Posted on 11/05/2007 6:30:37 AM PST by NYer
Dear Family Regretfully, I have a message that does not come without significant pain to both you and me. I have to tell you in all honesty and truth, that I have been personally involved with helping a widow and her struggling family. Over the course of time, the mother and I have grown very close. As a result, I am compelled to take some time off to prayerfully and honestly discern my future. I am truly sorry of the impact this may have on so many. I am not unaware of the gravity and magnitude of the situation, yet after much wise counsel, it is really something that I must deal with now for the good of all. With that said, it is best that I deal with it away from EWTN. Therefore, I have asked for and graciously been granted some extended time to prayerfully discern my vocation. To those who are part of the EWTN family locally, and others throughout the world, especially all those who have supported me so faithfully in my priestly vocation and ministry here on Life on the Rock, I sincerely apologize. I ask for your prayers and understanding during this time that is so very difficult, but yet so very necessary. Please lift me up in your humble prayers to Jesus through Mary, our Mother, in Grace and Mercy. Fr Francis Mary, MFVA
Fr Anthony Mary then said "Brothers and Sisters of our EWTN family, this is a time in which Fr Francis and all involved are in great need of your prayers and your support as our family. Always remember that no one is beyond the power of God's Mercy or Redemption. And on Fr's behalf, I humbly ask that you pray for him. God bless you."
Hopefully we are always discerning God’s will for us.
They are the Truths and Faith Jesus Christ not Fr. Francis and we don’t know if he is abandoning his vocation for another. All I’m saying is not to get ahead of what’s going on. What’s in the present is a plea for prayers.
Okay, maybe pebbles. It’s not being whitewashed. Nor, at this point, should it be painted into something it isn’t. The power of prayer can help him to be open to God’s will and answer it. He answered once and prayer can help give him the strength to answer again.
I love your post. It’s so true.
To me, it doesn’t bother me when someone speaks like you do. It is refreshing, actually. Now granted, I cannot imagine Jesus ever being scandalized. [If someone can come up with an instance in which He was, I’m sincerely interested to know what it was.] But although never scandalized, when a thing was bad, He could say, “This is bad; this won’t do.”
From 2001 to 2007, the Church in the United States has lost 12% of Her ACTIVE diocesan priests.
That’s nasty.
The modern young Catholic with sympathize with him, and as we are a "fat and lazy" nation (I'm not exempting myself), my fear is that the young viewer will not see the enemy at work here.
I do hope EWTN is able to charitably explain the ramifications of what's going on and how much prayer is really needed for Father's battle, because that's what it is: a battle against a serious temptation/sin. If the young viewer sees EWTN as being "too harsh and judgmental", they may just turn it off. That would be disasterous. It's a great opportunity to teach the young about the devil's ways, God's plans and mercy, how one part of the body effects the whole body, and what prayer can do.
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