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Hello everyone,

Today, Sunday 9th Febuary, we have 383 people from all over the world and from many Christian and some non-Christian denominations joining together in prayer. I'm kinda spun out this week so am taking the lazy way out by just using Bob and Debbie Gass' reflection from The Word for Today called: Team Hoyt! It struck me as I read it - the lad in the story could have been aborted or killed under that hateful euphamism euthanasia!

At the moment I feel like those guys in the circus that spin all the plates. You know the ones? When they get to the end and have them all spinning they have to make a quick dash back to the start again so none will fall to the ground. My journey continues to be amazing. I've mentioned my friend Chris a few times. I didn't know this woman from Adam until we met out in Medugorje last October but we were both of like mind and asking the same questions about the current state of play in the world and the dramatic changes in our church.

Two weeks before Christmas after Holy Communion one day I get another of me little 'inspirations'  - to write a book! (have learned not to ignore them by now coz' they won't be ignored) Well, I shoved it aside and started praying about it, then told Chris some time in January where I thought I 'was being led'. She had received the very same 'urging' so now the two of us are collaborating - she opening doors and finding much of the information we need and me doing some research and the writing. I'm up to me gills in audio and video tapes, books, articles, newspapers etc. and travelling all over the place, often places we'd never intended being!

One of the areas we will be covering is about Modernist Church Architecture and while looking on the internet for some struff I came across the most beautiful story about a wee chuch in Wales that just refuses to die. It was a POW Nissen Hut used during WWII for Italian POWs. They had doubled up bunk space and turned one of the huts into a Church. Their Chaplain had been captured with them so it meant they could get their daily/weekly Mass.

Now remember this was back in the mid 40's and all the other huts had disintigrated and blown down except this little one. I won't tell ya any more, you'll have to read about it in the buke! But I will say that here's another amazing journey. It's in South Wales and I'm off to the UK to bring my Mom and my sister's 2 daughters back to Ireland by car as it's the easiest way for Mom to travel. I normally sail to a port in North Wales. We were supposed to travel at the end of this month and I can't reach the man who owns the land with this wee church on it to be able to make an appointment to visit. I'd checked out ferry fares for end of February and was delighted to see a return trip for us all would work out at only Eur198 - arriving South Wales, departing North Wales - great!

I managed to get the phone number of the local primary school which features hugely in the history of the little church and discover that the man is still alive (he'd bought the land in 1960). The school secretary promised to get me a phone number and true to her word she rings me last Wednesday with his phone number. Wednesday night our Anne rings to say she has had to push her departure dates out to mid March. Hmmmm thinks I - Paddy's weekend - fares will be more expensive! Talked with Bob (my wee man) on Thursday and no problem - come visit and take as many photos as you like. Now I was expecting docking time in Wales to be 3pm so it would be coming down dark when I get as far as him and he worried about being able to get outside photos. Not to worry, sez. I sure inside one'll do fine.

On Thursday night I go online to book - sailing times have moved forward over 2 hours giving me daylight and the full return fare's at a half price deal - Eur177. Ain't the Lord and His Blessed Mother just the best! More on this journey in faith anon no doubt! But please keep our whole project covered in prayer as there will be some things discussed some people would prefer weren't!

The Weekly Intentions are included below and available on a plain page to be able to print off and kept to hand for your own prayer time.

http://www.circleofprayer.com/prayerbook.html
http://www.circleofprayer.com/weekly-intentions.html

"Father, bless all those who have requested prayers in whatever it is that you know they may be needing this day! Father, we ask You to heal the broken bodies, broken hearts, broken spirits and broken relationships and may all their lives be full of your peace, prosperity, and power as they seek to have a close relationship with you. Amen."

"Thank You Jesus for answering our prayers because we know You hear every prayer and never refuse to answer. You are providing answers and healings from the prayers of all these wonderful people. Praise God!"

God Bless you all and thanks a million for being part of the Circle of Prayer - the Prayer Warriors.

Mary Mullins in Galway, Ireland
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Please say the two wee prayers below as often as you can, particularly the first one to the Holy Spirit if you need to see things in
a clearer perspective. There are some further down you might consider saying too.

"O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me, tell me what I should do. Give me Your orders. I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me and to accept all that You permit to happen to me. Let me only know Your will. Amen"
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"Dear Lord, I give you may hands to do Your work; I give You my feet to go Your way; I give You my eyes to see as You see; I give You my tongue to speak Your words; I give You my mind that You may think in me; I give You my spirit that You may pray in me. Above all, I give You my heart that You may love in me - love the Father and love all humankind. I give You my whole self, Lord, that You may grow in me, so that it is You who lives, works and prays in me. Amen."

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Team Hoyt!

" TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE… "  ECCLESIASTES 4 : 9 

Rick Hoyt is a quadriplegic who can’t speak. When he was born doctors told his parents he’d be a vegetable, but they determined to raise him like any other child. When he was ten, Rick’s life changed dramatically. Engineers at Tufts University created a device that enabled him to communicate via computer. His first words painstakingly typed out were, ‘Go Bruins!’ That’s when everyone realised he was a sports fan.

After a long battle, Rick got into public school where he excelled. Two years later he found out that there was a 5-kilometre fund-raising race to help a young athlete paralysed in an accident. Rick told his father that he wanted to participate. His Dad agreed to run and push his son in a modified wheel chair. They crossed the finishing line second to the last. But that day ‘Team Hoyt’ was born! They got a more sophisticated chair and the quadriplegic teenager and his out-of-shape Dad began running together. In 1981 they ran their first Boston Marathon. Since then, they haven’t missed one in twenty years.

Rick has since earned his degree and works at Boston University helping design computer systems for people with disabilities. As of March 2001, ‘Team Hoyt’ had completed a total of 731 races, including 53 marathons and 135 triathlons. What do we learn from ‘Team Hoyt’?

(1) You don’t have to live as a victim. (2) It’s alright to acknowledge your limitations as long as you build your life around your dreams. (3) Focus on what you have, not what you don’t. (4) Factor God in – for with Him ‘all things are possible’. 

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Please continue to say the following prayers for peace.

Three O'Clock Prayer to the Divine Mercy

You expired, O Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls and an ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us. O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You. Amen

Prayer to Saint Michael:

"Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, cast down to hell Satan and all his wicked spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls"

Prayer for Peace:

O God from whom all holy desires, all right counsels, and all just works do proceed. Give unto Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Thy Commandments, and that unafraid of our enemies, we may spend our days under Thy protection, in peaceful order, through Christ Our Lord, Amen.  Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Pray this prayer with the US, Britain, Iraq and the supporting nations in mind that their hearts may also be changed.

Pray before the Cross:

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Father, send now Your Spirit over the earth. Let the Holy Spirit live in the hearts of all nations, that they may be preserved from degeneration, disaster and war. May the Lady of All Nations, who once was Mary, be our Advocate. Amen.”