The Miraculous Medal Digest is a publication of the office of Marketing and Communications of the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal. Telephone: 215.848.1010 Email: communications@cammonline.org Website: MiraculousMedal.org
Planting the seeds of
Editor: Trish Shea Contributors: Danielle Ferrari; Fr. John Freund, CM; Fr. John Maher, CM; Mary Peterson; Beth Racine; Trish Shea Cover Image: Rev. Joseph A. Skelly, CM, Founder, Central Association of the Miraculous Medal Archival Photos: Courtesy of Ducournau Archives
SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK To provide feedback or send a letter to the editor, email communications@cammonline.org.
READ MORE ONLINE Follow the web references for additional stories, videos, and photos. Visit the magazine website at MiraculousMedal.org/Message.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION We invite you to share your thoughts, stories, and photos from the Eastern Province ministries. Contact tshea@cammonline.org or follow us on social media. Mary’s Miraculous Medal Family @Miraculousmedal
ST. VINCENT MESSAGES
in Germantown
My Dear Friends,
Dear Family,
2019 is a special year for us at The Miraculous Medal Shrine in Philadelphia, as we celebrate two anniversaries in Germantown. If you are from the area, you know that the neighborhood that the Shrine calls home is Germantown, one of the many neighborhoods in Philadelphia. It played a significant role in the Revolutionary War, and the Battle of Germantown is commemorated annually. One hundred and seventy years ago, the Vincentians arrived in Germantown. The story of that arrival is recalled on pages 12-19. Most notably, 30 years after the 1849 arrival of the Vincentians, the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, now the Miraculous Medal Shrine Chapel, was dedicated. While a great deal has occurred during those 170 years, the constant has been the presence of generations of Vincentian Fathers and Brothers. Our new publication offers us an opportunity to come to know how the Vincentians and their colleagues are serving the Church in 2019. I believe that you will find the accounts inspiring and edifying. Enjoy our new publication. Be assured of my prayers and those of all my brother Vincentians throughout the year.
I send each of you my warmest greetings and welcome you to the first edition of our Miraculous Medal Message. I’m excited, not only about our new look, but about expanding the magazine to include more engaging stories of faith and hope. As you’ll see, the heart of our magazine—and our mission—remains the same: promoting our Blessed Mother and her Miraculous Medal. Several articles (see pages 20-23 and 40-41) attest that Mary and her Medal continue to touch lives and souls today. Supporting the work of the Vincentians also remains part of our mission, and this year commemorates their 170th anniversary in Germantown. As you read about their amazing history and myriad ministries, you’ll notice that the seeds they planted continue to grow deep and wide, benefitting the poor not only in the Philadelphia region, but throughout the world. This year, we’ll also be broadcasting our weekly Miraculous Medal Novenas on local media, and continue reaching out through other venues to bring our Blessed Mother and her Son to wider audiences. Join us on this journey, as we ensure the Shrine and the Vincentians are here for the next 170 years. And when in the area, stop and say “Hello.”
Sincerely in Mary Immaculate,
Yours in our Blessed Mother,
Fr. Michael Carroll, CM Director, The Miraculous Medal Shrine Spiritual Director, Central Association of the Miraculous Medal
Mary Jo Timlin-Hoag President and CEO Central Association of the Miraculous Medal
MarysMiraculousMedal @MiracMedlShrine Postmaster: Send address changes to: Office of Marketing and Communications, Central Association of the Miraculous Medal, 475 E. Chelten Ave., Phila., PA 19144
2 | MIRACULOUS MEDAL MESSAGE
.