"Oh Shenandoah"

As this blessed week draws o a close, I offer this version of "Oh Shenandoah":

 

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of inspirations to count our blessings.

Deacon’s Work Brings Light to Africa

In a previous column, I shared the story of Deacon Don Grossnickle, who was diagnosed with stage four heart failure 10 years ago. At the time, he was given only two years to live, so he credits God - and his rigorous exercise regimen - with keeping him alive much longer than expected. He also feels that God has some work for him to continue, specifically, what he considers to be the greatest mission of his life: the Microfinance Alliance Africa Projects Foundation (or MAAP Foundation).

More than a decade ago, during a trip to Uganda, East Africa, to celebrate the ordination of a seminarian who had worked in his Chicago parish, Deacon Don came upon a maternity clinic that broke his heart because so many mothers and/or babies were dying for lack of care. After he returned to the U.S., he asked God what he could do to help these people. At first, he collected and sent over money for "malaria medicine and also medicine to pay for baby deliveries. Just $10 to $20 is all it requires."

Deacon Don credits the Holy Spirit with leading him to the concept of "sustainability" and "microfinance" as better options. During a Christopher Closeup interview, he explained, "The Africans are all busy with microfinance. Everybody grows to eat. . . . If you have an excess, you sell it [to raise money for what you need], and that's microfinance."

Deacon Don shifted his attention to raising sums of $5,000 so the people in this particular Ugandan community could set up small cow, pig, or poultry farms that could earn $200 to $300 monthly. Profits could go towards their clinics, making them self-sustaining.

"It became a community development project," Deacon Don said. "The original clinic that I visited grew and grew and outlived its problems of bankruptcy and became financially strong. After that, we said, 'Can we do this somewhere else?' And we did. We've been doing that ever since for impoverished Catholic-oriented parish clinics. This year, w'’ll be adding 10. We have 43 projects so far. The Holy Spirit has really empowered us."

Deacon Don then shared the story behind one of the MAAP Foundation's beneficiaries: "Justine died on the way to the hospital [to deliver her child]. Justine and her unborn baby didn't get to the parish clinic in time. The priest that was taking her to the hospital didn't get there in time. Consequently, the priest that buried Justine and the baby came to us. We did a $5,000 project, and today, 10,000 people in his parish now have the opportunity to come and get free assistance to deliver babies. Justine had bleeding, and it's very common in the rural areas of Uganda to have bleeding complications. Without expertise, they will die. There are no such things as doctors in rural parish-run clinics. So it's a great story, a memorial to Justine and the priest that reached out to us. . . . It illustrates the power of people to make change, to light a candle from darkness."

When asked how he himself lights a metaphorical candle when facing times of darkness, Deacon Don concluded, "I light it through prayers of gratitude. Some people count sheep. I count opportunities that I have grasped with the Holy Spirit together, side by side, just as Jesus sent out His disciples two by two. . . . There's great joy in counting our blessings of opportunities to bring light."

This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column by Tony Rossi, Director of Communications, The Christophers; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.

Background information:

The Christophers

Microfinance Alliance Africa Projects Foundation

Reflection Starter from Blaise Pascal

"All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone." - Blaise Pascal

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: "Hymn of the Cherubim"

It’s time for some classical music. This is a presentation of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s "Hymn of the Cherubim", as played by the USSR Ministry of Culture Chamber Choir: 

 

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, (25 April). The free event will be held from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. As of this writing, there are 450 collection sites planned in New England, including 76 in Connecticut, 44 in Maine, 160 in Massachusetts, 105 in New Hampshire, 34 in Rhode Island, and 31 in Vermont.

Public health, law enforcement, and other government and community representatives will be working at these sites to collect expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs that are potentially dangerous if left in the family's medicine cabinet.

This National Take-Back Day is designed to provide an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications for destruction. These drugs are a potential source of supply for illegal use and are considered an unacceptable risk to public health and safety.

This one-day effort is designed to bring national focus to the issue of increasing pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse. The program is anonymous, and it focuses on prescription and over the counter solid dosage medications (i.e., tablets and capsules). Intravenous solutions, injectables, and needles will not be accepted. In addition, illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative.

To view a list of collection sites in a specific state, please click on the following:

US DEA: National Take Back Initiative Collection Site Search

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of those who take care of lawns, flower beds, and related shrubbery.

Fr. Jack Kolodziej, OSFS, on Us as an Easter People

 "Almost forty years ago, Pope John Paul II, on one of his many travels around the world,  told a gathering of Catholics that 'We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!'  The Holy Father was echoing the thoughts of the great theologian, philosopher, and bishop, St. Augustine."

In a recent commentary, Father Jack Kolodziej, OSFS, reflected on what it means to be an Easter people and the hope that comes with this blessing.

To access Fr. Kolodziej's complete post, please visit:

De Sales Weekly: Provincial Reflection: We are an Easter People (23 APR 26)

Reflection Starter from St. Francis de Sales

"What does anything belonging to this life matter, when compared with a peaceful heart?" - Saint Francis de Sales

Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir: "Worthy Is The Lamb"

As we continue to live this week, I offer this version of The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir presenting "Worthy Is The Lamb":

 

National Crime Victims Rights Week

This week, the week of 19-25 April, is being observed as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Observed since 1981, NCVRW was initiated as an observance to promote awareness of victims’ rights and services and to honor crime victims and survivors. The theme for NCVRW 2026 is "Listen. Act. Advocate. Protect victims, serve communities.."

For more information about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, please visit:

U.S. Department of Justice: Office for Victims of Crime: National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of public libraries.