Please Pray for this Young Priest

I just received this from a friend:

In your Charity please pray for my local priest from Burma Fr Martin Aye Ngwe of Wahroonga Holy Name Parish, Diocese of Broken Bay, to pass his English Exam this Saturday 24th September, 2012 in Sydney. He is worried he will not pass the comprehension part of the exam.

Since he has been in our parish the Blessed Sacrament has been returned to the centre of the sanctuary where it belongs.

He is one of 12 children raised in Burma, 3 were adopted. Another brother is a priest and one has been in coma for 9 years cared at home by her family.

We need this man in our parish who has a great Marian devotion.

Mother of Sorrows pray for us!

The blessing of a good and faithful priest

The beautiful stained glass window above the sanctuary of the Sacred Heart Church, Sandgate. The Sacred Heart of Jesus, surrounded by the seven archangels.

Today, on the feast of the Sacred Heart, I attended the last Mass offered by my parish priest, who has been my parish priest for the last 25 years of my life. Fr Pat Stratford has been parish priest to the Sacred Heart Church, Sandgate for 35 years and he recently celebrated his 53rd anniversary as a priest.

Sacred Heart Church

Father is a blessed priest ~ his personal attributes of deep humility and faithful, holy service stand out in particular. My mother who was a nurse at a local nursing home for 16 years, tells me that he was always a very special priest ~ so many times she witnessed Father coming so quickly to anoint dying residents, among many other wonderful memories.

The Sacred Heart Church sanctuary.

Father was devoted to encouraging the parish to always pray for vocations, and from those many, many years of community prayer for vocations, a humble young man from our parish, Fr Bryan Roe, was ordained last year. As we said our last goodbyes with promises of prayers for each other, he was looking especially at my young boys..I know that he will be praying for vocations for them!

The Sacred Heart Church choir loft.

Please remember Father Pat Stratford in your prayers. I am sharing below the published article on Father from our diocesan paper. For me, it is a revealing read, as Father never talked of himself ~ unassuming humility was Father's special virtue in my opinion. So it was a real blessing for me to read this interview.

A LIFE DEVOTED TO JESUS

Published 19th June 2011 Catholic Leader ~ written by Selina Venier

Fr Pat Stratford

"JUST as locals are accustomed to the tide's comings and goings in picturesque Brighton and Sandgate, so too is parish priest Fr Pat Stratford a well-known part of the scenery.Fr Pat's "coming" was an extraordinary 35 years ago, when he was appointed Sandgate parish priest following ministry in Ipswich and Murgon. "There was very little unoccupied land when I came," he said from his home of more than three decades, beside Sacred Heart Church at Sandgate."There were many senior citizens."

While the landscape hasn't changed and the area certainly still welcomes senior members, more families have taken up residence in the parish and enrolments in the local primary schools of Sacred Heart, Sandgate, and St Kieran's, Brighton, as well as St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe, have increased. "When I arrived there were 12 boys in Year 12 at St Patrick's," Fr Pat said. "Now there are 150." Also on his arrival, Sacred Heart school included senior classes. In 1981, St John Fisher (Girls' Secondary) College, opened at nearby Bracken Ridge.

Injecting dates easily into the conversation, Fr Pat said the first church was opened in Sandgate in 1881 "but it was too small by 1892". He said the striking Sacred Heart Church had an additional transept in 1935. Within his 35 years, Fr Pat has celebrated the majority of "approximately 1500 baptisms and at least 800 weddings" in that church. Some of those ceremonies also took place in The Church of the Real Presence at Brighton, beside St Kieran's primary school. Fr Pat was administrator of Brighton from 2000 and officially appointed parish priest in December 2003. Saying he now pastors 4800 local Catholics,

Fr Pat was quick to share of an obvious question posed at this "retirement stage" of his ministry.

"I'm asked if there's a particular thing that stands out ... a highlight (of the 35 years)," he said."Obviously that is Sunday Mass." When we gather together, that's when Christ becomes sacramentally present to us." We reflect on the Word ... and we are sent forth to live out our faith." From age seven, Fr Pat, who has five sisters and three brothers, knew he would "live out" the vocation of priest. "I remember the day of my First Holy Communion ... (and) a nun was saying something about being a priest," he said. "I've never changed my mind about that decision."

While finding "great satisfaction" in his ministry since his ordination in 1958, Fr Pat is also quick to recall how society has changed. "In the early '70s there was a change in the emphasis across Christian society," he said. "People started saying, 'I must recognise my own individuality and I must have self-fulfilment'."(And) 'If I don't get self-fulfilment, I won't be satisfied'."Whereas the emphasis before that was that there are certain things that are right and certain things that are wrong and it's not just about what you feel."Basically there has been a revolt against authority." Fr Pat said people can maintain individuality and "use that in accordance with Christ's teaching".

He also has a viewpoint on those who stray from "Church". "I think the more people live away from Christ's teaching then they are going to be looking for a change," Fr Pat said. "If people find ignoring Christ's teaching brings unhappiness in their lives and the lives of others they say, 'That was a mistake and I don't want that for my children'." He said "very obvious injustices from ignoring Christ's teaching" include "abortion, marital breakdown and children losing their relationship with one of their parents".

"A greater emphasis on living the faith rather than learning about it", Fr Pat said should be better developed in the Catholic school setting, leading to greater adherence to Christ's teaching rather than moves away from it. "I think there should be more emphasis on how to live the faith (in Catholic schools)," Fr Pat said. "There is, of course, the Study of Religion, learning about other religions, but I have my doubts about whether that's the best option." While there's no lack of good will (in the Catholic school setting) you can teach people from reading books how to be a good swimmer but they've got to get out and practise it.

"The "outgoing tide" of Fr Pat's ministry in Sandgate-Brighton parish is set for June 30. Next Sunday, following the 9am Mass in Sandgate, a morning tea will be enjoyed to allow parishioners and visitors to farewell him. Fr Pat said he would "continue to serve" during retirement and would often think of "the nice view out over the bay" he's enjoyed for 35 years.

Asked how he'd like the community to remember him, there was continued lack of hesitation."As a Catholic priest who was happy in his ministry as a priest," Fr Pat said. "... Who was very happy to work with the people - recognising the Church is the people and not just him."The priest has a leadership role but everybody has a role in the life of the parish community."(And) I've had very good support from parishioners ever since I came here and I'm deeply grateful for that."

Priests in Focus

Every Thursday we change the three priests names for the Weekly Priests in Focus.

We are encouraging ladies to offer an Ave for the priests mentioned when visiting our site (You will see the above widget in the top righthand sidebar under our header) and also may wish to off an Ave for these priests any other time in the week that you may remember.

Of course you may also want to offer more than the Ave's, you may want to offer other prayers and sacrifices during the week for these particular priests, whatever you feel called to do, is a blessing.

This week's priests are:

Friar John Derrick Yap OFM, Friar William Lee OFM, Friar Just Lim OFM

The first anniversary for these Francisan Friars has just recently passed on the 28th of May. May God bless them!

A list of the priests we have prayed for individually here are in the right hand sidebar down the bottom.

If you have any priests you wish to nominate to be added to the Priests in Focus please email us and we would more than happy to add that priest to our list.

Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles, bless us with holy, courageous priests!

Priests in Focus

Every Thursday we change the three priests names for the Weekly Priests in Focus.

We are encouraging ladies to offer an Ave for the priests mentioned when visiting our site (You will see the above widget in the top righthand sidebar under our header) and also may wish to off an Ave for these priests any other time in the week that you may remember.

Of course you may also want to offer more than the Ave's, you may want to offer other prayers and sacrifices during the week for these particular priests, whatever you feel called to do, is a blessing.

This week's priests are:

Fr Michael Cassabon, Fr James Middeldorp, Fr John Corapi

A list of the priests we have prayed for individually here are in the right hand sidebar down the bottom.

If you have any priests you wish to nominate to be added to the Priests in Focus please email us and we would more than happy to add that priest to our list.

Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles, bless us with holy, courageous priests!

Priests in Focus for this week

Every Thursday we change the three priests names for the Weekly Priests in Focus.

We are encouraging ladies to offer an Ave for the priests mentioned when visiting our site (You will see the above widget in the top righthand sidebar under our header) and also may wish to off an Ave for these priests any other time in the week that you may remember.

Of course you may also want to offer more than the Ave's, you may want to offer other prayers and sacrifices during the week for these particular priests, whatever you feel called to do, is a blessing.

This week's priests are:

Fr Hector, Fr Anthony DeCandia, Fr Chris Feeney (from the Diocese of Norwich)

A list of the priests we have prayed for individually here are in the right hand sidebar down the bottom.

If you have any priests you wish to nominate to be added to the Priests in Focus please email us and we would more than happy to add that priest to our list.

Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles, bless us with holy, courageous priests!

Priests in Focus for this week

Every Thursday we change the three priests names for the Weekly Priests in Focus.

We are encouraging ladies to offer an Ave for the priests mentioned when visiting our site (You will see the above widget in the top righthand sidebar under our header) and also may wish to off an Ave for these priests any other time in the week that you may remember.

Of course you may also want to offer more than the Ave's, you may want to offer other prayers and sacrifices during the week for these particular priests, whatever you feel called to do, is a blessing.

This week's priests are:

Fr Michael McCarthy, Fr Peter McCarthy, Fr Peter McCartin

A list of the priests we have prayed for individually here are in the right hand sidebar down the bottom.

If you have any priests you wish to nominate to be added to the Priests in Focus please email us and we would more than happy to add that priest to our list.

Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles, bless us with holy, courageous priests!

Blessed Alessandrina Da Costa (1904-1955)

This story is from the booklet, Adoration, Reparation, Spiritual Motherhood for Priests. An inspiring story of spiritual motherhood in the vocation of the single life:

A story from the life of Alexandrina da Costa, beatified on 25 April 2004, reveals the transforming power and visible effects of the sacrifice made by a sick and forgotten girl.

In 1941, Alexandrina wrote to her spiritual director, Fr. Mariano Pinho, telling him that Jesus told her,

"My daughter, a priest living in Lisbon is close to being lost forever; he offends me terribly. Call your spiritual director and ask his permission that I may have you suffer in a special way for this soul."

Blessed Alessandrina's spiritual director, Fr Mariano Pinho SJ

Once Alexandrina had received permission from her spiritual director, she suffered greatly. She felt the severity of the priest's errors, how he wanted to know nothing about God and was close to self-damnation. She even heard the priest's full name. Poor Alexandrina experienced the hellish state of this priest's soul and prayed urgently,

"Not to hell, no! I offer myself as a sacrifice for him, as long as you want."

Alexandrina in her sick bed

Fr Pinho inquired of the Cardinal of Lisbon whether one of the priests of his diocese was of particular concern. The Cardinal openly confirmed that he was, in fact, very worried about one of his priests, and when he mentioned the name of the priest, it was the same one that Jesus had spoken to Alexandrina.

Some months later, a friend of Fr. Pinho, Fr. David Novais, recounted to him an unusual incident. Fr. David had just held a retreat in Fatima where attended a modest gentleman whose exemplary behaviour made him pleasantly attractive to all the participants.

On the last night of the retreat, this man suddenly had a heart attack. He asked to see a priest, to whom he confessed and received Holy Communion. Shortly thereafter he died, fully reconciled with God. It turned out that this man was actually a priest - the very priest for whom Alexandrina had suffered so greatly.

To read more about the life of Blessed Alexandrina, there is a Tan publication written by Francis Johnston:

Alexandrina: The Agony and the Glory

Priests in Focus for this week

I would like to apologise for the general quietness at Spiritual Motherhood for Priests.

Zeliemum has placed a few important posts up, asking for prayers for particular bishops and priests during a very busy period for her personally with her big family.

Unfortunately I had let go the Priests in Focus due to a long period of ill health, among many other things.

Things are finally settling for the two of us and we will be resuming our weekly Thursday posting, "Priests in Focus" where we share the name of three priests and ask for prayers for them to strengthen them in their holy vocation.

We also hope to resume a weekly or fortnightly posting of one or two seminarians, asking for prayers for Gods Will in regard to their vocation and that they always be faithful to God's Will. This we hope do this on Tuesdays.

We will resume our first Sunday of the month posting, sharing the Mother's of Lu prayer, praying for priests within our family, or for those who have no children, praying for vocations within their diocese.

If there is any lady who would like to have their name added to our adoration list (an hour's adoration for priests a month) please email us.

We have many wonderful stories, prayers and ideas to share in this new year, I hope you enjoy them and join with us in praying for the holy priesthood.

~oOo~

Every Thursday we change the three priests names for the Weekly Priests in Focus.

We are encouraging ladies to offer an Ave for the priests mentioned when visiting our site (You will see the above widget in the top righthand sidebar under our header) and also may wish to off an Ave for these priests any other time in the week that you may remember.

Of course you may also want to offer more than the Ave's, you may want to offer other prayers and sacrifices during the week for these particular priests, whatever you feel called to do, is a blessing.

This week's priests are:

Fr Steve Hartley, Fr Tom Euteneuer, Fr N Maurice

A list of the priests we have prayed for individually here are in the right hand sidebar down the bottom.

If you have any priests you wish to nominate to be added to the Priests in Focus please email us and we would more than happy to add that priest to our list.

Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles, bless us with holy, courageous priests!