a luncheon this afternoon; the hostess is really Irene and she has invited all of you with typically warm Polish hospitality, entrusting the Catholic Women’s Club and others to put it on.  At some of our Communion services with her, we would say the “Our Father” (Ojcze Nasz) in Polish.  You see, I’m Polish by marriage and proud of it.

     

Irene had a devotion to Mary, who perhaps interceded that she die on July 13, the 100th anniversary of the third and most prophetic apparition of Our Lady of Fatima.  The whole Fatima series will be on this blog.

 

In that apparition Mary reiterated her plea: “Make of everything you can a sacrifice and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended and in supplication for the conversion of sinners.”  Indeed, Irene offered up her aches and her pains, the effects of chemo, and all of her suffering for that intention.

 

She united her cross with the Lord’s cross and offered it all up as a dynamic prayer for the Church, the missions, for our country, for a better world and for her loved ones.  God knows how much our country and our world need prayer.  The prayers of the sick and the suffering are most valuable and very effective.  Thus Irene was very productive until the moment she died.

Irene loved the image of the Good Shepherd and liked to imagine herself being a little lamb in His arms.  Her prayers to the Good Shepherd were surely answered as He gave her the strength to carry her cross and led His little lamb to eternity.  The Good Shepherd never sleeps.  The Good Shepherd is real.

Thank you Irene for all that you have done for us and the Church.  We love you.  Good-by until we see you again. I know that you will be waiting for us for one big joyful reunion in Heaven.  Let’s make sure that we all get there by being faithful practicing Christians with our lives……everyone of us!  I’m sure Irene will be praying for us along the way. 

Appendix

Obituary

Sunday Times-Sentinel (Gallipolis, Ohio) & Point Pleasant Register July 16, 2017

Irene Surber

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BIDWELL — Irene M. Surber, 85, of Bidwell, passed away on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at her residence.

She was born September 28, 1931 in Cleveland, daughter of the late Joseph A. and Helen Dentkos Kobak. Irene married Charles M. Surber and he survives her. She graduated from St. John's College and received her Master's Degree at Case Western University.

Irene was a member of Third Order of St. Francis as a sister of St. Joseph for 33 years, a member of St. Louis Catholic Church in Gallipolis, worked for Catholic Charities, worked in California at Director of Services for the Developmentally Disabled, worked for Tap Center in California along with Sister Mary Grace, and worked as a special education teacher for 30 years. A faithful longtime friend to Irene was Sister Mary Lou Wojtusik of Garfield Heights., she visited nursing home patients along with Ella Bokovitz for many years in the local assisted living facilities, played organ in the Catholic churches, enjoyed camping, walking, and various activities. She was a great conversationalist and had many friends.

Surviving are her husband, Charles M. Surber of Bidwell, five sisters, Wanda DiVencenzo, of Grafton, Mary Ann Bliss, of North Royalton,, Theresa (Kobak) Bird of El Sobrante, Calif., Christine Berger, of Avon, and Helen Smith of Horshoe Bay, Texas.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Sister Clementia.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:30 a.m., Monday, July 17, 2017 at St. Louis Catholic Church with Father Thomas Hamm officiating. Entombment will follow at Ohio Valley Memory Gardens. Friends may call 10 – 11:30 a.m. at the church prior to the mass. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the St. Louis Catholic Church building Fund. Please visit www.willisfuneralhome.com to send e-mail condolences.

(190) OUR LADY OF FATIMA AT 100……..The Prophetic Apparition of July 13, 1917……..to Hell and Back

        With great happiness Jacinta and Francisco Marto were looking forward to meeting Mary on July 13 at the Cova de Iria as she requested.  Lucia, however, filled with gloom and despair, resolved not to go, fearing that her pastor was right…….”the apparitions are the work of the devil”.  Believing the pastor, Lucia’s mother incessantly nagged her daughter and even thrashed her for lying.  On the contrary Ti Marto believed.in the authenticity of the apparitions. 

        On the morning of the 13^th, Lucia still had the same confusion and doubt.  But when it was time to leave for the Cova, Lucia felt a strange prodding and her fears and doubts suddenly disappeared.  Joyfully, she went to the house of Jacinta and Francisco to see if they had left yet.  She found them in tears because they would not go without Lucia.  Their tears were transformed into joy, when Lucia said:  “LET’S Go!” and off they went happily moving through the crowds of people that jammed the way to the Cova.  That was difficult since so many asked them to ask Mary for special personal favors.

        Lucia, the leader, led the rosary.  Then Lucia cried out:  “Close the umbrellas (against the sun); Our Lady is coming!”  The sun turned hazy and there was a refreshing breeze on that hot day.  The crowd was silent.  Ti Marto testified that he saw a greyish cloud over the holm oak.  He heard a hum, but did not hear a word.  With the abounded love of a mother bending over her sick child, the beautiful lady engulfed the three children in her immense light and rested her loving eyes on Lucia, who could not speak for joy.

 

        Mary instructed them:  “Continue to say the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war; for only she can help you.  Continue to come here every month.  In October, I will say who I am and what I desire and I will perform a miracle for all to see, so that they believe.”  Lucia told her of the case of a sick person who wished to be taken to Heaven soon.  “He should not try to hurry things.  I know well when I shall come for him.”  Apparently, Our Lord wanted him to be better prepared to die as Mary implicitly condemned euthanasia and doctor assisted suicide.  Mary reiterated the need to offer up suffering, misfortune, irritations, prayers, rosaries, weekday Masses, etc.  “Sacrifice yourselves for sinners; and say often, especially when you make some sacrifice: ‘O my Jesus, it is for love of Thee, for the conversion of sinners and in reparation for sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary I offer this sacrifice to Thee.”’

 

        Then came a terrifying experience for the three children.  Mary let them see hell.  Lucia described “a sea of fire, and immersed in that fire were horrendous looking creatures (devils) and souls with human form, as if they were transparent black or bronze embers floating in the fire……amidst wailing and cries of pain and despair that horrified and shook us with terror.”  As Mother Angelica, the spunky founder of EWTN once told the hell deniers:  “you’ll  believe it when you get there.”  Satan worshipers don’t know what awaits them.  May we have a healthy fear of hell, especially when we drift away from God and are lax in following Church teaching as our Sunday obligation.

        

Our Lady then explained: “You have seen hell ---where the souls of poor sinners go.  To save them God wills to establish throughout the world the devotion to my Immaculate Heart.  If people will do what I tell you, many souls will be saved, and there will be peace.  The war is going to end.  But if they do not stop offending God, another and worse war will break out in the reign of Pius XI.  When you see a night illumined by an unknown light (January 25-26, 1938 – Google Fatima Storm) , know that it is the great sign that God gives you, that He is going to punish the world for its crimes by means of war, hunger, persecution of the Church and of the Holy Father.  To forestall this, I shall come to ask for the Consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart and the Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays.  If they heed my requests, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace.  If not, she shall spread her errors throughout the world, promoting wars and persecutions of the Church; the good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated; in the end, my Immaculate Heart shall triumph……and some time of peace will be given to the world.......Do not tell this to anyone.”

After this third apparition, the three children had a greater resolve to pray a great deal to save souls from hell.  They yearned more and more to be left alone to say their prayers and make sacrifices for Our Lady, but whenever they would go out in the town, crowds of people would gather to ask them all kinds of questions, many of them of the stupid variety.  Some were devout, but many were curious and anxious to pump them for the secret with gifts to find the sensational. Some even came to laugh and make fun of the children. 

Even relatives and neighbors ridiculed them, called them names, and even smacked them.  Lucia’s family was the worst of all, especially after crowds would trample on the family vegetable garden: “When you want to eat, go and ask that lady.”  Newspapers reported the apparitions with scorn and distortions, accusing the priests of setting up a “factory of miracles”.  The children pitied them all for their lack of faith.  Thus they would take back roads to avoid the crowds.  When people came knocking on their doors, the children would hide.  Clearly, the apparitions were a great joy, but also a great cross to bear.  The children had a lot to offer up for the conversion of sinners and they did it joyfully.

Jacinta’s father. Ti Marto kept an open mind as he mulled over the facts to find the truth while protecting his children.  He was thinking and praying, waiting for God to direct his course of thought and action.

The children learned some short prayers that gave them consolation: “My God, I love you” and Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation”.  Jacinta said: “I want to tell Jesus that I love Him so much!  When I say this to Him, it seems that I have a fire in my heart.  I love Our Lord and Our Lady so much that I never get tired of telling Them that I love Them.”  If we can develop only a fraction of their intense love for Jesus and Mary!  We shall see that in August, the situation will begin to build up to a climax as the unbelieving authorities get involved.  Throughout this centennial year of Our Lady of Fatima, EWTN television (cable, satellite & internet at ewtn.com) is showing many documentaries on Fatima, especially around the 13^th of the month.   

(189) Why Eucharistic Adoration? What Can You Do During Adoration? Not Boring, Even Exciting

AMDG

           Editor’s Note on the Feast of Corpus Christi: Eucharistic Adoration has become a tradition in many parishes, my parish in particular, St. Louis Church in Gallipolis, Ohio because of one layman, his pastor at the time, Fr. William Myers, and his successor, Fr. Thomas Hamm.  Bruce Davison was a tough guy and still is for that matter, but now in the right way.  He was a young Rambo type as a combat soldier (Airborne Ranger, the Army’s best, comparable to Special Forces, a.k.a. the Green Berets), a sergeant in Vietnam and would get into fist fights on occasion.  Bruce never lost his faith, but was only going through the motions every Sunday at Mass (How many of us are that way today?).  His faith did not mean much to him.

 

In 1989 Bruce’s oldest brother, Jimmy was killed in an auto accident; that tragic event had a profound effect on his younger brother, leading to a real life changing conversion.  During that time of grief, a dreadful thought entered his mind: “The way I’m going now, I might not make it to Heaven.”  Giving his life to Christ, his faith began to become alive, real, and very meaningful. Bruce was becoming a real prayer warrior, who takes every opportunity now to share his faith, as for example, with his customers at his nursery.  Conversion may be sudden, but it is also a process.

          In November 1998 Bruce and his wife Jan went on a pilgrimage to Fatima.  In early 1999 that experience led to a deepening of his conversion, a second phase.  He was suddenly hit  --"like a bolt of lightning" in his words--  by the deep realization of how much God loved him and how unworthy he is.  That experience made his conversion complete.  Later Bruce felt a deep yearning and inspiration for Eucharistic Adoration in our parish.  Indeed there was a great need.  He presented the idea to Fr. Bill, who accepted it under the condition that Davison guarantee that there would always be someone present during the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.  Bruce has been very faithful to that commitment.  When we had all night adoration during the visit of the Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima and each Vigil for Life on the evening of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, Bruce usually stayed until the end of Mass the following morning……..although not as much now because of a chronic back problem that sometimes makes it difficult for him to even walk.

         We've had Eucharistic Adoration at St. Louis Church for some 15 years now usually on the first Sunday of each month immediately following the 10 am Mass until vespers at 4 pm.  You can do something similar in your parish if it does not already have it.  

 

          Bruce continues to pray that all the members of our parish grasp the tremendous importance of Eucharistic Adoration and attend at least for a little while.  He also prays incessantly that someday St. Louis Church will have Perpetual Adoration (24/7).  That would require 160 people (2 per hour) to commit themselves to two hours of adoration per week outside of Mass.  This apostle and champion of the Eucharist wrote the following article to share with his brothers and sisters throughout the parish family.  He writes from the heart with deep conviction and passion.

Often you will sense the Lord's presence during Adoration.

WHY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION?

          Who is God?  Creator, Father, Redeemer, Savior, Brother, Friend, Lover……..ALL!

          Who am I?  Creature, speck of dust, beggar, wretch, sinner……NOTHING in comparison to God!  Yet, wonderfully made, created with great dignity according to the “image and likeness” of God (Genesis 1:26-27)!

          Who am I to God?  Special child, valuable, treasure, loved intensely!

          What is the consecrated host?  God Himself, Love Incarnate, truly the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Himself!

          Why go to Eucharistic Adoration?  It is an act of love pleasing to Jesus; creature communicates with the Creator, son to Father who is present with His only begotten Son, the redeemed to the Redeemer, friend to Friend, lover to Lover.  Nothing outside of Mass is more pleasing to Jesus.  Nothing outside of Mass is more beneficial for my soul.  That is expiation for my sins.  We may also use Eucharistic Adoration to pray for the poor souls in Purgatory and for the conversion of sinners.

          Conclusion. Do I love Jesus?  Do I want to please Him?  Am I sorry for my sins?  Am I making reparation for my sins and the sins of others?  Do I want to console my Lord?  Why wouldn’t I go to Eucharistic Adoration?  O my Savior! My Love! My God! How I love you and wish that every soul on earth would love you!

          Just imagine: You have this terrific friend.  I mean this friend is really there for you.  This friend is so understanding!  He can read your mind.  He loves to be around you, to celebrate with you, to help you with your projects.  This friend is also your Brother.  You know that you can count on Him for serious help.  You know He would do anything for you.

          Now suppose you keep Him at arm’s length, only allowing Him to come when you need something…….never visiting Him or asking how He is.  Well, that friend is Jesus!  He loves you to the extreme!  But you are so thoughtless.  It makes Jesus so happy when He sees you come in and visit Him!  He is really there as the sacred Eucharistic Host.  He has a human heart that suffers because of your lack of love.  He is a prisoner of love who is there for you.

        O my Jesus!  How I want to make reparation for the indifference, ingratitude, and lack of love that wounds your heart so deeply.  I want to follow the request your Mother made at Fatima 100 years ago……to offer my sufferings to you in “reparation” and “for the conversion of sinners”.  (Ed Note: In fact Bruce welcomes opportunities to suffer for this cause.)

WHAT CAN YOU DO AT EUCHARISTIC ADORATION?

  Not Boring, Even Exciting at Times!

          In answer to that question one old man said: “Well, I look at Jesus and Jesus looks at me”.  That gives you the chance to think, to meditate, to listen to what Our Lord has to say……insights, ideas, and inspirations.  Eucharistic Adoration can be very relaxing, a refreshing source of peace, confidence, and strength to keep going and not give up, trusting in the Lord’s Providence.

One source, “25 Things to Do in Adoration”: gives a number of suggestions which I expanded: 
1) Slowly read scripture until something hits you; then listen.  
2) Say a rosary with a good focus on the meditations for each decade.  
3) Let Jesus look at you.  
4) Tell Him something that made you happy; then listen.  
5) Tell Him your fears, what you are afraid of; then listen.  
6) Tell Him what angers or irritates you; then listen.
7) Speak about your friends and loved ones, enumerating their needs.
8) Pray for an enemy or someone who hurt you.  
9) Talk with Jesus about your work or studies and ask for His help.
10) Sing a song of praise to God in your heart with a Glory Be prayer. 
11) Promise to trust Him.
12) Imagine Mary sitting next to you and praying with you.  
13) Renew your loyalty to His Church and resolve to be always faithful. 
14) Lean on Him; tell Jesus you love Him. 
15) Thank Him for the Sacraments, etc. 
16) Tell Jesus your failures; ask for help; then listen. 
17) Slowly recite the Beatitudes. 
18) Say one Our Father slowly; meditate on the words. 
19) Say one Hail Mary; meditate on the words. 
20) Say the Creed slowly; meditate on the words. 
21) Pray for vocations.  
22) Pray for discernment of His will and guidance in decisions and the next step in the direction of your life. 
23) Count your gifts and blessings; then thank God. 
24) Pray for our Country, its leaders and the world; think of specific problems, crises, and disasters. 
25) Enjoy just being in the Lord’s presence! 
26) Ask for healing of body and soul. 
27) Pray for the Church. 
28) Say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy while meditating on a few aspects of the Lord’s passion, e.g., all or some of the Stations of the Cross.  
29) If you still don’t know what to pray about, get hold of a book of prayers or prayer book that has a selection of prayers for different needs, occasions, and intentions. 

    And also there’s the Liturgy of the Hours (also called Divine Office and Breviary) that is prayed everyday in monasteries and convents all over the world.  It is really the prayer of the Universal Church.  Priests are supposed to say it and many laymen do as well.  For a website that has all of the prayers for each current day, click on http://catholicexchange.com/divine-office.  It’s OK to use a laptop or ipod for the Divine Office during Eucharistic Adoration.  You can also try http://ebreviary.com/, https://divineoffice.org, or http://www.liturgies.net/Liturgies/Catholic/loh/loh.htm for the one that may best suit you.  For information about the Liturgy of the Hours and its history, go to http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgy-of-the-hours/ and/or  https://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/breviary.htm.  To buy prayer books or the four volume set “Liturgy of the Hours”, go to https://www.amazon.com.

   

Do some spiritual reading (book, article, pamphlet, etc.; then listen.  Thank God for your blessings and for what’s going well in your life today; enumerate them.  Share with Jesus some of your difficulties, problems, failures, setbacks (medical, emotional, financial, studies, job, family); listen for insights.  As Mary requested at Fatima, offer these crosses up for sinners and their conversion.  Pray for those in need.  The Venerable Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, a prolific and brilliant writer and popular speaker on CBS television during prime time in the 50s and 60s, composed his talks in front of the Blessed Sacrament for inspiration and guidance. 

(188) Our Lady of Fatima at 100......the First Apparition on May 13, 1917 & the Second on June 13, 1917

AMDG

          The Angel of Peace did her job in preparing the young children Lucy (10), Francisco (9), and Jacinta (7) to meet the Queen of Heaven.  It was Sunday May 13; the kids already went to the early Mass in the village church; their families would not miss Sunday Mass for anything.  April showers had brought May flowers to the Cova da Iria field where the children watched the sheep while playing games. 

Suddenly, there was a bright shaft of light from Heaven and its most precious and indescribably beautiful queen appeared on a very small holm oak tree, just three feet tall.  God sent the most beautiful flower ever, the ultimate missionary through the ages, on a special mission of mercy during the carnage of World War I, the bloodiest in history, a grave consequence of sin.  “Do not be afraid”, the Lady said; “I will not harm you”.   In answer to their questions she said: “I am from heaven…….I have come to ask you to come here for six months in succession on the thirteenth day of each month at this same hour.  Later I will tell you who I am and what I want.  Afterward, I will return here a seventh time.

Lucia then asked if they and their friends will go to Heaven.  Yes they would, but Francisco would have to say many Rosaries.  Their friend Maria is there, but for Amelia, it would be different.  “She will be in purgatory until the end of the world. Do you wish to offer yourselves to God to endure all the sufferings that He may be pleased to send you, as both an act of reparation for the sins with which He is offended and an act of supplication for the conversion of sinners?  The children gave their fiat: “Yes we do”.  That was the first step in their road to canonization.  Our Lady answered:  “Well then, you will have much to suffer. But the grace of God will be your comfort.” 

Lucy continued: "It was upon saying these last words, 'the grace of God...' that for the first time she opened her hands, which emitted a most intense light that penetrated our breasts, reaching the innermost part of our souls and making us see ourselves in God, Who was that light, more clearly than we can see ourselves in the best of mirrors. Then, driven by a deep inspiration, we knelt down and repeated inwardly: 'O Most Holy Trinity, I adore Thee! My God, my God, I love Thee in the Most Blessed Sacrament'”, as the Angel of Peace taught them.

Before parting, Our Lady said: “Pray the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war.”  Lucia continued: "She immediately began to rise serenely toward the east until she disappeared far into the distance. The light that surrounded her was, so to speak, opening her way through the starry firmament."

The children were very joyful, but not for long.  Knowing that they would be subject to ridicule, the children agreed to keep it a secret.  However, little Jacinta forgot her promise and had to tell her mother.  Then the ridicule and incredulity started, but as Mary promised, the grace of God would be their comfort.  The parents gave them little or no support nor did their pastor.  However, the Marto parents believed that the children would not lie.  Ti Marto left it up to the will of God.  At this point, the children could not affirm that the beautiful lady was Mary, the Mother of God.  Lucia had a more difficult time with her family.  Her mother tried to get Lucia to admit that she lied about the vision and her sisters also opposed her.  The news quickly spread throughout the town and the children encountered jeering and verbal abuse.

June 13.  The children offered up the ridicule and more for sinners……..giving up lunches, singing, and dancing.  Lucia invited some friends and a number of others, including Lucia’s mother followed the children to the Cova da Iria on the 13^th when the lady promised to appear.  The 50 or so spectators prayed the rosary while waiting.  Near noon on a hot day the seers saw a brilliant approaching light.  Some spectators observed that the top of the budding holm oak bent down, as if under the weight of something.  During Our Lady’s conversations with the children, the bystanders heard nothing except a gentle whispering like the humming of a bee.     

        Our Lady made a request: “I want you to come here on the thirteenth of next month, to pray the Rosary every day, inserting between the mysteries the following ejaculation: ‘O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy.’   I want you to learn to read and write and later I shall say what I desire.”

Lucia asked that Mary take them to Heaven.  “Yes, I shall take Jacinta and Francisco soon, but you will remain here for a longer time yet. Jesus wishes to use you in order to make me known and loved. He wishes to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the world. I promise salvation to those who embrace it; and these souls will be loved by God like flowers placed by me to adorn His throne.      

Lucia apprehensively asked if she would be alone.  “No, daughter.  Does that make you suffer much?  Do not be dismayed.  I will never forsake you. My Immaculate Heart shall be your refuge and the road that shall lead you to God.”  Again we see the classic refrain: “To Jesus through Mary”.

Lucia related, "As she said these last words, she opened her hands, and for the second time she communicated to us the reflection of the intense light that enveloped her.  We could see ourselves in it, as if immersed in the Divine presence.  Jacinta and Francisco seemed to be in the part of this light that was ascending toward Heaven, and I was in the part that was cast toward the ground.  In front of Our Lady's right hand there was a heart encircled by thorns that seemed to pierce it. We understood that this was the Immaculate Heart of Mary, so offended by the sins of mankind and pleading for reparation."

 The Lady, still surrounded by the light that she radiated, rose from the little tree and glided toward the east until she disappeared completely. Several persons who were closer noticed that the buds at the top of the holm oak were inclined towards the east, as if they had been trod upon. They returned to their usual position only some hours later.  The people saw nothing except a slight cloud, rising towards the east. The spectators departed, saying the Rosary on their way home.

Jacinta was already a little apostle, repeating: “She said it is necessary to say the Rosary……..she will return and she told us a secret that we cannot tell”.  That aroused the curiosity of everyone, many of whom tried to extract the secret from the children.  “If they beat us, we will suffer it for the love of Our Lord and for sinners.”  Their pastor speculated that the visions might be a trick of the devil and so, even the children had periods of doubt.  Lucia even felt tormented by the devil with a terrifying dream of him laughing.  This mental and emotional anguish was all part of what the children had to suffer and offer up for sinners.to repent and come back to God. We can do the same when suffering comes our way and make sacrifices for others as by helping and other works of charity.

(187) CATHOLIC FAMILYLAND: PLAY AND PRAY; GROW IN EVERY WAY AS A FAMILY……… A National Treasure in the Diocese of Steubenville, Ohio

AMDG

Alumni Corps Volunteers play with a group of children of the Stapleton family on the St. Tarsicius Sports Field.  Clockwise from Eden (8) in red and back turned: Ezekiel (3), Josiah (6), a friend, Elyse Murphy, Naomi Sebastian, Aubree (11), and Riley (9).  Running is Rachel Henley. 

Dial 1-800-FOR-MARY and register for a six day family retreat/vacation full of fun and spiritual growth for the whole family.  That phone number alone says a lot about Catholic Familyland on this the 100^th anniversary of the six appearances of Mary to the shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal a century ago.  

Jerry Coniker (born 1938), a very successful entrepreneur, founded Coniker Systems, which manufactured communications, time management, and sales control systems for Fortune 500 companies.  At the peak of his success he felt a call to something much bigger and more important.  In 1971 he sold his business and moved his family of eight children to Fatima, Portugal for a two year long retreat.  There Mary prepared Jerry and his wife Gwen for a special mission, the same as she and the Angel of Peace did with Lucy, Francisco, and Jacinta.

Upon their return Coniker became the executive director of the Militia Immaculata, which the Marian Franciscan saint, Maximilian Kolbe founded in Poland in 1917.  In 1975 Jerry and Gwen Coniker founded the Apostolate for Family Consecration (AFC) in Kenosha, Wisconsin, receiving official Church approval.

The Apostolate’s spirituality includes St. Pope John Paul II’s dual consecration: Totus Tuus………giving everything to Jesus through Mary in union with St. Joseph and Consecrate them in truth (John 17:17).  That is asking God to sanctify its members in His word. Click on http://paulrsebastianphd.blogspot.com/2012/10/memories-of-seeing-blesseed-pope-john.html.

   

Restoring Our Abandoned Seminary Buildings.  The Apostolate started out, with some family retreats and producing television programs for Catholic cable television, particularly EWTN.  In 1990, the Conikers seized a great opportunity; the Apostolate borrowed $1 million to buy from the Diocese of Steubenville its abandoned St. John Vianney Seminary property of several rather large buildings, four chapels, a forest, and an abandoned youth camp, all spread over 950 acres.  The complex, 15 minutes from Steubenville, Ohio off of Route 22, had not been used since its closing in 1978.

 

       Msgr. William R. Myers (pastor emeritus of our family’s St. Louis Church Gallipolis), Fr. Walter E. Heinz (pastor emeritus of Sacred Heart Church Pomeroy, Msgr. Robert J. Kawa (pastor of St. Bernard Church Beverly studied there for 12 after the 8th Grade), Msgr. John Michael Campbell (pastor of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, another national treasure (http://paulrsebastianphd.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-facade-of-basilica-of-basilica-of-st.html & www.stmarysmarietta.org)), Msgr. Mark J. Froehlich, and many other older priests active and retired of our diocese studied at the former seminary.  Little did Bishop John Mussio, the founding bishop of the diocese, know how God would use the seminary complex he built.  Yes, “man proposes, but God disposes”.  Perhaps some day the Diocese of Steubenville will again have a seminary of its own instead of depending upon seminaries of other dioceses.

Gwen & Jerry Conniker, parents of 13 children the founders of the Apostolate of Family Consecration.   That entrepreneurial spirit, hard work, ingenuity, faith, trust in God, and devotion to Mary made the Apostolate so fruitful and attracted many dedicated volunteers to work with him.

          The Apostolate restored the buildings with a group of dedicated lay men and women, called the Catholic Corps influenced by the Militia Immaculata under lifelong promises of poverty, chastity, and obedience.  They brought in a variety of skills…….from handymen and technicians to secretaries and accountants.  What they didn’t know, they learned.  Some of the original Catholic Corps men and women have been with the Apostolate since its conception in 1975.  Others volunteered for work fests and still do, became affiliated with the Apostolate, or were hired as employees.  The Lord brought the men and women the Apostolate needed.

 

They made the gymnasium, overgrown with plants and moss, into air conditioned St. Joseph Auditorium with great acoustics and two giant TV screens, suitable for high quality professional video taping and conferences.  They converted one of the buildings of the Sacred Heart Complex into a television studio for producing video tapes for Catholic television, schools, families, and for individual use.

 

Totus Tuus Conferences. The first experience our family had with AFC’s Familyland was in the summer of 1997.  We responded to a flyer in the back of our little St. Louis Church in Gallipolis-Ohio, which described their weekend Totus Tuus Conference.  It featured nationally known speakers in St. Joseph Auditorium of the Queen of All Hearts Conference Complex.  Families had to stay in tents or area motels as we did (Jaga was pregnant with Joseph).  About a mile up the road or through the woods by foot is Familyland’s Holy Family Park……about eight cabins that the Knights of Columbus built for their youth camps, since then abandoned.  That same area had been adapted for campers and recreational vehicles with water and electricity hookups.

      

          The next year (1998) marked the beginning of the annual week long “Holy Family Fests”…….Faith, Family, and Fun.  For a video overview, click on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwm-SfLVgmc. The Apostolate started out with three sessions and most of the families stayed in tents or RVs.  The August nights in a tent were so cold that Jaga and I used our 11 month old son Joseph to sleep between us and keep us warm like a hot water bag.  The baby of the family is now 20 years old, over six feet tall and 190 pounds.The Apostolate started out with three sessions and most of the families stayed in tents or RVs.  The August nights in a tent were so cold that Jaga and I used our 11 month old son Joseph to sleep between us and keep us warm like a hot water bag.  The baby of the family is now 20 years old, over six feet tall and 190 pounds.   

         We practically raised our children in Familyland, going there year after year. In 2015 John-Paul (a math teacher) and Naomi (then a nursing student) spent their summer as members of the Alumni Corps, which prepares the facilities for each session and then work as counselors during each fest.  It was a great experience for them, especially the spiritual formation they obtained by living the life of the Catholic Corps.  There’s also the Service Corps which consists of high school students to help.  The young volunteers know Familyland since the times their parents brought them as little saints under construction……..and still are as young men and women.  In 2012 our entire family (less Stephanie) helped out as members of the Jubilee Corps for a week doing an assortment of odd jobs.

        Cabins. By 1999 the swimming pool in Holy Family Park was renovated and the Apostolate borrowed money to construct 75 cabins, equipped with electrical outlets in St. James Field above the Queen of All Hearts Conference Complex (including St. Joseph Auditorium).  The members of the AFC had the faith that if they build the cabins, families will come.  Every three or four cabins share a water spigot on the corner.  A couple of large vans have toilets, sinks, and showers.   Some ten years later the cabins were equipped with electrical heaters and air conditioning to “spoil” the families. 

Two brothers exploring the loft of their home for a week

Each cabin has a dining table, small refrigerator, and a small storage/dressing room.  The parents sleep in a large bed while four kids sleep on four bunk beds and up to five more can sleep in the loft (pictured above).  Some families include grandparents, a relative, or a friend of one of the children as guests for the week.  Most families prepare their own breakfasts and lunches, but eat a catered dinner in community in a picnic pavilion.  The Apostolate honored our family by putting a sign inside Cabin #31, asking the occupants to pray for us.  We thank them for their prayers. To get acquainted with my family, go to our last Family Newsletter at http://paulrsebastianphd.blogspot.com/2015/01/150-our-2014-family-christmas.html.

Registration and community dinner on the first day of a Family Fest

          Holy Family Fest Activities. The families in vans and cars arrive on typically a hot Saturday afternoon in Holy Family Park to begin their six day family retreat with registration, name tags, and settling in.  After a community dinner there’s Mass outside behind the rustic chapel in Holy Family Park.  That sets the tone for the Apostolate’s mission:  to strengthen families and make them holy.

          At every Family Fest, the daily homilies cover the Four Points of St. John Paul II’s Marian Spirituality.  The Apostolate summarizes it as follows: 

1)   Sin the cause of all unhappiness.  Sin includes both evil committed and good omitted as for example, irresponsibility in fulfilling our daily duties.

2)   Grace won by Jesus is more powerful than sin, the world, one’s own flesh, or the devil.

3)   Holiness is essential for salvation, but our individual meager efforts and merits alone are not enough to generate the reparation for sin needed to convert our world. 

4)   Consecration to Jesus through Mary, in union with St. Joseph, is the answer.  “Our good works, passing through Mary’s hands, are progressively purified.  Consequently, their merit and their satisfactory and prayer value are also increased” (St. Louis de Montfort).  We refer to this as the “Marian Multiplier”.  Mary is the key to God’s mercy for bringing world peace as promised at Fatima.  She wants, in the words of St. Maximilian Kolbe, “souls who will consecrate themselves entirely to her, who will become in her hands effective instruments for the defeat of satan and the spreading of God’s Kingdom upon earth.”

At 9 am there’s Daily Mass in St. Joseph Auditorium at the Queen of All Hearts Family Fest & Conference Complex for every family in what quickly becomes a community for a week.  The Catholic Corps provides a choir with music accompaniment to lead the congregation in song whose lyrics appear on the two giant screens.  The hour and a half Mass is vibrant and solemn.  The participation is enthusiastic as the singing reverberates in the auditorium.  Sunday Mass begins with a procession that includes the Knights of Columbus in full regalia and every child who received his/her first communion that year in the same dress.  After Mass the book store is open with a great variety of reading materials, videos, religious articles, and other resources (also by phone and on line at http://store.afc.org/).  Outside there’s playground equipment.

                 A vibrant Divine Liturgy (Daily Mass) in St. Joseph Auditorium 

       After Mass in the morning the kids are divided into groups.  Toddlers stay in the nursery in Redeemer Hall with their Moms who watch the Mass and talks afterwards on TV.  The “Saints Under Construction” are kindergarteners and elementary school kids; middle schoolers belong to the “Totus Tuus” group; and the high schoolers belong to the “Destiny Generation”.  Each group has a Vacation Bible School of sorts each morning.  

Organizing the kids in front of  St. Joseph Auditorium after Daily Mass in the morning.
 Redeemer Hall is on the Right. 

The high schoolers and college students (young adults) get another more intense session in the late evening in their clubhouse called “Maria, Al, and Dom’s Inn” after three very young saints: St. Maria Goretti, St. Aloysius de Gonzaga, & St. Dominic Savio.  Those sessions are intense, including confession and adoration by the end of the week.  Each dad is asked to write a letter to his teen.  Some in the Destiny Generation even find the sessions a turning point in their lives.  The parents get a dose of Catholic adult education since the average person in the pew does not know his or her faith.

A session of the Destiny Generation at Maria, Al, & Dom’s Inn, the youth clubhouse

          The afternoons are set aside for play and prayer too at Holy Family Park.  There’s St. John Bosco Swimming Pool and the 300 foot water slide down a steep hill in the woods.  Furthermore, there’s horse or pony riding, volleyball, softball, basketball, tennis, hiking, etc.  The older guys and gals have a lot of fun in the basketball tournament.  At 3 pm all activity stops for a moment to recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.  There’s Eucharistic Adoration at Queen of Angels Chapel throughout the afternoon as well as a number of priests outside, each sitting under a tree or umbrella to hear confessions.

Ezekiel Stapleton three years of age accompanied by a Service Corps Volunteer

Optional Adoration in the afternoon at Queen of Angels Chapel in Holy Family Park

The 300 Foot Waterslide as a Service Corps Volunteer looks on to assure safety

Everyone is encouraged to make their family retreat complete with sacramental confession.  Priests may hear confessions for a few days, rest, be reinvigorated, and have a wonderful experience to share with their parishes.  Call 1-800-FOR-MARY to be connected to the Apostolate’s full time chaplain.

Swimming in the hot sun of the afternoon.  Modesty is emphasized……only 2 piece bathing suits. 

          
      The evenings bring more fun.  One evening the Catholic Corps and staff put on a skit; another evening has rosary and marshmallows with a bonfire.  Other evenings have square dancing and other dances for the teens.

Every family is encouraged to creatively make a family banner and then present it to the Familyland community and explain its design.  The Apostolate supplies the materials.  Ours is hung up on a wall in the basement.  It features the Sacred Heart on a cross, emitting red and bluish-white rays.  Since we are a Polish-American family, we have written on the right, “Jezu ufam tobie” and its translation on the left, ”Jesus, I trust in you”.  Stephanie drew an image of Christ on the upper left and on the upper right St. Faustina, who at the time was recently canonized.  The Apostolate of Family Consecration was one of the first to promote Divine Mercy.  

Fr. Kevin Barrett, Apostolate Chaplain dialogues with the children regarding a decade meditation at  the Bonfire Rosary with marshmallows.

The Alumni Corps presents.

Banner Night…….Families present banners that reflect their particular family.

       Great Fellowship and Friendship.  Family members would get to know each other at dinner, in their groups, sports tournaments, get-togethers at a campfire among neighboring tents and RVs after the kids are put to bed.  I met a couple of guys in the bathroom while washing up in the morning.  

       Some 15 years ago Capt. Guy Gruters came to speak about how his faith got him through six years as a POW in North Vietnam.  I met him in the bathroom and we became friends.  Shortly after, I helped to arrange for him to be invited to speak at the University of Rio Grande and earlier this year as the main speaker for the Diocese of Steubenville Men’s Day of Renewal.  For one of his recent talks at Fr. Larry Richards’ 22/32 Men’s Conference, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtY0LvNNB9I and an interview by Marcus Grodi of EWTN at https://youtu.be/5klKyNiEs-M.

Often lifelong friendships are made among the parents as well as the kids who even go on little vacations to each other’s homes.  About 15 years ago at Familyland I heard someone speaking Polish at the Rosary Bonfire.  I immediately brought my wife, Jaga to meet them and we had an instant friendship that continues today.  Riczard and Cecylia Koczwara’s family (six children) live in Meza, Arizona where they operate a small motel, the Desert Rose. 

One of the first people we met at Familyland was the Belback family.  Even though Regis is from my hometown (Duquesne, PA) and parish (St. Joseph’s), I met him and his wife Mary Ann there for the first time in 1997.  However, we did know his parents, Madeline and Stanley, who are of the Great Generation that lived through the Great Depression and World War II.  They invited us to their home one time and Stanley showed us his war mementos.  One was a very special rosary.  Stanley was part of the third wave of the Normandy invasion on June 7, 1944…….the longest day.  Climbing the hills with the German pillboxes on top, men were being mowed down all around him.  Stanley was hit, but the bullet miraculously glazed off a rosary bead and saved his life.  Madeline’s prayers were effective; prayer works. 

    

We met other great friends for the first time, Dorota & Marek Stanczak from Detroit.  Stephanie made a lasting friendship into adulthood with Marie Nicole Nowak from Philadelphia and Naomi befriended Chloee Jones from Virginia.  There are so many other wonderful families we befriended there, but did not have the time to keep in touch until we would perhaps meet again the following year.

After the smaller children are put to bed, the teens could still forge friendships in their special evening program. 

My Familiy’s Memories of Familyland.  The family in the tent next door to us was unique.  The father took care of the six kids because his wife, an obstetrician, could make more money than he.  The doctor related that when a new patient calls for an appointment, her receptionist states up front: “We do not prescribe contraceptives”.  The Catholic obstetricians in her community gave her more flack on that than anyone else.  Lo and behold, she got more patients than ever by being faithful to Church teaching.

One day 10 year old John-Paul made a deal for credit at the concession stand, assuring Greg Becker that his father would pay.  As a joke, Greg and I plotted to make John-Paul think that he would have to wash dishes to pay for the food.

Stephanie received her First Holy Communion in the year 2000, but for some reason refused to wear her outfit in the opening procession at Sunday Mass.  It took Mary Ellen Redington to convince her.  Today Stephanie is a teacher and a daily communicant.

In 2005 Naomi, 11 years old, was afraid to go to confession because she forgot the opening prayer.  All are encouraged to make reconciliation a part of the family retreat.  Three of the girls she befriended encouraged and coached her.  “Naomi, it’s easy………just say ‘Bless me father for I have sinned’”.  It was so cute.

        

As a teen, John-Paul loved the basketball tournament and Stephanie played too.  Both were on their high school varsity teams. 

We, especially John-Paul, were thrilled to meet the great Irish singer, Dana, and see her sing at one of the Family Fests.  She was the star performer at World Youth Day 1993 in Denver, singing the theme song, “We Are One Body, the Body of Christ”.  Hear her sing it by clicking on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD4h8dkO2sk.   She also sings Totus Tuus (All Yours, Mary which is on the coat of arms of St. John Paul II).  Familyland takes both Mary and St. John Paul II as its patrons.   Click on https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-mozilla-003&hsimp=yhs-003&hspart=mozilla&p=Dana+Rosemary+Scallon+-+This+is+My+Body#id=15&vid=7960e3fe7b150fc5301fe89e8783c45d&action=view. 

                             

In the year 2000 my sister-in-law from Poland came to visit us and we took her with us for a week at Familyland.  She knows practically no English, but enjoyed the Mass, time to reflect in the chapels, the walks, swimming, and the atmosphere.

Then there are the mundane memories……moving in and making the cabin livable, choosing beds for the kids, keeping the cabin clean, washing dishes late at night at the corner water facet, and cleaning up before leaving.  We weren’t completely isolated from the outside world.  As Chair at the School of Business of the University of Rio Grande, I had to check with my secretary on how things were going every couple of days.

Our most recent memory was Naomi’s graduation from Franciscan University of Steubenville in Nursing.  We stayed at Familyland and commuted to the graduation festivities.  Joseph, Jaga, and myself had a wonderful time, taking a walk in the morning and spending time in the chapel of Redeemer Hall to make it a mini retreat.  When we got locked out, Winnie and Catherine of the Catholic Corps came to our rescue and inspired this article.

We invite readers of this article to submit their own memories of Familyland and we will put them together in the Appendix of this article.  Write to me at paulrsebastian@yahoo.com. 

Families inspire and strengthen each other to have the courage to persevere in raising truly Catholic families with truly Catholic values instead of simply conforming to the prevalent culture and doing what everybody else does.  We must be willing to be counter cultural.   May Catholic Familyland be a force for the restoration of the Catholic culture we once had instead of allowing ourselves to be absorbed by the secular culture and its decadent values.  We must do as Mary asked us to do at Fatima.

         Large families don’t feel out of place in Familyland since they are common.  The families are among like-minded friends and learn from each other especially in regard to homeschooling and raising kids.  What is ridiculed and considered to be weird in our secular culture is normal at Familyland.   

      Chrissy Stapleton of St. Louis Church Gallipolis, Ohio reflects the thinking of many toward the end of their first Family Fest in 2015: “We are thoroughly enjoying ourselves.  We are already making plans for next year!  The kids have made so many friends!”  They come every year now.    

        Join in the fun and grow spiritually too.  For 2017 a family can choose among: June 17-23 | July 1-7 | July 15-21 | July 29-Aug. 4 | Aug. 12-18.  Register as soon or you may have to wait until next year for a cabin unless you stay in a motel, tent, or camper.  The first and last sessions sessions usually have space.  It’s rather expensive, but well worth it.  A vacation at Myrtle Beach or Atlantic City would be very expensive and more so.  To save money you can use a tent, camper, or RV and prepare your own meals.  There is some provision for needy families.  A lot more information on other activities during the year can be found at www.afc.org and http://2catholicmen.blogspot.com/2015/07/what-is-catholic-familyland.html.  For some great videos and photos go to www.youtube.com and type  “Catholic Familyland” in the Search Box. 

        A look at the license plates in the parking lot will show that many families travel from as far away as Florida, Missouri, Illinois, Massachusetts, and beyond.  Indeed Catholic Familyland is a treasure of the American Church and most Catholics in our diocese aren’t even aware of it, which is right under our noses…….15 minutes northwest of Steubenville, Ohio near Bloomingdale on Route 22.

Appendix

Much More Than Summer Family Retreats

           There’s a lot more to the Apostolate of Family Consecration than the five Family Fests at Familyland during the summer. During the off season the AFC has weekend Mini Family Fests around the country.  There’s also the Duc in Altum Youth Retreat (separate for guys and gals), Cana for married couples, and Alone With God Retreats (one for men and another for women).  Workfests are open to able bodied men and women to maintain and improve Familyland as well as to prepare for the new summer season.  They combine prayer, fun, fellowship, and hard work.  For current dates and details go to www.afc.org.

          For the climax of the centenary celebration of the Our Lady of Fatima apparitions on October 13, the Apostolate is sponsoring a pilgrimage to Portugal.  Go to the AFC website.

         Catholic Corps.  The Catholic Corps is the nucleus for the Apostolate of Family Consecration.  They remain as celibate lay men and women, not religious as such.  However, they live in community to grow in holiness under lifelong promises of poverty, chastity, and obedience. 

A Catholic Corps member dialogues with the kids at the Bonfire Rosary.

      Through a dynamic prayer life that includes daily Mass, Rosary, meditative spiritual reading, and Eucharistic devotion, the Catholic Corps is strengthened each day for the work of serving families and drawing them to evangelize other families.  In that way they aspire to ignite the laity through the work and mission of the Family Apostolate.

      Carolyn Stegmann reflects the thinking of all the members of the Catholic Corps: “I made a lifetime commitment to Christ as His bride, in the Catholic Corps.  I believe that Our Lady, St. Joseph, and my love for my country have helped me and the other Catholic Corps members to lay down our lives for families, that they may know and achieve God’s plan for their lives.”                                                                                                      

Red shirted Catholic Corps members at Rosary and Marshmallows at the bonfire.  From left to right are Greg Becker, Rory Freiermuth, Greg Caspers, Jack Heemskerk, and Zennel Sy.

          Disciple Membership includes single or married Catholic faithful who respond to God's universal call to holiness by living the spirituality of the AFC and by helping to carry out its ministry as part of the AFC spiritual family, while maintaining the commitments and duties of their state in life.  Like the Catholic Corps they aspire to grow in holiness and participate in works of evangelization. Disciple Members balance their spiritual, family, apostolic, and career responsibilities while seriously offering to God their time, talent, and treasure through the mission of the AFC.  Disciple Members live the AFC's spirituality of consecration through a commitment to daily prayer, regular formation, and apostolic service.  Involved married couples in the Apostolate are great witnesses.

Disciple Members – Skip and Fanny Lefebre.  Both work for the Apostolate all year round.

         Lay Evangelization Teams (LET) are comprised of families, parents, and singles who gather regularly for prayer, spiritual formation and fellowship, works of service and evangelization, and mutual support. These dynamic groups do not require any membership or formal commitment for people to participate.  LET prayer meetings/study groups may prayerfully read and discuss the Bible, spiritual classics (great books), etc.  The Apostolate supplies videos for additional insights.

          The AFC, particularly LET, promotes the “Family Hour” or “Be Not Afraid Family Hour”.  The large package of DVDs are designed for Catholic television, families, groups of friends or members of the parish who get together in a home for rosary, a homily, discussion, and fellowship.  The mystery meditations are portions of movies on the life of Christ and His mother.  The Apostolate adds a beautiful prayer at the end of each decade after the Fatima prayer:  “All for the sacred and Eucharistic hear of Jesus; all through the sorrowful and immaculate heart of Mary; all in union with St. Joseph.”

          The AFC publishes pamphlets and books such as a handbook of prayers and a two volume Family Catechism of the Catholic Church with explanations and activities for families, since the chief educators of the Faith are not PSR teachers or even priests, but parents.  It has the approval of the American bishops.  In addition the Apostolate produces videos and audios of speakers, catechetical resources, and other educational materials for parishes, schools, families, Catholic radio and television.  These can be obtained from the bookstore, by mail, by calling 1-800-FOR-MARY, or by going to http://store.afc.org/.

                                                                 

                                                                           

One of the books and DVD that the Apostolate of Family Consecration has published.  You can see the available books that can be purchased on line by going to http://store.afc.org.    

                                

Using the Internet.  In addition to the main website at www.afc.org and the store at  http://store.afc.org, the Apostolate had internet television with programs on demand at any time.  The AFC had a special website for the complete Family Catechism in English and Spanish with many links for greater depth.  However, both were discontinued for now.  These websites have tremendous potential and hopefully will be revived when resources and market demand are sufficient to justify such innovative projects.  Their website at www.FamilyHoliness.com with its four step plan to family holiness still exists.  FamilyCatechesis.com, a family guide with video links to supplement parish CCD/PSR programs, is being revamped.

     

The Apostolate had several international branches and even cable television.  The St. Joseph Asian Center in the Archdiocese of Manila (established 1994) in the Philippines did catechetical work and operated a Catholic television channel for several years before losing the satellite on which it had donated space.  A few Filipinos actually joined the Catholic Corps; they really impressed me and especially my wife Jaga, who stayed with them for a week in early 2009 after helping out as a nurse on a medical mission in Manila.

 

El Apostolado para la Consagración de la Familia en México (1999) did catechetical work for several years until native Mexicans were able to take it over.  The AFC also did work in Belgium (2000); Myanmar; Russia; Nigeria (2004); and Portugal. 

The ideal is for missionaries to train dedicated leaders to take over the work and the Apostolate did that to a large extent, especially in Mexico and the Philippines.  In that way the Apostolate’s international work was quite successful. 

The Familyland Television Network was perhaps the Apostolate’s most daring endeavor.  Its studios and large dish were located at Catholic Familyland in the Sacred Heart Complex.  For several years at the turn of the 21^st Century it specialized in wholesome family programing and movies (some great reruns) appropriate for kids of all ages as well as adult programming such as the “Be Not Afraid Family Hour”, interviews, discussions, etc. along with children’s programs.  Jerry Coniker was the host for some of them; he has a great radio and television voice.

 

The Apostolate coexisted quite well with several Protestant groups in sharing the Sky Angel Satellite although it had to be very careful in not offending anyone in a delicate relationship.  Being conservative and traditional helped.  Evangelical families would watch their channels on Sky Angel, but some families would also watch the Familyland Channel……reruns of old Lone Range TV programs, Lassie movies, etc.  When some people would stumble upon Familyland religious programming while surfing, the Familyland Network would be a great ecumenical outreach.

 

It all ended when the Apostolate lost its free space on Sky Angel, which later came down from the sky.  Furthermore, both the Sky Angel group and the Apostolate had financial difficulties.  Sky Angel offered its subscribers a lifetime subscription for $500.  Our family accepted the offer, but lost the money after two years or so.  They would not even give us the Protestant programming after the Familyland Network went off the air.     

Retrenchment.  Eventually the high cost of operations and debt was unsustainable and the Apostolate had to retrench and cut back, specializing in what it does best…….family retreats, publications, and videos.  Such retrenchment is common among great entrepreneurs such as Jerry Coniker, who often overextend the enterprise and expand faster than resources allow.  The Apostolate now has a very good Board of Directors (see www.afc.org) with professional managers.  This is stabilizing the Apostolate financially and putting more caution in making strategic decisions on future expansion. Alan Zimmerer - Director, President, & CEO is accountable to the Board

        Someday, God willing, the Apostolate will again be able to expand after a feasibility study, but at a slower pace in resuming its international outreach and perhaps even have a cable television channel again if the market is there to complement EWTN.  Mother Angelica, its foundress and a great entrepreneur, perceived the Familyland Channel as competition and would not accept its programs for a while.

   Jerry Coniker with his wife Gwen and son converse with St. Pope John-Paul II in the 1990s.

         The Founding Coniker Family.  In 1999, the Conikers were named by Pope John Paul II as one of twenty couples who advised the Pontifical Council for the Family.  In 2004, the pope named Jerry Coniker a consultor for the Council.  In 2007, in a "Decree of Recognition and Approval" issued by Pope Benedict XVI through the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the Apostolate was declared "a private international association of the faithful of pontifical right, with a juridical personality, according to canons 298-311 and 321-329 of the Code of Canon Law." Referring to one of the Apostolate's slogans in his statement at the occasion, Bishop Josef Clemens said: "‘Families evangelizing families’ is not only a beautiful Christian ideal, it is an urgent need in society today, so that the human and Christian values of the family might be promoted in their fullness."

In recognition for his achievements and initiatives, Jerrry Coniker was named a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher, a very prestigious international group.

Gwen Coniker died of cancer in 2002, a very holy death in the presence of her large family.  In June 2007 the Bishop of Steubenville let the cause for her canonization proceed with detailed investigation into her life.  Gwen showed heroic virtue by refusing to abort her eleventh child, Theresa, when her doctor said the pregnancy would burst her uterus and kill her. The baby was delivered safely, and she had two more children.  While our family was eating at one fest, Gwen came to our table and warmly took an interest in our family.

When Jerry Coniker was healthy, he was hands on at the Family Fest and very active.  After each Mass he would make announcements and then have a special program for parents while the kids were in their group activities.  At some activities he was Master of Ceremonies.  Mr. Coniker would mix with the people and get to know them.  I remember one night in 2005 when he talked with people visiting with each other in front of their tents and RVs after the children were in bed.        

Jerry Coniker, close to 79, is suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, the same as St. Pope John Paul II did.  As the newly canonized St. Jacinta and St. Francisco did and Mary instructed at Fatima, Mr. Coniker is offering his suffering for sinners.  At the same time he still has a significant influence upon the direction of the Apostolate although unable to have a day to day role in operations.

                                         Gwen and Jerry Coniker with St. Mother Teresa 

Notable Collaborators. St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta joined the Advisory Council in 1976 (see http://paulrsebastianphd.blogspot.com/2016/09/176-st-mother-teresa-new-saint-of-mercy.html).  At her funeral the Conikers were invited by Fox News to offer commentaries.  Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family (1990–2008); and then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger endorsed the AFC.  Cardinal Mario Luigi Ciappi, O.P., who had served as the papal theologian for five popes, including John Paul II, became the Apostolate's theological director.

One of the Apostolate's long time collaborators is the Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze, former President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (1984–2002) and then the prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship (2002–2008) before retiring.  He came to Familyland every year to rest and make many videos for the Apostolate with Jerry Coniker.  When there, he concelebrated Mass with the Apostolate’s priests and gave homilies. 

Francis Cardinal Arinze

Several years ago I had the privilege of meeting him after his talk.  Having much experience in trying to get along with Islam in Nigeria, he would not publicly say that Islam was a religion of violence, but privately affirmed the awful truth.  His explanations of the Catechism of the Catholic Church are both simple and insightful.  His videos are still available in the Familyland bookstore.  The Cardinal also participated in fundraisers.  He’ll be 85 years old this year on the Feast of All Saints. 

  

          The Apostolate For Family Consecration has had its ups and downs, but Mary and her Son have always been there with them in carrying the Apostolate through it and purifying its members in the process.  The AFC remains a national treasure in the small Diocese of Steubenville, Ohio.  Over the years, it has made a very significant mark upon thousands of families and their children from all over the country in their family retreat center,........over 1000 a year........and many more through its publications and videos.  May it slowly restore the Catholic culture that its participating families bring back from Familyland to their parish communities.