Our Lady the Immaculate Virgin

Alan Kershaw Roman Rota Letter

2008-07-23T06:46:00.002-05:00

This is "the letter" from Alan Kershaw that is mentioned in the previous post.

KershawLetter%2009-06-07.pdf

Issues and Answers Re: OLA Devotion

2008-07-22T10:28:00.003-05:00

In light of the recent storm of allegations being made against those who are claiming to be the "sole source" and "official" websites of the Our Lady of America devotion, OLTIV has spent countless hours doing fact-checking of claims being presented by both parties. We have even investigated bogus claims made by "Anonymous" comments on this blog.

After speaking with the Toledo Chancery and independent attorneys, our findings concur with the following letter sent by the gentlemen from the Indianapolis group who have been working diligently, at the behest of American Bishops, to clear up all the misconceptions and baseless assumptions being promoted by those in the Fostoria group.

It was our sincere hope and desire that somebody, ANYBODY, with the honesty and integrity to help shed light on the facts would avail themselves from the Fostoria supporters. So far, we have only received anonymous comments and threats from people claiming to be supporters of the Fostoria group. It is impossible to even consider that Sr. Millie would have ever condoned behavior, like that we have recently witnessed, coming out of "advocates" for Our Lady of America.

Please understand that this investigation and report is not designed to destroy anybody's personal faith in Our Lady of America. It is intended to shed light on an otherwise gray area that must be made clear (at the direction of Bishop Leonard Blair) before this devotion can be carried forward by the American Bishops as Our Lady asked. She said "Bring Me My children. Bring Me ALL of My children!" It is time for all of us to take responsibility for Her request. It is time for a public apostolate.

The following response was submitted by Kevin McCarthy and Al Langsenkamp in regards to certain claims made by the Fostoria supporters. Copies of the actual letters will be made available soon on this website.

Patricia Ann Fuller, without ever disclosing that she had been dismissed from the religious life, attended a meeting in The Vatican arranged by a private canon lawyer who has never worked directly as an attorney, employee or officer of The Roman Curia. He is properly identified as an "Advocate before the Roman Rota," a professional distinction which has nothing to do with the status of supposed religious in the Catholic Church. This is how such a private canon law advisor may describe himself. This is no different than an American secular lawyer who identifies himself as "admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Ohio."

When the Rotal Advocate or the Ohio Lawyer sends out a document so identifying themselves this does not mean that the Rotal Advocate speaks as an official representative of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota or any other Vatican office any more than it means that the Ohio Lawyer speaks as a judge or other official of the Ohio Supreme Court. Patrica Fuller received a letter from such a legal advisor which mentioned his admission before the Roman Rota in the letterhead. That's it!

It is an obvious abuse and distortion to make any more out of the private letter of a private canon lawyer.

Likewise, Fuller, the "Anonymous" Accuser, and her other cohorts, so abuse and distort the significance of the Last Will and Testament of Sister Mildred Mary Neuzil executed 31 January A.D. 1994. As with all such wills, she passed only what she owned at death, in this case specific "items" of property; Fuller was her executor whose duties ended once the estate was closed in the Probate Court of Seneca
County, Ohio.

Fuller was never appointed a "guardian," and to use that specific legal term about Fuller's duties under the extremely short and simple will of Sister Mildred Mary
Neuzil is just a ball-faced lie. The $1,000,000.00 in bank stock which Patrica Fuller has owned never went through probate, and there is no evidence that the will of Sister Millie was ever properly approved under the "pious wills" provisions of the Catholic Church Code of Canon Law.

The abuse of each of these documents, the letterhead of the Rotal Advocate, and the Will of Sister Millie, each constitutes fraudulent distortion and exaggeration. Her
own private canon lawyer writes her a letter and she treats it as an official document of a Vatican Court which has no jurisdiction over questions of the religious life.

Sister Millie writes a less than two-page will which is never properly approved by the Catholic Church, and never even pretends to give Fuller any permanent say over anything, and she says it makes her "guardian" over the Our Lady of America devotion, superior even to her own Bishop.

No woman may call herself "Sister" after having been dismissed from formal religious life like Patricia Fuller.

Finally, sometimes lay people call themselves, "Sister," even though they have not taken formal vows, as with an association which is preliminary to forming a true religious order.

Fuller never got her association approved by the Bishop of Toledo, or any other proper authority.

Even when she went to The Vatican on August 31, 2006, and her Rotal Advocate introduced her as "Sister," she was kindly and repeatedly told that she must have the
approval of her local bishop. She never even attempted to contact him until after she joined with her cohorts in a criminal calumny program in late 2007.

This is a woman dismissed from a Poor Clares Convent years before she entered into the Precious Blood Cloister at New Riegel, Ohio.

This is a relatively uneducated woman who talked about founding a worldwide system
of religious women's convents with hundreds of millions of dollars from a mysterious Filipino woman.

Her cohorts are enablers, at best, and co-conspirators, at worse, and each of them has much for which to answer.

Kevin McCarthy
Al Langsenkamp

Letter From Cardinal Francis George of Chicago to Bishop Ricken Re: OLA

2008-07-21T06:57:00.003-05:00

Letter From Bishop Blair of Toledo

2008-07-20T16:13:00.001-05:00

Our Lady of America Newsletter, July 16, 2008

2008-07-17T18:46:00.003-05:00

Patricia Fuller
Ex-Nun makes bogus claims: The former "Sister" Joseph Therese (Patricia Fuller) is not a religious Sister; does not live in a convent; does not control devotion to Our Lady of America!

July 16, 2008 - Carmel, IN:
I became involved in the Our Lady of America devotion after two (2) Catholic bishops asked Kevin McCarthy, a Catholic layman associated with the BVM Foundation, Inc., (an Indiana not-for-profit corporation) with regard to the Our Lady of America devotion, "to get it going." Kevin did this, and he succeeded only and always as his own personal apostolate, even if he did it at the behest of a number of bishops. Kevin specifically asked me to join the effort, and I gladly did so, including in conversations and meetings with a number of United States Catholic bishops who obviously respect Kevin, and who also looked favorably on our efforts to promote Our Lady of America.

In late 2005 I was given the www.ourladyofamerica.com domain and website. In discussion with Patricia Fuller a.k.a Sister Joseph Therese C.I.T this web site and domain were irrevocably given to me to promote this devotion. At considerable expense and effort on our part a new web site was launched in early 2006. Fuller often, and in writing, thanked me for taking on the internet site. She understood and agreed, in a telephone conversation with "Sister " that I was accepting this internet site only on a permanent basis. This labor of love has been an essential element upon which this devotion has been spread. Tens of thousands have visited this internet site to learn of Our Lady of America. At this site, we offered free devotionals and those interested were kept informed of the news surrounding this devotion. Nearly one million holy cards have been distributed by the visitors to this site, helping to make this devotion known throughout the land and bringing Her graces to many.

Without any warning, consultation, or explanation, this web address was redirected on July 3rd, 2008 to a site authorized by the former religious sister Patricia Fuller residing in a private home at Fostoria OH to promote the production of a different and unapproved devotional statue of Our Lady of America. The statue of Our Lady of America featured on our site was commissioned in 2006 by the B.V.M. Foundation. She was first taken and displayed to the U.S. Bishops Conference (2006) where the statue was blessed by Archbishop Burke. Later she was hosted by Archbishops and a Cardinal, and is currently on display at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington D.C. near the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. This statue is by all measure "the" image of Our Lady of America. To suggest any other statue creates confusion and disruption of the legitimate efforts to fulfill the requests of Our Lady of America.

While the indications to us are that the vast majority of people do not take seriously the recent indication that Fuller is making a different statue, nonetheless, her obviously misguided action will confuse some of the faithful interested in Our Lady of America. A perfect example of this confusion is that as of the date of this email-newsletter her site has portrayed an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Fatima not as Our Lady of America

Please be aware that the internet site www.ourladyofamerica.com and any email addresses ending in ourladyofamerica.com are for the time being not affiliated with the BVM Foundation effort initiated and recognized by interested Catholic Bishops.

Fortunately, over a year ago we set up www.ourladyofamerica.org which seems to be safely out of the reach of Patricia Fuller and her confederates. If you have any links on websites or blogs please update them to point to www.ourladyofamerica.org.

The Vicar General of the Diocese of Toledo-in-America on September 29, 2006, privately and personally warned Patricia Fuller about her actions and conduct in asserting that she was a religious sister and lived in a convent. Staff of Bishop Blair, in response to telephone inquiries made (since the beginning of 2008) to His Excellency at his office in the Diocese of Toledo-in-America, have openly and repeatedly stated that Patricia Fuller is no longer a nun or religious sister and does not live in a convent. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair, Bishop Toledo-in-America informed us this past December 12, 2007 (Read Letter)of what was then shocking news to us that this woman Patricia Anne Fuller, who calls herself "Sister M. Joseph Therese" was "dismissed" from Religious life several years ago. Therefore, the home where she resides is not a convent and she cannot claim the religious title of a Catholic "Sister".

After filing a complaint against Fuller and others (for defamation, wiretap, breach of contract and commercial disparagement) in the Federal Court at Indianapolis, and in light of encouragement by the Diocese of Toledo to try to settle the matter, we withdrew that litigation, during the Solemn Novena to Divine Mercy immediately after Easter, solely for reasons of Christian charity and mercy, and for no other possible reason. Miss Patricia Fuller has refused even to entertain any settlement discussion. She is under the impression that because she was the unsupervised estate administrator for Sister Mary Ephrem (Mildred Neuzil) it gives her authority over the devotion derived from the private revelations of that holy nun which is to claim such authority is superior to the Catholic Church or to anyone else. Sister Mary Ephrem (Mildred Neuzil) gave freely to the public those of her messages approved during the lifetime of her original spiritual director, Bishop Paul Francis Leibold, such wise that neither she nor any of her heirs could ever legally claim any copyright over them. (See story on copyright)

Neither I nor the BVM. Foundation make any claim of control over this devotion. In fact we encourage and support with information and devotionals all the lay faithful, many parishes and religious who in good faith promote this devotion for the glory of God. It is my opinion that Patricia Fuller and others working with her are not acting in good faith.

This statue of Our Lady of America is now very near the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. In the last 30 days many positive developments have occurred with this devotion which will be the subject of my next newsletter. I believe the fulfillment of Our Lady's request is near!

Please pray that Heaven will grant us mercy and rectify these errant ways.
Our Lady of America, pray for us.

-Al Langsenkamp

Anonymous Comments

2008-07-17T06:50:00.002-05:00

In light of recent negative and defamatory comments directed at members of the Langsenkamp Family Apostolate by an anonymous person on this blog, any further comments that make accusations without the full name of the author will be summarily deleted.

If anyone would like to submit factually documented items for inclusion on this space, you are welcome to send them, along with your full name and contact info, to info@oltiv.org.

No matter what you may personally feel, remember that it is neither anyone from Fostoria, OH nor Indianapolis, IN that "owns" Our Lady of America. Our Lady came for Her children. ALL of her children.

7 Years Ago Today..."Bring Me My Children"

2008-07-15T07:48:00.002-05:00

This story has been run here before, but on this special anniversary, it seems only fitting to remind readers of what Our Lady is asking and how natural Her love for us truly is. She is waiting for you. Please heed Her call to "Bring Me My Children..."

ARCHBISHOP'S NEPHEW RELATES STRIKING OCCURRENCE AT AMERICAN APPARITION SITE
A nephew of Archbishop Paul F. Leibold has informed us of an extraordinary visit to the site where Sister Mildred Mary Ephrem Neuzil, the American seer, had her first apparitions.

The nephew, whose name is also Paul Leibold, and who was especially close to the now-deceased archbishop, says that during a spur-of-the moment visit on July 14 to a spot called Sylvan Springs near Rome City, Indiana, he and a small group experienced the "miracle of the sun" and that he spotted a beautifully strange blue butterfly that brings to mind phenomena reported at another apparition site in Venezuela called Betania (which he had not heard about previous to the experience).

According to Paul (who we will call by his first name to differentiate him from the archbishop), he made the trip after reading articles about the situation on this internet site and was surprised by what he found. He and 11 others piled a recreational vehicle and headed five hours up the highway that recent Saturday.

There they found the current manager of the land, Larry Young.
"We took off to the mound where the third apparition was," says Paul, who now owns a pharmacy in the Cincinnati area. "We said we were going to pray a family rosary, and there was another couple that had arrived just after we did, Angel and his wife Maria and their son Angel Junior.

We were getting ready to start the rosary and Larry looked at the sun and we began to see the miracle of the sun. When I was at Medjugorje we did not see the miracle of the sun. Someone with me had, and he said it was absolutely identical to what he saw on that mound.

"The next 15 to 20 minutes we sat or stood in prayer, some were kneeling and some were singing. Maria began praying over my son, who has epilepsy. I was as touched as I ever have been in prayer. As another man, Tom breaks into the song Ave Maria, a little blue butterfly lands on an altar and it was just, oh!- There was no doubt the Blessed Mother was with us, blessing us. It was solid pale blue, and absolutely beautiful.

It was a wonderful experience. It just stopped my heart. I was the only one to see it. The others were watching the sun. It just hovered over the altar area. Apparently this altar once had a gold cross and two angels facing it. There had been these black and orange butterflies in the area with no logical reason for them to be there. It's not a flowered area. It's on a mound with mulch on the ground and trees up around it and benches. These little butterflies became more and more prominent as we began talking and sharing, and then Tom broke into Ave Maria. When we got back to the parking lot Angel had some holy cards and it was the Blessed Sacrament and a gold cross with an angel on either side. There was confirmation after confirmation."

Paul had been to Medjugorje, where his experience in prayer on Apparition Hill had been so profound he never thought he would feel that way again -- knowing God was so present. "Well when I went to Rome City I had that same feeling," said Paul, "and I had had no expectations."

It was also during this same episode that Our Lady of America asked for the first time "Bring Me My Children. Bring Me ALL of My Children."

Of Buzzards, Bats, Bumblebees and People

2008-07-01T09:28:00.002-05:00

THE BUZZARD:
If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet.
Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

THE BAT:
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

THE BUMBLEBEE:
A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is tak en out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

PEOPLE:
In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up!

Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, But faith looks up! Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and trust in our Creator who loves us.

"Bring Me My Children. Bring Me ALL of My Children!"

Good News For OLA

2008-06-27T11:52:00.002-05:00

Today brings the confirmation of the long-rumored appointment of Archbishop Burke to be the head of the Apostolic Signatura in Rome.

This position ordinarily carries a promotion to Cardinal as well, which is of some solace to those His Grace leaves behind in St. Louis.

It is certainly a bittersweet announcement for those in St. Louis and around the world who have rejoiced in the Archbishop's stalwart defense of orthodoxy, his courage, his perseverance, and his wise and faithful pastoral care. He has been a shining example of how a Bishop should guide and govern.

Of course, this promotion will almost certainly obtain for him the Cardinal's red hat, and thus a seat at any conclave that may occur for the next twenty years. His Grace turns 60 at the end of the month. May it be in the plans of Almighty God that someday Cardinal Burke appears on the balcony in St. Peter's Square; whatever may come for him, however, we can be assured that His Grace will fulfill his duties with the same zeal he has shown in St. Louis and in the past.

This is VERY GOOD NEWS for the Our Lady of America devotion.

OBAMA IS NO JOSHUA

2008-06-19T09:50:00.001-05:00

By Cal Thomas, Tribune Media Services

Barack Obama’s presidential campaign plans to strike at the heart of the Republican base by attempting to woo Evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics to his side.

The Christian Broadcasting Network’s David Brody first broke the story on his blog “The Brody File.” Obama’s campaign for the conservative Christian vote, which has largely gone to the Republican presidential candidate in recent elections, has been dubbed the “Joshua Generation Project.” Joshua, Moses’ successor, led the Israelites into the Promised Land. It wasn’t the group that fled Egypt in the Exodus, though. They died in the wilderness, lacking faith in God’s promise. It was the next generation that Joshua led into Canaan. Apparently, if we have enough faith in Obama, he will lead us all into a new America, but if we vote for John McCain, we will demonstrate a lack of faith (in Obama) and die in the political badlands.

Obama is better at biblical language and imagery than any Democrat in modern times. He certainly beats Howard Dean, now the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, who once offered Job as his favorite New Testament book. This is cynical manipulation of the devout and it is no better when Democrats do it than when Republicans use religious language for partisan advantage.
Obama has declared himself a committed Christian. He can call himself anything he likes, but there are certain markers among the evangelicals he is courting that one must meet in order to qualify for that label.

Some insight into Obama’s “Christianity” comes from an interview he gave in 2004 to Chicago Sun-Times religion editor Cathleen Falsani for her book, “The God Factor: Inside the Spiritual Lives of Public People.”

“I’m rooted in the Christian tradition,” said Obama. He then adds something most Christians will see as universalism: “I believe there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people.”

Falsani correctly brings up John 14:6 (and how many journalists would know such a verse, much less ask a question based on it?) in which Jesus says of Himself, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” That sounds exclusive, but Obama says it depends on how this verse is heard. According to Falsani, Obama thinks that “all people of faith — Christians, Jews, Muslims, animists, everyone — know the same God.” (Her words.)

Evangelicals and serious Catholics might ask if this is so, why did Jesus waste His time coming to Earth, suffering pain, rejection and crucifixion? If there are many ways to God, He might have sent down a spiritual version of table manners and avoided the rest.

Here’s Obama telling Falsani, “The difficult thing about any religion, including Christianity, is that at some level there is a call to evangelize and proselytize. There’s the belief, certainly in some quarters, that if people haven’t embraced Jesus Christ as their personal savior, they’re going to hell.” Falsani adds, “Obama doesn’t believe he, or anyone else, will go to hell. But he’s not sure he’ll be going to heaven, either.” Again, that is contrary to what Evangelicals and most Catholics believe.

Here’s Obama again: “I don’t presume to have knowledge of what happens after I die. When I tuck in my daughters at night and I feel like I’ve been a good father to them, and I see that I am transferring values that I got from my mother and that they’re kind people and that they’re honest people, and they’re curious people, that’s a little piece of heaven.”

Any first-year seminary student could deconstruct such “works salvation” and wishful thinking. Obama either hasn’t read the Bible, or if he has, doesn’t believe it if he embraces such thin theological wisps.

Obama can call himself anything he likes, but there is a clear requirement for one to qualify as a Christian and Obama doesn’t meet that requirement. One cannot deny central tenets of the Christian faith, including the deity and uniqueness of Christ as the sole mediator between God and Man and be a Christian. Such people do have a label applied to them in Scripture. They are called “false prophets.”

Thinking About A Trip To Sylvan Springs?

2008-06-17T07:52:00.003-05:00

Bring Me My Children. Bring Me ALL of My Children!

Please call ahead to schedule your tours 260-854-3525 and bring plenty of empty jugs if you want water.

Help Needed To Restore Tabernacle

2008-06-14T08:10:00.002-05:00

This is the original tabernacle from Our Lady Mother of Mercy Chapel. It was while Sr. Mildred was praying before this same tabernacle that she experienced the apparitions of Our Lady of America and was given the central messages by Our Blessed Mother for America to return to purity.

Now, we need your help to restore this beautiful and IMPORTANT relic for Our Lady of America.

After the Sisters of The Precious Blood sold the property in 1977, members of The Way International desecrated this tabernacle and attempted to destroy it by intentionally breaking the key in the lock and ripping away the interior. They also broke off the cross at the top. It was found stashed in the basement of the property filled with caustic cleaning supplies. Perhaps someone from The Way had felt this was a means of attacking Catholic believers?

Please help us with your tax-deductible contribution so we may restore this beautiful relic and honor Our Lord in the most fitting way possible.

Do you know the Preamble for your state?

2008-06-12T18:59:00.002-05:00

Alabama 1901, Preamble

We the people of the State of Alabama , invoking the favor and
guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following
Constitution.

Alaska 1956, Preamble We, the people of Alaska , grateful to God and
to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.

Arizona 1911, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arizona ,
grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this
Constitution...

Arkansas 1874, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arkansas ,
grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of
government...

California 1879, Preamble We, the People of the State of California ,
grateful to Almighty God for our freedom...

Colorado 1876, Preamble We, the people of Colorado , with profound
reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe...

Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging
with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy.

Delaware 1897, Preamble Through Divine Goodness all men have, by
nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according
to the dictates of their consciences.

Florida 1885, Preamble We, the people of the State of Florida ,
grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish
this Constitution...

Georgia 1777, Preamble We, the people of Georgia , relying upon
protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this
Constitution...

Hawaii 1959, Preamble We , the people of Hawaii , Grateful for Divine
Guidance ... Establish this Constitution.

Idaho 1889, Preamble We, the people of the State of Idaho , grateful
to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.

Illinois 1870, Preamble We, the people of the State of Illinois,
grateful to Almighty God for the civil , political and religious
liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him
for a blessing on our endeavors.

Indiana 1851, Preamble We, the People of the State of Indiana ,
grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose
our form of government.

Iowa 1857, Preamble We, the People of the State of Iowa , grateful to
the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our
dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish
this Constitution.

Kansas 1859, Preamble We, the people of Kansas , grateful to Almighty
God for our civil and religious privileges establish this
Constitution.

Kentucky 1891, Preamble. We, the people of the Commonwealth are
grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious
liberties...

Louisiana 1921, Preamble We, the people of the State of Louisiana ,
grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious
liberties we enjoy.

Maine 1820, Preamble We the People of Maine acknowledging with
grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in
affording us an opportunity .. And imploring His aid and direction.

Maryland 1776, Preamble We, the people of the state of Maryland ,
grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...

Massachusetts 1780, Preamble We...the people of Massachusetts,
acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great
Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence, an
opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction .

Michigan 1908, Preamble le. We, the people of the State of Michigan ,
grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom establish this
Constitution.

Minnesota, 1857, Preamble We, the people of the State of Minnesota ,
grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to
perpetuate its blessings:

Mississippi 1890, Preamble We, the people of Mississippi in convention
assembled, grateful to Al mighty God, and invoking His blessing on our
work.

Missouri 1845, Preamble We, the people of Missouri , with profound
reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His
goodness . Establish this Constitution...

Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana , grateful to
Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution
.

Nebraska 1875, Preamble We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for
our freedom . Establish this Constitution.

Nevada 1864, Preamble We the people of the State of Nevada , grateful
to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution...

New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V Every individual has a
natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates
of his own conscience.

New Jersey 1844, Preamble We, the people of the State of New Jersey,
grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath
so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on
our endeavors.

New Mexico 1911, Preamble We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to
Almighty God for the blessings of liberty..

New York 1846, Preamble We, the people of the State of New York ,
grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its
blessings.

North Carolina 1868, Preamble We the people of the State of North
Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations,
for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging
our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those...

North Dakota 1889, Preamble We , the people of North Dakota , grateful
to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do
ordain...

Ohio 1852, Preamble We the people of the state of Ohio , grateful to
Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote
our common...

Oklahoma 1907, Preamble Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in
order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty, establish
this

Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2. All men shall be
secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the
dictates of their consciences

Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble We, the people of Pennsylvania , grateful
to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and
humbly invoking His guidance...

Rhode Island 1842, Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode
Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty
which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a
blessing...

South Carolina, 1778, Preamble We, the people of he State of South
Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish
this Constitution.

South Dakota 1889, Preamble We, the people of South Dakota , grateful
to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties .

Tennessee 1796, Art. XI.III. That all men have a natural and
indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates
of their conscience...

Texas 1845, Preamble We the People of the Republic of Texas ,
acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God.

Utah 1896, Preamble Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we
establish this Constitution.

Vermont 1777, Preamble Whereas all government ought to enable the
individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other
blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man .

Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI Religion, or the Duty which we owe
our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual
duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity
towards each other

Washington 1889, Preamble We the People of the State of Washington ,
grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do
ordain this Constitution

West Virginia 1872, Preamble Since through Divine Providence we enjoy
the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the
people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance
upon God ...

Wisconsin 1848, Preamble We, the people of Wisconsin , grateful to
Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility...

Wyoming 1890, Preamble We, the people of the State of Wyoming ,
grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties,
establish this Constitution..

After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state
constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe, the ACLU and
the out-of-control federal courts are wrong!

Please note that at no time is anyone told that they MUST worship God.

'Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by
tyrants.' - William Penn

GOD BLESS AMERICA and protect us from our own selfishness.

BO Stinks On Baby Rights

2008-06-11T07:53:00.001-05:00

By Peter J. Smith
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 10, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Barack Obama, the presumptive pro-abortion nominee of the Democratic Party, has plans to reward the allies that helped him topple Hillary Clinton from her throne by making total unrestricted abortion in the United States his number one priority as president.

In light of Obama's recently achieved status as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Focus on the Family's CitizenLink has decided to remind its supporters that almost one year has passed since Obama made his vows to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund that abortion would be the first priority of his administration.

"The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act," Obama said in his July speech to abortion advocates worried about the increase of pro-life legislation at the state level.

The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is legislation Obama has co-sponsored along with 18 other senators that would annihilate every single state law limiting or regulating abortion, including the federal ban on partial birth abortion.

The 2007 version of FOCA proposed: "It is the policy of the United States that every woman has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child, to terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability, or to terminate a pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to protect the life or health of the woman."

Obama made his remarks in a question-and-answer session after delivering a speech crystallizing for abortion advocates his deep-seated abortion philosophy and his belief that federal legislation will break pro-life resistance and end the national debate on abortion. (see transcript: http://lauraetch.googlepages.com/barackobamabeforeplannedpar...)

"I am absolutely convinced that culture wars are so nineties; their days are growing dark, it is time to turn the page," Obama said in July. "We want a new day here in America. We're tired about arguing about the same ole' stuff. And I am convinced we can win that argument."

Besides making abortion on demand a "fundamental right" throughout the United States, FOCA would effectively nullify informed consent laws, waiting periods, health safety regulations for abortion clinics, etc.

Furthermore, medical professionals and institutions that refused abortions also would lose legal protections. FOCA would expose individuals, organizations, and governments - including federal, state, and local government agencies - to costly civil actions for purported violations of the act.

"Thirty-five years after Roe, abortion supporters, like Senator Obama, are dismayed that abortion remains a divisive issue and that their radical agenda has not been submissively accepted by the American public," states Denise M. Burke, vice president of Americans United for Life.

"Rather than confronting legitimate issues concerning the availability and safety of abortion, they choose to blatantly ignore the concerns and interests of everyday Americans, as well as the growing evidence that abortion hurts women."

Obama has won the crucial endorsement of abortion activist Frances Kissling, who broke from the ranks of other radical feminist leaders earlier this year to endorse Obama, saying Obama, not Clinton, would better use the bully pulpit of the presidency to accomplish their aims and end the culture wars over abortion.

You Want To Teach the World To WHAT!!!???

2008-06-10T10:15:00.002-05:00

According to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171, During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the
right hand over the heart.
"As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides, "Obama said.
"There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. And the anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You
know, the bombs bursting in air and all.
It should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose.
I like the song 'I'd Like to Teach the World to sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might salute it."
Sorry Barry, but that duck don't fly. Any Catholic who votes for you will be committing a mortal sin and anybody else who votes for you will get what they asked for...or at least what the current polls say they want.

Turn Up The Volume!

2008-06-06T10:01:00.002-05:00

Everybody wants to know that somebody believes in them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6NhZvrX1Gs

D.C. Police to Check Drivers In Violence-Plagued Trinidad Neighborhood

2008-06-05T14:17:00.003-05:00

This article was in the Washington Post today. The Trinidad neighborhood is just blocks away from the National Basilica to The Immaculate Conception. Be VERY careful if you are visiting this summer.

Maybe this is why Our Lady has asked that Her children come to Rome City?

AR2008060402205_pf.htm

Spiritual help and healing?

2008-06-04T11:31:00.002-05:00

By Kevin Kilbane
of The News-Sentinel

She wore a robe of pure white and a white veil reaching almost to her waist. On her head rested a brilliant, gold crown.

Then she is reported to have spoken these words: “I am Our Lady of America. I desire that my children honor me, especially by the purity of their lives.”

That vision of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, reportedly occurred slightly more than 50 years ago at what today is commonly known as Sylvan Springs in Rome City, about an hour north of Fort Wayne.

Whether Mary appeared there continues to prompt debate today. But its also has been drawing people to Sylvan Springs to pray, and some visitors report experiencing spiritual or physical healings.

“This is holy ground,” said Irvin Kloska, an Elkhart resident who comes to Sylvan Springs frequently to pray and to pray over people seeking healing.

The evaluation of claims

The Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend is aware of the situation at Sylvan Springs but does not believe it warrants investigation at this time, Bishop John M. D'Arcy said.

Most of the reported healings have come in the last few years, said D'Arcy and Brian MacMichael, the director of the diocese's Office of Worship. The church moves slowly in evaluating such claims, in part to see if the site has staying power, MacMichael said.

D'Arcy also has concerns about people solely seeking out miracles.

“God comes to us through the ordinary, through the bread and wine (of Communion) and through the pastor as shepherd,” D'Arcy said. “As a pastor, I would say people should seek (the) ordinary means Christ has given to the church and not seek signs and wonders.”

A grassroots effort led largely by lay people, however, continues to lobby U.S. Catholic bishops to approve recognizing Mary as Our Lady of America.

Mary, a mother of many titles

While the Catholic Church recognizes there is only one Mary, Catholics honor her with many different titles, said the Rev. Thomas A. Thompson of the Marian Library at the University of Dayton, a Catholic university in Dayton, Ohio. The titles express the closeness of Mary, especially to a geographic area.

The church leaves it to the local bishop to decide whether an appearance, or apparition, actually has taken place, Thompson said.

Local bishops have ruled Mary has appeared at least nine times on Earth since her death, including as Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1531 near Mexico City; as Our Lady of Lourdes in 1858 in southern France; as Our Lady of Knock in 1879 in Knock, Ireland; and as Our Lady of Fatima in 1917 at Fatima in Portugal, according to the University of Dayton's “The Mary Page” Web site.

The appearance at Sylvan Springs

The first reported apparition at Sylvan Springs took place on Sept. 25, 1956.

At the time, the property — originally known as Kneipp Springs or Kneipp Sanitarium — was operated by the Sisters of the Precious Blood, a Catholic religious congregation of women based then and now in Dayton, Ohio.

The sisters, who had staffed the site since 1901, provided people with a place to relax, refresh themselves and get “treatments” in the natural spring water that still flows on the grounds, the booklet “Kneipp Sanitarium, Rome City, Ind. 1930” said.

On that day in 1956, Precious Blood member Sister Mary Ephrem said Mary appeared to her during evening prayer. The next morning, Ephrem said Mary appeared to her again after the morning Mass.

Ephrem later said, in 1954 and 1955 at other locations, she had received messages from an unseen Jesus Christ and Mary, and as well as from St. Michael and the angel Gabriel.

During Mary's first reported appearance at Sylvan Springs, Ephrem said Mary looked like the description of Our Lady of Lourdes. The next morning and thereafter, Mary appeared in white robes as Our Lady of America, Ephrem wrote later while putting on paper her experiences and the messages she reportedly received from Mary.

The second day — Sept. 26, 1956 — Ephrem said Mary urged her to convey a message to “my children in America”: “I wish it to be the country dedicated to my purity. The wonders I will work will be wonders of the soul. … I desire, through my children in America, to further the cause of faith and purity among peoples and nations.”

Ephrem, who died in January 2000, previously said Mary continued to appear to her after she left Rome City to serve in other locations. Among the messages she reportedly received, Ephrem said Mary said the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., should be “a place of special pilgrimage.” Mary also requested she be honored there as “Our Lady of America, the Immaculate Virgin.” (To read the messages in full, go to www.ave-ourladyofamerica.com.)

Some Our Lady of America supporters cite the link to the National Shrine as the reason Mary reportedly appeared at Rome City.

Archbishop John F. Noll, who led what is now the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese from 1925 until his death in 1956, helped lead efforts to raise money for and to complete construction of the National Shrine. Noll, who founded the national Our Sunday Visitor Catholic newspaper and publishing house in Huntington, also spent part of his summers at Sylvan Lake and what is now Sylvan Springs.

Mary as Our Lady of America

Ephrem discussed the apparitions and messages with a priest who was her spiritual adviser, the Rev. Paul F. Leibold.

Leibold became auxiliary bishop of Cincinnati in 1958, Bishop of Evansville in 1966 and Archbishop of Cincinnati in 1969. He died in 1972.

After Ephrem recorded her experiences and Mary's messages in writing, Leibold reviewed the report and issued a finding that nothing in the writings contradicted Catholic Church beliefs and teaching.

Leibold later had a medallion made containing the image of Our Lady of America, as it was described by Ephrem.

Leibold also commissioned creation of a wooden plaque and a statue in the image of Our Lady of America. He presented them to the convent in New Riegel, Ohio, near Fostoria, where Ephrem and several other sisters settled to lead a cloistered, or secluded and contemplative, life.

Ephrem withdrew from the Sisters of the Precious Blood in 1981 and was released from her religious vows, the order's archivist said. The records don't say why Ephrem left. The Precious Blood order has not lobbied for recognition of Mary as Our Lady of America.

Bishop D'Arcy of the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese said he accepts Leibold's ruling that nothing in Ephrem's reports contradicts Catholic teaching.

Archbishop Raymond L. Burke of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, who was asked to review the matter by Our Lady of America supporters, also sent U.S. bishops a letter in May 2007, stating Leibold had approved recognizing Mary as Our Lady of America.

Leibold's opinion opens the way for people to pray privately to Mary as Our Lady of America, D'Arcy said, but the decision isn't an official declaration an apparition took place.

Promoting recognition

Recently, two unrelated factors have combined to revive interest in Ephrem's visions at Rome City.

About three years ago, Al Langsenkamp of Indianapolis was on a pilgrimage trip to Italy when he heard about Our Lady of America.

“I asked myself , ‘Why do I have to travel to holy sites in Italy when Mary appeared in Indiana?'” Langsenkamp, the CEO of a computer software company, recalled in an interview a few months ago. He then got involved in promoting church recognition of Mary as Our Lady of America, as well as having a shrine to her established in the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington, D.C.

“Our Lady comes to a people at a time and place,” Langsenkamp said. “These messages are for the United States of America at this time in our history. … She is asking that we reform our lives and to live the life of the Holy Family (Mary, her husband, Joseph, and the child, Jesus).”

Langsenkamp and others working to promote recognition of Mary as Our Lady of America have been lobbying Catholic bishops and speaking at Catholic parishes around the country. They operate a Web site, www.ourladyofamerica.com, and arranged for creation of a 9-foot-tall statue in the image of Our Lady of America, which has been trucked to various dioceses for display and prayer. The statue recently was put on display for the summer at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington.

New owner, new meaning

At the same time as Langsenkamp and others began promoting recognition of Mary as Our Lady of America, Larry Young, the current owner of the Sylvan Springs property, began serving people coming there for spiritual help and healing.

A Fort Wayne native who worked in the bankruptcy auction and liquidation business in Chicago, Young bought the Sylvan Springs property in November 2000.

The Sisters of the Precious Blood had sold the property in 1976.

It then had been owned by The Way religious group and a Noble County nonprofit organization before being purchased by Young.

He planned to turn the 197-acre site into a team sports-training facility. But more people showed up for prayer and contemplation rather than sports, he said. He began accommodating them, opening for prayer of the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. Fridays from spring to December.

Most of the people who attend drive in from the Fort Wayne and South Bend areas, but some have come from as far away as the East Coast, Young said.

After prayer, people have reported going outside and seeing the sun spin, Young said. They also have reported capturing images of strange, spherical orbs in photos taken in the main chapel. After visiting Sylvan Springs, Irv Kloska of Elkhart — the man who comes frequently to pray with and over people — said he received five dreams telling how to carve a statue of a woman out of alabaster stone. Kloska, who said he had done only a little woodworking previously, later realized the 26-pound figure he carved looks much like Sister Mary Ephrem's descriptions of Mary as Our Lady of America.

“Spiritual two-by-fours”

Other people have reported experiencing physical, spiritual or emotional healings.

After praying the Rosary on a Friday evening in July 2006, and hearing Kloska recount the story of carving the statue, Christian Weber of Elkhart said he asked in prayer for Mary to ask God to heal him.

Weber had been suffering from a tingling sensation and numbness in his feet and hands. Medical tests had not determined the cause, Weber said in an e-mail.

Weber later went up to Kloska's statue, which Kloska often brings to Friday prayer there, and rubbed the statue's back with his left hand while praying for healing.

A couple of minutes later, Weber noticed the tingling and numbness had disappeared in that left hand, he said. He then went up and rubbed the statue's back with his right hand while also praying for healing. A short time later, he felt the tingling and numbness leave his right hand as well.

After returning home, and after Communion at Sunday Mass, Weber thanked Mary again for his healing and asked, if possible, if his feet also could be healed.

“Shortly thereafter, the feeling of numbness and tingling of the toes in my feet was no more, and they felt normal again, which I haven't experienced for more than two years,” he said.

Kloska describes the healings and mystical events at Sylvan Springs as “spiritual two-by-fours.”

“They bring you to her, and she brings you to her son,” he said. “That's what it is all about.”

Facing uncertain times

But Young, who now believes in Our Lady of America, said maintaining the Sylvan Springs property has become a crushing financial burden, and he has the property up for sale.

“This effort has not only drained family resources, it has taken a significant toll on our overall physical health,” he said.

He and his wife and family have invested “several million dollars” in buying and renovating the property, he said, and he needs to get that money back. He hopes Catholic investors will form a nonprofit organization to buy the site and operate it as a religious shrine.

Catholic Church law defines a shrine as a church or other sacred place, which people visit as pilgrims for special prayer and devotion to God.

The local bishop decides whether a location should be recognized as a religious shrine, said Bishop D'Arcy of the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese.

All U.S. bishops would have to approve a location being a national shrine, and the Vatican must approve places considered international shrines.

D'Arcy said he has no plans at this time to approve the Sylvan Springs site as a shrine.

The reported apparitions were private revelations that followed Sister Mary Ephrem as she transferred to serve in other locations, said MacMichael, the diocese's Office of Worship director.

In addition, Pope John Paul II declared Our Lady of Guadalupe the patroness of the Americas — North, Central and South, D'Arcy said. It seems more faithful to the pope's declaration, he said, to decline to respond to those seeking recognition of Mary as Our Lady of America.

The future

That decision has left Young and Our Lady of America supporters uncertain about the future.

Young still hopes Catholic investors will step forward and keep the property in religious hands. If that doesn't happen, he said he could be forced to sell the property to a buyer seeking to use it for commercial purposes.

In the meantime, people who believe Mary appeared at Sylvan Springs continue to return there to pray and meditate.

Regardless of what the official church does, for them, the site remains holy ground.
Discuss this article! Add Your Comments

Keeping the faith: A family journey

2008-06-04T11:16:00.001-05:00

The Fean Family believes a strong faith and divine intervention helped keep them together
By Kevin Kilbane
of The News-Sentinel

Tom and Kathy Fean of Fort Wayne believe divine intervention following prayer at Sylvan Springs resulted in their son's healing from cancer.

In June 2001, their son, Greg, then age 5, began having pains in his legs and chest.

“It would come and go,” Kathy Fean recalled.

A blood test showed no problem. A visit to a chiropractor didn't help. A September visit to a local hospital for arm pain resulted in a diagnosis of overextended elbow.

Right after they returned from a family vacation, however, Greg laid on the couch and couldn't move, his parents said. They took him back to the hospital Sept. 18, 2001.

“We got the call at 4:30 in the afternoon,” Tom said. “There were ‘blast' cells in his blood.”

The diagnosis: acute lymphocytic leukemia — cancer of the blood.

The local hospital referred Greg immediately to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. There, doctors started chemotherapy Sept. 19, and 90 percent of the “blast” cancer cells in his blood had been destroyed when Greg was discharged from Riley Sept. 23.

Greg was due back at Riley on Sept. 28 for a follow-up check, the Feans said. Typically, blast cells continue to show up in a patient's blood off and on for the first 28 days after the initial chemotherapy treatment, Kathy said.

The trip to Sylvan Springs

Right after Greg's diagnosis with leukemia, Kathy had called friends to ask them to pray for Greg. One of them recommended she call Irv Kloska of Elkhart. Kloska is a layman who often prays with and over people in need of spiritual or physical healing. Tom Fean had met Kloska briefly once previously at a presentation.

Kloska believes Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, continues to have a presence at the Sylvan Springs property in Rome City, and that she intercedes with God to bring about people's healing or spiritual conversion.

After talking with Kathy Fean and learning more about Greg's situation, Kloska asked the Feans to meet him Sept. 27 at Sylvan Springs, which is about halfway between Fort Wayne and Elkhart.

The night before, Kathy said she felt she received a message from Mary.

“I was awakened at night by the Blessed Mother,” Kathy recalled. “She said nothing. I smelled roses. She appeared as Queen, covered in regal jewels.”

Though she didn't hear anything, Kathy sensed a message from Mary: “This is my thing. You are going to be OK.”

A divine meeting

The next day at Sylvan Springs, they met Kloska and went to the main building's small chapel. There, they prayed the Rosary, a devotional series of prayers and meditations. Kloska then consecrated Greg to Mary.

During other prayers, he asked the late Sister Mary Ephrem — the religious sister who said Mary appeared to her at Sylvan Springs in the 1950s — to intercede with God for Greg's healing. Kloska also had Tom Fean lift up his son so Greg could touch the crucifix that once hung in the chapel room in Ephrem house in Fostoria, Ohio.

The next day, as they drove down to Riley Hospital, Greg asked his parents why they were going, Kathy recalled. He said he no longer had leukemia.

After they arrived at Riley and the staff ran some tests on Greg's blood, they didn't find any sign of blast cancer cells, Kathy Fean said. In addition, the platelet count in his blood had soared to 137,500. That number surprised doctors, Kathy said, because they thought Greg would need a blood transfusion to boost his platelet count, which had totaled 96,000 when he left Riley on Sept. 23.

Riley transferred coordination of Greg's care back to an oncologist in Fort Wayne. At that doctor's advice, the Feans continued chemotherapy treatment over the next three and half years — just as a precaution.

“We believe he's healed,” Kathy said.

The doctor who coordinated Greg's treatment, Dr. James Hill, attributes Greg's recovery to the medical care he received and to the Feans' strong faith. Hill formerly was part of the Pediatric Associates group in Fort Wayne and now practices at Riley.

The Feans believe other odd coincidences were intended as signs of divine intervention. They included: A book on consecrating families to Mary showed up at their house a couple of weeks before Greg's diagnosis, without any indication of who sent it or a return address. A star decoration on Greg's birthday cake bore the words, “You Have Been Chosen.” The day they prayed with Kloska at Sylvan Springs happened to be the 45th anniversary of one of Mary's reported appearances to Sister Mary Ephrem at Sylvan Springs.

The January after Greg was diagnosed with leukemia, the Feans also learned Kathy was pregnant. Their daughter, Mary, was born Sept. 3, 2002, the Catholic feast day commemorating St. Gregory the Great, Kathy said.

They stored Mary's cord blood in case it could be used if Greg ever needed a bone-marrow transplant, Tom said. A doctor called later to say it was a perfect match with Greg.

“This is just another indication they are taking care of us up there,” Kathy said.

Word of Greg's suffering, apparent healing and the family's faith also resulted in Greg receiving letters from about 100 people and many said his story strengthened or rekindled their faith.

“It wasn't until the end of chemo that we fully realized the Blessed Mother simply used us to help build an army for her son, Jesus,” Kathy Fean said.

“Yes, our son suffered through 80 chemotherapy treatments for three and a half years in order to do her work, but in some strange way that's OK with us,” she added. “We still have days that are emotionally painful from memories, or even fear of being summoned to such a quest again, but somehow Jesus and his mother calm us again.”

♦♦♦

Now age 12, Greg has been treatment-free for more than three years.

He played in a local flag football league this past fall. He also started snow skiing.

A book Greg wrote three years ago about his experiences also has been published. Designed to help other children fighting cancer, “God Healed the Little Boy” (www.GodHealedTheLittleBoy.com, $12.99), tells Greg's story in simple terms, accompanied by colorful illustrations created by Kathy's mother.

Greg's cancer and recovery also have changed his family.

“We learned a lot about faith,” Tom said.

The Feans volunteer with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana and American Cancer Society, Kathy said. They also speak frequently to faith groups.

“We are much more content with family time,” Tom added, saying he used to be more focused on his job and career growth.

“I don't have to control everything,” he said. “You have to give up your life to God and let him lead you.”

Greetings From Rome City...Wish You Were Here!

2008-06-04T09:03:00.002-05:00

Run, Don't Walk...Follow-up To A Healing

2008-05-30T09:23:00.002-05:00

This letter was first sent to us in January of 2007. We are reprinting it because we just received a follow-up letter from this man saying his father is now running 5k races for charities on a regular basis. God is good!

I have been travelling to Rome City for about 8 months now to get water for my ailing father. It is about a 6 hour round trip for me and I look forward to it each time. I fill two five gallon coolers and whatever gallon jugs my wife sets aside for me. We give the gallon jugs away to friends and my father drinks the water in the coolers. He calls it his "miracle water from Mary's place".

I wouldn't do anything like this if my wife had not heard about this water source from a friend at Church one Sunday. She was told about a grandchild of one of the parishioners who is working on Our Lady of America being healed instantly of some sort of neck injury suffered at birth. They claimed it was the water from this apparition site so my wife convinced me to drive her up to get some water and try it on my father's crippling arthritis.

We grabbed some coolers and old milk jugs and headed up the Highway 69. When we arrived, we found a man out mowing this HUGE front lawn. He told us we could help ourselves to the water but that we should go to the hill before we left and ask for Our Lady's intercession in this healing we were seeking.

My wife had her camera so we took some photos of the grounds and made our way to what they call Holy Family Hill where they have the most beautiful statue of the Holy Family I think I have ever seen.

We took some photos and prayed to Mary while we touched the statue and all of a sudden we were surrounded by all of these butterflies. We couldn't believe it. It was beyond our belief. We both started to cry tears of joy and comfort that we were being blessed by our dear Heavenly Mother. One of our photos has a very clear image of Mary with two angels above the treeline. It is the most precious possession we own.

We took the water back to my father and he began drinking it regularly. It was gone in about a week. And so was his pain in his joints he had suffered for over 15 years.

We pray for Our Lady of America's confirmation and we pray for this beautiful piece of heaven and thank God that we have been so blessed.

I have never been to Lourdes or Fatima or Mejugorje. I have been to Rome City and I can HIGHLY recommend you visit if you can. It is so peaceful and full of gifts.

Kenneth, Indianapolis

IS THIS THE PROOF THAT SPIRITS DO EXIST?

2008-05-28T08:06:00.002-05:00

A special thanks to Rocco for sending this article on spirit orbs.

Klaus Heinemann holds a Ph.D. in experimental physics from the University of Tübingen and has worked for many years in materials science research at NASA, UCLA, and as a research professor at Stanford University. "There is no doubt in my mind that the orbs may well be one of the most significant ‘outside of this reality’ phenomena mankind has ever witnessed."-Klaus Heinemann, Ph.D.

At first, it seemed no more than a curious coincidence. Professor Klaus Heinemann, a researcher for NASA, the U.S. space agency, was studying a collection of photographs his wife had taken at a gathering of spiritual healers when he noticed that many of them featured the same pale but clearly defined circle of light, like a miniature moon, hovering above some of the subjects.

Like most rational people, he assumed that the pictures were faulty. 'I presumed the circles were due to dust particles, flash anomalies, water particles and so on,' says Prof Heinemann.

'But I was sufficiently intrigued that I returned to the room in which the pictures were taken, in the hope of finding an explanation - like a mirror in the background. None was forthcoming.'

Nor could he find any faults with his wife's camera. And as a scientist with considerable experience in sophisticated microscope techniques - examining matter down to atomic levels of optical resolution - his methods were nothing if not rigorous.

Still puzzled, Heinemann set out to discover what else might have caused the mysterious circles. He and his wife began taking hundreds of digital photographs at random events to see whether they could recreate the mysterious effect.

The answer was that they could make these shimmering 'orbs' appear again, but only - absurd as it may sound - if they 'asked' the apparitions to make themselves visible to the camera. And they found this method worked particularly well when the couple photographed spiritual gatherings.

What on earth was going on? Again, a maverick technical glitch seemed the obvious answer. Such anomalies happen frequently in digital photography. If you accidentally jog a camera while a picture is being taken, especially in dim light, you can easily get a double image.

But again, Prof Heinemann ruled out a technical fault. 'We were quickly able to eliminate the common problems associated with photography – such as dust particles, water droplets, reflections and a host of other likely causes.'

Yet the orbs still kept appearing. And the more images he took, the more he was able to study the bizarre properties of these shimmering lights.

Heinemann set up dozens of experiments using two cameras on static tripods under controlled conditions. His early experiments found that orbs can move very fast, up to 500 mph or more.

Heinemann also found that during his numerous dual camera experiments, when he used twin cameras to capture an object from two different angles, a single orb shape would often appear - but only in one of the two images taken simultaneously.

It was as if the orbs somehow chose which camera to appear on, or whether to appear at all.

Eventually, Heinemann was left with only one conclusion: that he was witnessing some form of paranormal intelligence.

'There is no doubt in my mind that the orbs may well be one of the most significant "outside of this reality" phenomena mankind has ever witnessed,' says Professor Heinemann.

'Until now, there has been a huge amount of anecdotal evidence that the spirit world exists. I believe it's no longer anecdotal. Thanks to digital technology, we can see it for the first time. We are dealing with a non-physical - albeit real - phenomenon.'

The temptation, of course, is to dismiss such claims as bunkum.

And yet a growing number of respectable scientists refuse to write off the possibility that these orbs, which are starting to appear on cameras around the world, just might offer a fascinating glimpse into the unknown.

Earlier this year, the world's first conference on orbs took place in Sedona, Arizona, where several scientists controversially stated that they believed orbs were indeed a genuine paranormal phenomenon.

Their conclusions, if correct, could have huge implications on the way we view the universe and our part in it. The experts say that just because something has not yet been scientifically proven, it doesn't mean that it is not real.

Professor William Tiller, a theoretical physicist who spent 35 years researching consciousness and matter at Stanford University in California, reminded the conference that what we see with our physical eyes comprises less then 10 per cent of the known universe.

This is because human vision operates only within a limited range of the electromagnetic spectrum. For instance, we cannot see radio waves, which carry huge amounts of information, yet we know they exist.

Similarly, Miceal Ledwith, a former professor of Theology, who for ten years was President of Maynooth College at the National University of Ireland, reminded the sceptics that when, in 1861, Dr Ignaz Semmelweis had claimed there might be some unseen link between surgeons who didn't wash their hands and the high rate of infection in childbirth, his mainstream colleagues ridiculed him.

Yet he had found the first evidence of what was later to become known as bacteria.

'Most great discoveries throughout history have been initially ridiculed,' Ledwith told the orbs conference. 'To my mind, there is no doubt that the orb phenomenon is real and deserves to be taken seriously. There are not just a few pictures of orbs, which could easily be faked, but hundreds of thousands from all over the world.'

To date, Ledwith, who was also a member of the International Theological Commission at the Vatican, has a collection of more than 100,000 orb pictures.

'They come in all sizes, ranging from a few inches to several feet across,' he says. 'Sometimes they appear alone, and at other times hundreds of them, in colours ranging from white to blue, green, rose and even gold.

'Over time, I realised that a flash seemed to be essential to capture them, even in daylight. I believe this is because we can see the orbs only through the process in physics known as fluorescence. The camera flash sparks this fluorescence process, making the orbs visible to the camera.'

Ledwith is still uncertain about what these orbs might actually be, but he has no doubt that they are some sort of paranormal apparition.

'I believe they could be many things. They may turn out to be the spirits of those who have passed on; or, as some spiritual teachers state, they might be spirits waiting to be born into a physical body,' says Ledwith.

'They may also be, or represent, a host of other intelligences – from nature spirits to beings of pure energy that have never been incarnated in a physical form. There are hundreds of different types of orb.'

Many of the scientists at the conference believe the orbs are plasma-like balls of energy - but an energy that can be detected by physical means, and which appears to have some control over its own shape and form.

It's certainly the case that they can often be photographed best at places of psychic significance. 'They definitely seem drawn to spiritual-type gatherings,' says Ledwith.

'We regularly see orbs near healers' hands or heads. Perhaps they assist in the spiritual healing process.'

Take the case of Anna Donaldson, a freelance photographer who was commissioned to take pictures of Keith Watson, a medium who had been drafted in to help solve the disappearance of Sarah Payne, the little girl who was snatched while playing near her grandparents' home in West Sussex seven years ago.

The shoot took place at the exact spot where Sarah was last seen, because the medium had suggested that he 'might pick something up'. Sure enough, when the pictures were developed, a mysterious glowing dot appeared in one of the crucial images.

'I didn't believe in any of this paranormal stuff,' says Anna, 'but I couldn't find any fault with the camera - if there had been, then all the images would have been tainted, not just one of them.'

Still sceptical, Anna had the film and images analysed for technical faults, but again no one could provide a logical answer - until a member of the Psychic Institute suggested that the pictures could indeed be evidence of 'auras'. In this case, Anna was told that the blueish colour of the orb suggested the presence of a very young soul.

Still intrigued, Anna arranged to photograph Watson again - at the exact spot from where another young child had disappeared, this time in Greece. To her astonishment, the photographs again showed the presence of a blue orb.

And when Anna repeated the shoot the next day, in a bid to rule out a trick of the light, she got the same result - only this time it was two orange orbs.

'So what I now had was pictures of orbs from three different cameras, in two different countries, on three different days - there's simply no way that could be a chance occurrence or a technical fault,' says Anna.

'I still don't know what to think about it, but I suppose because a camera can pick up an image at a shutter speed of 1/2,000 of a second, it's possible it can detect things the naked eye cannot see.'

Could it have been the spirits of the lost children?

Terri Caldwell, a healer from Belbroughton, in Worcestershire, is among those who are convinced that orbs are a visible manifestation of human spirits.

'To my mind, the orbs are the spirit world simply going about their business,' she says. 'I believe we are all spirits having a physical experience, and when we die our energy field which carries all the information about us continues on.'

The orbs are an everyday part of reality, as much as we are'. 'Their world may be as real as ours, but exists on higher frequencies.

'If you change your TV channel, you switch to different frequencies, which contain different information. It's illogical to think that what we cannot see is not real, because the human eye is able to receive only a very narrow part of the light spectrum. Many animals can see in spectrums invisible to us.'

As Professor Heinemann summarised: 'Research into orbs is only in its infancy. But the photographs of these spirit emanations offer evidence - as close to scientific proof as we have ever come - in proving the existence of spiritual reality.'

Spiritual Orbs in Our Lady Mother of Mercy Chapel

2008-05-27T12:19:00.004-05:00

The following photos were all taken on different days by different people using different cameras. No lights were on and no flash cameras were used.

The last photo came to us from a woman who visited just two weeks ago. She said she had a "thing" for chapel ceilings. Apparently spirit orbs do too!

Our Lady of America Displayed at John Paul II Center

2008-05-25T08:41:00.005-05:00

May 24, 2008 - Washington D.C.: Dr. Hugh M. Dempsey, D. Ed., K.M.Ob. Deputy Director and the staff at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center welcomed the Our Lady of America statue that was first displayed in 2006 at the U.S. Bishop's Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. The statue was delivered by a BVM Foundation Inc. volunteer and assitant who drove her to Washington D.C. after being cleaned and touched-up in Batesville, IN by the same company that made the first wood carving of Our Lady of America in the 1960's.
This Statue will remain at the center for some time pending action by the United States Catholic Bishops on the request of Our Lady for a solem procession and permanent placement in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, not far from the John Paul II Cultural Center at Washington D.C.

The United States Catholic Bishops await the outcome of a process of discernment undertaken by His Excellency, Leonard P. Blar of Toledo-in-America, the Diocese where Sr. Mary Ephrem (Mildred Neuzil) lived out her last days on this earth. Our Lady of America appeared to Sr. Mary Ephrem on September 26, 1956 in the Our Lady Mother of Mercy Chapel at what is now Sylvan Springs in Rome City, IN (not far from Toledo, Ohio).
The Pope John Paul II Cultural Center welcomes pilgrimage groups to visit the center and venerate this statue of Our Lady of America. The Statue rests on the very location where His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI sat on his throne and greeted the faithful during his recent visit.

Dr. Dempsey and the staff commented about the majestic beauty of this statue and warmly welcomed her into the center. Our Lady of America graces the rotunda entrance of the center, welcoming Her children who visit this venue which honors Her favored son, Pope Paul II.

We now expect many groups of pilgrims to travel for a visit at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center where they can view the statue and honor Our Lady of America.

As always, Pilgrims are also welcome to visit the actual site of the apparitions and the attending messages in Rome City, Indiana. Tours are available every Friday at 4 pm before the Friday Night Rosary or by calling 260-854-3525 to schedule an alternate time during the week.

When and if Bishop Leonard Blair initiates a proposal with the United States Catholic Bishops for the solemn procession and permanent installation in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, we expect the request of Our Lady to be satisfied quickly.

Our Lady of America, pray for us.

More Photos

2008-05-23T12:17:00.003-05:00

The following series of photos were taken from in front of Sylvan Springs. A group of visitors had just completed their rosary when the clouds rolled away from the sun and it began to spin and "pulse" dramatically.

In the first photo, you can see two distinct lights as they circled about the sun.

In the second photo, one very distinct image has formed and it grows much larger in the third photo before coming to a full stop just beneath the sun. It remained there for a few minutes and disappeared.

It suddenly reappeared in front of the Our Lady Mother of Mercy Chapel as you can see in the fourth photo.