Tuesday, November 17, 2009

From Wyoming to Wisconsin and Beyond!

If I were a better blogger, I would be posting all of the wonderful news about people and places where Pier Giorgio is making an impact. It's hard to keep up with him! Just yesterday, I spoke with a youth coordinator in the Diocese of Oakland (CA) and enjoyed hearing his stories of how teens react to the message of Pier Giorgio. This week, The SaintCast will have a booth at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Kansas City and plans to pass out Pier Giorgio prayer cards there. In Clintonville, Wisconsin, Pier Giorgio is the Saint of the Month both at the school and in Religious Education. At Wyoming Catholic College, a commons building has been named "Frassati Hall." And so on...

Yesterday, I also received a moving note from a woman in her 60s. She and her husband were forced to relocate following Hurricane Katrina. They ended up in Mississippi and after a series of events she began attending a certain parish for adoration. She writes,
"While at adoration I found a prayer card on Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. I read some information on his life and began to ask for his intercession on my finding a job that God may want me to have. My husband attends adoration with me at times and he is now also praying for his intercession for his employment. We want to be productive and be led to where we may be needed. ... We were feeling totally lost and unwanted with our failure to find work. We have people praying for us and now we have asked for the intercession of Blessed Pier Giogio Frassati. After a few weeks of my asking for his intercession I was contacted by a company that teaches after school art classes to elementary school aged children, to be one of their instructors. I begin working on my own with the children after the Thanksgiving holidays."
Two parts of her story touch me the most. The first is how she "found" a prayer card at this church while attending Adoration. Obviously, someone put it there; maybe one of you! We never can fully comprehend what God is doing with us here as we so often plod through each day seeking for meaning. And rarely do we see the good that comes from our simple actions like putting prayer cards in a church that a total stranger will come across and take comfort and encouragement from in a difficult time. Thanks to each of you who have helped FrassatiUSA put more than 65,000 prayer cards into circulation over the past two years. What a great start! We are planting Pier Giorgio seeds and, surely, the harvest will be pleasing to the Lord.

The second thing about her story is that she and her husband are in their 60s and have embraced Pier Giorgio. So often, we think of him as only a model for the youth. But I know for a fact that he is loved by people from 8 to 80 years old! His example is one that crosses all demographics. His message is universal: Holiness is for everyone! Let's continue to spread it to everyone we encounter. Verso l'alto!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Teenager Testimonial

This note speaks for itself:

"I've changed my life because of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Now I know what true charity is. Now I know that the needy's necessities should be prioritized and not mine. This is not a great miracle, but I do believe that to change my life for the betterment of my people is more than a miracle to be conveyed. From now on, I'm willing to give my scholarship allowance to the needy. I will visit them as long as I could. And will help them each and every way I know I can make them happy. I know Blessed Pier Giorgio will be a saint. Thank you very much. I'm Mark, 18 years old, from the Philippines."

Blessed Pier Giorgio...pray for us!

Friday, November 13, 2009

New Song for Pier Giorgio

For those of you who understand Spanish, our Pier Giorgio friends in Argentina have posted a new song about Pier Giorgio on their website. (If you're not into electric guitars, it may not be the song for you!) Click here to go straight to the music.

Monday, November 9, 2009

New School Named for Pier Giorgio

For the past several weeks, I've been in on a great Pier Giorgio secret. Yesterday, the news was made public. In the Chicago Archdiocese, a new middle school was announced for the 2010-11 school year. It will be called Frassati Catholic Academy. The school's motto will be "Reach for the Heights!" Needless to say, this is exciting news for all of us laboring in the "Frassati vineyard." Click here to read more from a Chicago paper.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

How the time flies...

It is hard to believe that two years have gone by since the death of Luciana Frassati. Unlike her brother Pier Giorgio who lived to be only 24 years old, she passed the centenary mark and died at the age of 105 on Sunday, October 7, 2007. What a beautiful entry into eternal life -- on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Even more beautiful is that she died peacefully in her bedroom in the place where she was born.

On my first visit to Pollone, Italy, after Luciana's death, I was struck by the absence of her presence. I had gotten used to seeing her each day during my visits there and hearing her voice when she came down the main staircase. These days, I enjoy thinking about her being united with her big brother and accomplishing great things from above.

Our pilgrimage group visited her tomb this past summer and prayed the "De Profundis" there for her intention. It would be a nice spiritual gift to make to her today from wherever you are.


Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Frassati in Michigan

More good news of another Frassati Society that has recently formed! According to the group's website, the Marquette Frassati Society was founded by four Catholic churches in the Marquette, Michigan area. "This group reaches out to young adults and families to offer both spiritual enrichment and charitable opportunities to its members along with time for fellowship."

If you are in the Marquette area, check it out!

Monday, August 31, 2009

Frassati in Florida

Great news about a new Frassati club springing up at St. Francis Catholic High School in Gainesville, Florida. The club will be committed to fellowship, service, prayer, study and action. The group hopes to attend the March for Life in January and be a "campus ministry" group. Thanks to Matthew Irwin and Nicole Muser for the info!