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Thursday, May 4, 2000 Saint Faustina (Continued from page 1) In the last years of her brief life, the nun kept a diary in which she recounted her many visions of Christ, who told her to spread his message of mercy. The canonization Mass, held in Saint Peter’s Square under a cloudless sky, was one of the biggest events of Holy Year 2000, with some 200,000 pilgrims in attendance. Among those at the Mass were Polish Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek; Stefan Frankiewicz, Poland’s ambas sador to the Holy See; and Marian Krzaklewski, president of the Solidarity movement. Some 50 cardinals, bishops and priests concelebrated, including U.S. Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka, head of the commission governing Vatican City, Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore, and Father Ronald P. Pytel, the Baltimore priest whose heart was miraculously healed due to Saint Faustina’s intervention. The miracle was formally recog nized in December, clearing the way for the Polish nun’s canonization. At least 300,000 faithful turned out at Saint Faustina’s sanctuary in Krakow for a Mass of Thanksgiving before watching the canonization in Rome via satellite on enormous tele vision screens set up outdoors. At the Vatican, pilgrims waved ban MAYCREST HARDWARE CENTER Shop at Maycrest and Save! Great Selection, Low Prices! 1609 Montgomery Cross Road Savannah, GA (912) 354-2045 Concerned about the movies your kids are seeing? Call 1-800-341-4222 for the Catholic Film Office rating. THE C^TBOiie COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN The Southern Cross, Page 11 ners from the four cities where Saint Faustina lived in convents during her lifetime: the Polish cities of Warsaw, Krakow and Plock and the Lithuanian city of Vilnius, part of Poland prior to World War II. The pope sent a special message to the Polish pilgrims who traveled to Rome and to those gathered in Krakow, declaring the new saint the patron of all four cities and “entrust ing to their inhabitants a particular care for the Divine Mercy aposto- late.” Speaking in Polish for part of his homily to the cheers of his co-nation als, Pope John Paul said Saint Faustina’s canonization possessed deep significance for future genera tions. “With this act, I intend to transmit today this message to the new millen nium,” he said. The faithful must be open not only to God’s mercy but to the practice of mercy toward others; God’s love and brotherly love are inseparable, said the pope. “The people of today must be inspired by this love in order to face the crisis of meaning, the challenges of diverse needs, above all the need to safeguard the dignity of each human person,” said the pope. The pope proclaimed the second Sunday of Easter as Mercy Sunday TV Mass Schedule Augusta Sunday 10:00 a.m. WAGT-TV Macon Sundays 5:30 p.m. WAGT-TV Savannah Saturdays 6:00 p.m. Comcast Cable 7 Savannah Sundays 6:00 a.m. WTOC-TV Jeanne, Erin, & John Zittrauer Quality Irish Imports Religious Books • Gifts 309 Bull Street Savannah, Georgia 31401 9:30 a.m.—5:30 p.m. Monday—Saturday (912)233-8858 fax 231-1524 throughout the world in honor of the new saint and her message. Two U.S. pilgrims who attended the Mass called the experience, in unison, “overwhelming.” “This is the closest we’ll get to heaven—while we’re still breathing,” said Bonnie Remsberg of the sister parishes of Saint Francis Assisi in Brunswick, Maryland, and Saint Mary, Petersville, Maryland. Having followed Father Pytel’s miraculous story of healing through his longtime friend Father Larry Gesy, her pastor, Remsberg said Saint Faustina’s message proved “you can accomplish anything through faith.” Father Gesy’s sister, Kathleen McCombs of Cedar Falls, Iowa, said getting to know Father Pytel and reading Sister Faustina’s diary had “It’s hard to fathom a miracle,” she said. “But when you know someone who’s received one, it brings it home,” said McCombs. During an evening prayer service in Saint Peter’s Square, the pope told pilgrims to entrust themselves always, like Saint Faustina, to God’s merciful love. “May the personal experience of this love commit each person to become, in turn, a witness of active charity toward” others, the pope said. The pope’s appearance at his studio window above the square marked his first physical presence at the daily prayer service, launched for the jubilee year. strengthened her faith. An Invitation to a Golden Anniversary Celebration Father Thomas H. Payne cordially invites friends and former parishioners to rejoice with him at a Mass of Thanksgiving on May 18, at 6:00 p.m., at Saint Michael’s Church, Tybee Island, A covered dish supper will follow the Mass to which supper guests are invited to bring their favorite dish. The meat entree will be provided by the committee. On May 30, at 7:00 p.m., a Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at Saint John the Evangelist Church in Valdosta. A reception will follow. “Send forth, we beseech you Lord, laborers into your harvest, for the harvest indeed is great but the laborers are few. ” Diocese of Savannah Vocation Retreats Vocatio Dei 2000, Session I, June 2-4. This weekend retreat is open to any single adult man who is searching for God’s will for his life and is open to the priesthood. (The minimum age is a rising junior in high school.) The retreat begins on Friday evening and concludes on Sunday afternoon. It will be held at Saint John’s Center in Savannah. (Vocatio Dei, Session I is co sponsored this year by the Diocese of Saint Augustine.) Vocatio Dei 2000, Session II, June 7-10. This four-day combination sports camp/retreat is for rising 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th grade boys. It is an opportu nity to learn about different vocations, to grow in holiness and to have a great time! The camp will be held at Saint John’s Center in Savannah. Call to Holiness 2000, July 23-26. This four-day sports camp/retreat is the same opportunity as Vocatio Dei Session II, except it is for girls. The camp is for 7th-10th grade girls and will be held at Saint John’s Center in Savannah. Older girls are also needed as counselors. For more information about these retreats, contact Father Brett Brannen at 912-743-1454 or e-mail him at Frbrett@savannahpriest.com or Aaron Killips at Bravesfan@Hotmail.com. Vocatio Registration Form Vocatio Dei, Session I. Name Vocatio Dei, Session II Call to Holiness Age Grade Parish Address City, State, Zip Tel. ( ) E-mail Mail to: Vocation Office, 131 Ward Street, Macon, GA 31204.