I am not the writer in the family. For the past few weeks I've been tossing in my head what to put in the blog. I envision me writing some eloquent words in a brief and succinct way but realized that would take forever, so here I write. Father Joseph lives everyday giving his body to the Lord. he suffers more than the rest of us. I look at him especially during this Lenten season and see how he silently suffers offering all to God. He has a squamous cell lesion on his head that has eaten the skin away . His bottom lip is barely there. He is very thin. However his mind is as sharp as a tack still teaching about our faith and helping his nieces with song critique. He receives Our Lord everyday and is grateful. He is very appreciative of all the prayers and sacrifices everyone has made on his behalf. Please keep praying for a peaceful death. He has said in the past, cancer can take my body but it can't take my soul. As long as I have Him and the sacraments my soul carries on. As I woke this morning
I remembered him saying that to me months ago as we were watching TV and one of those cancer ads came on. As I ponder this I ask myself and all of you, what "cancer" is in our souls? Is it vanity, impatience, lust,laziness, gluttony..? Thankfully our cancers are not terminal unless we choose,but with our turning to God who is the way the truth and the light and the beauty of the sacraments our souls can return to a great state of health. We can then go out and help others remove the terminal status on their "cancer". As Fr Joseph quotes the Magnificat in his blessing, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord," let us too join him and proclaim God's greatness to the world starting right in your home.
If you have any prayer requests please place in comment area or mail him a letter to the following address: All Saints Catholic Church 2443 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody GA 30338
Jesus I trust in You
Fr. Joe Please pray for my sisters Colleen's healing and return to the fullness of the Church and her and John Paul's protection and the conversion of John Paul's father, Roger. Getting ready to do a spiritual bouquet for you. Aileen Barreca
ReplyDeleteFather Joseph prayed for your petition tonight
DeleteVery beautiful meditation, Regina.
ReplyDeleteMargaret wrote that
DeleteMargaret wrote that...
Deleteplease pray for Andres Jaramillo who has been diagnosed with lupus of the brain and has 3 blood clots.
ReplyDeleteFather Joseph prayed for Andres tonight God bless him
DeleteHi Fr. Joe, praying for you daily. Please ask Jesus for the consolation and conversion of my cousin Keely, who lost her 7yo little girl this year. Your faith is an inspiration. - Beth
ReplyDeleteFather Joseph offered prayer tonight
DeleteFr.Fr. Joe daily I lift you up to our Lord. Please pray for our Cristina's health. For the health of baby Marissa Kruger, Richard Ferris, Amber Cimadevilla, my sister Marguy Suarez who has leukemia and left the Church and my grandson Joseph's health.
ReplyDeleteFather Joseph prayed for your petitions. We are praying for the Kruger family and their loss.
DeleteI forgot my niece's baby, in utero, who seems to have some heart trouble.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said! (Both your words and your brother's!) We continue to pray. If I may ask I will ask for prayers for my eldest daughter who is very with Lyme disease and especially for my eldest son who is fallen away from the Faith. God bless and keep you all, especially Father. Liz
ReplyDeleteFather Joseph prayed for you tonight. Also have you ever tried Gaba Calm Calm Brain by source naturals it is not a cure but it helps with Lyme symptoms.
DeleteCalm mind not calm brain
DeleteI am praying often daily for you, Father.
ReplyDeletePraying for you...
ReplyDeletePraying for you....
ReplyDeleteFr. Joe - you are an inspiration and how to beautifully carry whatever cross we are given. Please pray for my brother and sister who have left the Catholic Church and for me, to be open to the Holy Spirit and the will of God in my life. I love you, Fr. Joe. I know how much you love God and Mary and have shown all of us how to love them the same way. God's abundant mercy and comfort to you.
ReplyDeleteFather Joseph prayed for you tonight
DeleteFather Joe, you used to make magic quarters appear in our Catherine's ear when she was 9 and an altar server at MOQ. She is 20 now and has no use for God. Please pray her and her mom's return to the sacraments. We love you so much!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was sharing your prayer request tonight with Father Joseph a thunder clap occurred outside during the rain. God hears your prayer.
DeleteDear Father Joseph, I only had the blessing of hearing you preach a handful of times at IHM's daily Mass. I knew that you were a Saint in the making by hearing your beautiful homilies. I marvel at your amazing Mother and Father, they are so kind and beautiful and blessed to have raised such strong children in the Faith. I hope to learn their secrets as I pray my son might one day follow in your great footsteps and become a Priest like you and your brother. He'd kick me right now for writing this, because at the age of 12 he has other ideas about his future, but I still hope that one day he will. I wish I had had more opportunities to have heard you preach. You are an inspiration to all of us to be more thankful of our Crosses and to carry them more bravely and thankfully. I pray for you and your family and thank you for what you have meant to me and the countless others whose lives you have touched. Cynthia M
ReplyDeleteFr. Joe....I have been blessed to know you and call you a friend. I am praying for you so much for a peaceful death and for comfort and relief for you. If you are able, please remember my family in your prayers, and some special intentions for our family. I love you! ❤Samantha (Rutherford) Zavala and family
ReplyDeleteHi Fr. Joe,
ReplyDeleteNot sure if you remember but I am grateful for the prayers for my son Jude (the youngest of 9) and humor you shared during a difficult time when your dear mother and father (thanks to Rose also) and you would pick me up from the Ronald McDonald house to spend my day with our heart baby in the CICU at Emory Childrens (CHOA). Jude (now nearly 2) is doing well but awaits another Surgery in the next year or two. Please offer prayers for his continued healing and for the healing of familial difficulties in our extended family. Sending prayers for mercy and good strength to you and your loving family. Pax vobiscum! I am humbled to ask but please offer a prayer also that our house sells very soon because we are struggling to provide for our family. Blessings
Love in Christ, Laina Hudson
Fr. Joseph made regular rounds in the Preschool hallways at St. Catherine of Siena, and made us all laugh. He presided over my daughter's graduation and I will forever be grateful to have known him. God bless you all.
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