I'll be Relevant on my birthday!

I just got an email from The Drew Mariani Show's scheduler and I'll be on his radio show at 3:30 EST to discuss my work with Keep Infants with Down Syndrome.

 Tune in if you get the chance.

I'll be on the Drew Mariani Show today

At 6PM EST, the Drew Mariani Show, as part of their Marian Retreat In Mary's Hands, will be playing my story of  "The Prayers of  a Little Saint" from Mary's Touch Program on Catholic Radio International. Afterwards, Drew and I will discuss the story, and may even take calls. I look forward to telling you how much  my daughter Christina with Down syndrome has taught me though her simple trust in Our Lady.

You can listen to the show live by clicking on this link.

I'm on Catholic Radio International

I was recently interviewed on Catholic Radio International about my fears about Obamacare. Listen here.

Judie Brown on Sen Ed Kennedy

If you are tired of the fawning mainstream media, listen to Catholic Radio International's "The Heart of the Matter" show with Jeff Gardner as he interviews American Life League's founder Judie Brown on the significance of Sen Ed Kennedy.

Fr Loya takes up for Sarah Palin

Fr Loya discusses Sarah Palin's resignation in terms of Theology of the Body on his show, "A Body of Truth" on Catholic Radio International. He says, "her enemies need to duck" as he applauds her loyalty to her role as wife and mother and says she is now more powerful than ever. Fr Loya is not the only one who admires the spirited Sarah;

Marjorie Dannenfelser, the head of the pro-life women's group Susan B. Anthony List, had nothing but kind words for Palin.
“Sarah Palin has always been an intensely independent woman-- always true to her faith, her family and call to public service. She has provided women with a new political role model, offering a positive example of grace and poise as she deflected the barrage of baseless personal attacks on her family,” she told LifeNews.com.

Sarah evoked visceral reactions from those who have insisted that in order to be successful in politics a woman has to be like a man. Sarah is beautiful, happy and in love with her family and her God. I wish her the best in all her endeavors as she brings a breath of bracing fresh air to the Culture of Death.

Read the entire story on Life News.

Raymond Arroyo reflects on Mother Angelica

Mother Angelica at 86 and Memories of A Friend Lost
April 20, 2009 Personally, this is a reflective day mingled with joy and sadness. It was exactly a year ago today when Pope Benedict concluded his triumphant Papal visit to America. But a year later it isn’t what the Pope said or did that remains in my memory, so much as the man who sat next to me during our coverage of that visit.
I remember telling my friend and co-host, Father Richard John Neuhaus, who gamely contributed commentary (when we weren’t doing our Abbott and Costello act), that though this papal visit was history we would certainly revive our long running partnership for the next “big event.” Little did either of us realize that this was to be the last “big event” we would share.

Father Neuhaus succumbed to cancer on January 8th of this year. As I read his last book, “American Babylon” he is ever present in my thoughts and prayers. There is however at least one reason I jubilate this day. It is Mother Angelica’s 86th Birthday. Who would have imagined at the end of 2001, after suffering a massive stroke which required emergency brain surgery, that Mother Angelica would still be with us? And yet, eight years later she continues her mission today just as she started it: in contemplative silence and in communion with her Spouse.

Mother’s speech is greatly diminished these days. She no longer tells those hilarious stories or shares her practical teachings, but she is engaged in the lives of her sisters, reacting with those expressive eyes to each bit of shared news and to each funny story related. I spoke with Mother the other day and can attest that her laugh is hearty as ever. And no one saying “I love you” can bring tears to my eyes quicker. It is a relief to know that despite her infirmities, Mother is still with us.
What distinguishes Mother Angelica from just about any other Church leader is her humble origins. She is truly of the people; the product of a working class, dysfunctional immigrant family. That tortured biography would make her more sensitive to the struggles of the common man and allow her to give voice to their greatest hopes. Hers is a story of faith’s power to transform and redeem, not only one life, but millions of lives. Mother Angelica loved Christ enough to offer Him everything, even her voice and her independence.
Today she is continuing to present this final oblation. My great grandmother used to say: compliments and thanks are only worthwhile when you’re living. There is so much I would have liked to have said to Father Neuhaus and to other friends who have departed in recent days. So, following my great grandmother’s advice, on this great day of celebration, I want to offer my love and thanks to Mother Angelica. She has inspired so much of my work and has altered countless lives. But for her, this blog, the entire broadcast apparatus that is EWTN would not exist and you and I might never have met in this way.
On a personal level she has taught me how to communicate in ways I never expected--how to simply let go and reveal the personality that was given me. She has been a true Mother to me, and I know I am not alone in this. Next time that you happen across something moving or insightful, inspirational or challenging on EWTN’s television or radio feed, do me a favor. Stop for a moment and offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the brave and battle scarred woman who gave so much for that message-- the cloistered nun who built a media empire on faith. Her love is still reaching millions around the world; quietly, gently, powerfully. What a gift she is to us on her 86th birthday. Here is wishing you many, many more birthdays Reverend Mother.

US Bishops cut off ACORN funding

A community grantmaking arm of the U.S. Roman Catholic bishops has cut off all funding for a group embroiled in controversy over claims of voter registration fraud and embezzlement, church leaders said Tuesday.
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development, which supports anti-poverty and social justice programs nationwide, will no longer make grants to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, known as ACORN, said Auxiliary Bishop Robert Morin of New Orleans.
The decision was made following claims that nearly $1 million had been embezzled from ACORN by the brother of its founder.

Talk about closing the barn door after the horse gets out. . .well, better late than never!
Remember the radio station my friends and I tried to start on Long Island? Our station on eastern LI may be going to ACORN. That's a bitter pill to swallow.
Read the entire story on the AP.

Benedict gives a plug for the Catholic Channel

Listen here. It's amazing how many things he was doing in the 'down time' between major events.
HT American Papist

I'll be on Relevant Radio Tomorrow

I'll be interviewed at 4:30 EST on the Drew Mariani Show by Fr. James Kubicki of The Apostleship of Prayer. Click here to listen online.
Please say a prayer that I am calm and can communicate a clearly to parents of children with Down syndrome about The Dr. Jerome Lejeune Society.

These nuns are the hope of the Church in America!

I have been emailing convents today, asking for intercessory prayers for the success of our application for the Mater Angelica Catholic Radio Station application to be submitted October 13, 2007. I found this link and was emailing all the convents on the list with my prayer intention, and was tremendously encouraged by the hundreds of young, smiling faces peeking out from behind their traditional habits.
The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious is the umbrella organization for 10% of all professed nuns. These are the traditional nuns. They have 90% of all the vocations in the USA, according to a lecture I attended from Dr. Brian Clowes of Human Life International.
Is anyone surprised here?

Collage from the Domincan Sisters of St. Cecelia, also known as the Nashville Dominicans

Mater Angelica Catholic Radio Station: a first for Long Island

Home to 2 million Catholics, Long Island is not known as a Catholic evangelization center, and why not? We have more money, better health, longer lives, more education and more leisure time than any Catholics in world history. What are we missing? The answer is catechesis.
We don't appreciate the treasure we have in our Catholic faith, and we are distracted by the pursuit of happiness, which we erroneously assume is in materialism. A bigger home, a better car, etc. How do we call Long Islanders home to their Catholic faith?
The answer, I believe is in the broadcast empire of a Poor Clare cloistered nun, Mother Mary Angelica. Thus, we are naming the radio station we hope, by the grace of God, and the permission of the FCC to open, Mater Angelica, after the little nun who could. We will feature 24 hours of EWTN programming at 91.7 FM. The signal, though small, would cover a large part of the East End, home to the summer playground of the rich and famous, the Hamptons, reaching a potential audience of 50,000 souls for Christ and His Church. We are members of the Catholic Radio Association and represent a trend of a growing number of Catholic radio stations across the nation,
Here's the rub. The applicant, must be a not-for-profitincorporated organization who wants to provide Catholic programming, with 75% of it's board members living within 25 miles of the area covered by the station signal on the East End.
On reflection while looking over my last message about bringing Catholic radio to the Hamptons, I realize I used some language that is not exactly accurate and that may lead someone to a false impression. I should not have described the suggested applicant as some group who would "hold" the FCC permit for Mater Angelica. Whatever group applies for this permit will have all the rights arising from it and will control all programming decisions at any station that results. Mater Angelica is being organized in the hope -- and to plan for all possible contingencies -- such that if a Catholic applicant wins the permit and desires our assistance in building or operating a station, we will be available to offer it. The fact remains that Mater Angelica is looking for a strong applicant under FCC rules who would be likely to secure the FCC permit with an intention to provide Catholic programming in our area." PLEASE, those of you who are interested in applying, please email me leticia77@optonline.net or leave your contact information below, and offer to help. The window of opportunity will soon close, and may not be open for ten more years.
Please help us to save souls, and make this the Lord's Island!

Update on the Long Island Catholic Radio Station

My friends and I have officially submitted an application for membership in the
Catholic Radio Association, and for an engineering study on where the signal for a radio station would be located, (somewhere on Eastern Central Long Island).
In two months, when the FCC opens a brief window (five days long!) for applications for the free Non-Commercial Educational FM license, we will submit the completed application, and wait 9 months for an answer on whether we are awarded the license. There will be plenty of novenas going, you can count on that!
If we get it, we have up to four years to get it up and running. Then, the fundraising part comes. We'll need up to $70,000 to rent tower space and buy equipment. The station can actually be run from a properly equipped personal computer!
It's still not too late to see if this is possible in your area. Sharon Minson, the attorney in charge of membership at Catholic Radio Association informed me that Evangelical Protestants own over 1, 700 radio stations in the US, and Catholics own only 120! Pope John Paul II said,
"Radio may well be the most cost-effective means of reaching large numbers of people who. . .will be willing to 'eavesdrop' on Catholic radio stations or programming. . . Radio is an intimate medium which can reach people on the street, in their cars, or in their homes."

Is God Calling you to Start an EWTN radio affiliate?

I recently heard the ad, as I'm sure many of you have, on EWTN, on to apply for an FCC license to begin a not-for-profit FM radio station affiliate of EWTN in your area. I have just contacted the Catholic Radio Association , and there may be, upon further investigation, a possibility of an FM affiliate in my area.
My only qualification is zeal for spreading the Gospel, and a husband who is on board with this. We have no funds to spare, but we do have many wonderful Catholic friends who are excited about the opportunity to pierce the darkness with the light of EWTN radio. If God wants to use us to bring His Eternal Word to His people, we figure, He's got the money (that was the line both Mothers used; Teresa and Angelica, and look what they accomplished from nothing!)

I want you to pray for this endeavor, what really excites me is, not only could we broadcast the wonderful programming of EWTN in English 24/7, but also in Spanish, as my husband and I are both fluent. Double the results for the same investment. Only God can make this happen, so pray that we listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Oh, and, since it would be hard to be less qualified than we are to begin a radio station, why don't you go to their website, and ask the Catholic Radio Association if your area qualifies as well?