February 25, 2015
Dear Friends in Jesus and in the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Greetings from myself, our staff in St. Francis, and my brother priests who are actively involved in the MMP.
All of us in the Movement follow the Blessed Mother wholeheartedly because, when we are gathered in our cenacles and when we read her messages, we feel her “caress” (550g) and thus we are made aware that she has been preparing us to live through these very difficult times.
Directives for our Cenacles
The following were discussed at the 2014 international meeting, when the statutes were approved:
1- Recite three times the prayer that the Blessed Mother taught us: “Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse.”
2- The Holy Rosary (normally five decades)
3- Prayers for the Holy Father (one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be) We should also add one Hail Mary for the Director-General and for all MMP Directors. This practice was introduced while Fr. Gobbi was still with us.
4- Reading of one of the Blessed Mother’s messages from the book, “To the Priests, Our Lady’s Beloved Sons.” (It is prohibited to introduce any other messages or private devotions.)
5- Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Please note: When Holy Mass is celebrated with the cenacle, it was suggested that the cenacle and Holy Mass combined should not exceed 90 minutes (with the exception of the regional cenacles).
My Mission for 2015
My Superior General, after having been informed by Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, who is my former professor and confrere, that the MMP is a great help to the Church, has given me permission to work full time for the MMP and to reside at the international headquarters when I am in Italy.
(via don G. Bosco, 3, 22100 Como-Lora, Italy Tel. 011 +39 031 6872026 / Cell: 011 +39 347 9808421)
I will be available to conduct cenacles throughout the world, in Italian and English. You can contact me directly with your requests. If I am traveling, please leave a message with the Headquarters in the U.S. I ask you to please pray for me and for all the directors of the MMP, that together we will help the Blessed Mother in these important times for the Church and in the history of mankind.
Pray for the Church; Pray for Peace
In light of ongoing news reports about terrorist attacks, wars, and the killing and persecution of Christians in many countries, we should remember the words that St. Pio of Pietrelcina repeated so often: “Children will save the world!” He also told us that the Rosary is the weapon for these times. “Some people are so foolish that they think they can go through life without the help of the Blessed Mother. Love the Madonna and pray the Rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today. All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother.”
Nobody knows for sure but, if we are approaching the end times, we must accept the invitation of our Blessed Mother to enter into the “safe refuge of her Immaculate Heart.” At Fatima, the Mother of God turned to three little children and asked them to “pray the Rosary every day, in order to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war.” (Fatima, May 13, 1917). The prayers and sacrifices of these children were answered. The soldiers returned home, and Portugal was spared from World War II.
Remember that St. Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort calls the “apostles of the last times” the “heel” of Mary that will crush the head of the serpent. By our consecration, we are the apostles of her Immaculate Heart. What a great privilege it is for us to be instruments for peace in the world and for the salvation of souls!
Are we approaching the end times?
Only God knows the details. Jesus said, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority.” (Acts 1:7) The Blessed Mother has prepared us for these times through which we are now living. Fr. Gobbi’s last request, given to his secretary, Fr. Quartilio, was that message #83 (October 18, 1975) be read at the International Retreat. Following are some excerpts:
“My Adversary will one day think that he is celebrating a complete victory: over the world, over the Church,over souls. It will be only then that I will intervene – terrible and victorious – that his defeat may be all the greater when he is certain in his conviction that he has conquered once for all. (…)
The struggle between the angels together with my children and the followers of the dragon led by the rebellious angels has already been foretold to you. Above all, my complete victory has already been clearly foretold.
You, my sons, have been called to live through these events….
My beloved sons whom I am gathering together for this great battle, the first weapon that you must make use of is trust in me. It is your complete abandonment to me.
Conquer the temptation of fear, of discouragement, of sadness. Distrust paralyzes your activity and greatly benefits my Adversary.
Be serene; be joyful! This is not the end of my Church; what is in preparation is the beginning of its total and marvelous renewal!”
Since the Evil One would appear to be making strides towards his “complete victory”, this can be seen as a sign that we are already in the end times. The Blessed Mother says, “Then the door will be open for the appearance of the man or of the very person of the Antichrist!”(407p) So who is this person? She does not tell us that this secret of God will be revealed by who knows what mystic or through the internet, but she says one thing that holds all of us responsible: “This will now be made evident by the very events themselves which are about to take place in the Church and in the world.” (489d)
As St. John says in his first letter, indeed an antichrist is anyone who denies that Jesus is the Son of God – who became man to save us, and who perpetuates his presence among us through the Sacraments, especially in the Sacrifice of the Eucharist, and obviously in his Word, as given to us by the Church and by those who are united to the Holy Father (as Fr. Gobbi used to repeat at every cenacle). At the same time, we must not condemn anyone. Jesus never revealed the name of his betrayer to any of his disciples, except to John during the Last Supper. Therefore we should follow what the Blessed Mother tells us:
“Let the tongue free itself to form words of goodness, of love and of truth…Let the mind open itself only to thoughts of peace and mercy, of understanding and salvation, and never let it be sullied by [negative] judgment and criticism, much less by malice and condemnation.” (222ef, March 4, 1981)
“Within my Immaculate Heart I will build up your interior equilibrium, my beloved sons, because today you have need of being ever more prudent and well-balanced.” (173q, March 25, 1979)
Meanwhile, we should remember that this is the time to be adult and mature Catholics. Please read the very important message # 409: “Here Must Appear the Constancy of the Saints.” I remind you of what Our Lady stated so many times in her messages – that the second commitment which characterizes the spirituality of the Marian Movement of Priests is unity with the Pope and the Church united with him. Love him, defend him and support him with your prayers.
In times of great danger and suffering for the Catholic Church, all believers throughout the centuries turned to the Blessed Mother. The MMP has this mission to defeat the enemy of God through our humble prayer to the Mother of God, and not through our discussions about the situation regarding Church leaders, or anything else that causes us to lose our peace. She has intervened in the past, and she has promised to intervene now. No matter how much the world will be in confusion, let us firmly cling to our Faith – the Bible, the Creed, the Catechism, and the teachings of the Saints and the Popes – always trusting in the final victory of God through Mary.
I invite you to read message #456 (September 12, 1991) in its entirety.
I quote the following two paragraphs:
“In the name of Mary, Marxist communism, which for decades had been exercising its rule and holding so many of my poor children in oppressive and bloody slavery, has been defeated in these countries. Not because of political movements or persons, but through my personal intervention, has your liberation finally come about. It will again be in the name of Mary that I will bring to completion my work with the defeat of Masonry, of every diabolical force, of materialism, and of practical atheism, so that all humanity will be able to attain its encounter with the Lord and be thus purified and completely renewed, with the triumph of my Immaculate Heart in the world.” (#456de)
I AM CONCERNED!!!
Yes, because too many members of the MMP today forget that we are in apocalyptic times. They are preoccupied with figuring out who – even within the Church – will help the Devil in his final battle against Jesus, against the Woman Clothed with the Sun and against “the rest of Her offspring” (Rev 12:17) They indulge in discussions and strong opinions. Please let us not help the evil one by losing our precious time. Now is the time to fulfill what the Blessed Mother is requesting from those who made their consecration:
“What is this desert if not a place which is hidden, without noise, set apart and arid? This place, hidden and silent and made arid by so many struggles and so many wounds, in which the Woman now finds a place for herself, is the soul and the heart of my beloved sons and of all who have consecrated themselves to my Immaculate Heart. I am accomplishing the greatest prodigies in the desert in which I find myself. I carry them out in silence and hiddenness to transform the souls and the lives of these sons of mine who have entrusted themselves completely to me.” (201jkl, June 14, 1980)
Retreats for Priests
The priests of the MMP are invited to attend both the international and national retreats in 2015.
We will try to sponsor all those who require financial assistance. Priests who are interested are urged to contact our office as soon as possible; an early booking will cost much less. If sponsorship funds get depleted, the aid will be offered on a first come, first served basis.
Owing to your generosity, last year we were able to sponsor several priests to attend the national and international clergy retreats. Once again, I invite our members to consider sponsoring a priest for the 2015 retreat cenacles. The priests who were helped by your generosity have asked me to extend a special thank you on their behalf, and to let the sponsors know that they are being remembered in a special way in their Masses and prayers.
International Clergy Retreat Cenacle
Shrine of Merciful Love (Collevalenza, Italy) June 21-27, 2015
North American Clergy Retreat Cenacle
(for MMP priests from the U.S. and Canada)
Marytown (National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe) Libertyville, IL 60048
Monday, Nov. 16 (afternoon) – Friday, Nov. 20 (11 AM)
Cost per person for the entire week (includes all meals and lodging): $400.00
Contact: Tammy – MMP Headquarters (207) 398-3375
Volunteers will be on hand to shuttle priests to/from O’Hare Airport and Marytown.
Registration deadline: November 9, 2015
Please note: Due to the restrictions placed upon us by our contractual obligations with Marytown, no retreatants can be accepted after the deadline.
Retreats for the Laity
UNITED STATES
Marytown (National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe) Libertyville, IL
Located approximately 20 miles from O’Hare airport.
Friday, July 31 (afternoon) to Sunday, Aug. 2 (early afternoon)
Retreat guided by Fr. Andy Goodwin
Cost per person for the entire weekend (includes all meals and lodging)
Single occupancy – $250 / Double occupancy – $225
There are 32 double rooms; more people can be accommodated if you share a room.
Registration will be on a first come, first served basis.
Commuters*: $90 for the weekend (all meals included) Brown bagging not permitted.
Contact: Judy Zabawski (586) 697-5265
Registration deadline: July 24, 2015
Please note: Due to the restrictions placed upon us by our contractual obligations with Marytown, no retreatants (commuters included) can be accepted after the deadline.
Retreats for the Laity – cont’d
*Attention Commuters (Marytown):
It is very important that there be preserved an atmosphere of peace, serenity and private reflection for those retreatants who are staying on the premises. For this reason, commuters will be accepted only if they will take part in the entire retreat experience, meals included. No one will be admitted once the day’s activities have commenced, and leaving early is not allowed. We ask for your cooperation in this regard, out of respect for all. Thank you.
UNITED STATES
Christian Life Center 444 US Rte. 1 Frenchville, ME 04745
Friday, May 1 (3 PM registration) – Sunday, May 3 (after lunch)
Rooms for 50 persons (double occupancy) available on a first come, first served basis
Cost per person for the weekend: Double occupancy – $100 (call ahead to pre-register)
Retreat guided by Fr. Andy Goodwin
Contact: Wayne Harvey (207) 398-3125 / wrharvey@fairpoint.net
CANADA
Mount Carmel Spiritual Center 7021 Stanley Ave. Niagara Falls, Ontario
Friday, August 28 (3 PM registration) – Sunday, August 30 (after lunch)
Registration from 3:00-5:00 PM on Friday, August 28
Cost per person for the weekend: $265 CAD
Retreat guided by Fr. Ronan Murphy
Contact: Suzanne (905) 735-4164
Rooms available on a first come, first served basis (call ahead to pre-register).
Area Cenacles – May 2015
With this letter, I have included a listing of area cenacles that will take place in different parts of the country during the month of May. We encourage you to try to attend, as a demonstration of ourlove for and unity with the Blessed Mother. Please invite your friends to join in.
I thank all the priests, deacons, organizers, and those who participated in the cenacles held last May 2014. There was a great response on the part of many, and we had cenacles in almost all 50 states. Thank you for responding to Our Blessed Mother’s plea: “Please help me, my children.”
There are thousands of cenacles that continue to meet regularly. Some of you called and explained that you have been faithful to your cenacles for years, and yet were excluded from this list. We apologize for any confusion. These are special “area” cenacles held annually during the month of May, at which a priest is present to celebrate Mass and to guide the cenacle. Please contact us if you can organize one for next May 2016, and we will be pleased to publish the information.
Fr. Ronan Murphy
Fr. Murphy has received the approval of his bishop to conduct cenacles throughout the country.
If you are interested in hosting him in your area, please call the Headquarters for more information. Contributions – either from the parish, private donors and/or a special collection taken during the cenacle – would be appreciated to help meet some or all of his travel expenses. As of this printing, he will be in Los Angeles from May 12-13, in Florida from May 1-3, and in Michigan on May 21. Please see the enclosed schedule for more details.
Mass Intentions
I will continue to keep all of your personal intentions in my prayers and to celebrate a weekly Mass for all members of the MMP. If you wish to request individual Masses, please make a separate check payable to “MMP – Fr. Geremia” and mail to our Headquarters in Maine. If there is a surplus of Masses, I will send these to MMP priests who are in need.
Mailing List is Private
We want you to be assured that your membership with the MMP is kept private. The only time we release information is when we have the permission from those of you who are cenacle contacts, to give to others who are looking for a cenacle in their area.
Spanish Cenacle Guide
Our supply is currently depleted. We hope to have more printed in the coming months. If interested, please continue checking with us periodically for an update on its availability.
Seeking a Webmaster
Do you or anyone you know have the skills and desire to update and maintain the MMP website in the U.S.? If so, we would greatly appreciate hearing from you.
Thank You for Your Generosity
I wish to express my gratitude for your continued prayerful and financial support. Our supply of the English book is dwindling; therefore, we will have to reprint in the near future. Because we don’t receive funding from other sources, our only means of continuing to print more books is with your donations. We also help to sponsor the translation and printing of books in other languages. Your donations to help provide for these needs would be most appreciated. We are grateful for those of you who give your “widow’s mite.” The Blessed Mother carries this work forward through your sacrifices.
Bequests
I extend a very special thank you to those who have placed the Marian Movement of Priests on their last will and testament. If any of you are interested in doing the same, please call the Headquarters for further details. We are recognized by the IRS as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; therefore, your gifts are tax deductible. A bequest in your will or trust, life insurance designation, financial institution beneficiary designation, or stock donation should include the following information:
The Marian Movement of Priests P.O. Box 8 St. Francis, ME 04774 Tax ID# 01-0461075
Contact: Tammy Ouellette, National Secretary Tel. (207) 398-3375
Upon notification of the death of the person who made the bequest, Masses will be celebrated for the repose of the soul of the deceased family member.
I take this opportunity to wish you a most joyous Easter season. “Live always in joy and in a firm hope, in expectation of his glorious return.” (402g) You will remain in my prayers.
Most sincerely in Jesus and Mary,
(signature)
Fr. Francis Geremia, c.s.
News from Fr. Laurent Larroque, our present MMP Director-General
Genoa, January 1, 2015
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Dear Brothers,
At the beginning of this new year, let us remain spiritually united in prayer, especially that of the cenacles, which help us to remain faithful to the Blue Book which has never been as prodigiously current as now. (cf. Lk 18:31)
“For those who wish to listen and understand, everything has now already been revealed.”
The pangs must increase for everyone…Accept them just as your heavenly Mother did (…)
I understood that this suffering was asked of me by the Father (…) Now I ask of you also,
my beloved children, prayer and suffering, as your personal collaboration in preparing a fitting
dwelling place for Jesus who is about to return in glory (…)
And suffer with patience and with trust. As for me, so also for you, the sufferings which the
Lord asks of you form part of a loving plan of his.” (cf. message #300 Dec. 24, 1984)
In this year of the consecrated life, let us ask Our Lady to live “with [her] and through [her], all the obligations assumed by our baptismal and priestly consecration.” (Act of Consecration for Priests)
2014 Cenacles
In 2014, I conducted cenacles in the following countries: all of Brazil, France, three regional cenacles in Italy, the national cenacles in Ireland and Spain, all of the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, a few also in the large neighboring country, and one in Korea. With 34 flights, I visited
45 cities and presided over 84 cenacles, in which 2 cardinals, 13 bishops, 270 priests and 80,000 faithful participated. Many priests and faithful continue to have cenacles in their areas. In this way, “you give a great force of intercession and reparation to your heavenly Mother…” (540d, March 22, 1995)
In Collevalenza [Italy], 10 archbishops and bishops and around 200 priests and 30 lay apostles took part in the Spiritual Exercises [Retreat] held in the form of a continuous cenacle.
I remind you of the address for the official international MMP office:
Via don G. Bosco, 3, 22100 Como-Lora (Italia). +39 031 6872026
(please note: Via don G. Bosco 3, not 1).
Father Francis Geremia, our vice director-general, is now totally available for the Movement. It is a beautiful grace from the Blessed Mother. Starting at the beginning of the year, when he doesn’t travel for cenacles, he will be residing at the International Office. He will assume from Fr. Gabrielli the responsibility for the region of Lombardy, and will preside over a few regional cenacles in Italy in the spring. Then he will be able to travel throughout the English-speaking countries. It is up to you to invite him to your area.
The first biography of Fr. Gobbi, completed and carefully authenticated by me and Fr. Quartilio Gabrielli, should be available after Easter. The biography is written in Italian. For other languages, you should contact Fr. Geremia. (Tel. 011 +39 031 6872026 / Cell: 011 +39 347 9808421)
Spiritual Exercises (2015)
As usual, these will be held at the Shrine of Merciful Love in Collevalenza [Italy] from Sunday evening, June 21 to Saturday morning, June 27, for the bishops and priests of the MMP.
Address all inquiries and reservation requests to
P. Florio Quercia S.J.
Via Carlo Marx, 1
Centro San Francesco de Geronimo
74023 Grottaglie (TA) ITALY
Fax: +39 099 5635710
Cell (Mobile): +39 333 6322248
Email: querciaflorio@tiscali.it
Cenacle Schedule
[This year] I hope to be able to travel to the following countries:
January 5 to March 6 – Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Bolizia and Peru
April 29 to May 29 – Santo Domingo, Haiti, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica
After August 15 – Fiji Islands, Australia, the Philippines and Korea
Regional Cenacles in Italy
April 14 Bologna (Emilia-Romagna)
April 16 Collevalenza (Umbria)
April 25 Padua (Veneto)
May 13 Dongo (Lombardy)
June 11 Loreto (Marches)
Fr. Geremia also is available to respond to your requests for cenacles.
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