Ideas from Father Seth for Special Project Giving

Speaking of giving, I have learned in my time as a pastor that often times there are parishioners who are more inclined to give money towards specific projects rather than general giving for salaries, etc.  With that in mind I would like to mention a few projects/items that will be purchased in the near future at St. John’s.  We will get to these projects and items as we have money to do them, and we do try to put into our annual budget money for some of these things too, so we will get to all of this eventually.  We may just get to some sooner as we get specific donations for specific projects.

You may notice the beautiful images on the wall in the gathering space near the bathrooms.  These are images from the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Lacrosse, Wisconsin.  We have five images, but there is a sixth – Therese of Liseiux that once it is available we would like to purchase to finish the set.

Here is the Shrine:  
Peregrine Laziosi (1260-1345) was born in Forli, Italy, the only son of well-to-do parents. In his teens, he joined the enemies of the Pope in his hometown and soon became a ringleader of the rebels.

Pope Martin IV had placed Forli under a spiritual ban which closed churches in the city. and the Pope was hoping to bring its citizens to their senses. That failed and he sent Philip Benizi, of the Order of Servites (Servants of Mary), as his personal ambassador to try to bring peace to the angry rebels. After a vicious altercation with Philip, Peregrine cast himself to the feet of the priest and asked for his forgiveness, which he granted.

Years later, Peregrine was ordained a priest and went back to Forli and founded a Servite monastery. One of the penances he imposed on himself was to stand whenever it was not necessary to sit. When tired, he would support himself on a choir stall. At the age of 60, he developed an infection in his right leg which had deteriorated to the point that his leg needed to be amputated.

The night before the surgery, Peregrine spent hours in prayer. He dozed off and had a dream that Christ was touching him and healing his foot. The thrill of it woke him up. In the dim moonlight he saw that his foot, carefully bandaged a few hours earlier, was completely healed.

The people of Forli appreciated him even more after learning of the miraculous cure. When they were sick, they appealed to him for prayers. Some were cured when he whispered “Jesus” into their ears. St. Peregrine is the patron saint of persons with cancer, foot ailments, or any incurable disease. He died on May 1st, which is now his feast day.