My Catholic Roots are showing

Why We Do It

April 3, 2018 1 Comment

Pat, me, Edna, and Pastor Eduardo outside the Upper Room

My neighbor was having a gathering, and she had invited a gentleman that travels the country with a statue of the Blessed Mother. She had asked me to say a few words because of my journeys to the Holy Land. As I started to share, a strange man rudely interrupted me, saying, “We didn’t come to hear about your expensive travels; it takes a lot of money to go there.” I politely made my talk short and sat back down.

I know that there are always contrary sentiments expressed like that of the rude stranger. These convictions come from well meaning friends and family, who saying, “She’s going again, why do they keep doing this, and couldn’t they use the money to help other families in need here at home?”

After 19 hours of travel, including the bus ride from Tel Aviv, we arrived at our hotel at 6:00 A.M. We are not tourists, we are missionaries, and we rest for three hours. Our first stop was Bethlehem At the Church of Nativity, where we go to pray. On Holy Thursday we visited St. Peter’s Of Gallicantu, where I prayed for my nephew Mario. From there we visited the Upper Room, did our foot washing, and continued with our prayers.

On Good Friday, it rained while we carried the Cross down the Via Dolorosa. Though it was a gentle rain, it was cold. At the first station the police barricaded our group for over half an hour. Bad weather conditions never detour us, but we were pretty soaked. I could see the stage blood of Jesus mix with the rain beneath me. As we proceeded, my steps met with numerous muddy potholes that soaked my feet, as I was in sandals. After Jesus fell the first time, right before he met his mother at the Fourth Station, I fell on my knees next to him in agony. The thing is that I am in my sixties and need assistance in getting up, so thank God for caring strangers.

We meet many people, and when I have eye contact with a crying stranger, I know that God’s work has been done.

I met a young lady from Florida named Amanda, and she wanted to be part of the pageant. The Israeli army blocked our procession three times, holding us back, so whenever we encountered this, we sang the “Divine Mercy” song. Amanda, a true millennial, was searching for the words to the song on her phone. I told l her the song only has one verse, “For the Sake of His Sorrowful Passion Have Mercy on Us and on the whole World.” As the hundreds and of flashing cameras went off, we knew that seeds were being planted. Because it was televised all over the world, we know that souls were and are being touched. We are never mentioned by name, nor are recognized for the work we do; we would not have it any other way, because we do it for Jesus.

Leaving the Lion’s Gate, no taxis allowed

After the drama, we met at a popular restaurant, because for years we have patronized this place, and the management has allowed our Jesus (Jim) to clean up. We encountered a dilemma because of the holiday as no taxis were allowed near the Lion’s Gate, so Jane, a team member, had to hike up to the 1st Station and arrange for transportation for our group leader Joanne, as she is wheelchair bond. A shop owner offered to get her to a taxi station.

On Saturday we visited the Western Wall, so many prayer requests on the ground, because the Wall was so stuffed with petitions. I prayed for all the requests and left them in Jesus’s care. All prayer requests left at the Western Wall, are lovingly picked-up and buried in a sacred place by the Jewish caretakers. The Jews consider them as sacred documents like the Torah.

On Easter Sunday we traveled north to Mt. Tabor. This is one of my favorite sites. We were blessed to be participate in a Mass. I had gone to confession at the Church of Nativity, so it was a special blessing for me.

We are back home, tired but spiritually stimulated. Thank you Edna for helping Joanne, Linda, our team leader in Fresno, Jane, the organizer of the trip, Carol, the strength of the team, Leggitt, the powerful intercessor, Pat, our singer, Robert E. and Pastor Eduardo both from Tecate, Mexico, and to Jim, our Jesus and rocket scientist, and Joanne our 83 year old leader, who started the drama over 35 years ago. Next year Jerusalem!

Feeding The Homeless

The Displaced

March 19, 2018 1 Comment

Jane, Amber, me and Gary, pray for Amber to be drug free so that she can be united with her children

Friday was a grace-filled day. For the first time, Mike was home to help load up the SUV with supplies for the homeless — and what a blessing that was. The older one gets, the more laborious the task becomes. Mike made sure everything was in order: all the carts loaded and Melchizedek (the SUV’s name) gassed up and ready to go.

At Nohl Canyon Elementary School, where the sandwiches are made, the students were lined up and eager to help. With more than 30 volunteers, what normally takes two to three hours to produce 300 sandwiches was accomplished in just one hour. My friend Sarah was there as well, alongside all three of her daughters.

Saturday was not such a good day, as I was in an unusual mood. As the morning progressed my spirit was filled with dissension. I was upset because we had to pick up one of members of our team, going 20 minutes out of the way. I started complaining what a hardship this was and that this person needed to make other arrangements. Why was I allowing myself to behave this way? It was as if I had no control over my negative thoughts. The more I tried to show any type of remorse, the more this angry spirit prevailed. I have been picking up this person for years, I am often irritated about this, but this time it was bad.

Once we arrived at Skid Row, the anointing fell the moment the rear door of the SUV swung open. And yet, the conflict from earlier in the morning lingered — the poor behavior, the anger, the sense of unworthiness. How could anyone in that condition pray for another? That is precisely how the enemy works. The spirit had been out of alignment, and Satan was quick to whisper that God could not use someone who had just behaved that way.

But that is a lie.

God does not wait for perfect vessels. The moment that lie was recognized and rejected, the ministry opened up — and what a privilege it was to stand with brothers and sisters on Skid Row and pray.

As soon as we parked, two women approached to share some exciting news — “Refresh Spot” had recently opened on Skid Row. This remarkable ministry offers free showers and clean towels to the homeless, along with charging stations for cell phones and access to clean restrooms, all at no cost. Evans, the project manager, shared that within a few weeks, free washers and dryers would also be available for the displaced. It is the most significant and tangible improvement seen on Skid Row in years.

Nearby, a group of people had set up to feed the homeless for the very first time — though they had positioned themselves in one of the most isolated spots on the block, where foot traffic was nearly nonexistent. When asked what church they were from, the answer was surprising: no church affiliation, just a group of generous hearts standing and waiting for people to come to them. In a spirit of charity, a gentle suggestion was offered — walk to the people, hand the meals directly to them, and take the time to know them by name. There was a beautiful irony in the moment: many of the sandwiches were packed inside large Gucci shopping bags, the kind that come with luxury purchases. But God sees the heart, not the packaging — and the Lord will surely bless what was offered with such sincerity.

What a blessing it was to meet so many loving souls — among them Esperanza and her four children: Jocelyn, Jazmine, Richard, and little Alexa, who was nestled in her stroller. Esperanza and her family are currently living in a shelter, and she is expecting another child. Please keep her in prayer. We also met Amber, whose heart was broken over the separation from her children. She could not hold back her tears. Please pray that Amber finds freedom from drug dependency, so that she may be reunited with the children she so clearly loves.

Rosaries were distributed throughout the morning, and the response was deeply moving — so many people received them with genuine tenderness and gratitude. For those unfamiliar with the Rosary, every prayer within it is rooted in Scripture. The Hail Mary draws directly from the Angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary and her own Magnificat (Luke 1:28, 46–55), while the Our Father comes from the very words of Jesus Himself, taught to His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:9–13; Luke 11:2–4). These are not man-made devotions — they are the words of God, prayed in rhythm and love.

One moment stood out above the rest. Selene, a homeless woman, pressed her Rosary against her heart and offered her thanks with quiet sincerity. Please pray for Selene — she is in need of stable housing.

When such profound peace is experienced on Skid Row, one conclusion becomes almost inevitable: those who ministered will soon come under attack. And that is exactly what happened. That ugly spirit returned on the drive home. Instead of praying, the mood turned unpleasant — again. Gary, a faithful member of the team, gently offered counsel about extending love to everyone, but the heart was not ready to receive it. A call to an old friend, Cindy, brought some relief — she listened, understood, and promised her prayers. Within a couple of hours, the dark cloud began to lift. Repentance followed, and with it, the return of peace and a cheerful spirit.

This is how the enemy operates — attacking the mind, the body, or those we love most. But the victory always belongs to the Lord.

This behavior was out of character, and apologies were offered to all who witnessed that unfortunate display. By God’s mercy, Mike was not home — because in that state, a fight would have been inevitable. After lunch, a large serving of humble pie was ordered and consumed in solitude, with prayer as the only company.

“Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.” — James 1:19–20

Finally, please pray for Robert, a beloved member of the team. Shortly after serving the homeless, Robert’s appendix ruptured, requiring emergency surgery. He will be hospitalized for six days and will most likely be unable to make the pilgrimage to the Holy Land this year. Robert needs our prayers — for healing, for peace, and for the grace to trust God’s plan even in this painful detour.

My Heart of the Matter

Focus, Focus, Focus

March 12, 2018 1 Comment

Praying the Rosary and witnessing to the parking attendant

I received a phone call one recent Sunday, asking me to participate in a focus group. In the conversation, which was brief I disclosed my cell phone number and my email address. The caller also informed me that the topics to be discussed were hot political issues. I was told that an email or text would follow with more details. The focus group was going to pay for dinner at a trendy Irvine restaurant, and also pay participants $150.

My head got really big after this phone call, as I was thinking, maybe they are reading my Blog and found it so interesting that they wanted my opinion. It did not take long for my hairdresser Misty to burst my bubble when she said, “You should be careful, it sounds like a scam.” I wanted to share with others about how “special” I was in being selected, but now a dark cloud of doubt filled my deflated mind.

I checked for any information via email or text from this group, but received no communication. I called the restaurant, and they too confirmed that nothing was scheduled. I was a little disappointed because the money would have come in handy for the upcoming trip to Israel.

I was busy cleaning the house when the phone rang the day of the scheduled meeting. It was the focus group people calling to confirm my participation. My response was, “You mean the scam!” The lady was nervously trying to convince me that it was not a scam, and then proceeded to contact her supervisor. He told me to call the restaurant again to clear things up. I did, and it was legit.

When I arrived, I was directed to the bar to join the other participants. Yeah, I was not going to do that, I stepped outside and started to pray the Rosary. I asked God to humble me, and for Jesus to be seen through me, I also witnessed to the parking attendant. I walked back in and met some of the people. The only thing that I could find in common with some of them was that we were part of the human race. Republicans, Democrats, all mixed together, with ages ranging from a ninety year-old man, to a petite twenty-year-old young lady.

The mediator mentioned that he had an MBA from some Ivy League college, and is earning his living by collecting information, and selling it. The gathering was impressive, with video cameras and microphones set up. For some reason part of the group, myself included, thought that it was going to be a discussion on Dreamers, President Trump’s Tweets, or the great political divide. What we talked about was more community issues, like the homeless encampment along the Santa Ana River bed. One gentleman, a retired sheriff, informed us that the homeless are now referred to as displaced people. Since I have been working with the “Displaced” people for years I did have some knowledge to offer. I gleaned some information from a recent radio commentary that a priest was giving. He talked about all state hospitals being forced to close due to government cutbacks. Persons with mental disorders are now in the streets, and I know first hand that a large population of displaced are chronic addicts. The 90 year-old man added that he was employed by this type of insitutuion, and he explained that the mental patients had a home and that their medication was monitored and controlled. Others in the group thought that it would be a huge financial burden to go back to opening mental hospitals. The sad reality is that the prisons are now housing many mentally ill persons, the population has increased from 5% to 20% within the last 25 years. The rest of the mentally ill are displaced and roaming the streets According to 2016 statistics put out by Social Solution, there are 564,708 displaced people in the U.S. Of these, according to Fact Sheet: Homelessness in California, 115,738 are living in California. We need a better solution to help displaced people, or the problem will continue to grow.

Another topic was our prison system, and the lack of rehabilitation. All but one person agreed that rehabilitation is the only avenue for parolees.

We were allowed to give an opinion on the matters discussed, we all listened and I was presently surprised as to how respectful we all were of our differences. The mediator explained that this type of forum produces the best information because people are honest in person.

The man sitting to my left asked how we were picked for the survey. To add to my humility, we were randomly selected because we are registered voters, not because they read my Blog.

1 Peter 5:6

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,

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