Ocean to Ocean Campaign in Defense of Life" pilgrimage to visit Madison tomorrow

From Human Life International (Hat tip Vigil for Life):

After traveling 40,000 miles through 24 European nations, the icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa, already viewed by millions and venerated by hundreds of thousands of Christians, landed on the shores of America in August 2013 for the next leg of an historic pilgrimage in the movement to build a Culture of Life.

The Black Madonna, a replica of the original in Jasna Gora monastery in Poland, was received at a ceremony on Saturday, August 24, 2013 on St. Clement's Island, Maryland - the exact site of the first landing of Catholic pilgrims in the American British colonies of the 17th century. Tradition holds that the original icon of the Black Madonna was painted by St. Luke on a cypress table used by the Holy Family. 

The Human Life International-sponsored "Ocean to Ocean Pilgrimage in Defense of Life" will visit Madison on Thursday, June 19th, 2014.   The Black Madonna will be on the sidewalk outside of Planned Parenthood on Orin Road for a 3 p.m. prayer vigil and at a 7 p.m. Mass with Father Peter West of Human Life International as Celebrant at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monona.

Details and a short video about the pilgrimage can be found at www.hli.org/oceantoocean.  "The legal and political battles to defend life and the family in the U.S. and around the world are necessary, but building and sustaining a Culture of Life requires us to turn to God and hear His voice, and that's why this pilgrimage is so important," said Human Life International Vice President Father Peter West. "Orthodox and Catholic faithful are seeking Our Lady's intercession for the protection of the family, and of all human life from conception to natural death."

 The peregrination of the icon began in the summer of 2012 after a meeting of Catholic and Orthodox pro-life leaders in Europe. Starting in Vladivostok, Russia, the Ocean to Ocean Campaign has received the support and blessings of numerous bishops in Europe, as well as Metropolitan Hilarion of the Russian Orthodox Church, and is expected to circle the globe in defense of life.

The icon was blessed by Archbishop Stanislaw Nowak of Czestochowa in January 2012 during a special ceremony at the Jasna Gora monastery. Fr. Roman Majewski, prior of Jasna Gora, said the pilgrimage has "enormous significance" in the struggle to protect the dignity of all human life.  "The pilgrimage of the Czestochowa icon 'From Ocean to Ocean' through the world is an unprecedented historical event and has enormous significance," he said. "I am expressing my great joy and heartfelt gratitude to all those who arranged for Our Lady to travel through the world in the sign of the image of Jasna Gora and to remind everyone of the value and dignity of human life from conception to natural death."

For more on the history of the Black Madonna, on the tradition of pilgrimages with sacred icons (based in the Old Testament), and on the Ocean to Ocean Campaign, visit www.hli.org/oceantoocean. or contact Adam Cassandra at 540-622-5230 - acassandra@hli.org.

About HLI: Human Life International: For the Glory of God and defense of Life, Faith and Family. Founded in 1981, HLI is the world's largest international grassroots pro-life and pro-family organization, with affiliates and associates in over 80 countries on six continents. www.hli.org

Franciscan Skemp update: Our Lady of Czestochowa pro-life icon welcomed into FSPA chapel

As we took the icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa[details below] to the vehicle to escort her to Franciscan Healthcare, it was pouring down rain. Father Peter West, of Human Life International, sadly noted that the icon should not be out in such weather. I asked Will Goodman if he thought that, perhaps, Sister Rosalia Bauer, the pro-life FSPA Sister, could find a way for the icon to be brought into the convent chapel if it was raining at Franciscan Healthcare. He said that he would call her.

The striking icon of Our Lady was then taken to the hospital, where people were waiting to pray. Her icon arrived in the midst of torrential rains. Father West said that the icon could not be taken out of the vehicle, but we could pray a chaplet for Divine Mercy together. Everyone prayed in the rain.

After the chaplet was completed, Father West noted that a large canopy that someone had offered would provide sufficient cover for the icon of Our Lady. Four men carried the canopy over to his vehicle and provided protective cover so that the icon could be taken out. The icon was then carried to Market Street, in front of Franciscan Healthcare.

Father West led the group of approximately 35 people in praying the rosary, seeking Our Lady’s intercession for an end to the hospital’s involvement with abortion in any way. It continued to rain, sometimes very hard, along with thunder and lightning – a theophany, it seemed.

It was a powerful time of prayer. No one cared that we were soaking wet!

But it did not end there. Because of the rain, Sister Rosalia had arranged to have the icon brought indoors, into Saint Rose Convent! Our Lady of Czestochowa was escorted into Mary of the Angels Chapel (the convent chapel) and placed in the sanctuary! Father West was invited to the ambo, where he gave an excellent talk about the worldwide pro-life pilgrimage of the icon and the effort to build a culture that respects human life.

But it did not end there. The icon was then escorted into the Sisters’ perpetual adoration chapel, where the pro-life group spent time in silent prayer.

But it did not end there. Sister Rosalia arranged for the icon to remain in the Sisters’ adoration chapel for the entire night! The icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa is in the center of Saint Rose Convent as I write this message. Our Lady has gone to the heart of this intense spiritual battle.

Expose Mayo

A side note, the Our Lady of Czestochowa icon is a replica of the original icon said to have been written by St. Luke himself(and hence since St. Luke was a doctor, there is a particular connection to ethical treatment of mothers and the unborn).  Human Life International has organized a pilgrimage across the country, and the icon makes it way back through Wisconsin later this month:

-June 13 – St. John the Baptist Church in Marshfield, WI
-June 14-15 – Sacred Heart Church in Polonia, WI
-June 16 Lumen Christi Church in Mequon, WI
-June 17 – Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians at Holy Hill in Hubertus, WI
-June 18 – Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion, WI
-June 19 – Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Monona, WI

 details

Novena for Fr. Euteneuer

The response has been overwhelmingly positive, so we’re going to do it. Sarting on Tuesday, February 8, we’ll be praying together as a prolife family each night at 9 PM for the restoration of Father Thomas Euteneuer to full emotional and spiritual health, and God willing, to active ministry. We shall pray for the full restoration to emotional and spiritual health for the woman with whom he became involved, and for all who have suffered as a result of this.

Deacon Marcelino Hernandez of the Archdiocese of Chicago has graciously consented to be our spiritual and pastoral leader in prayer.

When, Where, How…

Each night, for nine consecutive nights at 9 PM EST, I’ll post the prayers for the Divine Mercy Novena, along with the focal point for the night that Deacon Hernandez will send to me. Our Protestant brothers and sisters are welcome and encouraged to join us in these prayers, or to pray along with us in the manner that best expresses their prayerful relationship with the Lord. Others and I will also pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy after the novena prayers.

The necessary corrective measures have been taken by Fr. E and his bishop.

Now we enter the season of prayer and healing for all who have been hurt in this chapter of Fr. E’s life.

Thank you Deacon Hernandez for your prayerful leadership in this season of healing. 

Coming Home

Ht V

Statement of Fr. Thomas Euteneuer: setting the record straight

The following is the complete text of Fr. Euteneuer’s statement:
January 31, 2011

It is with great sadness, but also with a certain measure of relief, that I can now respond to the many inquiries about my departure as president of Human Life International (HLI) at the end of August 2010. It has been painful for me to remain silent in light of the ongoing speculation, particularly when much of it assigned blame to those who were, in fact, blameless.  I am thankful to be able to set the record straight so that speculation can stop and blame can be placed right where it belongs - with me.

The circumstances that led to my departure from HLI were related exclusively to my own decisions and conduct within the ministry of exorcism that I carried out independently from my responsibilities at HLI. The vast majority of my decisions and conduct, both personally and in this ministry, were morally sound and consistent with all standards of pastoral care of persons.  Moreover, they were all motivated exclusively by my desire to give priestly assistance to people in great spiritual distress. I must acknowledge, however, that one particularly complex situation clouded my judgment and led me to imprudent decisions with harmful consequences, the worst of which was violating the boundaries of chastity with an adult female who was under my spiritual care.

I take full responsibility for my own poor judgment, my weakness and my sinful conduct that resulted from it. I offer no excuse for my professional or moral failures, nor do I shift the blame to anyone else. I state without reserve that I am deeply sorry for my actions.  I have personally apologized, where possible, to anyone I have harmed.  I am saddened beyond words for my fall, not only because of the harm done to my priesthood and my family, but also because of the harm done to all others who are affected, to the faith of those who placed so much trust in me and our Church, and to the pro-life movement so populated with heroic, faithful people. I must face and make amends for the disappointment I have caused.  I have, of course, asked for God’s forgiveness and I have confidence in his boundless mercy.  I am now grateful to be able to publicly ask for all of yours as well.

The entire statement is available on LifeSiteNews

The spiritual warfare that he has to endure would crush any one of us. God permits human weakness to bring about greater humility.  Let's all pray a rosary for Fr. Euteneuer today.