(147) The Great Dignity and Value of the Developmentally, Mentally, and Physically Disabled: The Funeral of Theresa Pappas With the Dignity She Deserved........81 years institutionalized, her life had meaning.

AMDG

A work crew of GDC residents and staff that often cleans up the grounds  

at parks and cemeteries to give something back to the community.

"Disabled does not mean disabled."  Because of privacy laws, GDC could

 not release a photo of Theresa.

          Theresa Pappas died on October 30 at the age of 88 after 59 years at the Gallipolis Developmental Center (http://dodd.ohio.gov/residential/Pages/Gallipolis-Developmental-Center---.aspx) in Gallipolis in southeastern Ohio.  She died without family because she outlived them all.  She was actually institutionalized since the age of seven, a total of 81 years.  No one knew of her death except the GDC residents and staff and anybody who might notice her name in the obituary section of the local newspaper.  The Gallipolis Development Center was a Civil War hospital and in the years that followed treated mainly epileptics and later the developmentally and mentally disabled with special needs.  At its peak GDC had about 2,700 residents, but in the last ten years the State of Ohio like other states has elected to de-institutionalize and put the residents into group homes in their original communities.  Thus the number at GDC has dwindled down to 88.

            Since Theresa was baptized Catholic according to GDC records, the Administration asked Fr. Thomas Hamm to conduct a service at the Cremeens Funeral Home and bury her at the St. Louis Church Cemetery.  But then we thought:  “Is that all?”  According to her great dignity as a human being created in the image and likeness of God and for whom Christ suffered and died, Theresa deserved much more than that.  Thus a family yielded its Mass intention for Monday November 3, the day of her internment and Fr. Tom with Fr. Tim Davison, concelebrated a memorial Mass to honor Theresa’s life and pray for the repose of her soul.  Father began by announcing the Mass intention.  He designated three scripture readings and a Gospel suitable for a funeral.  His homily was special for Theresa as were several beautiful hymns that we sang with Martha Edelmann, our choir director, at the piano.

Theresa Pappas

            Allie Clark, who happened to be the lector at the Mass, exclaimed with great surprise:  “I knew her while a nurse at GDC in the 1990s!”  We also attended the funeral service and burial on a crisp but beautiful, sunny day.  GDC, an entity of the state, did all it could to give Theresa a funeral and burial with dignity.  It was simple but beautiful.  Laid out in a white casket and wearing a nice red dress, one would never guess that Theresa spent most of her life at GDC.  Appearing very peaceful and dignified, one would think that she was a prominent senior citizen of the community.  Over 30 members of her GDC family (residents and staff) were present for the service and internment, including Margaret Mossbarger, the superintendent.  All those present received a memory card in Theresa’s honor.  Gratifying is that GDC, a state institution, treated Theresa Pappas at the funeral, not as a number in a bureaucratic way, but as a person with great dignity.

            Theresa was placed in GDC 59 years ago because of developmental disabilities and special needs.  Allie Clark, a retired nurse, remembers Theresa as a “happy person, always smiling, a beautiful person, very aware although a little slow in grasping.  She had a great sense of humor, frequently laughed, and was fun to tease”.  She enjoyed teasing the staff as well.  Allie observed: That behavior is not typical of retarded people; she may have been misdiagnosed" when admitted as a youth. Theresa was transferred from the Columbus State School to GDC in 1955, when Elvis Presley took the country by storm.  She remained an Elvis fan until she died and was buried wearing an Elvis Presley bracelet.

            Rita Hager, another retired nurse of 29 years at GDC, described her as "sociable and would come to talk to people.  She liked to participate in the Activities Center and was active in the GDC Garden Club.  She was able to take care of herself, bathe, and dress.  She did not have any behavioral problem."    Mary Holly, an administrative assistant at GDC, described her as "a happy and kind person, loving, friendly, and funny at times.  She would get attached to people and ask for photos of them and their families."

            Theresa is typical of GDC residents, according to Ms. Clark.  They are happy for the most part and do not want to leave after living in that secure environment for many years.  Their simplicity is beautiful, enjoying the little things of life.  As the children Christ talks about in the Bible, they’ll probably get to heaven before all of us.  Some are developmentally disabled; others are mentally ill.  Some have multiple physical and mental disabilities and ailments, even bedridden under total care.  Allie Clark remembers one patient who was blind, deaf, and speechless as Helen Keller.  Yet their lives have tremendous value and dignity.

            Fr. Thomas Hamm believes that "because of their mental disabilities and physical handicaps, Society looks upon them as not important, as disposable.  Putting them on the streets uncared for is really passive euthanasia."    

Theresa Pappas

            Was Theresa’s life a waste?  Absolutely not!  Did she have a purpose in life?  Yes indeed!  Theresa taught the people around her that one can be happy with a simple life if treated well.  There was no bitterness or any complaining or whining attitude regarding her lot.  Theresa’s kindness indicated that she was able to communicate love, an example to all.  Theresa was certainly prepared for eternity and is probably holier than most of us.  She was not weighed down by possessions and “stuff” nor did she have the competitive drive to obtain wealth and more “stuff”.  

Theresa must have learned a lot about the faith since Fr. Adolph Golubiewski (1950-1980) and Fr. William Myers (1980 – 2011), past pastors of St. Louis Church, Gallipolis, Ohio were employed as chaplains at GDC for much of Theresa’s life.  They said Mass there every Sunday for many years.  According to Ellen Schopis now well into her eighties, “Fr. G sometimes fought for the needs of the residents as for pajamas in one case and for their rights.  The Catholic Women’s Club of St. Louis Church would go to GDC every Sunday to visit them”.  Ellen enjoyed the visits, calling the residents "beautiful people".    

Furthermore, those who took care of Theresa as employees depended upon GDC for employment over the last century.  They as well as volunteers had the opportunity and satisfaction of giving a little of themselves to the residents and students of GDC, Galco, and the Guiding Hand School.  That experience is enriching and facilitates spiritual growth.  The members of the St. Louis Council of the Knights of Columbus have been enriched by holding an annual special Olympics for the Guiding Hand School for the last 15 years or so.  We enjoyed their enthusiasm and simplicity.   Seeing GDC residents forces us to recognize that we cannot take our personal gifts for granted and to realize that we have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day and always.

Pope Francis practices what he preaches.  In the top two photos he genuinely communicates love to two boys with cerebral palsy.  The bigger boy is wearing a World Cup Soccer Champion Argentina jersey.gr

On the right he embraces a man with a severe skin disease.  The Pontiff demonstrates  Church teaching in action........ that every human being has the same dignity and value.

“Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).

Most families with developmentally disabled children consider them to be a blessing despite the difficulties.  These special needs kids add their beautiful simplicity and a lot of love to the family which makes the members realize what is really important in life.  When an abnormal baby is found in utero, many couples sadly elect to abort and snuff out what could be a difficult but beautiful and even fruitful life.  There is a reason for it all. 

St. John Neumann beautifully described the inherent dignity and value of the developmentally, mentally, and physically disabled:  “Everyone has a mission; has a work.  We are not sent into this world for nothing; we are not born at random.  God sees every one of us.  God creates every soul for a purpose.  God needs every one of us.  God has an end for each of us; we are all equal in God’s sight.  As Christ has his work, we too have ours; as He rejoiced to do his work, we must rejoice in ours also.”

(146) Bob & Mary Murphy: 60 Years of Marriage They did it; so can we..........or until death do us part.

AMDG

-Published in the Gallia Hometown Herald November 7, 2014.  Click on    http://galliaherald.com/blog/2014/11/07/60-years-they-did-it-so-can-we/ 

- Published in the Sunday Times Sentinel (Gallipolis, OH) November 9, 2014 p D1 

Mary and Bob Murphy After 60 Years Together

      Today marks the 60^th Wedding Anniversary of Bob and Mary Murphy, pillars of St. Louis Church since 1992.  What a tremendous witness to the institution of marriage which is so fragile and devalued today!  So many marriages can’t get past 10 years and they made it to 60!  By word and example what can they teach us about marriage as God intended it to be and how to keep it going?

       

         Bob and Mary are products of the “Great Generation” that grew up during the Great Depression and won the war that completely absorbed the Country.  Bob lied about his age (then 17) to serve in the United States Navy for four years toward the end of World War II.  In 1949 Bob returned to the B.F. Goodrich Tire & Rubber Company to work on the assembly line during the night shift and as a student studying History at the University of Akron during the day.

 

         In the early 1950s Bob was introduced to a beautiful Chemist by the name of Mary Bussan, who was working in the lab of his company’s competitor, Firestone next door.  Akron was then the Rubber Capital of the World.  Mary had graduated from Clarke College, a small all women Catholic school in Dubuque, Iowa with majors in Math and Chemistry.  Their friendship grew and Bob proposed.  During the marriage preparation, Fr. Wenchester discovered that Bob was not Catholic and so invited him into the fold.  He became a strong and devout Catholic and today never misses his daily rosary.  There's a lot of truth in the observation of more than one priest:  "The best Catholics are converts" because they discovered the truth.  Cradle Catholics tend to take the faith for granted.  Bob and Mary were finally married on November 6, 1954.

The Newly Weds on November 6, 1964

 Bob and Mary did not have the unrealistic expectations that ruin so many marriages today right from the start…….i.e., illusions of a fairy tale marriage in which everything would be bliss and they would live happily ever after.  When it doesn’t happen that way, there comes the breakup.  Bob and Mary took their marriage vows seriously…….. “for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; until death do us part.”  They knew that their marriage would have ups and downs, joy and grief, triumphs and disappointments…….and so it was.  Divorce was never an option.  In fact it’s impossible when there’s firm resolve, true and complete mutual self-giving, and dying to self with God at the center.  

         Bob climbed up the corporate ladder within the sales force to the executive level as Coordinator of Private Brands, but at a great price.  As many successful sales people under pressure, he fell into alcoholism while entertaining prospective customers on a daily basis, but Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and especially his wife Mary helped him through the recovery.  In retirement Bob used that great victory over self to help others conquer their addictions.  It was unflappable Mary who helped Bob keep his Irish temper in check; she kept the peace.  When things got tough, they confronted it and tapped the graces of the sacrament of Matrimony.  Belonging to a Catholic charismatic prayer community also was a big help.  They both have a solid faith and love that kept their marriage together.  More than once in our many conversations in the past has Bob verbalized his gratitude to the support of his wife Mary over the years.  Many a successful man attributes his success in life and even salvation to the loving support, encouragement, and prayers of his wife.  Of course, that works both ways.

       The fruits of their marriage were six children. Mary was a full time mother.  They lived through the grief of losing baby Kathleen a day after birth, but God blessed their family with a religious vocation as Sister Mary became a dedicated missionary nun, giving her life to God and His people of Mexico.  There’s also Coleen Smith, Maureen Kormanik, Patty Wallen, Kevin Murphy, and Bridget Cline.  Like many other heartbroken parents of the best of families that did everything right, they are praying two of them back into the Church.  Their family of eight continues to multiply; the extended family includes 16 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren that have come along with more to come.

           Retirement in 1992 did not slow Bob down.  Born in Vinton, he returned to his roots in Gallia County with Mary and became an alcoholism counselor for almost five years.  During his spare time, he became a staunch fighter for the pro-life cause and was the grand knight (president) of the St. Louis Council of the Knights of Columbus.  Mary was a CCD teacher and ran the Vacation Bible School for many years.  She helped Bob with his pro-life work.  Today Mary continues as a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the choir. 

        Although Bob could not be as active in his 80s, he’s still there hauling his grandkids to the Parish School of Religion and McDonalds too for motivation.  Bob (86) and Mary (83) also help their widowed daughter to raise the five grandkids who live next door.  Having helped her parents raise her nine brothers and sisters plus her own six, that’s no big deal for Mary.  For Bob with only one sibling, a lot of kids was an adjustment and over the years he became very good with them.

         I asked them several questions to find out what kept their marriage ticking for 60 years.  Their answers are summarized below.

 

        Joys and Problems.  There were many joys........the births, the baptisms, the weddings, etc.  There were many problems to overcome as described above.  Mary observed:  “I don’t see obstacles.  I just deal with them, riding with the bumps.  That’s life.”  Bob’s greatest joy is “being married to a lovely woman who had faith and trust in me, taught me how to be a Christian, and brought me to the Lord.” 

           Secrets in Keeping a Marriage Going for 60 Years.  Mary simply says: “Put one foot in front of the other and keep going”.  She doesn’t get upset and stays on course with a quiet determination and faith…….a real gift.  Bob believes the secret is in faith, trust, kindness, tolerance, and patience.

 

            What made your marriage work?  What kept it together?  Mary credits it to prayer and faith:  “Make choices along the way and trust in the Lord”.   Clearly, prayer, faith, and trust in God form the foundation and the core of her great inner strength.  Bob seconded that and added “trusting each other, mutual kindness, patience, and tolerance”. 

       Advice for Struggling Young Couples.  Mary urges them to “talk things out; keep communications open; share your fears”.  Bob reemphasizes: “keep the faith and develop tolerance, patience, and kindness. 

        

          The parishioners of St. Louis Church and friends are invited  to the 10 am Mass on Sunday November 9 to celebrate this great 60 year milestone and immediately following honor Bob and Mary at the monthly Knights of Columbus Benefit Breakfast for a memorial to the unborn in the cemetery .  You can send cards to the Murphys at 13467 State Route 160; Vinton, OH 45686.  

(145) Knights of Columbus Council 3335 St. Louis Gallipolis Receives International Award

         As the Public Relations Officer of the Knights of Columbus Council 3335 St. Louis Gallipolis, I submitted the following press release to the local media.  It follows the national Knights of Columbus press release format and model for the Star Award.  I adapted it and added information particular to our council.   It was picked up by the following entities: 

*Gallia Hometown Herald October 17, 2014

http://galliaherald.com/blog/2014/10/17/local-knights-of-columbus-council-receives-international-award/

*Sunday Times-Sentinel Page 2C October 26, 2014

Knights of Columbus

Council 3335

St. Louis Church

85 State Street

Gallipolis, OH 45631

PRESS RELEASE

                                                                             Contact: Paul R. Sebastian

                                                                                                                  Public Relations Officer

                                                                                                                  740-245-9404

LOCAL KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL AWARD

            Knights of Columbus Council 3335 of St. Louis Church in Gallipolis has earned the distinction of Star Council, one of the organization’s top awards, for the 2013-14 fraternal year (under the tenure of Grand Knight Matt Bokovitz).  The organization’s headquarters, located in New Haven, Connecticut, made the announcement.  The award recognizes overall excellence in the areas of membership recruitment and retention, promotion of the fraternal insurance program, and sponsorship of service oriented activities in the parish and the surrounding community.  The award was presented to the membership by the District #53 Deputy Don Frymyer of Pomeroy at the recent Council meeting.

            In announcing the local winner of the Star Council Award, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, chief executive officer of the Catholic fraternal organization, said:  “Please accept my sincere congratulations upon attaining this prestigious award.  Your dedication to the Order is seen in the high standard of excellence you have achieved.  At the same time, I encourage you to carry forward this enthusiasm to meet the challenges that will face the Knights of Columbus in the years ahead.  May this award be a reminder and an inspiration to the members of your council to continue to promote the ideals of Columbianism for the good of the Church, your community, and the Order.”

            “Receiving the Star Council Award is quite an honor for us.  We’re very proud of this accomplishment and will continue to serve our Church and the people of Gallia County with renewed energy,” proclaimed recently elected Grand Knight Mike Haas, head of the St. Louis council.

            The Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic lay organization.  It provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service to the Church, their communities, and youth.  With more than 1.8 million members in over 15,000 councils around the world, the Knights of Columbus annually donates more than $170 million and 70 million hours of service to charitable causes.  The most prominent community activities of the St. Louis Council include the Coats for Kids campaign and Special Olympics at GDC.  Please visit kofc.org and kofcohio.org for more information.

            All faithful Catholic men of the area are invited to join the Knights of Columbus (call Bruce Davison at 256-1427).  Members enjoy great fellowship along with family activities and opportunities to serve the parish and the community.  A big bonus is the life insurance program to protect families.  It ranks at the very top as to financial stability among all insurance organizations and companies.  Any profits do not go to stockholders, but rather are returned to the insured in rebates and used for a number of charitable causes.

(144) Highlights of the 2014 Respect Life Conference of the Diocese of Steubenville

AMDG

            Each one of us has a very important part in promoting life that is being snuffed out in over a million pregnant mothers in the United States alone each year and also more and more in the terminally ill who society believes have outlived their usefulness.  To be effective in promoting life in our families, among our friends, in our parishes, in our communities, and in loving dialogues with pro-abortion people as well as young girls contemplating abortion, we must know what we are talking about.  We must be informed.  With such excellent and expert speakers, it was disappointing that only about 75 people from the entire diocese attended the recent Diocesan Respect life Conference in Marietta.  Since this is Respect Life month, I would like to share a few highlights of that excellent conference.

Right to Life from Conception to Natural Death

                                                                 End of Life Issues

Jason B. Negri, MS, JD, the Assistant Director of the Patients Rights Council (www.patientsrightscouncil.org), author of many articles, and a practicing attorney gave the keynote address not on abortion, but on a growing threat…….euthanasia.  It is legal in some states and even where it is illegal, there is often de facto euthanasia.  “It happens all the time that the patient is receiving comfort care and suddenly s/he’s gone since death is hastened”.  Some experts predict that it will increase especially when treatment is too costly and euthanasia is cheaper.  An insurance company may pay for euthanasia, but not life saving treatment.  In Belgium and the Netherlands, 32% of euthanasia is done without the patient’s consent.  The same could happen here if trends continue.   Then medical professionals would have to participate in assisted suicide and abortion or lose their jobs.

            Thus Mr. Negri recommends advanced directives as a living will with your wishes stated or a medical power of attorney in case of dementia and inability to function.  The problem with an advanced directive is who interprets the document.  It could be somebody in the hospital with a bias for euthanasia.  If your wishes are not specifically stated, most states accept the decision of first the spouse and second the adult children.  It could also be a hospital board that may not be your advocate.

The Church does not require vitalism…….sustaining life in the terminally ill as long as possible.   “As Christians we should not be afraid of death and as St. Francis even welcome it to be with God.  Most people prefer to die at home in the presence of their loved ones.  However there is a big distinction between allowing the terminally ill patient to die naturally and killing him.  The benefit verses the burden should be considered in deciding whether to give the patient more quimo, keeping him on a ventilator, etc.  However, food and water must be given to the patient unless the body is shutting down and cannot process it.  It is not medical treatment, but normative even if through a tube.  That is essential to comfort care.  Death must not be hastened as by an overdose.  It is form of coercion to tell the patient “Maybe assisted suicide is an option”, implying that s/he is a burden.  Of course, pain should be and invariably can be alleviated even though the patient is offering it up.

            I might add that euthanasia is evil not only because it is “mercy” killing, but because it deprives the patient of the time needed to prepare spiritually for eternity.  We don’t know how God uses that additional time.  There are great spiritual benefits in offering up suffering as a prayer for peace, the Church, and loved ones in faith and trust in God.  Such an attitude is a path to sanctity (see my blog #133).

How can Society allow the destruction of so many miracles?

Post Abortion Healing

Lynette Hawrot, a licensed clinical counselor, asserted from her experience that post abortion trauma is very real despite denials by the pro-abortion camp that it does not exist.  “At least 80% of women suffer great guilt, although some 10% don’t.”   In addition there is anger, depression, and often alcoholism.   Common is “I know God forgives me, but I can’t forgive myself”.   One priest in the audience revealed that some 15 girls confessed to an abortion and the common thread was that they hear a baby crying at night.  Ms. Howrot confirmed that commonality.   

Therapy may include writing a letter to the aborted baby after giving him/her a name; bringing flowers to her; putting a teddy bear in a corner of the house; using www.rachelsvineyard.org or www.HealingHearts.org; and of course, confession.  The women must forgive themselves and must accept God’s mercy because many feel that their abortion is so evil that God won’t forgive them.   She recommended the books “Forbidden Grief, the Unspoken Pain of Abortion” by Theresa Burke and “Unplanned” by Abby Johnson on her experience working in a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic.

The Need for Conscience Protection

            Amy McInerny of the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment (www.nchla.org & www.endroe.org) updated us on what’s current and proposed in Congress.  The “No Taxpayer funding for Abortion Act” was voted down in 2010.  Also introduced by Chris Smith (R-NJ) is the “Abortion Insurance Disclosure Act”.  The Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby Decision held that the contraceptive mandate as applied to closely held for–profit corporations violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).  The Health Care Conscience Rights Act (HCCRA) was introduced in both houses, but needs your support via letters to your congressmen.  The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a 2007 Massachusetts law that made it a crime to stand on a public sidewalk within 35 feet of an entrance or drive to an abortion clinic because it violated the First Amendment.    

Reacting to the Hobby Lobby case, Senate liberals introduced the so called “Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act” that would revoke conscience rights now guaranteed by RFRA (“Restoration of Freedom of Religion Act”) for employers and could empower federal officials to mandate abortion in health plans.  It failed by only two votes.  The “Women’s Health Protection Act” would mandate that abortion be treated as a routine medical procedure.   That would knock down almost every state or federal law that seeks to restrain or regulate abortion.  I might add that a few weeks ago our 17 year old son was refused an eye exam until he received parental permission by law, but a 16 year old girl can get an abortion and the parents may never know.

             We must urge our congressmen to vote for pro-life legislation.  Letters to congressmen are very effective.  She repeated the quote: “When the government fears the people, that’s liberty; when the people fear the government, that’s tyranny”.  She suggested that we follow the admonition of Pope Benedict XVI: “When you speak the truth, speak with charity”.  The United States Catholic Bishops Conference website (www.usccb.org) gives updates on legislation.

Babies were tremendous witnesses in the 2012 March for Life

Challenges Faced By Medical Professionals

            Dan Halrot, a pharmacist, would not be able to work in conscience for most drugstores.  There are an estimated 1,894,000 abortions per year due to the pill.  The use of contraceptives actually increase pregnancy rates because the false sense of security increases sexual activity and the failure rate is very significant.  There is indeed a correlation between the pill and breast cancer despite denials of the so called experts.   Many vaccines are created using aborted fetal cell lines (see www.soundchoice.org).  Children of God for Life (www.cogforlife.org) provides a list of products that use fetal cell lines.

 

            One obstetrician observed that seeing a cadaver was a life changing experience because he thought that there must have been something that gave this mass of tissues life.

            Halrot encouraged pro-lifers: “We have the truth.  Be firm; promulgate the truth.  We’re the lighthouse and cannot move and adjust course as a ship can.  We live in the Church and go to the world.”

            Another speaker advocated the positive in pro-life campaigns…….showing the beauty of a baby’s development from conception to birth and beyond.

Mass & Homily by Bishop Monforton

            He introduced his homily singing: “Let your light shine through the darkness”.  We are not alone.  He noted that most girls who come for an abortion at Ohio University are freshmen.  If the guy says: “I support you in your decision”, there’s a 90% probability that the girl will keep the baby.  Teaching the kids in the 8^th grade about the evils of abortion is too late.  The culture already has them indoctrinated.  Kids learn from their parents.  This was evident by the experience of our daughter as a babysitter.  She played “Mommy” with a little girl, who said:  “I’m going to have my tubes tied”.

                As a postscript, let me share the true story of Jane Roe, actually Norma McCorvey of the Roe v Wade Supreme Court Decision.  Click on http://endroe.org/roebio.aspx. 

(143) Rosary in the Park: the Public Square Rosary Rally in Gallipolis, Ohio........You can organize one in your community.

AMDG

       Every year St. Louis Church and Knights of Columbus Council 3335 St. Louis Gallipolis sponsors a Public Square Biblical Rosary Prayer Rally in the city park along the main street in the commerical area of Gallipolis, a rural town of about 5000 on the Ohio River.  Our hope is that this blog will stimulate other communities around the country to do the same at noon on the Saturday closest to October 13, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima.  It was October 13, 1917 that Mary sent as a sign, the "Miracle of the Sun" in which the sun seemed to spin and fall from the sky.  The well documented phenomena was seen for a radius of some 25 miles.  See blogs #95 & #96 for more detail.    

         We were one of 12,629 rosary rallies all over the country.  That, however, is only a small fraction of all the communities of the United States.  Any church or Knights of Columbus council can organize one.  Simply contact the America Needs Fatima organization at www.americaneedsfatima.org.  They will provide materials, including a large banner for the occasion.  It could be held by two people or attached to two stakes. 

        Promoting the Rally.  After describing the rally, we will discuss promoting the event.  If he were alive today, St. Paul would use every modern means at his disposal.  That section includes samples of our promotion.  They include 1) a church bulletin announcement, 2) a flyer and church bulletin insert, 3) a blurb for the community calendar or local briefs of a local newspaper to appear daily for a week or two, and 4) Word of Mouth.  Most of the members of the parish and the community will not come, but the promotion makes people aware of the need for prayer and the rosary.  The rally is a marvelous profession of faith to those who are passing by and creates in a small way a culture of prayer.  The sick and the shut-ins can be asked to participate from their homes.  Their prayers are powerful.  

            Below are a couple of views of the Gallipolis City Park where the rosary rally was held along 2nd St. in easy view of cars passing by on the main thoroughfare through town .

Prayer in the Park

Photo and caption are reprinted from the Gallipolis Daily Tribune October 14, 2014

Mike Haas, back, passes out hymn books to people who turned out for Saturday’s “Public Square Biblical Rosary Prayer Rally” in Gallipolis City Park. The event, which took place by the gazebo, invited people of all faiths to “answer a call for prayer and sacrifice in reparation, to pray the rosary for world peace, to stop the onslaught of ISIS and to save our country from immorality and secularism.” Also pictured is Father Thomas Hamm, of St. Louis Catholic Church, talking with one of the prayer event organizers, Paul Sebastian.

         To our surprise Michael Johnson, the editor of the Gallipolis Daily Tribune came to cover our Public Square Rosary Rally.  After giving us daily blurbs for a week, he put the photo and description above on the front page and in the internet edition at www.mydailytribune.com.  In addition the internet newspaper, Gallia Hometown Herald (www.galliaherald.com) put it on their community calendar.  Never has our Rosary Rally had such great coverage.  This was great publicity for both St. Louis Church and the Knights of Columbus.  The two knights in  the photo are wearing the 4^th Degree ceremonial Knights of Columbus regalia as honor guards.  The cape, chapeau, and sword resemble the formal dress worn by knights in the time of Christopher Columbus. 

 

            Although Saturday October 11 was a cool overcast day, the turnout for the Rosary Rally was the best ever in the Gallipolis City Park overlooking the Ohio River in the downtown area…….44 men, women, children, and even babies.   The Gallipolis Public Square Rosary Rally joined 12,629 rallies all over the United States, praying the rosary at noon.  The Public Square Rosary Rally was founded by the America Needs Fatima group (see americaneedsfatima.org).  Their goal is to promote Mary’s message at Fatima, Portugal in 1917…….prayer, particularly the rosary for peace, penance, reparation for sin, repentance. 

 

James Davison introduced the rally to the Gallipolis City Park in 2008 or so.  While he was serving our country in the army, we continued his legacy every year since 2011 (see blogs #6 & # 100 for previous reports) on the Saturday closest to the feast of Our Lady of Fatima and the Miracle of the Sun on October 13.  These rallies are also the legacy of Fred Edelmann, who asked the Knights of Columbus from his deathbed to organize and lead the rosary before Sunday Mass. 

        In previous rallies, we gave a 10 minute introduction to the rosary and why this rally is important with some history.  That can be found in Blog #100.  This time we sang three hymns that included "Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace" at the beginning, "Immaculate Mary" in the middle, and "America the Beautiful at the end.  We gathered in the park on the 2nd Street side which had the most traffic and behind the small Veterans Memorial.  This made it more meaningful in that we were praying for peace when there would be less need for a large military and mostly career soldiers would be used to keep the peace.

    

          The children added a special flavor to the rally with their beauty and pure hearts.  A crying baby was like music, no bother at all.  The babies present were very symbolic of the pro-life movement to put a stop to abortion, which snuffs out the lives of over a million little human beings in the womb each year.  The children were at their best behavior with great reverence.  It was most impressive.  Some of the kids even knelt down on the grass.  It was a sacrifice for the people who have difficulty standing and eventually had to sit on a nearby park bench.  Some of the sick, the bedridden, the shut-ins, and others joined us at home.  Fr. Thomas Hamm, our pastor, led the rosary.  He preceded each of the joyful mysteries with a Bible reading and a meditation of Pope Francis.  We did the Joyful Mysteries because non-Catholics would be more comfortable with them and their scriptural content.  It was all a beautiful witness and profession of faith.  THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING!

PROMOTION OF THE ROSARY RALLY

1) POSSIBLE ROSARY RALLY CHURCH BULLETIN BLURBS 

Public Square Rosary Prayer Rally – Saturday October 11 at 12 pm noon in the Gallipolis City Park by the gazebo on 2^nd St.  Please join us and thousands all over the country to follow Mary's appeal made at Fatima in 1917 for prayer and sacrifice in reparation......to pray the rosary for world peace and to save our country from immorality and secularism. The need is urgent!  As history shows, there is great power in public prayer because of its witness of faith and appeal for repentance.  Prayer has healed millions, ended wars, overthrown dictators, stopped the advance of militant Islam into Europe in 1456, 1571 and again in 1683 at Vienna.  Today we must pray to stop ISIS.  Let us all come together for a powerful witness.  See www.americaneedsfatima.org and blog #125 on the Power of the Rosary in World History.

www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Jun1997/feature2.asp. www.fatima.org/essentials/facts/miracle.asp, www.familytheater.org,

www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Jun1997/feature2.asp.

2) FLYER AND CHURCH BULLETIN INSERT

PUBLIC SQUARE ROSARY PRAYER RALLY

*To Pray for World Peace
 and

*That God Would Save Our Country from Immorality and Secularism 
*And to Stop the Onslaught of ISIS.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 11 at 12 noon 

Gallipolis City Park Gazebo on 2nd St. 

*Join us and thousands all over the country to follow Mary's appeal made at Fatima in 1917 for prayer and sacrifice in reparation.

*Bring your families too because

 “The family that prays together, stays together.”

      There is great power in public prayer because

    of its witness of faith and appeal for repentance.

          The rosary is very biblical.  It is a litany of repetitive prayer, which acts like background music, while the main focus is to meditate upon different mysteries in the life of Christ and His mother, grouped according to the joyful, luminous, sorrowful, and glorious events portrayed or alluded to in the Bible.  “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”  See www.americaneedsfatima.org.

(over)

            Yes, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of”.  This is attributed to the great British author, Alfred Lord Tennyson.  But Fr. Patrick Peyton, the Rosary Priest, used this saying to promote the family prayer and the rosary on national television and radio and all over the world in the 20^th Century.  On his Family Theater, he enlisted most of the top Hollywood stars of the day to volunteer their help……from Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby to James Dean and Loretta Young.  Someday Fr. Peyton will be a saint.  His cause is advancing.

            This Public Square Rosary Prayer Rally is our response and the response of thousands of others all over the Country to Mary’s appeal at Fatima, Portugal in 1917 for repentance, reparation, and to pray the rosary for peace.  Her last appearance to the three shepherd children was accompanied by the spectacular documented Miracle of the Sun as a sign of authenticity of her message on October 13, 1917.  Visible as far as 25 miles away, the sun appeared to spin and fall from the sky after a sustained downpour.  Thus the date of the annual Public Square Biblical Rosary Prayer Rally is always the Saturday closest to that date, in the range October 10 – October 16.  See my blogs #95 and #96 at paulrsebastianphd.blogspot.com.

            Today our country is full of problems, most with a moral component.......wars in Syria, Iraq,  and Afghanistan, that concern us, rampant crime, poverty, over 6.1% unemployment, out-of-control government deficits and debt, broken families, pornography, promiscuity, endemic sexually transmitted diseases, cohabitation, abortion, euthanasia, etc. They seem to be intractable.  Our best brains cannot solve these problems and we sometimes feel helpless.  Clearly, we need divine help.        

            There is great power in public prayer because of its witness of faith and appeal for repentance.  It’s a great profession of faith!  For example, the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Austria in 1955 and the peaceful overthrow of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines in 1986 are attributed to public prayer.  In Manila, people praying with their rosaries in hand stopped a tank attempting to disperse a demonstration of thousands. 

Prayer stopped the advance of militant Islam into Europe in the Battle of Belgrade in 1456;  the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571 (the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary); and the Battle of Vienna September 11 & 12, 1683.  Now you know why Osama Bin Laden chose 9/11 for his War on America.   

  

Today we are facing another onslaught of radical Islam.  First it was El Qaida and now another group , in Iraq and Syria even more brutal.  They call themselves the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or ISIS.  This is but another chapter in the 1400 year old war between Western Civilization and militant Islam which takes the Quran very literally and proselytizes by force and brutality.  Let us pray.

Your participation makes a difference.  There is power in numbers, all praying together.  If you cannot come, you can still pray at home, preferably at noon or later if more convenient.  The prayers of the sick and offering their crosses for this cause is most effective.

           Please participate in the Public Square Biblical Rosary Prayer Rally and join us and thousands of others in prayer…..all over the USA on Saturday October 11 at 12 noon in the Gallipolis City Park between the gazebo and the Veterans Memorial facing 2nd Street.  Two Knights in full regalia will act as an honor guard.  We will be using the meditations of Pope Francis.

3) FOR LOCAL BRIEFS OR COMMUNITY CALENDAR OF THE NEWSPAPER   

Public Square Biblical Rosary Prayer Rally – Saturday October 11 at 12 pm noon in the Gallipolis City Park by the gazebo on 2^nd St.  All faiths are invited to join us and thousands all over the country to answer the call for prayer and sacrifice in reparation......to pray the rosary (meditations with repetitive prayer as background) for world peace and to stop the onslaught of ISIS and to save our country from immorality and secularism. The need is urgent!  As history shows, there is great power in public prayer because of its witness of faith and appeal for repentance.  Prayer has healed millions, ended wars, overthrown dictators, stopped the advance of militant Islam into Europe in 1456, 1571, and again in 1683.  See www.americaneedsfatima.org.

4) WORD OF MOUTH

            Most people don't read the church bulletin in detail and some not at all.  Many give only a quick glance at flyers.  Using an e-mail list of people helps, but many don''t use it much.  Facebook seems to be quite effective.  The most effective form of advertising  of all is word of mouth.  Asking people one on one is difficult and time consuming, but very effective.  That gives them the impression that their presence is important (see Blog #141).  In other words, pass the word among acquaintances at the parish.  Key family figures are often very effective in mobilizing the immediate as well as the extended family.  The local Knights of Columbus council, the Catholic Women's Club, and the parish youth group can be very effective.   Even though many of them will not come, they are made more aware of the need for prayer.