presentation ministries newsletter, vol. 8, issue 2 »« presentation ministries newsletter, vol. 7, issue 3
presentation ministries newsletter, vol. 8, issue 1
April 1, 2005
Presentation Ministries Newsletter
 An exercise in prayer for the children lead by Fr. Don McCarthy. |
Have You Begun to Celebrate The Year of the Eucharist... Really ?
Home-Based Communities' News
House Fire Consumes Home and Business
Indiana HBC Network Retreat
Media Ministries News
Bible Telephone Line
Radio Witness
Kansas City Adds "Daily Bread" Program
Video Witness
Audio
PM Website
Co-Workers' News
Pioneer Co-Worker In Presentation Ministries
Co-worker's Efforts In Spreading the Word Reap A "Net Full of Fish" (see: Luke 5:6)!
Guadalupe Bible College
GBC Students Graduate in the College's 10th Year Anniversary
Presentation Ministries' 40-Hours Devotion and Family Camp-out
Have You Begun to Celebrate The Year of the Eucharist... Really ?
 Children and adults both are drawn to prayer and adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament during the various hours, even during the quiet times of the night. |
Do you desire to draw closer to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament but haven't yet plunged into any commitment to attend adoration at your parish or another parish church?
Are you and your children growing in love, respect, and appreciation for praying the Mass and receiving Holy Communion?
Maybe these questions awaken a desire in you for seizing the valuable spiritual opportunity at hand this year. If so, come and bring your whole family to Presentation Ministries' 6th Annual 40 Hours Devotion and Family Camp-out.
What? You have never heard of such a thing before? The year of the Great Jubilee, 2000 inspired the first of what has become a wonderful yearly event. The idea of promoting an important Catholic devotion within a family-friendly atmosphere turned out to be so successful the first year that it had to be repeated.
Many have come, many are changed, many are uplifted and find renewed faith because of the witness of singles, families, young people, and older people— all expressing sincere love for Jesus in a long-standing Catholic devotion of adoring Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Bringing yourself and your family to the 40-Hours Devotion and Camp-out this year, 2005—dedicated to the Holy Eucharist, may be the most significant activity in raising your hopes and expectations, releasing new joy and new meaning into your life.
 Assembling everyone for a group photo is always challenging. (Do I see people shading their eyes from the SUN in this picuture?!) |
Home-Based Communities' News
House Fire Consumes Home and Business
Submitted by Patricia Von Clef
 Pictured left and above, the charred remains of Bill and Judy Best's family home and business. |
Bill and Judy Best were starting members of the "Hope in the Lord" (formerly Hebrews 10:23-25) Community in Knoxville, TN in the fall of 1994. They have continued to meet with us faithfully for over ten years, twice a month.
Their home burned down on January 12, 2004 and they just moved back into a new home one year later, January 19.
During the crisis, Bill calmly called us and left a message on our phone machine: "Please pray, a neighbor said it looks pretty bad." Trouble with a pumping truck allowed the fire to restart and demolish most of the house. I never heard Bill complain about the faulty equipment. All throughout, they were a great testimony to faith and perseverance. They were not bitter at the great losses (Bill's business was in their garage, so they lost home and business). The home had insurance the business did not.
Most of our home-based community members were on the scene within minutes of that initial phone call. In fact, I remember looking around and thinking that God had bonded us as brothers and sisters as we all stood, crying, and watching the devastation. Judy was returning from the other end of the state, having dropped her daughter at college. Exiting the car, she gazed peacefully at the black rubble that had long been her home. After briefly viewing the remains, she commented to us gathered on her "front" lawn, "They told me my home was gone ... but as I look at you on the lawn and see all of you (present and past members of our HBC) I realize my home is still here."
 Judy Best maintains calm amidst the rubble, knowing that her loving Father will provide. |
Judy's immediate reaction of gratefulness to God, was tremendously stunning and is forever impressed upon me. While surveying the wreckage, she praised God for every tiny thing that survived—mostly religious articles. An almost untouched holy card from her Mom's funeral laid amidst a pile of book ashes. We spied an unmelted plastic rosary in a completely charred living room. A symbol of Bill's faith pierced my heart. Lifting up his bedside table revealed an outline of his rosary and Bible in the black soot.
Among those gathered at their home was Nathan Lefebvre, the adult son of members of our community. Reaching into his pocket he handed them the keys to his home. "You can stay for as long as you need to, I'll move back to my parents' home," he offered without hesitation. They had a place to spend the night—and what ended up to be the next ten months.
Loving assistance poured from our church and community. Since his business and only means of support had been wiped out, significant aid was needed. Many offered furniture and clothing. A parishioner, and former worker in the industry, helped them negotiate the fire insurance red tape.
The most outstanding gift of the past year was God's provision of faith and hope for the Bests as they rebuilt their business and home. Stripped of all material things, their family (two parents and 3 adult daughters) bonded even closer to each other and their God. They greatly inspired all who had contact with them, especially with their peace and confidence in God's providence.
As I write this on Ash Wednesday, I am remembering that Bill's business reopened on Ash Wednesday one year ago. The irony was not lost that it rose again from the ashes on a day we commemorate the fact that we will all return to ashes one day.
When we first started our community ten years ago we chose this verse: "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near" (Hebrews 10:23-25 RSV Catholic ed).
We have now celebrated our first home-based community gathering in their new home! We thanked and praised
God for His faithfulness in providing for their material needs, but most especially for their emotional and spiritual needs
during such a trying episode. Their witness of great faith, unwavering hope, and a vibrant love has touched many, and given
glory to God.
Editor's Note:
Those of us who experience the wonderful benefits of belonging to a home-based community(HBC)—both in crises and during peaceful times, should never take for granted this great blessing.Never tire of inviting new people to learn about this powerful tool that brings themselves and their families closer to the Lord.
Those who sincerely particiapte in HBCs find their Catholic faith fortified and enduring—sustaining them even through terrible loss.
Let us not forget the vision contained in Presentation Ministries' Pastoral Plan regarding the call to "branch off hundreds of new HBCs."
Indiana HBC Network Retreat
About thirty adults attended the second annual retreat of the Indiana Network on Saturday March 5. The theme of the retreat was "The Eucharist: Food for the Journey". Presenters spoke on
- "The Eucharist - a Mass Movement",
- "The Eucharist and the New Evangelization" and
- "Mary - Woman of the Eucharist."
The day included witnesses, Mass with Fr. Paul Landwerlin from Shelbyville, Indiana, lunch, reports from the Indiana Network Communities and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Five of the six Indiana Network communities were represented at the retreat.
Media Ministries News
"Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature." —Mark 16:15
Bible Telephone Line
by Darlene Davis
The Bible Telephone Line has received many inquiries from those asking information about starting new lines in cities where it is not available. Currently Dallas, Texas nearly has a line ready to call, and Grand Rapids is seeking sponsorship to allow that line to be re-established. If you would like to help in either of these cities or in a city not listed here e-mail .
Those lines that are up and running are:
- Atlanta, Georgia (770) 521-8570
- Cincinnati, Ohio (859) 291-7000
- Cleveland, Ohio (440) 572-4366
- Columbus, Ohio (614) 470-0020
- Dayton, Ohio (937) 640-2740
- Indianapolis, Indiana (317) 767-5413
- Long Island, New York (631) 574-2413
If you are not in one of these cities but have unlimited long distance service either on a cell phone or a land line, you can call any of these lines from any city. All are available 24 hours daily and have teachings based on the current day readings for Mass. Two of the teachers for the Bible Telephone Line include a graduate of Guadalupe Bible College, and an aspirant for the permanent deaconate in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. All three teachers have taken PM's course, "How to Teach the Bible in the Power of the Holy Spirit."
Radio Witness
From a radio station:
I want you to know how much Fr. Al's program means to us and that we pray for Presentation Ministries' efforts every day. We run Fr. Al first at 6:40am—right after Vatican Radio News and before Morning Air. We run it a second time at 11:40am. I know these are "recompiled" programs—but they are absolutely wonderful. THANK YOU for your ministry—and for sharing this ministry with our listeners.
Kansas City Adds "Daily Bread" Program
By Dean Weber
KEXS AM 1090 "Catholic Talk 1090" is a powerful 1 KW Catholic daytime radio station just started on the air in the Fall. It added Fr. Lauer's classic edition of "Daily Bread" on January 3, 2005. Praise the Lord! Thank You, Jesus. The program is on the air at 3:30 PM Monday through Friday.
"Catholic Talk 1090" is about the 90th Catholic station in the United States.
We want to thank the management for starting a Catholic station and for putting Fr. Lauer's program on the air.
Video Witness
by Sue Weber
Thank you for sending us the video tapes about confirmation. we really appreciate them.
Please pray that our family and children in our family begin to really love Jesus and come closer to understanding the teaching of Jesus through the Holy Catholic Church.
Thank you so much.
Love: Joanne & John
Audio
by Sue Weber
What is the most popular audio tape throughout the years at Presentation Ministries?
It is the 15-minute Bible teachings on the New Testament by Fr. Lauer. If you haven't heard them you need to order them today. They start with a four tape series on Matthew #700, 701, 702, and 703. There are forty tapes in the whole series.
PM Website
Recently we have added a listing of audio and video tapes available through PM on our website. Many of these tapes are cross-linked with publications that deal with similar topics. Tapes can be ordered through the shopping cart on the website. Please share our website with others. It is a great evangelization tool. Let our report go forth through all the earth, our message, to the ends of the world. (Ps 19:5)
Co-Workers' News
Pioneer Co-Worker In Presentation Ministries
by Marianne Lander
 Joan Neal gave Presentation Ministries many fruitful years of service. |
Joan Neal, a long time volunteer for Presentation Ministries (PM), died on the very last day of the year, December 31, 2004. She brought a variety of skills and talents to the Ministry Center office in Cincinnati.
She pioneered the typing of several of the early pamphlets and booklets which we still publish today. This was no small task since in the mid-1980s this meant using only a simple word processer. Proofreading was a huge on-going need which she gladly tackled, both for One Bread, One Body and other publications. Her long list of PM jobs included editing, data entry, making bank deposits, several aspects of processing the incoming mail, filling orders, book-packing, and book-labeling.
Where her skills really shone was with the
telephone ministry. With a very soothing and happy voice she
made callers feel "welcome." Indeed, just to hear her
conversing with callers and responding to their needs in a friendly
and
loving way put a sparkle into the office atmosphere. Her
dry sense of humor could make us laugh even on a
particularly hard day.
Everyone's spirits were lifted not only through her humor but especially through her dedication to the work at hand. She could always be counted on for big and little projects that came along. She gave to PM many years of service before succumbing to ill health. The last 15 months of her life were spent in nursing care ending at Three Rivers Nursing Home, but even while there, she continued to think about and pray for Presentation Ministries.
Joan, a life long native to the West side of Cincinnati, was 73 years old when she died. She was a graduate of Seton High School, and the University of Cincinnati. Many career years were devoted to Jewish Hospital with some time also spent at Shriner's Hospital.
Co-worker's Efforts In Spreading the Word Reap A "Net Full of Fish" (see: Luke 5:6)!
by Peggy Nicholas
 Sr Helen Groudis introduces the book, One Bread, One Body to visitors at EWTN in Hanceville, Alabama. |
Sr. Helen Groudis, a Co-worker for Jesus within PM, lived at the EWTN Pilgimage Castle Site on the grounds with the good sisters in Hanceville, Alabama for several years.
When she first moved there, being the hard working, zealous for the Lord Co-worker that she is, the first thing she did was to call Fr. Al Lauer to tell him of her new residence. He encouraged her to personally get permission from Mother Angelica to pass out the One Bread, One Body booklets. Immediately upon obtaining permission, Sr. Helen began distributing the books to bus loads of pilgrims who came from all over the world to visit EWTN. It only took a week for her to realize that she had better increase the number she received to 500 each time the book is printed. She never had any left over!
Sr. Helen, not being satisfied with just
reaching the people on the tour buses, began to visit and
give out the books to people who stayed in the
guest houses. That way she was able to personally
meet the new guests and tell them a little more
about Presentation Ministries and all that they do
and offer. Before long she had made contact with
some Russian Orthodox guests who liked the book so
much that they got back in touch with her and wanted 500 books sent each time to the Head
of the Russian Orthodox Church in the United
States. They have since told her that they are interested
in getting it translated into the Russian language
with the goal of having it distributed in Russia.
Wow! See what a friendly little Co-worker with a
great love for sharing the Word of God can do?
It didn't take her long either to make friends with Johnny, the guard on the grounds. He received a copy of One Bread, One Body (OBOB) the first time she met him and (naturally) he was sold on it! Johnny likes it so much that he himself has volunteered to take over Sr. Helen's job of passing out the books when she very recently found that she would be leaving. Due to her advancing age, she will be relocating to Kansas City, MO with the Little Sisters of the Poor.
Before she made what she hopes will be her last move before going to heaven, Sr. Helen made a quick trip to Almira, New York where she took advantage of the opportunity to pass out the OBOB books to friends and many of the locals she met during her trip. A close friend of hers took some photos of her as she proclaimed the Good News and passed them out. She never misses an opportunity to share the Word!
In our interview, Sr. Helen says that this
time, as she is settling into her new residence, which
she
loves, she is starting out slowly. She is passing
out only ten books each time but expects that before
the end of the year she will have this beautiful little
daily meditational book in the hands of not only all
the Little Sister of the Poor and all the residents who
can still read, but also all of the guests who come to visit.
We applaud you, Sr. Helen, for your faithful love and hard work for the Lord through PM. You have truly filled our Holy Father's request to "set out for deep waters and lower your net for the catch!" We praise God for you!
Guadalupe Bible College
GBC Students Graduate in the College's 10th Year Anniversary
2004 marked the tenth anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe Bible college. Fr. Al Lauer established Guadalupe Bible college in 1994, for the purpose of providing a Catholic understanding of God's revelation to equip the faithful, and permeate the culture with the Gospel.
 GBC administrators and teachers pose with newly graduated students: (L to R) Jan Luebbe, Kay Schmidl, Shelley Meade, Mary Lamparyk, Ed Lamparyk, Kay Dodds, Bonnie Bobrowksi, and Darlene Davis |
The writer of Sirach is speaking to you and me today. "My son, when you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourselves for trials. Be sincere of heart and steadfast, undisturbed in time of adversity. Cling to Him, forsake Him not; thus will your future be great" (Sirach 2:1-3). As disciples of Jesus we will be tested, because we are a threat to the devil. When we study and share God's word we have the power of the Holy Spirit working through us to transform out culture of death into a new civilization of love. The is a great promise. Are you prepared to take on the task? Guadalupe Bible College will equip you to bring Christ into your family, marketplace, and the social areas of your life.
The administrative staff of Guadalupe Bible College (GBC) wishes to acknowledge the students of the 2004 Graduation class of the Bible College: Kay Dodds and Darlene Davis of Greenfield, Indiana, Edward and Mary Lamparyk of Cleveland, Ohio, Kay Schmidl of Cleves, Ohio, and Andrew Rocker of Orient, Ohio.
Our graduates actively permeate the secular culture with the Gospel. Kay, Darlene, Ed and Mary all teach within the college and in their parishes. Darlene and her husband Wayne also teach the word daily as leaders of the Presentation Ministries' Bible Telephone Line.
Kay Schmidl is a leader of Presentation Ministries and has participated in every Bible Institute. She and her husband George work tirelessly to grow Presentation Ministries and keep the ministry true to Fr. Al's vision.
Ed and Mary Lamparyk have the distinction of being the first married couple to graduate from GBC, and Andy Rocker is the first graduate of Guadalupe Bible College's outreach to the incarcerated.
To grow in discipleship requires discipline and perseverance, but the rewards are great. "Listen, my son, and heed my advice; refuse not my counsel. Put your feet to the fetters, and your neck under her yoke. Stoop your shoulders and carry her; with all your strength keep her ways. Search her out, discover her; seek her and you will find her. Then when you have her, do not let her go; thus will you afterward find rest in her, and she will become your joy...Reflect on the precepts of the Lord, let His commandments be your constant meditation; then He will enlighten your mind, and the wisdom you desire He will grant" (Sirach 6:24-29, 37).
For information about Guadalupe Bible College please contact:
Shelley Meade
c/o Guadalupe Bible College
P.O. Box 96
Madison OH 44057
440-428-1016
Presentation Ministries' 40-Hours Devotion and Family Camp-out
 The 40-Hours Devotion commences and concludes with a eucharistic procession. |
Come and praise the Lord! Enjoy the fellowship of this fun weekend: families, singles, old & young—everyone is invited !!
DATE: Thursday, May 19 (7:45PM) through Saturday (afternoon) May 21, 2005
LOCATION: Paul Jansen Discipleship & Retreat Center, near Peebles, OH (70 miles East of Cincinnati)
FACILITIES
- Bring a tent, stay in a cabin, or at nearby motels (RV hook ups and cabins are available, but very limited)
- Bring food, bring water (water conservation necessary)
PRAYER:
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in silence
- Daily Mass
- Rosary
- Liturgy of the Hours (Office of Readings, Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer)
- Opportunity for Confession
- Teachings (adult, youth, and children)
FAMILY ACTIVITIES: Corn Hole Tournament, Bonfires, Indoor and Outdoor games
In planning the event we need to know how many are coming, so PLEASE GIVE US A CALL!
Phone Bob Olson (937) 205-0128; Cincinnati area: (513) 312-3151