Fr. Michael McGivney beatified today; Vocation Week

 

We remember today Fr. Michael McGivney.  He was beatified today, the first American priest to receive that designation (one step away from being declared a saint).  He was an ordinary parish priest in some ways, but famous for his founding of the fraternal order of Catholic men called the Knights of Columbus in 1882.  They are still very much around and have been doing great work for 138 years.  They started by providing fraternity for immigrants who were often despised by native Americans and by caring for those in need -- especially widows of those same immigrants.  Fr. McGivney was the son of Irish immigrant parents, so he certainly knew their needs.    In more modern times, the Knights have branched out into on pro-life work, support for the handicapped, support for priests and seminarians, and educational efforts.   

Here's a great article about his beatification from the always information Catholic newspaper, the National Catholic Register.  

There's also an inspiring article in that paper about a family who prayed through Bl. Fr. McGivney's intercession for a miracle for their son, Michael (named after the Blessed), who was expected to die in the womb.  He didn't, so the article has a super-cute picture of little toddler Michael "playing Mass" at home.  Hope he will be a future priest following in Fr. McGivney's footsteps!

This is good timing, because the dioceses in the U.S. are celebrating Vocation Awareness Week this week (starting November 1st).  A great time to pray that many of our parish children will serve the Lord as a priest or religious brother or sister. 

Fr. Dan Schmitmeyer, the vocation director for for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, will be speaking to our youth on Nov. 8th about vocations.

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