In Washington for the March for Life

Photo courtesy of Susan Langston

By Susan Langston

I had the privilege of chaperoning (along with four other chaperones) 28 students from the Academy of the Holy Names High School to participate in the 38th Annual March for Life Rally in Washington.

The students joined 200,000 others in praying for an end to abortion and a greater respect for life from conception to natural death.

In addition to the rally and March For Life, we visited exhibits in our hotel sponsored by the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.

On Saturday, we had the incredible experience of praying the rosary on the steps of the Supreme Court Building and then to tour the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum and Library.

On Sunday, we toured the Franciscan Monastery and Commissariat for the Holy Land in America and made our way to the March for Life Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Incarnation.

On Monday, we met with one of Congressman C.W. "Bill" Young's legislative assistants, Jenifer Nawrocki. She spent about two hours with our girls discussing womens rights and current bills in session relating to abortion.

She definitely gave our girls a fresh view of what is need in our government and some have already expressed a different focus in college.

Later that afternoon, after the March For Life, we had a photo opportunity with Congressman Young on the steps of the Capitol with his professional photographer, chief of staff and several of his legislative assistants. It was quite impressive.

We then had to run to our hotel to catch our bus to get on our flight!

Susan Langston is a parishioner at St. Raphael Catholic Church.

• Read the Statement of the Catholic Bishops of Florida on the 38th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

St. Raphael parish: A place of love and kindness

By Louise Barrett

I am proud to relate this story to you. Our church is not only beautiful on the outside and physical interior, but it is beautiful because of the people that are within it – our Parish Family.

There was a young man from out of town visiting his dad in St Pete. As he was driving over the bridge, he saw our beautiful church. He was being sent to Pakistan with the military as a contractor that very day. Before heading to Tampa airport, he wanted rosaries for himself and friends. So he stopped at our church.

He met a group of parishioners talking on the walkway after daily Mass and wanted to know where the gift shop was located. Of course, he did not know it is only open after weekend Masses.

God wanted a special send off for this man. Ruth Mattick was there for Tuesday morning fun club, and she opened the shop just for our visitor. Father Dominic welcomed him and prayed a special blessing with him.

One of the Tuesday Fun Club ladies offered to pay for the rosaries for the man, and Ruth and her daughter donated 50 rosaries made by our dear rosary makers.

Was the man an angel come to test our hospitality? I don't know. He certainly looked to be a young man about to serve his country in a far away and dangerous place. I only know what I saw, and Tuesday morning I saw St. Raphael's as a place of love and kindness. Thanks to each of you who make St. Raphael's so special.

15 promises for those who pray the rosary

The rosary is prayed every weekday morning at 8:30 a.m. at St. Raphael. The Rosary Group meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 9 p.m. Experience the real power and wonder of the prayer of the rosary in community followed by individual prayers, as requested, for spiritual, emotional, and physical healing.

The following are the 15 promises of Mary to Christians who recite the rosary, as given to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche.

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the rosary, shall receive signal graces.

2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the rosary.

3. The rosary will be a powerful armor against hell. It will destroy vice, decrease sin and defeat heresies.

4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.

5. Those who recommend themselves to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish.

6. Whoever shall recite the rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.

7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.

8. Those who are faithful to recite the rosary shall have during their life and at their death, the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.

9. I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the rosary.

10. The faithful children of the rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in heaven.

11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the rosary.

12. All those who propagate the holy rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.

13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.

14. All who recite the rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only son, Jesus Christ.

15. Devotion to my rosary is a great sign of predestination.