Video Review: “BELOVED The Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia”

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Prior to Vatican II, Convents and Religious Houses were overflowing in the United States. Religious Sisters and Nuns were a common part of the life of most lay faithful and even non-Catholics intermingled with them in some way. However, following the Council, Religious Life, especially among women, is almost completely decimated. The huge Convents and Religious Houses have been turned into condominiums and many of them torn down. Most institutes are lucky to have a woman inquire into their life on rare and infrequent basis.

However, there is good news! A small number of these orders and newly founded orders are thriving. One of these such communities is The Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia, or the Nashville Dominicans as they are commonly known.

The newly released DVD, “BELOVED The Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia” gives an insiders view into the life of the Nashville Dominicans. This order is one of, if not, the fastest growing groups of Women Religious in the United States Today.

The DVD takes a look at the life of the Sisters from their initial visit, thru the profession of Solemn Vows. Along with the many young Sisters, there are beautiful Sisters in the DVD who have been faithful and seasoned Religious for many years.

The Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia, founded over 150 years ago, have survived the tragic destruction of so many other beautiful groups of women Religious. The wisdom of the Superiors through turbulent times is a point that comes through loud and clear. This group of Sisters is young, healthy, balanced and on fire with the love for Christ and His Church.

Get an insiders view, and see Religious Life as it should be in every corner of the Church.

Get this DVD from Ignatius.

httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=tTgEHGpjKuI

50th Anniversary of John XXIII’s Death

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Today is the 50th Anniversary of the death of Blessed John XXIII. Good Pope John reigned for 4 years and seven months. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer on September 23, 1962 and died on June 3, 1963 – 7:50 pm at the age of 81 years.

Blessed John XXIII, pray for us!

The tomb of Blessed John XXIII in St. Peter's Basilica

A picture I took of The tomb of Blessed John XXIII in St. Peter’s Basilica in 2005

Health Update #5

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I know I promised to give you an update last Saturday, but I really haven’t felt up to it. So here goes.

On Saturday, June 1st, I was released from the hospital. I was more than ready to leave. The staff at Our Lady of Fatima Hospital were awesome. Many faces and names I would love to thank in person.

My doctor sent me home with two prescriptions. An antibiotic to be sure the infection is gone and will not return. The second is to continue treating for the Clostridium difficile or C Diff. This is an ailment caused by the antibiotics. All of us have bacteria within our bodies that is good and necessary for our good health. C. diff is the result of the antibiotics killing off the good bacteria in our lower intestine. The result is constant diarrhea. The healing process is rebuilding the intestinal flora so that the body digests nutrients and the bowel goes back to it normal actions.

My doctor gave me orders not to return to the parish until he gives the go ahead. I believe another week or two and I will be read to go.

Thanks to all of my generous brother priests for filling in my Mass schedule. You can always watch our Masses and Adoration live at iPadre.tv.

Thanks for all the prayers and please keep them coming!

Video Review: “In Her Footsteps The Story of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha”

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In Her Footsteps the Story of Saint Kateri TekakwithaI have always had a close connection with the Lilly of the Mohawks. As a child, we visited the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, NY on a few occasions. We also visited the Shrine of Kateri a few miles away in Fonda, NY. Both shrines have been part of our families history for a few generations.

I was so happy to be given the opportunity to review the beautiful documentary, “In Her Footsteps The Story of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha” from Ignatius Press. The film is first class. Beautiful cinematography, great witnesses and the figure that plays Kateri is hauntingly realistic. The use of image and sound make the beautiful new Saint come alive.

If you have some kind of relationship with Saint Kateri, this documentary will make her more real and if you don’t know her yet, take this opportunity to become acquainted with a simple, humble woman who lived completely for Christ in the midst of unbelievable difficulty and trial, yet persevered.

Saint Kateri is a woman for our times, an example for all of us to follow in our own state of life!

Here is a direct link to the video on the Ignatius Press website.

httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=mvAhNjBBIaU

RI Choose Life License Plate

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Massachusetts Choose Life Plate

Massachusetts Choose Life Plate

It looks the the case for the Rhode Island “Choose Life” license plate is beginning to move along. But, if you want to see it go anywhere, you have to help it out.

Heres how you can help:

  1. Read the message below
  2. Sign-up for the RI “Choose Life” License Plate
  3. Share this post on Facebook, Twitter, your blog and anywhere else you can get the message out. You can also click on the share links below!

The Choose Life special  license plate bill 5053 was heard by the House Finance Committee and is  now under further study.  During the hearing the bill was opposed by the  ACLU and Planned Parenthood.  They plan on fighting thessage of the  Choose Life plate here in Rhode Island.

In order to get ready  for the first step when the plate is approved the Choose Life RI has  started to work on a data base to keep people aware of the status of the  bill and when the orders will begin to get the plate on to cars here in  Rhode Island.  The email address is richooselife@gmail.comif you are  interested in the Choose Life plate please send an email with your name  and your email address to be in the data base.  The email data base will  be used only to keep you updated on the status of Choose Life plates.

Here is the website for Choose Life – http://www.choose-life.org

The Rhode Island Choose Life website – http://www.choose-life.org/other-states.php?state=Rhode%20Island

In  order for the Choose Life plate to become a reality here in Rhode  Island we will need to have 900 people interested in buying the Choose  Life plate before the first plate will be issued. PLEASE forward this  email to your contacts.

Thank you in advance for your help and support,

Michael Krzywonos

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Health update #4

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It’s been a while since I gave you and update, so let me fill you in.

So, I’m still in the hospital. A few days ago (can’t remember what day is what), I was placed in isolation. I started to get C. Diff. In technical terms, that is Clostridium difficile. What is means is that all of the antibiotics killed off the good stuff in my colon and caused diarrhea and a swelling of the colon. It’s contagious, so everyone who comes in the room has to wear those ugly gowns and blue gloves.

This morning, my personal physician was in and told me that all of the bacteria is pretty much gone and the flora in my colon is rebuilding. I’m doing well! When I get out, I’ll have to take probiotics for a while.

I hope to get home in the next few days, but can’t return to the parish until my doctor gives the order.

Great thing is, my parish Adoration Chapel has been full of people praying for me. I hope they get hooked!

iPadre #303 – Christian Suffering, from experience

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In this episode, I talk about Christian Suffering, as I lie in bed at Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence, RI.

– “Old Rugged Cross” by Jean Shy courtesy MusicAlley.com

– cast (at) iPadre (dot) net
– Feedback line: (267) 31-Padre (267) 317-2373

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Another health update

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My doctor was just in. It’s a hight strain of bacteria. Should know what it is by tomorrow. He said they have me on super antibiotics (it’s all iv based).

But, I have it made here. A great Catholic Hospital. I’m in the arms of Our Lady.

I also have wifi. You can see my iPad, MacBook Pro, iPhone (taking picture) and “The Ear of the Heart” by Mother Dolores Hart.

Hospital Media setup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also had a friend from the parish visit. Yesterday, my parishioners  offered over 40 hours of Holy Hours for me. And today, I had a stack of 21 cards for Holy Hours offered.

Health update

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My Epididymitis was not clearing up too well. I was away from the parish for the whole week, including Trinity Sunday. I managed to celebrate Mass. By night time, I felt some pain in the right side of my lower abdomen. I could not sleep, so went down stairs and bounced between chairs hoping for relief.

My parents finally saw sitting up in the great room. I decided that I needed to get in. Much better for quicker recovery.

Please keep the prayers coming!

Prayer request – let me explain!

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For the past few weeks, those who follow me on Facebook and Twitter have seen some very vague request for “prayers for a special intention.

On April 22, I had my first colonoscopy. I was very worried, not so much of the outcome, but the very procedure has me nervous. Well, that went fine! I had one polyp, but it was benign. Many people say the preparation is worse than the procedure. My only mistake in preparation was using grape juice with the Myralax. It was so sweet, I could barely swallow it.

When I went to my regular check-up, my doctor found that my PSA was up from the previous year. He referred me to a urologist who did a followup and scheduled me for a ultrasound prostate biopsy. The doctor suggested I could do it in office with a little local anesthesia. I refused. “I want to be knocked out.” Were my words to the doctor. So, on May 15th, I went to our local Catholic hospital where the procedure was done. I was in by 6 am and out by 10 am. No big deal, I was out for the whole thing. Except for some major soreness in the back end, there were no major problems.

The next morning, I woke up felling much better and helped my father plant a tree. During that time, I began to feel aches & pains in my back and a slight headache. I thought nothing of it and even wondered if I was getting the flu. After lunch, I returned to the parish so I could get some work done and an early nights sleep.

On my trip back to the church, my aches got much worse, and my headache was now pounding. I figured that I could take a few Tylenol and a hot shower would calm everything down. I took my temperature and it was up. After my shower, I took my temperature again and it was at 102.5. I was still set on early bedtime, so I was going to take Mickey out. While heading for the door, my doctor called to check on me. The first thing he told me is that the test is benign. I was really relieved. He wanted to know how I felt. I told him of the temp and could tell he was not happy. “If it doesn’t go down shortly, I want you to go to the ER at Our Lady of Fatima Hospital. You may have an infection” were his closing words.

I called my parents and decided I better get to the ER. Mickey and I got in the car and headed to Providence. I got there at 9:20 pm and my parents were waiting in the parking lot outside the ER. After blood test, urinalysis and intravenous, we finally got home at 3:00 am. The next day, my secretary got me Mass coverage through Wednesday. I was very upset because that meant missing our parish 1st Holy Communion.

By Wednesday I felt much better and was ready to return to the church. Either that night of the next morning, I began feeling new pains in a different part of the body. On Thursday, my temperature returned, so like a good boy, I called the doctor’s office. I was immediately given an appointment for early this morning. The doctor confirmed my suspicion, I have testitis (Update 5/26/13 – I think it is actually called Epididymitis), caused by the biopsy. It seems that this bacteria was immune to the first two antibiotics.

Please keep the prayers coming. And know that I’m not waisting this suffering – I can feel a podcast coming on – Christian Suffering.

God bless!

So, I’m home again. Told to rest. If it doesn’t go with my new medication, I’ll be admitted.