An important meeting for our children

A very important meeting this week at the Royal Society of Medicine in London.

Prof William Mobley / USA, Prof Michael Crawford / UK, Prof Jacqueline London / France, plus our brain researchers. Discussing medicines and research to improve memory and brain function.
Check our website http://www.dsrf-uk.org/ for more information.

Dont forget to support this research - we are in this together - fighting for our children looking for that miracle. Its just around the corner.

Peter Elliott 
I might add that Dr Jerome Lejeune felt the same way, that we would find a treatment for Down syndrome. May he pray for us from his seat near Our Lord that these good doctors may find a way to help our children.

Cathy McMorris Rogers on the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Dear Friends,

Today, I join you in celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA was a landmark bill - one of the most important civil rights achievements in U.S. history - because it gave more than 50 million Americans the opportunity to live the American Dream.

One of those Americans is my son, Cole, who happened to be born with Down Syndrome.

When Cole was born 3 years ago, the disability community welcomed me and my family with open arms. With their friendship and support, I've found a new focus and passion for being a Member a Congress:
 To make sure that Cole – and all disabled Americans – have the best opportunities for education, employment, and independent living.

Today, I spoke on the House floor to recognize the ADA anniversary (click here to watch it). I also spoke at a press conference with some of the leaders of the original ADA law (including Sen. Tom Harkin, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, former Majority Whip Tony Coehlo, Rep. James Sensenbrenner, and Anthony Imparato, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities [AAPD]). At the press conference, we reaffirmed our commitment to fulfilling the promise of the ADA – not just expanding opportunities for people with disabilities, but also empowering them to lead independent, successful lives.

In related news, last week I had the privilege of addressing the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) National Convention. You can see my power point presentation – plus some of the highlights of my speech – at my new webpage, Down Syndrome Legislative Updates. Click here to view the page and let me know what you think.
Also, last Wednesday, I had the privilege of receiving the AAPD's "Justice for All Award." In my acceptance speech, I said that, "We've come a long way in 20 years, but we still have a long way to go. Let's use the ADA anniversary as inspiration for creating a 'more perfect union' for people with disabilities and all Americans."
I look forward to continuing to work with the disability community – a community I'm proud to be a part of - on the issues that are important to us. Thank you for your support, leadership, and friendship.

Best Wishes,
Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Member of Congress

The Challenge of Imperfection

Is the title of an interesting article on MercatorNet which talks about the Spanish World Cup coach whose son with Down syndrome helped his team celebrate victory.
I loved the author's description of the absolute necessity of those who are ready for parenthood being ready to commit to  selfless sacrifice, but was disturbed by his quote of President Obama's Inauguration Speech near the end of the piece.

"What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition… that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept, but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character than giving our all to a difficult task."

Maybe since he doesn't live in the USA, the author hasn't had acces to the independent media who would inform him how our president has failed to live up to this gradiose rhetoric, especially with regards to the unborn child.
The unborn child in America has never been at greater risk, as under the Obama administration. In less that two years, a billion dollars has been given to Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion business in the world, and for the first time, federal tax dollars are going to be used for abortions, thanks to his health care plan. Doctors like Ezekiel Emmanuel who favor rationing of health care to the healthiest among us are prepared to take over the health care system and ration the care to those whose higher score on "quality of life" calculations merit more attention. In short, those whose genetic predispostions like Down syndrome,  include expensive treatments will be denied care. Sarah Palin fears these "Death Panels" will deny her son Trig medical care. I fear the same for my eight year old with Down syndrome.
I take my responsiblity very seriously as a parent. I was down in Washington DC to protest Obamacare, for the good of my special needs daughter as part of Health Care for Gunner Press Conference on Sept 15, 2009. Were you listening, President Obama? We want you to be responsible for our children's well being, since you chose to take over our health care system.
Our children are precious to us, and you use them only to be the but of your jokes. We are ready to fight for them, and take you out of office.
http://web.me.com/kristanhawkins/www.healthcareforgunner.com/Welcome_Page.html

Do children with Down syndrome feel inferior?

Super post over at Vital Signs blog about the so called breakthrough in prenatal testing for Down syndrome. I wince every time it is said that lives will be saved, because it is simply not true. Typcial babies may be saved the risk of miscarriage posed by Amnio, however the ten percent of babies with Down syndrome who escape the knife at this time, will likely perish. I suppose if you consider them less than human, then they don't count.
You'll have to tell my spunky eight year old Christina she's not worth saving.
I can't.
You see, she thinks she is a beautiful, unique, irreplaceable child of God.
Poor simple girl, what does she know?

I am becoming a Culture of Life speaker

Sometimes I have to pinch myself,  God is changing me so much, I hardly recognize myself.  I was the shy girl whose music teacher recommended she learn violin since she was so quiet, and didn't have the wind for a wind instrument. I was the one who dreaded oral presentations in her high school classes. Now, I am embarking on a career which includes getting up in front of large audiences, both in person and in the media, and giving a speech. You know this is the work of  the Holy Spirit. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined myself speaking in front of a gaggle of cameras on Capitol Hill at an official press conference against Obamacare last September. I participated in a panel discussion of Catholic mothers of children with Down syndrome for the Catholic Speakers Series for the Joint Parish Respect Life Committee and the Faith Formation Office of the Diocese of Brooklyn this spring which included a short TV interview for Currents, a program of Net TV, the diocesan TV station. View the video here.

Here are some of the speaking engagements I have been planned for this year.
I am speaking this Saturday at St Mary's Church in Coventry, CT after the 9AM Mass for the Gospel of Life Society about my founding of Keep Infants with Down Syndrome and my upcoming book "A Special Mother is Born".
 I will be interviewing for Catholic TV in Boston about my book sometime this summer.

Now, I have a major speaking engagement on October 30, 2010. I will be speaking alonside Fr Brian Mullady, OP, author and  popular EWTN show host.
I will be moderating a workshop titled WINNING THE WAR FOR HEARTS AND MINDS OF YOUTH at our Respect Life Conference scheduled for Saturday, October 30, 2010. The Conference will open at 9:00 a.m. and the workshops will start at 9:30 a.m.
I hope to have my book available to purchase at this venue.
See you there!

Worldwide Consecration to Mary on August 15

This is from a Facebook friend. If you haven't tried Facebook, you should, there are so many wonderful Catholics events and groups,  that it is difficult to keep up with them all. I just completed my Marian Consecration as part of my first year of formation in the MIM Militiae Immaculata Mediartrix, the third order of the Franciscans of the Immaculate. I completed my consecration the day before my birthday. It was a life changing experience, I feel closer to Our Lady than ever before in my life. Imagine if there were a mass consecration of souls to her Immaculate Heart? Could we help bring about a mass conversion, bringing the world a step closer to the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart?
See how this might be happening.

As we get closer to August 15th, The Feast day of the Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary, our thoughts turn to the Consecration to Jesus through Mary as a way of preparing to celebrate well that wonderful feast day of our mother Mary’s assumption. Because Mary’s assumption is always a blessed day here on Earth and in heaven we need to prepare to celebrate it well. So today, I would like to let you know of the Worldwide Consecration to Jesus through Mary, where by you can consecrate yourself to Jesus through Mary. I would really encourage you to join in the consecration if you can, it’s really wonderful and can take your spiritual life to a higher level. It’s the method of John Paul II, Mother Theresa, and Fr. Corapi.


I recommend you pick up a copy of St. Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary, I am sure you can find a copy at your Parish / Church Book store or any Catholic Book shop in your town.

You can also check out the website:

http://www.icatholicradio.com/station-events/consecrate-yourself/

Also, here is the link to the facebook group, you can join

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=108292985916&ref=ts

just a few words, the Worldwide Consecration to Jesus through Mary was started last year by one of my friends Steven (an employee at the Station of the Cross Catholic Radio) together with Fr Corapi. Where by Catholics Consecrate themselves to Jesus through Mary according to the method of St. Louis De Montfort and its been tried and proven by John Paul II, Mother Theresa, and Fr. Corapi that is I recommend you to join as well and be blessed as join.

Participate in study about how famlies deal with Down syndrome

Below is a message from Dr Marcia Van Riper at UNC Chapel Hill.
She is doing a study about how famlies cope with the diagnosis of Down syndrome. Please participate and encourage others to do the same. We want the message to get out that our children do change our lives, for the better.
Leticia

Our goal is to collect information from a large, diverse group of families. We are planning to use the results of this study to increase awareness about what life is like in families ofchildren with Down syndrome.

If you know parents who might be interested in participating in the
study feel free to share my email
vanriper@email.unc.edu
and the linksbelow with other families.

Here are the links to the online survey.
Link for mothers: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3KBM795

Link for fathers: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3KBQN5M

Precious Lord the song and the story

from my email

THE STORY OF THE BIRTH OF THE SONG 'PRECIOUS LORD'


Back in 1932, I was a fairly new husband. My wife, Nettie and I were living in a little apartment on Chicago 's south side. One hot August afternoon I had to go to St. Louis where I was to be the featured soloist at a large revival meeting. I didn't want to go. Nettie was in the last month of pregnancy with our first child. But a lot of people were expecting me in St. Louis . I kissed

Nettie good-bye, clattered downstairs to our Model A and, in a fresh Lake
Michigan breeze, chugged out of Chicago on Route 66.

However, outside the city, I discovered that in my anxiety at leaving, I had forgotten my music case. I wheeled around and headed back.

I found Nettie sleeping peacefully. I hesitated by her bed; something was strongly telling me to stay. But eager to get on my way, and not wanting to disturb Nettie, I shrugged off the feeling and quietly slipped out of the room with my music.

The next night, in the steaming St. Louis heat, the crowd called on me to sing again and again. When I finally sat down, a messenger boy ran up with a Western Union telegram. I ripped open the envelope. Pasted on the yellow sheet were the words: YOUR WIFE JUST DIED.

People were happily singing and clapping around me, but I could hardly keep from crying out. I rushed to a phone and called home. All I could hear on the other end was 'Nettie is dead. Nettie is dead.'

When I got back, I learned that Nettie had given birth to a boy. I swung between grief and joy. Yet that same night, the baby died. I buried Nettie and our little boy together, in the same casket. Then I fell apart.

For days I closeted myself. I felt that God had done me an injustice. I didn't want to serve Him anymore or write gospel songs. I just wanted to go back to that jazz world I once knew so well. But then, as I hunched alone in that dark apartment those first sad days, I thought back to the afternoon I went to St. Louis . Something kept telling me to stay with Nettie. Was that something God? Oh, if I had paid more attention to Him that day, I would have stayed and been with Nettie when she died.

From that moment on I vowed to listen more closely to Him. But still I was lost in grief. Everyone was kind to me, especially one friend. The following Saturday evening he took me up to Maloney's Poro College , a neighborhood music school. It was quiet; the late evening sun crept through the curtained windows.

I sat down at the piano, and my hands began to browse over the keys. Something happened to me then. I felt at peace. I felt as though I could reach out and touch God. I found myself playing a melody, once into my head the words just seemed to fall into place: 'Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn, through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light, take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.'

The Lord gave me these words and melody, He also healed my spirit. I learned that when we are in our deepest grief, when we feel farthest from God, this is when He is closest, and when we are most open to His restoring power.

And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully, until that day comes when He will take me and gently lead me home..

-Tommy Dorsey-

The Word Made Flesh

It was a weekend full of inspiration for writers at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, NY where the first annual LI Catholic Writer's Conference was held.
 I met old friends Lisa Mladinich, founder of LI Catholic Writers,  Alice Gunther, MacBeth Derham, Mary Ellen Barrett, Catherine Cammarata,Michele Merrinan Berg,  and Dawn Eskew. I was able to renew my friendship with award winning children's author Josephine Nobisso of Gingerbread House Books (read my review of Take it to the Queen), and Among Women podcaster and Faith and Family contributor Pat Gohn, whose presentation encouraging writers to use social networking lit a fire under the audience, many of whom have connected with me since then. Pat has had me on her Among Women podcast twice and has been a mentor and cheerleader for me in my writing career. She garnered quite a few more mentorees with her dynamic presentation.
I was honored to finally meet  Elizabeth Scalia, that insightful columnist  known widely as The Anchoress over at First Things, and Celeste Behe of Faith and Family. I had the pleasure of listening to Michael Behe describe his book "Darwin's Black Box" at a CHAPLET Conference,  now I know where his inspiration comes from! Nice to meet such seasoned professionals in person.
New to the blogging scene, but certainly a rising star is Dr Gerard Nadal, PhD whose blog Coming Home has made him both friends and enemies by his courageous defense of human life. I had the honor of introducing him to Theresa Bonapartis, the directer of Lumina post abortion ministries affiliated with the Sisters of Life.
Catholic Writer's Guild president Ann Lewis made it all the way from Ohio, and we had time for a chat about the Catholic Arts and Letters Award, on whose committee I serve. She gave the CALA award to Long Island Catholic editor Rick Hinshaw, the keynote speaker. Monsignor Fink gave an oustanding homily a the Mass with extensive references to Tolkien's Ring Trilogy, reminding us that our writing contributes to the music of God's creation, and will be heard in heaven.
Many thanks to Peggy Clores, Alice Gunther and Lisa Mladinich whose tireless dedication made this conference possible, take a bow ladies!
Here is the Diocese of Brooklyn's net TV coverage of the conference in it's Currents program.
Read Pat Gohn's post at Among Women.

Among all these celebrated writers, I must mention Gabriela, my lovely seventeen year old whose essay My Sister is Special which won first place in the Diocesan Respect Life Essay Contest has been reprinted more times than I can count. First the Spanish diocesan paper Fe Feurza Y Vida translated it, then editor Marta Moscosa suggested a youth column be started in the Long Island Catholic. As soon as he took over as editor, Rick Hinshaw was on the case, asking Gabbi permission to reprint her essay as the first piece in Youth Voice. Rick remembered that, and he greeted Gabbi when she came to the conference. TLIC reported Lena Pennino who reported on Gabbi's winning the Respect Life over five years ago, asked Gabbi if she remembered her. An impact far beyond her years, I am so proud of my celebrated young writer.

Lutz family to get Extreme Home Makeover

I am always impressed by the generousity of parents who adopt children with disabilities. The Lutz family of Long Island adopted 18 children altogether, six of whom have T21. Now the parents are gone, and two of the simblings are caring for those with Down syndrome. Their family home is crumbling and Ty Pennington and his crew are coming to the rescue with Extreme Makeover; Home Edition.
The kickoff happened this week at Yankee Stadium, with lots of hugs and fanfare.
Read the entire article in the Daily News.

Happy Father's Day

To my husband, the father of my three girls, to my Godfather Al, to my dad Ralph, and my pastor, Fr Joseph Tito, Happy Father's Day.

We love you and appreciate all you do for us!
God bless you, and give you a wonderful day.

View The Voyage of the Dawn Treader trailer

In a nod to the power of Christian filmgoers, the producers of the next film in CS Lewis "The Chronicles of Narnia" series, "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" have pre-released the film's trailer to Christian media outlets.

We will be reporting to them the number of hits we achieve within the next 24 hours. Do your part and click here to view the trailer on my site Catholic Media Review and pass the link on to your friends.

Show Hollywood that the Christian audience which made "The Passion of the Christ" an international phenomenon has not diminished. Make your voice heard.

Modesty at Mass

This is one of the most discussed topic in our house of teens. We have a modesty check of the skirt wearing young ladies BEFORE they enter the van to go to Mass. We don't do veils all the time,unless we are going to Latin Mass,  but we dress up in skirts and modest tops, nice shoes, shirts and dress slacks for men.
We change as soon as we get home so the clothing will last longer.
Here is a fasinating article from Msgr Pope of the Archdisocese of Washington on modesty in church.
HT Spirit Daily.

Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta :

The feast of the Immaculate heart of Mary, cause of our joy, is drawing near. Our preparation for the great day should be that of deep, humble gratitude to God. Let us ask two special graces from Our Lady:

The grace of perseverance in our beautiful vocation, and delicate love for God’s poor. The greatness of Our Lady was in her humility. No wonder Jesus wanted to live so close to her. We learn from him and from her one lesson: To be meek and humble of heart.

Thirsting For God, 120.
Source: Mary Vitamin

Nutrient offers great promise for people with Down syndrome

My husband will back me up on this, Christina's new favorite breakfast is "eggs". She asks for them constantly. It didn't strike me as unsual or prophetic, till now, when it sends a chill down my spine.

A nutrient taken by expectant and new mothers may offer lifelong "dramatic" health benefits to people with Down's syndrome, according to new research.


The study, which was carried out at Cornell University, claims that the nutrient choline, found in egg yolks, liver and cauliflower, could provide lasting cognitive and emotional benefits to people with Down's syndrome.

DId I mention we have just added a chicken coop to our yard?
Thanks to our three hens, we get fresh brown eggs every day. How generous is God's provision for us!
Read the entire article here.

Walk-a-thon for Ave Maria Home

Last Sunday, the famliy of Kristin over at 11 On My Own joined us for a walk-a-thon for Birthright and Ave Maria Home. Kristin blogged about it here. She has photos, check it out.
We enjoyed a long walk in the summer air, with the rainstorm holding off thanks to our chaplain's prayers.  Then the Bothur girls sang folksongs while we rested and enjoyed lunch together.
I am accepting pledges late for this, I walked five miles. All funds will help the Ave Maria Home for homeless pregnant women.
Leave contact info below in the comments or email me at marysjoys@yahoo.com

New England Catholic Homeschool Conference

Kristin Bothur my author friend over at 11 on my own has a post on our wonderful day at the conference meeting our favorite authors, Danielle Bean and Susie Lloyd. 
What Kristin is too modest to mention is that great numbers of conference partipants recognized her from her blog and she sold a lot of books.
I was certainly in good company, between great Catholic authors Danielle Bean, Susie Lloyd and Kristin Bothur. I hope to joing their ranks shortly when "A Special Mother is Born" is published this fall.
We were flanked by our dear friends the Friars of the Immaculate from Griswold, CT, and the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary from Still River, MA. We enjoyed many edifying conversations on the faith and Catholic education, not to mention a delicious Polish lunch.
I was able to visit with my friend Patrice Fagnant McArthur of Spiritual Woman, and meet Margot Davidson of Hillside Publishing, which publishes Mater et Magister magazine. I love her book Lingua Mater, the seventh grade Literarture based writing curriculum. With this book I taught a class of homeschooling girls how to hone their writing skills, and four of them entered and won essay and poetry prizes in the Diocesan Respect Life Essay contest. The next year, the Diocese of Rockville Centre added the category "Homeschooled" to the list of participants. Thank you Hillside Education!
I enjoyed Susie Lloyd's talk on St Francis de Sales, one of my favorite spiritual writers, and Allison Gingras' on home educating children with special needs.
It was a  blessed day of sharing what we love about passing on our faith to our children.

The results of my eye exam were good; for now

Here is what Dr Vavvas of Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary told me.

I have a 1.7mm high choroidal nevur behind my right eyeball. He called it a 'suspicious lesion'. It's smaller than the 2 mm which they use as the cutoff point for concern, and I have no additional symptoms like detached retina, flashing lights, floaters, pain, etc. So it may be nothing, however, we are being cautious and monitoring it.

Since they don't have any photos to compare the growth or non-growth of the lesion, they will examine me in six months in December to see if there are any changes. This could develop into a uveal melanoma and require the insertion of a button with radiation to kill the cancer. This could damage my better-than-perfect eyesight in my eye. I have had excellent eyesight up to now, thanks be to God.

The doctor I saw was covering for Dr Gragoudas, who 'wrote the book' on treating this type of condition without removing tissue from the eyeball. I am trying to modify my diet and pray during these six months that God has given me to be able to save myself from surgery which may damage my vision.

Thank you all for your prayers. They keep me going.

Leticia

Eye exam tomorrow

Tomorrow, as Pat Gohn has predicted, I will be going to Harvard University Medical Schools, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary for an exam. I will let you know how it goes.
 I had a beautiful Memorial Day with friends, crowning Our Lady, and attending Mass for the Feast of the Visitation.
I feel those prayers, keep them coming.

I need your prayers

My opthamologist says I need to remove a mole behind my right eye. Right away.
It might be cancer. It looks like a melanoma.

I am offering up any suffering I have to go through for the success of my book, which is nearly ready to go to press. "A Special Mother is Born".

Please join me in asking Servant of God Dr Jerome Lejeune for his heavenly intercession for my healing.
Read about his love for children with Down syndrome in my article here.

Let us pray
God who created man in Your image and intended him to share Your Glory, we thank Your for having granted to Your Church the gift of Professor Jerome Lejeune, a distinguished Servant of Life.

He knew how to place his immense inteligence and deep faith at the service of the defense of human life, especially unborn life, always seeking to treat and to cure. A passionate witness to  truth and charity, he knew how to reconcile faith and reason in the sight of today's world. 
By his intercession, and according to Your will, we ask You to grant us the graces we implore, hoping that he will soon become one of Your saints.
Amen.

Join US in a Family Walk for Life

Sun June 6. 1- 4 P.M

We are anxiously waiting on the approval or rejection of our lease for of an empty building in the Diocese of Norwich for our first Ave Maria Maternity Home. Please pray for the success of our lease, as it makes its way to church authorities. Although valuable time is going by and we are not able to work on the physical building, everyone is anxious to get going with the kitchen and bath renovations.

The need for this Home is so great; it would quickly be filled by 10 homeless pregnant women who are presently living on the street and under bridges in Eastern Connecticut. Raising the money for the salaries of employees of our home is an important function for which we need your help. As we have stated many times before, required licensing of the State of Connecticut and must have one year’s salaries in the bank. Visit us on our Website www.avemariahome/info.

Please join us on June 6, 2010 at St Joseph Church basement, Willimantic for a Walk for Life.

It is a joint fundraiser for Birthright and Ave Maria Home. Walk for women in Crisis- JOIN US in the Joy of Life… Walk for Life! Our goal is 100 walkers for Life.

An equal amount of proceeds will go to the Ave Maria Home or you may make your pledges or check for

Ave Maria Home. The Walk-A-Thon will take place from 1-4 pm at St. Joseph's Church in Willimantic. The walk will be 1-5 miles long depending on desire and ability. The event will include entertainment, refreshments and opportunities to rest throughout the route. We are looking for people to sponsor walkers, work the rest stops, help with refreshments, and participate as walkers. We are requesting participants to complete a pledge form and collect donations from sponsors, which should be brought to the walk-a-thon. However, please do not let the lack of sponsors or donations discourage anyone from participating. We invite anyone to join us in the walk to demonstrate their support for Life. Call Debbie at 860-456-2491 or Sheila Taylor at 860-429-3283.

If you have any questions or would like more information please do not hesitate to contact us at (860)456-9495. Thank you in advance for your support! We look forward to having you join us in this fun-filled event.

The Ave Maria election of new officers and board of Directors was held on May 2010. We have added three outstanding individuals to our Board of Directors: Dr. Lorraine Hartnett, Ellen Bianchini and Kristen Bothur.

Our 2010 slate of officers is Darlene Wagner, Chairman- Leticia Velasquez, Co Chairman; Claudia Cantani, Treasurer; Sheila Taylor, Secretary. Congratulations to all! We thank all our board members in the past for their time and energy. If you are ready to dedicate your time in Christ-filled mission of help for pregnant women in crisis, you might consider joining our board of directors. Please contact any Board member or call Darlene Wagner 860-456-3165 or Sheila Taylor, Secretary. Address for email contact is avemariainc@sbcglobal.net or send to Ave Maria Home,

Box 166,122 Valley St.,
 Willimantic CT. 06226.

God Bless,

Sincerely For Life, Darlene Wagner,
 Ave Maria Home


Pledge forms, Posters, Newsletter files are included

Please Join Us in a Family Walk for Life
St Joseph Church, 99 Jackson Street, Willimantic, 06226
Sunday June 6, 1-4 P.M

St Joseph Church, Willimantic, CT

Why I moved to Connecticut

We had become isolated from like minded Catholics on Long Island, when my friends fled south en masse. We needed a Catholic community. Since September 2008, we have been living in Eastern CT, close to the Friary of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Griswold, attending Holy Mass at St Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Baltic, with the famlies of these wonderful wholesome Catholic teens  (See Derek in the 11 on my own documentary in my previous post).
Now my beautiful daughter Gabbi (see the BIG smile on her face?) is being courted by Derek, who turns 18  in June, two days after she turns 17 (Do I hear, "You are 16, going on 17"?). Next to Derek is Sarah, and his sister Courtney, Gabbi's two best friends. We were celebrating the college graduation of Chris and John Duda, other members of our community, who had a massive party capped by a sing along around the campfire. What a wonderful evening it was.
In two weeks, we all will be camping in a state park singing and praying the rosary around the campfire, with about 300 other Catholic campers, for the annual Catholic camp-ar-ee.
How blessed we are to live here!

11 on my own documentary

A sneak peek into my book

If I am not blogging much these days, its because I am treasure-hunting. I am contacting Catholic authors who happen to be special mothers and asking them to contribute to my book "A Special Mother is Born". Maybe you know someone who is gifted in writing, and has a story to add to the book. Maybe it's you!
Contact me in the comments below.

Here is my latest find, a rare jewel of a poem from one of those living saints you see in church, infinitely patient, with eyes that see heaven while she extends her hand to steady her son's shoulders. Her name is Mary von Schlegell. Mary is in her eighties, and is caring for her son Tony, in his forties, at home. Tony has Down syndrome and since he was born before the educational advances which our children enjoy today, the only word he has ever spoken is “Mama”.



Tony


As you my child are the limitation

So are you the sweetest consolation of my life

And imitation of our Lord.



Clearer than all in my heart,

Your hands marked with the strange line

Raise, raise my compassion

Cling around my heart.



Oh beautiful calm face

So small, so quiet beside me,

You have kept me from destruction,

Oh how can we ever fathom



The strange economy of a loving God;

Why does our trust so often fail

With salvation springing even here along our path?

A positive use of advertising

Aren't you sick of commercials urging you to buy products to make you thinner, your eyes more beautiful or your house more fragrant?
Here is an advertising campaign that not only brightens lives, but may actually save some.Two agencies—Pedone Advertising in New York, and York & Chapel in Milford, Conn.—conducted the "My Great Story" ad campaign for the National Down Syndrome Society.

 By telling the inspiring stories of successful self advocates with Down syndrome, these two advertisers have discovered that is in givng that we receive; by putting a human face on those who have been stigmatized, marginalized and marked for destruction before birth, these advertising agencies have been transformed. Those of us raising such wonderful children experience this every day; still it's wonderful to watch the experience unfold, especially in Madison Avenue types.
They speak of this experience here; in Advertising Age.

Spend some time with a self-advocate, and you'll feel a change coming over you. People with Down syndrome are funny. They fall in love. They have jobs and careers. Talk to them for a bit, and you'll see they have day-to-day problems, dreams and things they don't like to do. In fact, they are just like me and you.


Oh, and one other thing: Some of them have great stories.

Novena for Penecost

In his homily today, Fr Tito said that as all the beauty and art in the world is made with only the seven colors in the rainbow, all the spiritual good in the world is done with the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Join me in praying for those gifts to be infused into the work I am finishing, my book "A Special Mother is Born".
Here is the entire  novena from EWTN. Here are the prayers for each day.
Here is the prayer for the First Day.

FIRST DAY (Friday, 6th Week of Easter)
Holy Spirit! Lord of Light! From Your clear celestial height, Your pure beaming radiance give!



The Holy Spirit
Only one thing is important -- eternal salvation. Only one thing, therefore, is to be feared--sin· Sin is the result of ignorance, weakness, and indifference The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Light, of Strength, and of Love. With His sevenfold gifts He enlightens the mind, strengthens the will, and inflames the heart with love of God. To ensure our salvation we ought to invoke the Divine Spirit daily, for "The Spirit helpeth our infirmity. We know not what we should pray for as we ought. But the Spirit Himself asketh for us."


Let us pray,
Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Spirit, and hast given us forgiveness all sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us your sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of Holy Fear. Amen.

Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.


Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.


Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
(below)


ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace, O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your servant heareth."
Amen.

To be recited daily during the Novena

PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit.
Amen.

(To be recited daily during the Novena)

Happy Mother's Day, special moms!

After a long time gathering stories of Catholic moms of special needs children, I will finally publish my book "A Special Mother is Born" this summer with WestBow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson Publishers.

I dedicate it the book to the Mother of Mothers, Our Lady, and to all you mothers out there who are unsung saints, caring for ill and disabled children with love and patience which far surpass my own.

Happy Mother's Day.

KIDS at the March for Life 2010

Here is a link to my  latest inteview on "The Face of Pro-life" television show.
I discussed my experience in Washington DC as an advocate for children with Down synrome, as co-founder of KIDS (Keep Infants with Down Syndrome).

May is the month of Mary

This is the month of Mary and we are celebrating the Blessed Mother by; saying a daily rosary (trying to make it a habit that sticks), building a Mary garden here at our new home, and attending a delightful concert of Marian hymns called "Songs of Mary" at the Cathedral of St Patrick in Norwich.

It was performed cooperatively with the cathedral choir and the Schola of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of the Church. Latin motets by de Victoria, ancient chant, favorites from "The Sound of Music"(the beautiful Latin hymns Preludium and Alleluia which  the nuns sing in the beginning of the film).

It was sublime, Christina slept soundly on my lap, and I enjoyed the music while contemplating the magnificent gothic cathedral, and meditating on Our Lady and special needs children.

I will be reviewing their upcoming CD, Heart of God, to be released May 20.

I came to you late

I am reviewing my friend Kristin Luscia's book "11 On My Own" and it reminded me of one of my favorite quotes.

"I came to You late, O Beauty so ancient and new. I came to love You late. You were within me and I was outside where I rushed about wildly searching for You like some monster loose in Your beautiful world. You were with me but I was not with You. You called me, You shouted to me, You wrapped me in Your Splendour, You broke past my deafness, You bathed me in Your Light, You sent my blindness reeling. You gave out such a delightful fragrance and I drew it in and came breathing hard after You. I tasted, and it made me hunger and thirst; You touched me, and I burned to know Your Peace."



St. Augustine of Hippo

Time for Dr Ray again

I haven't mentioned that I now live with five, count 'em five teenagers in my house. How did that happen? Well, it all starts with my sister in law, seventeen year old Milagros who was languishing in her brother's place on Long Island. A year ago, she and her older brother Manuel, age 20, immigrated to the US. We had been waiting for them for years, as their mother sponsored them. She was not learning English, not going to school or Mass, or making friends, just watching TV and eating. Miserable. Utterly miserable.
As a mother and an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher of 20 years, I couldn't stand the thought of a young girl wasting her life like this, while living within the chaotic household of a brother whose 'domestic partnership' was spinning out of control (don't get me started).
So we moved her up to Connecticut, and she attended the Academy of the Holy Family with Gabbi. Then we saw the same syndrome with her brother, who failed his ESL class due to his 30 year old brother's terrible example. He had failed that class twice, first when I taught it to him in 2002 and AGAIN in 2009. Enough is enough, I decided, and brought him up after Christmas. Both Manuel and Milagros realized that they wanted good jobs which required education, and that their brother Jose was not going anywhere because of his lazy attitude towards learning. Now they attend weekly Mass, youth group, ESL classes, Manuel has a good paying job, and both are timidly attempting to be part of our bilingual family. We are nearing successful integration.
So now, I had Gabbi, age 16, Milagros, 17, Bella 12, Manuel, 20 and one January day when I was hoarse from Scarlet fever, a friend who has an 18 year old daughter who was not doing well in school, asked if she could board with us and attend the Academy as well. I said yes. Now Elena, age 18 completes my collection of teenagers. Add a petulant 8 year old Christina and you have yourself a challenge to discipline. What was I thinking you say? I don't know, sometimes I say 'yes' too quickly however, this time I was right because the grace of daily Mass is carrying me through this.
It has had it's ups and downs, yet, sparing  you the lurid details, I will merely say that I have had to be more rigid in this boarding school atmosphere, by establishing myself as queen of the castle, better known as "She who maketh the rules and enforceth them. Or else."  But I needed some help  drawing the line on teenage 'tudes.

Enter my saviour, Dr Ray Guarendi, whose 10 kids include five teens with backgrounds which make the most experienced mother shudder. I figured he'd have the answers and yesterday, on a long drive, to Isabella's doctor,  we were listening to his CD at Lighthouse Media, with our sides hurting from laughter.

 His main point is that we need to take the reins from the so called experts who told us we are 'parenting neanderthals' because we believe in things like right and  wrong, And want our children to be virtuous, God seeking, self sacrificing adults. We have to make rules and ENFORCE THEM. Over and over and over and over. ...till their little hormone-addled brains get it. I'm boss, they're not. Period.
And they better give me R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
So, tonight,  when Bella decided she could get away with yelling at me for my 'behavior', she landed a 200 word essay on why that was wrong. She did it, and I think felt unexpectedly proud of the result. . 'It was wrong to yell at Mom, it hurt her feelings, it was disrespectful, it broke the Fourth Commandment. Jesus didn't like it, because it is mean, the Blessed Mother didn't like it because it was disrespectful, St Therese didn't like it. . . all the way to God the father, who was watching and wasn't pleased. "
It took half the Litany of Saints to reach 200 words! Sound familiar, Dr Ray fans?
She was copying Dr Guarendi's description of one of his son's essays. A wise-apple move, to be sure,  BUT it got her attention and reminded her of something important. The Lord and His saints DO care about how she treats her mother, AND that I am not the meanest mother in the world; Mrs Guarendi must be a real ogre!
As my mother used to scream at the top of her lungs when things got out of hand in the Crafa house, "you don't have to like me, but YOU MUST RESPECT ME". 
Thank God I DID learn to respect Mom, follow the rules she set, no matter how silly it seemed to have table manners when you were sitting accross from your wrestling little brothers. Now I understand the value in raising disciplined young adults, who can accommplish their dreams in this world, and meet their loved ones in the next. Speaking of loved ones in the hereafter,
Good for you, Mom. Thanks for the intercession.

New article in Four County Catholic on Hatian relief efforts

I am proud of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of the Church, who have always been involved in Haitian relief efforts, long before the current earthquake. Each year, at St Joseph School, the members of a medical relief group in Haiti would show slideshows of their work and encourage the children to raise money and send cans of food to Haitians.
But since the earthquake, they have doubled their efforts as I write in my recent article in my diocesan newspaper, Four County Catholic. Look for the article on page 14.

Growth Charts are being developed for our chlidren

This has always been a pet peeve of mine; when Christina saw a pediatrician for a checkup, her height always put her at the lowest percentage for growth rate for children her age. "Why don't they make growth charts for children with Trisomy 21?" I would complain to the pediatrician, who would shrug in response. (It turns out that there were old charts, but few physicians knew of them.

It bothered me that our children were "off the chart". If felt as if the medical profession had washed their hands of them once pre-natal diganosis was put in place, as if they were saying to those of us who had our children despite dire warnings from obstetricians and pressure to have amnio, and then abortions, "look, lady, we gave you a way out of having this baby, and you refused, so now YOU deal with the kid".

I know I'm not paranoid, because, until the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus teamed up with parent advocates, the National Institute of Health did not even have a plan to pursue research related to Down syndrome. It was considered merely a matter of prevention (ie "Search and Destroy"). Not only do we have a research plan now, but we have a research budget. And now, brilliant researchers like Dr William Mobley at Stanford, and Dr Roger Reeves at Johns Hopkins, have come up with therapies to possibly mitigate the cognitive and memory delays within the next decade. There may even be benefits for those typcial people who have cancerous tumors. Something about that extra 21st chromosome starves cancerous tumors, thus Trisomy 21 'sufferers' rarely get them.
It's great to see people like Christina becoming more accepted into society. They are now "on the charts".
And new approaches to treating the symptoms of Trisomy are being discussed.

"If we can better understand the growth patterns and the rates of other illnesses that co-occur with Down syndrome, researchers may be better able to plan treatment and design preventive health programs," added Zemel. "The CDC has recognized updated growth charts as an important tool for people providing health care to children with Down syndrome." In its grant guidelines, the CDC states that new growth charts produced from the study will be broadly distributed free of charge.

Read the entire article here.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nutrition-researchers-to-develop-new-growth-charts-for-children-with-down-syndrome-91903509.html

Just because its springtime: "Annie's Song"

Yesterday was Jackie Robinson Day

The 63rd anniversary of the breaking of the color barrier in baseball in 1947 was celebrated at Yankee Stadium yesterday, when all players wore number 57 in honor of Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. His memory is honored in this wonderful family film, released today called
The Perfect Game.
This wonderful film with an all star cast has the most positive portrayal of a priest I've seen in 40 years.

Catholics must see this film which tells the inspiring story of how the Mexican Little League team, the Monterrey Industrials swept the 1957 World Series in Williamsport, PA, thanks to the mentorship of their parish priest.
 Cheech Marin does an outstanding job as Padre Esteban, you HAVE to see that to believe it!

With the internet, you never know where you will end up

I have a self indulgent habit; from time to time I Google myself. I want to know where what I write online is going Here are some recent surprises.
My review of "The Kite Runner" was used in The Manila Bulletin as the basis for a discussion on the Sacreament of Confession, according to St Jose Maria Escriva. Awesome.

KIDS was featured in this wonderful article about the 90% abortion rate of babies with Down syndrome.
Again, a pleasant surprise.

My article in the National Catholic Register on the Legacy of Dr Jerome Lejeune was quoted by Michelle in her excellent and holy Unborn Word of the Day. I left a comment at the time, but I had forgotten about it, and to see it there was a renewed thrill.

And.. . saving the best for last; my review of "Mother Teresa's Secret Fire" by Fr Joseph Langford, MC is on the website of the Missionaries of Charity.

When I get discouraged about how little money freelance writing has brought me, I look at the ways my writing has been used, and remember that using my gifts for God's glory is a higher purpose.