Presentation Ministries Newsletter

Lead by John and Paul Egan (far right and next), the PM Youth Music Group joins to form a choir at a Bible Institute Mass

TABLE OF CONTENTS

40-Hours Family Retreat — 2005
PM Website Gets Good Grades
Ransomed From Darkness: The New Age, Christian Faith, and the Battle for Souls
HBC Richly Blessed Through Study of John Paul II's "Theology of the Body"
Media Ministries Update
Guadalupe Bible College
PM's Liturgical Music Ministry Investigating New Strategy
Recent Prophecies From Presentation Ministries' Word Gifts Minitry

40-Hours Family Retreat — 2005

by Jerry Cappel

After the usual allotment of rain, dry weather allowed a bonfire on Saturday.

So, what can one say about the 40 hours devotional retreat in this "Year of the Eucharist"? I can only share with you my experience: in the perspective of a believer, a believer in the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

I was transported into the time when Jesus walked on earth. Jesus was truly present at the retreat at the discipleship center...body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Eucharist (Catechism of the catholic Church, 1374). I had a chance to just sit and talk with Jesus — just Him and I, one on one—so to speak. That experience was fantastic! What more can I say? If you believe in the Eucharist, then you will understand how this is so fantastic! It is beyond words. If you do not believe, then what I just described won't make any sense at all.

If that isn't enough, let me tell you of further blessings from God. Because this is the "Year of the Eucharist", the Church provides great blessings to those who sit with Jesus. These blessings are even greater than anyone could hope for...a plenary indulgence can be received by those who (according to the "Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary on the gift of an Indulgence during the "Year of the Eucharist" of Jan 25, 2005) have "received sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion and [said] prayers for the Supreme Pontiff's intentions, in a spirit of total detachment from any inclination to sin" and who take part with pious attention to honor the Most Blessed Sacrament exposed or preserved in the tabernacle.

The fact is I am a sinner, I need these blessings! I believe in the Church, the Pope, and the truth that the Church has authority of Jesus on earth. So when the Church says it provides these great blessings to those who follow their requirements, I believe it. Praise God for the Church! Praise Jesus in the Eucharist.

We're not done yet! On this retreat, God
provided wonderful fellowship. We had a chance to experience true brotherhood and sisterhood; people working together, prayer together, eating together, and just enjoying the company of each other.

I can't talk about this retreat without telling you about the monstrance. The monstrance used for the retreat is unique and ornate in design and very polished. It is one of the most beautiful monstrances I have ever seen. It has elaborate gold rays flowing from the center where the Eucharist is held. On Saturday morning, the sun streamed through the chapel's window and shone right on it. With the background in shadow and with the monstrance aglow with light, it was a sight to behold! I don't believe I will forget how beautiful that was. I am glad I was there to see it.

There are just so many other things that happen at these retreats. Surely everyone has their own list of experiences, but here a few of the memories that remain with me:

• The smell of the fresh air after a light rain
• The smell of my van after seven young adults slept in it overnight, with windows closed
• The sound of the light rain on the tent and the comfort of the blankets on my neck
• The view of the sunlit monstrance
• The touch of your brother's hands
• The sound of laughter during the "corn hole" tournament
• The taste of the "giant omelet" cooked over the campfire
• The sweet singing of a young lady, praising Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament at three o'clock in the morning
• The sounds of your heart, your breath, and the breath of those with you as you jog along the country roads in Adams County
• The quietness of the chapel in the middle of the night
• The laughter of friends over crazy happenings in the night —tents, dogs, and nature!
• The panoramic view of the valley from atop the holy mountain of the discipleship retreat center
• The sounds of praise and worship at Mass
• The peace you feel when you know you are with your Lord and Savior

The 40 hours retreat is such a wonderful experience. In summary, I sat and talked with Jesus one on one. The universal Church provided me with blessings beyond expectations. I had a chance to spend special time with my brothers and sisters in Christ laughing, prayer, crying, telling stories, running , cooking and just sharing life. Thank God for sending us Jesus and the Eucharist. Praise God for giving us so many blessings through His Church. Thank God for Christian fellowship.

Your brother in Jesus,
Jerry Cappel

 

PM Website Gets Good Grades

by Marianne Lander

Not too long ago those on the PMmembers' email list (formerly PM Leaders' list) received an uplifting communication. Presentation Ministries' website was discovered to have been rated by another website, CatholicCulture.org. Trinity Communications, who sponsors this website, has been featuring reviews of other Catholic sites on the Internet since 1996. They rate them according to resources, usability, and fidelity. Currently, they maintain 756 active reviews. We were pleased to find these ratings:

www.presentationministries.com
Fidelity: EXCELLENT
Resources: GOOD
Usability: EXCELLENT

Their specific comments about our site include the following quote: "There are many interesting resources for enhancing your spiritual life on this site. The reflections are brief and well written and the pamphlets cover a large variety of topics. Of special interest is the section on small Christian communities. This section provides a good summary of the communities and their mission..."

This updated rating was released this past November 21, which happens to be the feast of Our Lady of Presentation, our patroness. Many thanks to Chris Jasek who leads the Internet Ministry—for his fine dedication and for generously placing his talents at the service of Presentation Ministries.

 

Ransomed From Darkness: The New Age, Christian Faith, and the Battle for Souls

One of our own co-workers, Moira Noonan, has recently published her first book, entitled Ransomed From Darkness: The New Age, Christian Faith, and the Battle for Souls. In 1993 she returned to the Catholic Church from the New Age movement, due to some very powerful experiences. She currently witnesses and evangelizes through speaking engagements, on religious cable, and on radio. She can offer first hand insights on New Age influences, having been on the inside of the Movement twenty-plus years.

Moria Noonan

After reverting to the Catholic faith, Moria attended Presentation Ministries' (PM) Bible Institute and the 40-Day Discipleship Retreats, receiving much solid Catholic teaching from Fr. Al Lauer and others. She has been a member of PM as a co-worker for several years.

Even though raised a Catholic, she entered into New Age practices during her college years. For twenty years or more she worked in Religious Science Ministry, and also did psychic counseling and therapy. She delved into Hypnotherapy, Past-Life Regression, Astrology, the Course in Miracles, Reiki, channeling, crystals, goddess spirituality, clairvoyance, and other elements of the occult.

Her book, Ransomed From Darkness follows her journey from childhood faith, into the New Age Movement and occult, and eventually back into the safe and loving arms of the Catholic Church. Thank you, merciful Jesus! Fr. Donald Calloway, of Franciscan University of Steubenville, comments about her book: "I could hardly put it down. I'm sure it will touch many, many souls. I will try to make it known to those whom I know are going through a conversion." Anyone interested in her book may find it at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Amazon.com, local booksellers, and directly from the publisher: www.northbaybooks.com.

Moira attends St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Encinitas, California where she lectors, is a minister of the Eucharist, and an RCIA Team Member. She is available to speak at conferences, retreats, and to give workshops. Email her at or call her cell at 760-822-0062.

 

HBC Richly Blessed Through Study of John Paul II's "Theology of the Body"

by Terri Bates

The Community of St. Paul in Indianapolis is studying the Theology of the Body which is the compilation of a series of talks presented by Pope John Paul II at his Wednesday audiences in Rome. Marty Doucette from the Holy Family home-based community in Indianapolis gave a series of talks at St. Luke in Indianapolis on this book but we were unable to attend due to conflicts.

We therefore decided to proceed on our own. We are, through the intercession of the Holy Spirit and Pope John Paul II, tackling this document word by word, page by page and section by section. Though this seems to be an arduous task we feel strongly that the new evangelization to which John Paul refers in some of his encyclicals and exhortations is closely allied with this subject matter. I can't imagine, after the little we have covered, trying to proceed with radical changes in our Church without some comprehension of what our late Holy Father was trying to convey to us through this material.

There are numerous books, videos, and CDs available on this book. If you type in "Theology of the Body" on the internet, you will be directed to some of these resources. Our community began with Christopher West's series of CDs and study guide but we felt that there were too many gaps, disallowing our comprehension of the subject matter, and decided to proceed with the text itself. We're not certain this is the best approach but we will continue until we deem another option more appropriate. Thus far we have been richly blessed.

 

Media Ministries Update

Radio Witness

Letter written to a radio station:

Thank you very much for your radio station and slogan "without Christ nothing works." Your early morning shows "Ladies of the Rosary" and "Presentation Ministries, Fr. Al Lauer Classics" are my favorite of all radio. Please keep these on the air FOREVER.

Thank you,
Evelyn

Audio Witness

To Whom It May Concern:

I have gotten such a blessing from these tapes that I am going to sponsor the ministry $10.00 a month. Fr. Lauer is a blessing. I am so glad I found this website. I can only send this much. I am not working right now. I am looking though, and praying for a good job. You have a great tape ministry. Thanks.

~Teresa

Video Witness

Fr. Al Lauer video's are playing on a television station in the Philippines.

Dear PM:

Thanks for the ten video tapes received yesterday. We will use them on the TV program during Holy Week.

Fr. Paolo Alutto, C.R.S.
Station Manager TV5
Sorsogon City, PHILIPPINES

Return of Evangelization

The number of households that will correspond with us will increase each year if you add either our radio program or our Bible Telephone Line in your city. Plus, your reward will be greater in heaven. Fr. Lauer's teachings have a wonderful way of reaching the heart.

Below are all the cities that have a public evangelization effort ongoing, and the household count increased.
 

City	Year 2003	Year 2004
Radio and Telephone Cities
Cincinnati OH	6615	6901
Telephone Only Cities
Atlanta GA	557	568
Cleveland OH	1763	1845
Columbus OH	1311	1354
Indianapolis IN	1407	1458
New York NY	2407	2582
Dayton OH	701	745
Radio Only Cities
Lexington KY	259	268
Louisville KY	509	535
Ann Arbor MI Bay City MI Detroit MI Flint MI Lansing MI Pontiac MI Saginaw MI	2687	2847
Omaha NE	527	536
Philadelphia PA	640	698
Pittsburgh PA	2129	2191
Other Cities	224	230

If your city is not listed here, is the Lord calling you to reach out to them? Start a radio program or Bible Telephone Line in your city. Please contact:

Radio: Dean Weber 513-232-5482
Bible Telephone: Wayne & Darlene Davis: 317-462-5010

We thank the dedicated volunteers that maintain these ministries in their various cities. They are leaders in evangelization.

 

Guadalupe Bible College

by Shelley Meade

(L to R, front) Lorraine Johnson, Mary Lamparyk & (L to R back) Shelley Meade, Bonnie Bobrowski, and Ed Lamparyk come to the Discipleship Retreat Center, to a GBC-related retreat. "Without vision my people perish." —Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

In the fall of 1993 Fr. Al Lauer, in a conversation with Archbishop Pilarczyk, mentioned that Presentation Ministries was trying to bring together many of the catechetical programs within Presentation Ministries, develop them further and form the beginnings of a Catholic Bible College.

Pursuant to that vision, Guadalupe Bible College (GBC) was established. In concert with the Catholic Church and her teaching, GBC aims to contribute to the Church and society through in-depth study of Sacred Scripture, Church documents, and Church history. The goal of GBC is to transform society and permeate the secular culture with the Gospel. The students and teachers of Guadalupe Bible College bear witness to their faith through a deep commitment to authentic Christian living and the full meaning of the human person regenerated in Christ.

Many catechetical opportunities are available from Presentation Ministries in conjunction with Guadalupe Bible College including the Bible Institute Program, Discipleship Retreats, Bible Classes in several dioceses, and home-study curriculum. This allows GBC to offer a program that is flexible and compatible with the vocation of lay Christians.

Marjorie Albrechta, a 2005 graduate, from Guadalupe Bible College is an example of a student who took advantage of the flexible curriculum and the bringing together of the many catechetical programs within Presentation Ministries. Marjorie is a familiar face to those who participate in the retreats at the Paul Jansen Discipleship Center and Bible Institute having participated in both programs for several years. Prior to moving to Cincinnati from northwest Ohio, Marjorie was a home study GBC student and completed several courses on the bible under the tutelage of veteran GBC teacher and coordinator, Larry McGervey.

The upcoming "Guadalupe Bible College Fall Residential Program" in conjunction with the Discipleship Retreats will be held September 26 thru October 1, 2005. The courses offered will be "Ezra and Nehemiah", "Beyond the Life in the Spirit", and "The Doctors of the Church _ St. Theresa of the Child Jesus".

If you are interested in learning the truths of divine revelation through the many catechetical programs available from Presentation Ministries in a personalized, organic, systematic, and comprehensive formation process contact: Shelley Meade
c/o Guadalupe Bible College
P.O. Box 96
Madison, OH 44057
call: 440-428-1016
or email:

 

PM's Liturgical Music Ministry Investigating New Strategy

based on the Report Submitted at PM's April Leaders' Meeting

Anna Egan beautifully cantors the psalm response at a Bible Institute Mass

The Liturgical Worship Ministry of Presentation Ministries (PM) reached its seventh year of being largely under the leadership/sponsorship of the PM's Youth Music Group. In conjunction with Dave & Janet Willig, the adult leaders who host the weekly music practices in their home, youth leaders John Egan, Will Egan, and now Liz Egan have shared responsibility for direction of the group.

Their father, Paul Egan, masterfully lead the music/worship ministry from its beginning. It is marvelous to note how successful he was in raising up and discipling three of his children into leadership of this valuable ministry. Members of the Egan family have long ministered at PM's various liturgical functions through the years, particularly the monthly communities' Masses. It is a pleasure to witness the abundant musical skills and talents which flow from the whole family.

Liz Egan, the current Youth Music leader, has demonstrated great ability and commitment. Especially endearing are the beautiful multiple harmony hymns she has been able to utilize occasionally at the communities' Masses.

Dave and Janet Willig graciously hosted the Youth Music practice on Friday nights for seven years.

The Youth Music Group has always enjoyed a high volume of participation. Recently, though, the Youth Music Group has struggled with a decline in numbers. These "peaks and valleys" are typical to other youth organizations. Reasons for the decline are what one might expect. Friday evenings (the traditional music practice night) has seen an increased amount of other activities among our youth. Older members graduated or moved on, and fewer younger members are able or willing to step into the gap.

The declining trend came to a head in mid-April when no one showed up for the weekly practice except for a core of people. However, the Holy Spirit showed up and moved them to pray, read scripture and brainstorm regarding the improvement of the Youth Music Ministry. The outcome of the prayer points to a new strategy of tapping into and networking smaller entities such as the St. John Bosco Youth Music Group, the Young Adults Music Group, the Adults Music Group, the PM Seminarians Music Group, and the Cleveland PM Music Group. The Youth Music Group will explore what has been already active or taking shape in the various corners of PM. The goal is to continue to support the music needs for all of PM: communities' Masses, Bible Institute, retreats, Life-in-the-Spirit Seminars, and outreach trips.

 

Recent Prophecies From Presentation Ministries' Word Gifts Minitry

March, 2005
Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing,
Offerings and libations for the LORD, your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an assembly;
Gather the people, notify the congregation;

Assemble the elders, gather the children and the infants at the breast;
Let the bridegroom quit his room, and the bride her chamber.
Between the porch and the altar let the priests the ministers of the LORD weep,
And say, "Spare, O LORD, your people, and make not your heritage a reproach, with the nations ruling over them!
Why should they say among the peoples, `Where is their God?' " —Joel 2:13-17, submitted by New Creations HBC

Editors note: This prophecy was presented to PM members two weeks before John Paul II died. It is interesting to read in hindsight recalling all that surrounded and followed that earth shaking event, both inside Holy Church and in the secular world. In particular: God's taking a good pope, but leaving behind a blessing (another good pope); gathering and assembling the conclave; the pope's body laid in state while millions wept; the extensive electronic "notifying" and coverage that occurred throughout was unprecedented! And even the secular media could not but put a good spin on the life of John Paul II and the whole affair.

The Plenary Indulgence During the "Year of the Eucharist" was disseminated February, 2005
[Jerry Cappel refers to this indulgence in his article above]

The objective of the papal disposition is to "encourage in the faithful throughout this year a deeper knowledge and more intense love for the ineffable "Mystery of Faith" and for them to obtain an ever greater abundance of spiritual fruit."

The plenary indulgence may be obtained in two ways, to those who:

"1 ...every time they take part, attentively and piously, in a sacred liturgy or pious practice in honor of the Most Blessed Sacrament, solemnly exposed or preserved in the tabernacle." and

"2 ...every time, at the end of the day, when they recite Vespers and Compline before the Lord present in the tabernacle, either in community or privately."

It is necessary to observe the "usual conditions:"

• sacramental Confession
• Eucharistic Communion
• prayers for the Supreme Pontiff's intentions
• in a spirit of total detachment from any inclination to sin

Members of the faithful prevented by illness or by other just causes...may obtain the Plenary Indulgence in their own home, or wherever the impediment obliges them to be ... observing the three habitual conditions as soon as they possibly can; they will make the visit in spirit ... and they will recite the "Our Father" and the Creed, and in addition, a pious invocation addressed to Jesus in the Sacrament (for example, "Praise and thanks be at every moment to the Blessed Sacrament").

If they are unable even to do this, they may obtain a Plenary Indulgence if in their hearts they desire to join those who carry out in the usual way the works prescribed by the Indulgence and offer to Merciful God the infirmities and hardships of their lives with the determination to fulfill the three usual conditions as soon as possible.

Catechism of the Catholic Church (1471) - "a[n] indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints."

Catechism of the Catholic Church (1479) - "Since the faithful departed now being purified are also members of the same communion of saints, one way we can help them is to obtain indulgences for them, so that the temporal punishment due for their sins may be remitted."

Prophecy Regarding Plenary Indulgence
"Come and accept all the graces I want to give you during this Year of the Eucharist. Do not let a day go by without taking advantage of the gift of being able to gain a plenary indulgence for yourself and for those in purgatory. The Church Militant on earth has a powerful opportunity to help the Church Suffering in purgatory. In turn, these holy souls will be released from their suffering and join the Church Triumphant in heaven. There they will have an even more powerful effect in bringing about the victory for the civilization of love and life over the culture of death. Work hard and struggle perseveringly against the evil one who will tempt you to be lazy and nonchalant about this great opportunity. Accept all the graces I have for you and all the excitement and enthusiasm I place in your heart. Then go out and tell the good news to others and encourage them to take full advantage of the present opportunity. This is an incredibly powerful tool for building the Kingdom of God. Take up this tool, embrace it, and use it skillfully and faithfully. Then you will truly be "My servant, through whom I show My glory, that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth" (Is 49:3, 60). - submitted by Janet Willig

April, 2005
"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia, write this: " ` The holy one, the true, who holds the key of David, who opens and no one shall close, who close and no one shall open, says this:

" ` " I know your works (behold, I have left an open door before you, which no one can close). You have limited strength, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. `Behold, I will make those of the assembly of Satan who claim to be Jews and are not, but are lying, behold I will make them come and fall prostrate at your feet, and they will realize that I love you. Because you have kept my message of endurance, I will keep you safe in the time of trial that is going to come to the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming quickly. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one may take your crown. The victor I will make into a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never leave it again. On him I will inscribe the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, as well as my new name. " ` "Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' —Revelation 3:7-13

October, 2004
At Rephidim, Amalek came and waged war against Israel. Moses, therefore, said to Joshua, "Pick certain men, and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in battle. I will be standing on top of the hill with the staff of god in my hand." So Joshua did as Moses told him: he engaged Amalek in battle after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur. As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight. Moses' hands, however, grew tired; so they put a rock in place for him to sit on. Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands remained steady till sunset. And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. —Exodus 17:8-13

August, 2004
"I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk, give you counsel and watch over you. Do not be senseless like horses or mules; with bit and bridle their temper is curbed, else they will not come to you." —NAB Psalm 32:8-9

"My people, you live in a culture that has made their wants, needs. Make Me your want and I will provide all your needs. Purify yourselves in my presence, for My Love is a consuming fire and it alone can burn away the remnants of your rebellion. Make this your holocaust for it is in your obedience that My power is released." —submitted at the Bible Institute by Stephen Kalonick, (Huntington, WV)

December, 2004
I taught the prophets in the beginning and even now I have not ceased to speak to all, but many are deaf to My voice and unruly.
Many listen more willingly to the world than to God, and more easily follow the instincts of the flesh than the pleasure of God.
The world promises temporal things and of small value, and is served with great ardor; I promise excellent and everlasting things and men's hearts remain cold.
Who is there that serves and obeys Me in all things with that solicitude with which he serves the world and its masters?
"Be you ashamed O Sidon, says the sea."
And if you want to know the reason why, listen.
For a small gain, men run a great way; for eternal life, many will scarce lift a foot once from the ground.
(From the Imitation of Christ, Book 3, Chap 3, Item 3)