A Life-Changing Story

From a friend's recent e-mail to me:

Dominic,  

I was looking for you at the Masses this past weekend over the Christmas holiday.  I wanted to share an experience with you so that you could share it with others. 

My story has been a life changer for me and I am confident that Jesus saved me so that I could share my experience with others. Please feel free to share what I am about to tell you.  

I had my heart attack on December 13, 2022 and I don’t remember much of anything until January 16, 2023, maybe little bits and pieces of things but not much of anything else. I’m told that I was resuscitated three times during my month long ordeal of the heart attack and the amputation of my legs. I’m told that I fought the nurses, had hallucinations and was not a very good patient.   

I woke up the morning of  January 16 about  1 o’clock in the morning and I had this subconscious thought or dream, that I was in this white room laying in a white box, something like a coffin, and there were people walking around this white box counter clockwise with their left hand on the box.  Who they were I have no idea or what they were saying I have no idea. 

The room was pure white and everything just felt so quiet so serene, and just full of love. About 20 feet away, there was this door and beyond the door was the brightest, whitest light you could ever imagine and the feeling of love that was coming through that door was just absolutely overwhelming.  

Everybody eventually started walking out towards the door and I sat up and said, “wait I want to go with you”.  A voice said to me, “it is not your time”.  

I went back to sleep and about two hours later I had another dream, and the essence of the dream was basically that I was talking with somebody, probably my guardian angel, and the conversation was essentially that Jesus died and suffered for me and for my sins and that any suffering that I am doing or any thing that is happening to me going forward needs to be or should be dedicated back to Jesus. 

That morning when the nurses came in, I was the easiest patient that they’ve probably ever dealt with. I was happy, I was positive, I was agreeable to whatever they wanted and I’ve been that way ever since.  

Today I have a very positive attitude and feel that Jesus spared me and wants me to share this experience with all of you. 

Three takeaways from this: 

1) The feeling of the enormous amount of love coming from the doorway is something that I will never forget.  The feeling is diminishing over time but it brings tears to my eyes every time I think about it. 

2) People say that they are not ready for death, they have things to do, they can’t leave their family, they want to see their grandchildren grow up.  I can tell you that this feeling never occurred to me not even one second, all I wanted to do was follow those people through that door and be enveloped in the love from the other side. 

3) The voice was a very calm tender voice but there was a firmness in it, I immediately knew that I was not going to argue, this was final, “it was not my time.”

Thank you for your prayers and God Bless you and your family.

W

 

Start off 2024 With a Deeper Spiritual Life

Have you ever pondered questions like the following?

Do I know about Jesus…or have I encountered Him in a life-altering way?

Is my prayer more about my relationship with God than seeking experiences?

How can I deepen my relationship with Jesus?

Then—come to the Into the Deep Retreat on Jan. 6 at St. Francis of Assisi, Castle Rock!

We’ll create a context for these and other questions about prayer and the interior life in this dynamic, interactive retreat, facilitated by a team of three spiritual directors.

Agenda:

8:00 a.m. Mass

9:00 a.m. Retreat begins

Lunch will be provided

3:00 p.m. Retreat concludes

Approach:

We will view a series of short videos in which Dan Burke* discusses these matters. After each video, there will be time for small group discussion, as well as for posing questions for the facilitators.

Topics to be covered:

Your “Yes” – The Doorway to Authentic Prayer

Clearing the Confusion

Mental Prayer – Parts I and II

Prayer, Conversion and Witness

RSVP by e-mail to dominic@sojournerpath.com by end of the day, Jan. 1, 2024

No charge, but free will offerings accepted.

* – Dan Burke, author, speaker, spiritual director, former head of EWTN News, founder of Avila Institute and Apostoli Viae—a private association of the faithful

 

Rosary Processions - It's Time!

 

Praying with the Rosary meditations from the Movement of the Holy Family the other day got me to thinking about Rosary Processions, especially was we approach October 7th, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

The Fruit of Nigerian Rosary Processions

One example cited was in Nigeria, where the bishop of Northeast Nigeria, Bishop Oliver Doeme Dashe, while in prayer, saw Jesus giving him a sword that turned into a Rosary in the bishop’s hands. As a result of Rosary processions the bishop led throughout his diocese, the Boko Haram terrorists who wreaked havoc there turned tail and fled.

The Battle of Lepanto

This was not the first time that the Rosary of Our Lady overcame the enemies of her children. As noted in Champions of the Rosary and elsewhere, On October 7, 1571, together with Christians throughout Europe who were also were praying, Rosary-praying sailors defeated a larger, more experienced Ottoman fleet at the Battle of Lepanto. But for this victory, Europe might have been conquered by the Ottoman forces and been compelled to embrace Islam. Following the victory, St. Pius V instituted the Feast of Our Lady of Victory, later renamed Our Lady of the Rosary, which we celebrate in the Church every October 7^th.

The Rosary and the Battle of Vienna

Not as many people might be familiar with the Battle of Vienna, wherein King Jan Sobieski rode with his army from Poland to save Vienna, which had been under siege by Ottoman forces for two months. On their way to Vienna, Sobieski’s troops stopped for prayer and veneration of the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Jasna Gora. And then they prayed the Rosary in their procession toward Vienna. They freed Vienna within hours of engaging the Ottoman forces in battle on September 12, 1683.

20th Century Rosary Processions

Even into the 20th century, Our Blessed Mother has watched over her children and protected them. After World War II, part of Austria, including Vienna, ended up under the control of Communist Russia. Father Petrus Pavlicek began what become known as the Rosary Crusade for Atonement. In 1950 he began the crusade with annual public rosary processions along a main road of Vienna. Over the next five years, participation in these processions grew to an estimated half a million people. By October of 1955, the Soviets had withdrawn all of their forces.

Less than ten years later, the faithful formed rosary processions in Brazil to dispel Communist rallies being held there. On March 19, 1964 after the Brazilian president said Communism would save the people, not the Rosary, more than 600,000 people processed through the streets of São Paulo. The organizers named the procession “March of the Family with God toward Freedom” to gain participation from non-Catholic citizens as well. By April 1, 1964 João Goulart, Brazil's president, had fled the country.

A couple of decades after that, Jaime Cardinal Sin, Archbishop of Manila, called for prayers to effect a change in governance of the Philippines. Tens of thousands of people joined together, praying the Rosary in a rally against dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his government. Religious sisters led the group in praying the Rosary while kneeling in front of army tanks. None of the soldiers fired on the people. Later, some of the soldiers spoke of seeing a beautiful lady, identifying herself as queen, telling them not to harm the citizens.

21st Century Need for Rosary Processions

Do we need Rosary processions now? If there’s any doubt about this, just take a look at some current headlines:

• Pro-lifers face up to 11 years, but George Floyd rioters get awarded $13 millio
• Mobs damage and loot multiple stores in the city of brotherly love; stores close due to theft; and retailers estimate $112 billion in shoplifting losses
• California governor signs more pro-LGBTQ bills
• Little children continue being subjected to drag queen shows, and their parents continue to take them to the shows
• Biden administration seeks to remove terms like "mother" and "father" from laws related to childcare
• Artificial intelligence is ruining us in more ways than one
• Nearly 60 million Americans claim no religious affiliation now
• Only 17% of American Catholics attend Mass once a week

The foregoing list represents a smattering of the insanity and calamities occurring in the present moment. Now, more than ever, it seems, we need Our Lady’s aid in the battles we’re facing. St. Paul’s words to the Ephesians apply to these times:

For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:12)

So, How About It--Will You Engage the Enemy?

There's no doubt about the battles we face. And there is no doubt that the weapon for these battles is the Most Holy Rosary of Our Lady. Will you pick up your weapon and join in one of the many Rosary processions being held throughout the world?

We all have an opportunity to participate in Rosary processions no matter where we live on this year’s Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Your local diocese or parish may have something planned for the day. Even if they don’t, In the United States, the Rosary Coast to Coast will take place at numerous locations. I suspect that the various confraternities and other apostolates, ministries, etc. will have special events as well. Men in over 40 countries are going to be praying the Rosary together. If you don't see an event listed in your area, volunteer to lead one yourself.

Let's Combine Forces

If they’re not already doing so, it occurs to me that nationwide, and even global, cooperation and collaboration among groups like Rosary Coast to Coast, The Rosary Confraternity, The Flame of Love, The Marian Movement of Priests, the Militia of the Immaculata and others would be beneficial. It could create an even greater awareness of the power of the Rosary and of Our Lady’s intercession. We also might see even greater recognition for prayer in general to address what we face in our nation and globally at this time. Enhanced solidarity, including coordination of Rosary processions, rallies and other events among these and similar groups would send a powerful message.

"Pray very much the prayers of the rosary. I alone am able to save you from the calamities. - Message of Our Lady in Akita, Japan - Oct. 13, 1973

 

This article first appeared on Catholic Stand.

Jesus Stands at the Door, Knocking

Jesus stands at the door, knocking (cf. Rev 3:20). Are we going to open the door for Him? Will we take advantage of the wonderful, freeing nature of His Sacrament of Reconciliation to restore and replenish our relationship with Him? And will we allow Him to abide in us as we abide in Him through the Holy Eucharist?

At least here, in the U.S., Masses have been opened up for a while—for a long while in some locales—so we all have the opportunity to return to Mass in person. We can receive the actual body and blood, soul and divinity of Our Lord, His Real Presence. No longer do we need to be content with a spiritual communion. Jesus tells us that He is the bread of life, that we who eat this bread will have eternal life. What an incredibly immense blessing to be able to do so!

Some Catholics may feel a bit uneasy with returning, what with all the hubbub about virus variants and the like. Perhaps the it’s just that the routine of weekly Mass attendance has been broken and it’s been hard to get back into the swing of things. No matter what the reason is, missing Sunday Mass can be a grave matter. This can break the relationship between one’s soul and the Lord. It can eliminate sanctifying grace in the soul. Not a good thing: if the beer truck were to run over you tomorrow, what would be the status of your soul?

Life Is Short

Life is short. If you don’t believe me, take a look at the obituary section of your local newspaper. On any given day, you’ll see notices for people of all ages, ranging from infants through great-grandparents. More and more it seems that we see the phrase “passed away unexpectedly.”

None of us knows when we’ll be called to leave this life. It could be today or tomorrow, or it could be months or years from now. What’s important is the nature of our relationship with God when our time is up. What kind of relationship do we, and our fallen away friends and family, have with Him and His Church when the day comes? Will the fallen away “come home” before then?

What’s It Going to Take to Come Home?

We each probably know far too many people who no longer participate in our rich Catholic faith. Some of them still believe in God, but do not participate in Mass or the sacraments regularly, if at all. Some may have drifted away to non-Catholic churches. Others simply have drifted away from any practice of faith. Each has his or her own reasons for doing so.

Nevertheless, it’s sad to see so many who no longer receive Jesus in Communion. It is sad to see how many are missing out on the joy and peace that only God can give. Likewise, are we not concerned on their behalf when we think about how some have closed themselves off to the graces provided by the sacraments Jesus gave for our salvation? What might it take for them to “come home” to the Church that Christ founded?

An Obstacle on the Path to Come Home

Many of us never really received catechesis that allows for an appreciation of the wonderful gift that our faith represents. Many may not know the truth of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. When we receive Communion, it truly is Jesus that we actually receive. If someone really believed and understood that, why would they not want to participate in the faith?

The Culture Keeps People from Coming Back

The culture tells us it’s all about fulfilling our every desire, seeking pleasure and happiness here and now. The ads tell us that we are now the source and end of all our efforts. If we’ve bought into that, we’ve just made ourselves little gods. The one, true God—the God of the universe—waits for us at our parish church. Unfortunately, the siren call of the secular world may seem more attractive than attending Mass or imitating Christ.

But imitating Christ’s love, His obedience to the Father and His humility will open us up to the graces of God. Being open to God, to union with Him, is what it’s all about.

Blaise Paschal referred to a vacuum created in our hearts that only God can fill:

…What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words, by God himself. He only is our true good…  – Blaise Pascal, Pensées VII (425)

St. Augustine of Hippo says it more succinctly, “…for You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You…”

Our Decisions Make a Difference

Please, as you read and think about this, ponder the words of Pope St. John Paul II:

“We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures, we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of His Son Jesus.”

You and I are human; we all make mistakes. Mistakes of the past do not define us; our Father’s merciful love does. Through grace, you are reading this, and through grace, God is calling you to a renewed relationship with Him. With the Sacrament of Reconciliation, you have a new, fresh start available. That’s just one of the beautiful aspects of our Catholic faith. It makes it easier to turn back, and rebuild your relationship with God if you’ve been away from the faith—or away from Mass—for a while.

It Really Is Time to Come Home—Come Back to Mass for Starters

Why don’t more people “come home?” For some, it may be a matter of not knowing where to start, or feeling that too much “water has gone under the bridge.” The beauty of our Catholic faith is that no one will be refused admittance to the banquet.

No sin is too great—no number of missed Masses is too large—to be forgiven with a good Confession to a priest. 

Jesus stands at the door, knocking. He is calling each one of us. Are we going to open the door for Him? Will we take advantage of the wonderful, freeing nature of His Sacrament of Reconciliation to restore and replenish our relationship with Him? Will we return to Mass and Holy Communion?

(This post is a combination of an article, Come Home to the Church: You've Been Asked, that appeared originally on Catholic Stand in 2018, and portions of a booklet, An Invitation to Rediscover True Happiness, published in 2020. My thanks to my friend, Tom Mussio for his editorial suggestions on the booklet.)

The Church, Coronavirus, and Confidence in Jesus

You've probably seen the inscription, "Jesus, I trust in You" at the bottom of the Divine Mercy Image. Jesus specifically asked for this to be placed on the image. He told St. Faustina that His image is:

"...a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature: 'Jesus, I trust in you.'" (Diary 327)

St. Faustina received the Image of Divine Mercy from Jesus in 1931. Her diaries containing her conversations with Our Lord and Our Lady have been in existence for about a century now. Yet, many faithful Catholics don't know much about Divine Mercy, much less the outpouring of graces that come with it. This is important, because, in our present time, we desperately need all the graces the Lord deigns to pour out on us.

A Time for Salvation--A Time for Mercy

St. Paul tells us, "Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation," (2 Cor 6:2). He's urging us to not neglect the graces God gives us. In a similar fashion, Our Lord told St. Faustina that now is the time of mercy, and when we appeal to Him in our misery, we give Him great delight. He is only too happy to open up the abyss of His mercy for us. Jesus makes it clear that this time of mercy precedes a coming time of justice. It's up to us to decide which we will receive from Him:

"...before I come as a just Judge, I first open wide the door of My mercy. He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice." (Diary 1146)

This seems to be pretty clear--are we open to His mercy, that is, to His graces, or not? If so, how do we demonstrate our openness and our trust in Him?

Jesus, I Trust In You--Or Do I?

Jesus wants to provide us with a plan for peace--within our souls, within our families, countries and the world. But we have to be open to His mercy for this to happen. We need to come to Him in prayer and supplication, with trust in His mercy. As I write this piece, there's widespread concern over the coronavirus. Some believe it may be a pandemic. Others are not sure. Some cite statistics showing it's as deadly as the early 20th century Spanish Flu that took the lives of two young Fatima visionaries. Others don't believe it's a huge risk for anyone except the very young and/or the elderly, and those with compromised health to begin with.  Yet others believe that much is being made of it for political purposes in this, an election year.

In the U.S. more attention recently has been given in the Church to hygiene issues. For example, parishes have promoted using waterless hand sanitizer before distributing Communion, and distributing Communion only under the species of the Sacred Host, received in the hand. Meanwhile in Rome and throughout Italy, the Italian bishops apparently have discontinued public celebration of Mass for about a month. The Archdiocese of Seattle, and all Colorado dioceses recently suspended all public Mass celebrations as well. 

However, when we discontinue public Mass celebrations, is that a display of prudence, or is it a display of distrust? It seems that precisely at times like this, we should be encouraging one another to attend Mass, to receive Holy Communion, and to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Now is the time to pray communally to God for atonement, and for the sick and the dying. This is not the time to send people away. That does not indicate a deeply held commitment to "Jesus, I trust in You." Nor does it help unite the faithful in prayer to God for his merciful love and help. The head of the Polish bishops' conference has suggested that more Masses be offered, not fewer--I believe he has the right idea. 

Divine Mercy - The Mission of Saint Faustina

During a recent retreat conducted by Mary Braun-Payne, my wife and I learned about Helena Kowalska. The future Saint Faustina felt a calling to the religious life at the tender age of seven. One of ten children in a poor Polish family, some years later, she told her parents about her desire to enter a convent. They did not approve. When she was 19 years of age, though, Jesus appeared to her in a vision. He asked her how much longer she would keep putting Him off. That sealed it. She began a search for an order to join. After being turned down seven times, the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy accepted her. She took the name Sister Maria Faustina and began a life of deep prayer and asceticism.

After only 13 years of contemplative prayer, visions, revelations and hidden stigmata, she succumbed to tuberculosis. She was only 33 years old at the time. In that short time, Jesus gave her an important mission--to make known His unfathomable Divine Mercy. This she accomplished through her diary wherein she recorded her conversations with Our Lord and Our Lady. The diary includes Jesus' explanation of His Divine Mercy, together with instructions for praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Jesus gave the Chaplet of Divine Mercy devotion to St. Faustina as a prayer of atonement (Diary 474-476). This brief devotional only takes about seven to ten minutes to pray it piously.

The Power of the Chaplet

The chaplet will change our lives and the lives of those for whom we pray. In her diary, St. Faustina speaks of the power of the Chaplet,

"And the Lord let me know that everything can be obtained by means of this prayer." (Diary 1128) [Emphasis added by author]

That being the case, what do we really mean when we say, "Jesus, I trust in You"? It seems that we have an arsenal of weapons at our disposal right here, right now. Whether we believe that we're in the throes of a serious pandemic or the recipients of hyperbolic reporting and reaction driven by politics, Mother Mary has given us the brown scapular, the Rosary and the Five First Saturdays. Jesus has given us this Chaplet.

Why is there not a global, or at least a coast-to-coast, movement to employ all these spiritual weapons, together with fasting and other acts of penance? Jesus said "everything" can be obtained by means of the Chaplet. That probably would include abatement and elimination of a virus and other serious problems. So, where is our Church leadership in all of this? We, as an institution, seemingly are focusing on some defensive measures, and perhaps with good reason. However, It is time to employ offensive tactics as well.

Offensive Tactic: Pray the Chaplet for the Sick and the Dying

Jesus told St. Faustina that, if we pray the Chaplet with trust, humility, perseverance and conformity to God's will, we can expect the grace of conversion and a peaceful death. Others who are dying and for whom we pray the Chaplet will have their souls enveloped in God's unfathomable mercy (Diary 811). During the retreat we attended, we heard testimonies of the peace that dying friends or family members had experienced in such cases. Due to the Divine Mercy Chaplet, their fear of dying gave way to a peace and readiness to meet God. Clearly, praying the Chaplet for any and all sick, whether afflicted with a particular virus or not, will yield spiritual fruits.

On top of all this, Saint Pope John Paul II granted two, special Apostolic Blessings related to the Divine Mercy Chaplet. In 2000, he announced an Apostolic Blessing for anyone praying the Chaplet for the sick and the dying in front of the Blessed Sacrament. (And he imparted another Apostolic Blessing in 2003 for anyone praying a Chaplet for pro-life intentions.)

Offensive Tactic: Praying During the Hour of Mercy

If we pray to Jesus, appealing to the value and merits of His passion at the "Hour of Mercy" beginning at 3:00 p.m., His mercy will pour out upon us. This is true even if we can only pray to Him for a brief period of time. He promises that we can obtain "...everything for yourself and for others for the asking." (Diary 1572) Here again, we can obtain "everything," including the elimination of pestilence such as viruses we face. What other issues do you carry in the depths of your being--concern about fallen away family members and friends, conversion of someone you know and love, reconciliation with someone...? Address Jesus directly, appealing to all that His passion has done for you; pray to Him fervently and trustingly at 3:00 p.m.

Speaking of Conversion--Yet Another Offensive Tactic

Speaking of conversion, we have another special Divine Mercy gift from Jesus. He told St. Faustina that, "When you say this prayer with a contrite heart and with faith on behalf of some sinner, I will give the grace of conversion. This is the prayer:

'O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You.'" (Diary 186-187)

This short prayer is one of the optional opening prayers of the Chaplet. Given Jesus' promise, I am not sure why we would ever not want to pray it, with the name or names of those we pray for in mind.

Divine Mercy Can and Will Change Us and the World

There is much more to Divine Mercy than this brief column covers. The Divine Mercy Novena, veneration of the Divine Mercy Image, and participating in Divine Mercy Sunday Mass and services all carry special blessings for those of us who participate in them. Divine Mercy will change us, and will change the world, if we open ourselves up to Christ, who is Love and Mercy, abandoning ourselves to Him, seeking His Greater Glory and our salvation. As He told St. Faustina, regarding the Chaplet,

"...by saying the chaplet you are bringing humankind closer to me." (Diary 929)

Now Is the Time for Mercy--And Time to Mount a Strong Offense

In these times of stress, fear and panic, we should mount a strong offense, using all the spiritual weapons available to us, including:

• The Chaplet of Divine Mercy, asking God for His mercy and an end to the virus and political drama.
• Our Lady's Rosary, asking for the intercession of Mary, Virgin Most Merciful.
• Special novena prayer  to St. Joseph traditionally believed to have been written about 50 A.D. asking for his intercession and protection.

Wherever two or more of us are gathered in His name, there is Jesus. (cf Mt 18:20). Engage others in praying these prayers, whether in person or virtually. When possible, attend Mass and receive Holy Communion. Pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament as often as possible, and pray the Chaplet while you're there. And as we pray, let's really mean it when we say, "Jesus, I trust in You!" 

"Divine Mercy, repose of hearts, peace amidst fear, I trust in You."  (Diary 949)

Just Say "NO" to the CCHD Annual Appeal

It's that time of the year again. The annual appeal for the USCCB's Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is set for the next-to-last weekend in the liturgical year. On November 22 and 23, throughout the US, the faithful will hear the appeal for a "second collection" for the CCHD.

But--have we, the faithful, heard about how the CCHD allegedly has been using this second collection?

Over the last few years, reports from journalists investigating the CCHD show some grants to questionable, at best, recipients. By "questionable," I refer to apparent activities of the grantee organizations that run contrary to Church teaching.

What kind of activities, you ask?

Pretty much the range of hot-button issues: abortion, contraception, homosexuality, and the like. Based on what I have seen on sites that seem reputable to me, these issues continue ,while the CCHD seemingly refuses to really discuss them.

So--what should we do?

I guess one question to ask ourselves is whether this is where we want our hard-earned money going. This is especially so when you can find any number of other organizations with more transparency and more prudent decisions about who gets the benefits of their largesse. (As well, some parishes seem to struggle with accounting for second collection receipts, so even if a second collection appeal is made for a good charity, you're probably better off donating directly to the charity, rather than going through a second collection.)

Might we consider other alternatives for helping the poor, and just say "No" to the CCHD?

As for me and my house, that's what we'll do.

Support Life for the Poor and Underprivileged

This last weekend at St. Francis of Assisi, Castle Rock, Sarah Smith, the US Director of Universal Chastity Education, (UCE) appealed to our local parish for support. UCE has been welcomed at St. Francis for several years, and our parish community has generously supported it through a second collection.  

However, this year, there was no second collection taken up for UCE as has been done in past years, unfortunately.

That's why I'm writing this brief post. UCE is a pro-life organization approved by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church and other denominations located in the countries where it operates. This is the 15th anniversary of its founding by a couple of doctors--Catholics from Southern Colorado--of this wonderful organization. 
  
Over the last 15 years, UCE has positively affected the physical and spiritual lives of almost a half a million young people in Africa. You read that right--nearly 500,000 young people have signed abstinence cards, committing to chaste lives. This has resulted in lower incidence rates of HIV/AIDS and lower rates of teen pregnancy in Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania. These young people have been given their lives back through the efforts of UCE, and their commitment to living chastely. 

The organization's mission is to promote, through Christian principles, abstinence and faithful marriage as the healthiest way of life. The goal of UCE is to reach all people with the message of abstinence and faithfulness in marriage while providing them the strength to implement this healthy behavior, working with minimal budgets and some great volunteers. 

My wife, Maggie and I were blessed to visit the Uganda operation some years ago. Having previously served on the board up until this most recent year, I can tell you that the organization and its board, with a handful of paid staff, are all about pro-life Christian principles and living life, in charity, in accord with message of the Gospel. 

Please prayerfully consider donating whatever you can to give UCE a hand. 

Thank you, and may God bless you abundantly!