We are happy to announce The Birmingham Chapter of the Confraternity of Christian Mothers will begin meeting again on Jan 21, 2019 at The Cathedral of St Paul. Adoration and Confession will be at 6pm. Mass will be at 7pm followed by our meetings. Meetings will take place on the third Monday of each month. We will not have a meeting in March due to Lent and the floors being refinished at The Cathedral. Father Vincent Bresowar will be our Spiritual Director and will be traveling from his parish, Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Russellville to be with us.
New! Spring 2018 MotherLove Newsletter
Dear Christian Mothers,
Below is a link to the newest MotherLove newsletter, which announces our new Archconfraternity Director!
Click to access 2018-02_Spring_1.pdf
God bless!
Rest In Peace Father Angelus ~
Fr. Angelus Shaughnessy, 1929-2018
Our confrere Angelus M. Shaughnessy, OFM Cap., passed to the Lord’s eternal life on Friday, March 2, 2018, in his 89th year, after more than 67 years in vows as a Capuchin friar and 62 years a priest. He was preceded in death by sisters Mary Elizabeth (Roth), Sr. Mary Cecilia (Anna Mae) CDP, Irene (Murray), Pauline (Adams Cucinelli) and Josephine (Laman), and by brothers Fr. Sigmund (John Joseph) OFM Cap., Paul and Joseph. He is survived by sisters Regina (Sykes) and Bernadette (Higgins), and brother Bernard.
Matthew Edmund Shaughnessy, fourth son and ninth child of John and Anna (Spang) Shaughnessy, was born on November 16, 1929, in Rochester, PA, and baptized at St. Cecilia Church by Capuchin pastor Fr. Hugh Rauwolf, OFM Cap., on November 24th. After attending St. Cecilia Grade School, he entered St. Fidelis College and Seminary in Herman, PA in 1947.
A talented and capable athlete in his youth, Matthew turned down an offer to play professional baseball as a left-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Indians to enter the Capuchin Novitiate, where he received the religious name Angelus. On July 14, 1950, Angelus professed his vows as a Capuchin Friar, making his perpetual profession three years later on July 14, 1953. After receiving a Master’s Degree in Religious Education, Father Angelus was ordained a priest by Bishop John McNamara on June 4, 1955 in the Crypt Church of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.
In his early years as a priest, Angelus served as the “Director” of the Secular Franciscan Order while directing retreats in the Pittsburgh area. In October of 1966, Father Angelus volunteered to work as a missionary in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
For the next 12 years, Angelus was spiritual director and teacher at the newly erected Saint Fidelis Seminary on the northern coast of the Madang Province. In 1978 he was transferred to the Mendi Diocese in the Southern Highlands Province, and for the next two years did pastoral work among the people there. During the course of his ministry in Papua New Guinea, he worked with his friends and parishioners in building 11 permanent churches and three bush churches. While ministering to the needs of the people of PNG, Angelus would often say how proud he was to have presided over the baptisms of 1,227 men, women and children.
In the summer of 1980, Father was reassigned to his home territory of Western Pennsylvania. Under the auspices of St. Fidelis Retreat Center, he conducted many parish missions and renewals, preached and directed retreats, accepted parish help-outs, days of recollection and appointments for personal individual counseling.
Many remember him for the six years that our brother was visible on the Eternal Word Television Network in Birmingham, Alabama. There he served as Minister General for the emerging community of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word. He was happy to be a part of the apostolate at the network where he was able to become a familiar voice and presence to millions.
In 2007 our brother Angelus returned to Pittsburgh where he served as the National Executive Director of the Archconfraternity of Christian Mothers, following our brother Bertin Roll, OFM Cap., who had held the position for over 60 years. He delighted in letting people know that, after circling the globe four times and traveling thousands of miles over barely navigable terrain, he characterized the ministry with the Christian Mothers as “the good life — a taste of the hundredfold here on earth.”
Our brother was blessed with many devoted and helpful friends. His interest in the spiritual life led many to seek him out for spiritual guidance. He loved being in the company of his friends and family, who were always ready to attend to his needs. In his last days he preferred the company of his visitors to the easement of his pain, forgoing medication so that he would be able to converse with those who came to see him.
May this faithful servant of Christ now take his rest in the eternal fullness of the hundredfold, the taste of which so delighted him in work that only Sister Death could part him from it. (taken from capuchin.com)
February Meeting, Lenten Retreat & Update on Baby Isaac
Please mark your calendars for our upcoming meeting:
Thursday, Feb 8, 2018 at the Cathedral of St. Paul. Adoration and Confession begin at 6pm, followed by Holy Mass at 7pm. ~
This month we welcome guest speaker Bruce Ludwick, Jr., Director of Music and Organist at the Cathedral of St. Paul. His topic is “Liturgical Music in the Roman Rite: Behold, the Handmaiden of the Word.”
Lenten Retreat:
We will have a Lenten Retreat on February 17, 2018 at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, AL. Mass begins at 9:00 am in the Crypt Church followed by time for Confession, Adoration, a talk by Father Alan Mackey, brown bag lunch, and shrine tour. Open to all Catholic women who are striving to grow in holiness and lead their families to Heaven!
Please see flyer
*Update on Baby Isaac 1/29/18
Isaac has rested today and opened his eyes a couple of times. We’ve seen movement in his arms and legs. We are so excited for every little positive sign!
He did have his MRI earlier today. The doctors advised that his brain is severely damaged. The areas that control walking, talking, short term memory and vision are all damaged.
All his other organs are working so well. He is getting breast milk continuously and doing great with that. He does have moments where he takes a breath on his own.
Please continue to pray for complete healing of his brain.
We know God is the ultimate healer and fully believe his brain can and will be completely healed. Pray along with us for healing of our sweet Isaac.
All his other organs are working so well. He is getting breast milk continuously and doing great with that. He does have moments where he takes a breath on his own.
Please continue to pray for complete healing of his brain.
We know God is the ultimate healer and fully believe his brain can and will be completely healed. Pray along with us for healing of our sweet Isaac.
Here are the important links:
Address if you would prefer to mail donations:
Lehmann Family
PO Box 494
Cullman, AL 35056
PO Box 494
Cullman, AL 35056
IN PETITION FOR BABY ISAAC AND A MIRACLE FOR THE CANONIZATION OF MOTHER ANGELICA OF EWTN:
Oh Jesus, Eternal Word, You are wonderful in all your ways. You are infinite in mercy and truth. We thank you for your handmaid, Mother Angelica of Alabama, and the countless souls that she brought to the Catholic Church from all across the globe. In this most difficult hour, we beg of you, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Mother Angelica, the full and complete healing of Baby Isaac and his brain. Jesus, we trust in You. Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, Have Mercy on us and on the whole world. Mother Angelica, pray for us.
(For nine days, say the above prayer and then one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be for the miraculous and full healing of Baby Isaac.)
Oh Jesus, Eternal Word, You are wonderful in all your ways. You are infinite in mercy and truth. We thank you for your handmaid, Mother Angelica of Alabama, and the countless souls that she brought to the Catholic Church from all across the globe. In this most difficult hour, we beg of you, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Mother Angelica, the full and complete healing of Baby Isaac and his brain. Jesus, we trust in You. Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, Have Mercy on us and on the whole world. Mother Angelica, pray for us.
(For nine days, say the above prayer and then one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be for the miraculous and full healing of Baby Isaac.)
Book Group moved to January 29th
January’s Book Group has been moved to Monday, January 29th.
This month we are reading Chapter 3 in That Nothing May Be Lost by Father Paul Scalia.
Please come join us if you can. Reading the book is no prerequisite – we’re just happy to see you!
Lenten Retreat ~ February 17, 2018
Internet Safety Information
There was a wonderful turnout for last Thursday’s meeting! We are very grateful to Jeff Hahn and Tomas Voboril for sharing their insights and expertise with us on keeping our personal information and homes safe from the evil that can be accessed through the internet.
Please take some time to look over the information provided by Tomas and make sure you have some of these security options in place on your computers.
Hope To See You Tonight!
“Couples Night”
Protect Your Home and Children through Content Monitoring Software
JEFF HAHN & TOMAS VOBORIL
Thursday, January 11th, 2018 Cathedral of St. Paul
(Please enter through side gate on the right of the Cathedral)
6:00 p.m. Adoration & Confessions
7:00 p.m. Holy Mass 8:00 p.m. Talk (Cathedral Life Center)
Are you protecting your family from the dangers that can be accessed through the media in your home? What protective software do you purchase? How do you set it up, and how does it work?
An essential talk for married couples and young adults (18+). Learn how Satan is attacking our families and children through the Internet and social media, and the importance of protecting our homes against these attacks.
Come and learn more about Content Monitoring apps for your mobile phone and desktop computer.
Hosted by the Confraternity of Christian Mothers
Invite others and spread the word!
Important Meeting Reminders for Tomorrow
The Cathedral of St. Paul. 2120 3rd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
6:00-8:30 pm
A few reminders:
- Please enter the courtyard through the gate on the right side of the Cathedral, beside the church office. This is the only entrance that will be open and is where our security guard is stationed.
- There is free parking available along the street and also in the lot which is adjacent to the Cathedral. 22nd St. N and 3rd Ave
- Please come directly to the church. The prayer books will be in the church at 6:00pm when Adoration and Confession begin. We will sign in following Mass.
- Prayers of the CCM start at 6:50. Please try to be there so we can all pray these powerful prayers together!! It’s a good idea to allow extra travel time due to traffic!
- Holy Mass begins at 7:00pm.
- We will move to the first floor of Cathedral Life Center following Mass.
- Bring a snack to share if you’d like. (You can drop it off in the Cathedral Life Center before Mass if you’d like 🙂
- The meeting ends at 8:30pm.
Hope to see you there!
Reminder – CCM Meets Tomorrow, December 14th!
Good morning, Christian Mothers!
Just a reminder that the Confraternity has its monthly meeting tomorrow, December 14th, at the Cathedral of St. Paul from 6-8:30pm.
Adoration and Confession begin at 6:00pm.
Prayers of the CCM are at 6:50pm and Holy Mass is at 7:00pm.
Following Mass we will have an Advent Social in the Cathedral Life Center!
Do you have special traditions with your family for Advent? Favorite books? A special snack? Feel free to bring something “Advent Oriented” to share!
We all know this is a very busy time of year! Please give yourself and your family the gift of the Graces you will receive by coming to our monthly retreat!
CCM Christmas Giving ~
We are continuing to collect funds/gift cards for the Martin family. Please bring your gift to the meeting or mail to our Treasurer, Cathy Fehr. (address below)
We hope to deliver this by December 20th. Please be as generous as you can! God will reward you for your generosity to this family who has been through so much!
A Note from our Treasurer ~
Ladies,
We are still accepting dues for the 2017-2018 year. If you have not paid your $15 dues, you can bring them to the December meeting or mail them to Cathy Fehr
1141 Winward Lane, Vestavia, Al 35216
Remember our dues help us to be more generous in helping others.
Love, Cathy
The Confraternity of Christian Mothers 