Palanca for Lisa, Theresa, Judi and Giannine...

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Several years ago I had the grace-filled opportunity to go on a special week-end retreat where I became familiar with the gift of Palanca.  Halfway through the retreat, I was given a small bag that contained little cards and notes from friends and people that I was familiar with as well as those that I did not know.  The cards and notes had words full of love and encouragement as well as prayers and sacrifices that were being offered on behalf of my retreat.  The Palanca given to me was nothing short of an amazing gift-one that allowed me to have a very spiritually-rich, grace-filled experience of God.  It was a retreat that I would never forget.

I thought about how wonderful it would be to offer Palanca for the Team as well as for the pilgrims attending the Mission.  I understand that they could expect to have as many as 1000 pilgrims attending each mission!  I consider my daughter, Kristin, to be something of a Spanish expert as she had spanish for so many years in school.  When I asked Kristin if the word Palanca in Spanish was translated to the word Prayer in English, she said: "No"!  I was surprised by that, so I looked it up.  I was more surprised, and pleasantly, I might add when I found the correct translation for it:

What is Palanca?

"Palanca is a Spanish word that means "lever".  Just as a lever enables a person to move something, which is beyond normal strength, Palanca empowers the accomplishments of things which would not be possible without the Grace of God." 

(taken from http://www.tresdias.org).

That was perfect!  Just what we need!  Palanca, which are specific prayers and sacrifices offered for:

-Lisa, Theresa, Judi and Giannine as they begin their travel tomorrow...

-For those organizing and preparing for the Missions in Mombasa and Uganda...

-For the upcoming Missions...

     -That all of the needs of the US Team and pilgrims attending will be met...

     -That all of the equipment will function as it should...

     -That a spirit of Love, Peace, Joy, and Unity flow throughout the entire trip for the US Team, the African Enthronement Team and the Pilgrims attending the Missions...

     -That the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Missions both in Mombasa and Uganda will be fruitful for all...

If you would like to offer some Palanca in the form of words of encouragement, support, love, or specific prayers, please leave a comment on this blog site for the team.  Or you are welcome to email them to me at marybrig@mac.com and I will forward your post on to the Team for their perusal.

As always, I am grateful for the support, love, and encouragement for the Team, the upcoming Missions and this blog.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have Mercy on Us...

Rosa Mystica, Pray for Us...

St. Joseph, Pray for Us...

St. Raphael, Pray for Us...

"All Our Bags Are Packed and We Are Ready to Go..."

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It was nothing short of a gift and blessing to meet with the Team last week as they met one last time before they begin their pilgrimage and work in Africa.  Each of them exuded a quiet peace and joy about the upcoming trip that was lovely to see and be a part of.  It was palpable and wonderful to witness...

Lisa 

Giannine

Judi

Theresa

The Team leaves this Monday, August 19th, in the afternoon.  

The travel is long - -they fly from...

     -Knoxville to Washington DC, 

                -Washinton DC to Germany, 

                               -Germany to Ethiopia, 

                                      -and Ethiopia to Mombasa.

One of the suitcases packed with supplies and ready to go!

Any and all prayers offered for each of them and for the Mission are very much appreciated.  

Sacred Heart of Jesus, 
      Pray for us...

Rosa Mystica, 
      Pray for us...

St. Raphael, 
                         Pray for us...

Glorious Archangel St. Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners.

I beg you, assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels. Because you are the "medicine of God" I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of my soul and the ills that afflict my body. I especially ask of you the favor (here mention your special intention), and the great grace of purity to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

LOVE

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Love

My favorite word of the English language is Love.  Well, actually it is a close second to my absolute very favorite WORD, Jesus.  And the interesting thing about that is that  God  IS  Love;  Deus Caritas Est.

Everyone loves to be loved.  And Jesus is all about Love.

On the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 7th, we were able to celebrate Love in a special way.  Lisa, Theresa, Judi, Giannine and I attended a special Mass at All Saints Catholic Church.  Father William Oruko, the Spiritual Leader of our Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Mission Team, celebrated the Mass and Father John Apia concelebrated.  Father William had a very beautiful homily about the Love that Jesus has for each of us.

Immediately following the Mass, Father William placed the Blessed Sacrament on the Altar for Adoration.  Father William then asked the Enthronement Team to come up and stand in front of the Altar to consecrate the upcoming Enthronement Missions in Mombasa and Uganda as well as all future Enthronement Missions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Although I am not traveling with the Team to Africa this year, I was honored to join them as we  prayed the Consecration Prayer together.

Before we left the church, we decided to take a new group picture for the blog profile to replace the one that is presently posted.  We took two pictures without a flash and then two more with the flash on.  After the pictures were taken, we looked at each one to decide which one we wanted for the blog picture.  Much to our great surprise, wonder,  and joy all of the pictures had a large yellow heart reflected on the wall behind us – and it was not subtle.  All of the pictures have the yellow heart – those taken with the flash as well as those that were taken without the flash!  The processional Crucifix sits in the center of the heart and we are all encompassed within the heart.  Giannine pointed out that the  Apostles of Jesus Religious Order, Father William's Order,  uses the color of yellow to represent their order. 

 It is important that I mention that a vital member of our team, Pamela Angawa, was missing from our new profile picture because she lives in Kenya.  We love Pamela and are very grateful for all of the work that she does to assist this Apostolate.  And I miss her!

This is a picture of Lisa and Pamella:

How precious and loving is our Lord – that He would give us a visual sign of how He holds each one of us in His loving and bountiful Heart.

God is Good…All the Time!  All the time, God is good!

Once again, thank you very much for all of you for your support, prayers and encouragement as we head into a new chapter in spreading the Love of Jesus through the Enthronement Apostolate both here in the United States as well in the upcoming pilgrimage to Mombasa and Uganda.  

Father William, Lisa, Theresa, Judi and Giannine begin their travel to Africa in only two weeks.  Please remember them especially in your prayers as they prepare for this pilgrimage that will honor and glorify Jesus.


Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us…

     Rosa Mystica, pray for us…






***A special thank you to a special friend that is part of our team as well, Mary Margaret.  Thank you for taking such lovely pictures of us.  We are grateful for your support and friendship.

 Please join us

for Fellowship and Dessert

As we Celebrate, Reflect and Share

Family and Mission

Enthronements of the

Sacred Heart of Jesus

From the past, in the present,

And for the future!

Friday, June 21st, 2013

7:00-8:30 pm

at

The home of the Brig's

8554 River Club Way

Knoxville, TN

Hosted by Father William Oruko, Lisa Morris, 

Theresa Eilerman, Judi Pedas, Giannine Morris, 

and Mary Brig

For more information, please email me at:  marybrig@mac.com

It is in the "Little Things"...

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"It is the little things that make me happy" seems to be the mantra of my heart and soul these days.

A few weeks ago my husband asked me if I had tried a pretzel bagel from a new bagel shop that had opened in town.  I love pretzels - always have since I was very young - and Ray knew that I would love this pretzel bagel.  

Soon after our conversation, I was passing the bagel shop and I decided to drive through and try one.  They were sold out.  Then I tried again on another day and they had just sold 13 of their last pretzel bagels to a person that drove through a few minutes before me.  I tried again on another day- and, much to my surprise (not) - no pretzel bagels left.  I decided to ask to speak to the manager about the lack of pretzel bagel situation.  He was a very pleasant guy and explained to me that I must be just hitting them at just the wrong time because they continually make fresh bagels every 3 hours so that they remain fresh and taste good.  He felt badly that I had been through a few times and had not been able to procure a pretzel bagel, so he bought me the salt bagel that I ordered in its' stead.  I felt badly about bothering the manager and then felt worse about him buying me that salt bagel to replace the pretzel bagel that they did not have.  I thanked him and took the bagel with embarrassment and thanksgiving.  It was such a small ridiculous desire.   Then I silently prayed a Hail Mary for him as I drove away.

Last Friday was the Feast of the Visitation.  It is one of my many favorite Feast days of the year and I decided to run over to St. John Neumann to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament for an hour.  Before I got there, I thought that I would try that bagel shop again for a pretzel bagel.  Voila!  They had 5 pretzel bagels available!  I requested one - toasted and buttered along with a nice hot cup of tea and went on my way!  And it was delicious.  So, I turned my thoughts and heart to God and I thanked Him for the Feast day and the bagel.  I told Him that it was in the little things that made me happy.  Then I went over to the church and prayed my holy hour content, peaceful, happy and full.

The next day, Saturday, my daughter, Kristin,  and I were running around doing errands together.  We decided to drive through Starbucks for a little pick-me-up half way through the running around.  As I was driving into the parking lot, I was given in prayer that I was not to get my favorite drink from there - a chai latte with soy milk.  I was really looking forward to that chai.  But I was obedient to the inspiration and ordered a decaf latte to keep it simple.  After I took a sip of the latte, I discovered that it was delicious and it really wasn't much of a sacrifice and I told that to God in silent prayer.  I was somewhat apologetic as I was very much enjoying that decaf latte.  And, immediately, I got back in prayer:  "It is in the little things that make me happy".   God has a wonderful sense of humor!

Yesterday I was watering my plants on my front porch.  I have an herb garden on the side of my house but I decided to put a few in a pot and I love they way that it looks:

While I was watering it, something very teeny-tiny caught my eye...

It was a very tiny baby Praying Mantis sitting on a branch of the thyme!  I usually do not love bugs - they creep me out.  But a Praying Mantis is very different - they are amazing, remarkable, interesting creatures.  I loved seeing this remarkable creature - it was so, so small - barely the size of my pinky nail.  I could not help but think about how precious, how important something can be when it is small - a smile given to someone that needs it, a Hail Mary for someone's intentions, the sacrifice of a chai latte and even a very small, very tiny, baby Praying Mantis. Oh, and a pretzel bagel of course!

Please Join Us as we Consecrate the Missions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary

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All are welcome and invited to All Saints Catholic Church 

this Friday, June 7th,
 for the 

9:00 am Mass 

celebrating the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  

Immediately following the Mass we will consecrate the upcoming Mombasa and Uganda Enthronement Missions 

to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

immediately follows the Consecration of the Missions...

Happy News for our Enthronement Team!

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On this special Feast of St. Charles Lwanga and his Companions from Uganda, it is with much joy and great anticipation, that I am able to share that the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Mission Team has been invited and will be traveling to Mombasa and Uganda in mid-August to lead more Enthronement Missions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  God is very good!  All the time!

The members of the Team that traveled last year,  Father William Oruko, Lisa Morris, Theresa Eilerman, Judi Pedas, and Pamela Angawa (of Kisumu, Kenya), will be joined by our wonderful friend, Giannine Morris.

I have discerned through much prayer that I am not to travel with the team to Africa this year, but will accompany them on other pilgrimages in the future.  It never occurred to me that I would not be traveling with them to Africa again.  When we attempted to purchase the tickets for the trip, we had major issues finalizing the purchase and then each time we tried to repurchase, the price kept going up, and up, and up, and in the end, we still could not finalize the purchase.  After not being able to purchase the tickets, we decided to take a break and have each one of us pray about it.  It was during this time of prayer that I discerned that it was me - that I was not to go this time - that the timing of the trip was not right for me - but that there would be other pilgrimages that I would go on with the team in the future.   I called Lisa, gave her the news and it was then that they were able to purchase and finalize the tickets.

Sometimes God's Will is hard to discern and sometimes it is even harder to accept.  I am very sorry that I will not be traveling with the team.  I will miss being with them and I will miss meeting up with friends that I made on our last trip there.  However, I am at peace when I listen to what God wants me to do and, for the present, I have peace about not traveling with the team.

In honor of the Feast of Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs from Uganda, I thought that I would share this wonderful,  inspiring video, presented by Father Robert Barron from the Word on Fire website:

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pray for us!

Rosa Mystica, Pray for us!


Dearest Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, please pray for us! Please pray for the upcoming Enthronement Missions in Africa!  Please pray for our Team traveling to Africa and for all of the pilgrims that will be attending the Missions!