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A Catholic canonical missionary service of evangelization with the poor consecrated to the beating Hearts of Jesus and Mary Volume 35, #2 Fall-Winter, 2017-2018 Accompanying the Suffering and Dying Norma lies in a fetal position in bed not connected to any life support. Her eyes open and close as if moving in and out of consciousness. Her mouth opens and closes as if trying to form words, but she says nothing. At her bedside, I train my full attention upon her so that I might not miss any attempt of hers to communicate with me. I quietly listen to her breathing. It is steady, but slightly labored and shallow. It is the only sound in the room. I hear eternity in her breathing. I begin to quietly whisper in an almost chant-like manner, “Norma, Jesus loves you. Norma, Jesus loves you. Norma, Jesus loves you!” Without looking at me, but sensing the direction of my presence from my voice, her hand slowly reaches out like a tendril in search of the sun. I gently place my hand in hers. We connect and stay like that for a long while. She rests peacefully, weakly holding my hand, and I sense God’s loving presence in our gentle caress in the silence of the hospital room. She Uinally falls asleep again and unconsciously loosens her grip upon my hand. I thank God for the opportunity to truly connect with Him through Norma who is knocking at the threshold of heaven’s door. In my hospice care ministry, I believe Christ guides me into life’s sacred meaning, revealing His promise of eternal life just beyond the veil of the otherwise seemingly ordinary, everyday events of death and dying. As a LAMP missionary serving in hospice care ministry I become conscious of a reality beyond my natural experience opening the doorway into the sacred. - Kevin Wright, LAMP Missionary A Doorway to the Sacred Kevin offers comfort as he reads God’s Word to a dying man who listens. Dear Friends of LAMP, Since the beginning of LAMP Ministries in 1981, we have often reUlected on the passage in St. Luke’s Gospel that recounts how Jesus enters the Synagogue in Nazareth, stands up and reads from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives…”(Lk 4:18). From LAMP’s beginning, “… to bring good news to the poor”, struck us deeply - that is LAMP’s mission. In recent years, particularly in LAMP’s ministries in large city hospitals for the poor, nursing homes in poverty areas, parish visitations, we see how the Lord is using the LAMP Missionary “...to proclaim liberty to captives.” Those gravely ill, near death, often have heavy burdens carried for many years. Through the prayer of the LAMP Missionary and the Church’s Sacraments, many of those we serve have experienced the Lord giving them a new freedom that helps prepare them for their new life. This edition shares some of those stories. Thank you for helping to make this life- changing ministry possible. One in the compassionate Beating Hearts of Jesus & Mary, Tom & Lyn Scheuring Marybeth & Ed Greene Directors Pastoral Directors

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Page 1: Accompanying the Suffering and Dying€¦ · Accompanying the Suffering and Dying Norma lies in a fetal position in bed not connected to any life support. ... presence from my voice,

ACatholiccanonicalmissionaryserviceofevangelizationwiththepoor

consecratedtothebeatingHeartsofJesusandMary

Volume35,#2Fall-Winter,2017-2018

AccompanyingtheSufferingandDying

Normaliesinafetalpositioninbednotconnectedtoanylifesupport.Hereyesopenandcloseasifmovinginandoutofconsciousness.Hermouthopensandclosesasiftryingtoformwords,butshesaysnothing.Atherbedside,ItrainmyfullattentionuponhersothatImightnotmissanyattemptofherstocommunicatewithme.Iquietlylistentoherbreathing.Itissteady,butslightlylaboredandshallow.Itistheonlysoundintheroom.Iheareternityinherbreathing.Ibegintoquietlywhisperinanalmostchant-likemanner,“Norma,Jesuslovesyou.Norma,Jesuslovesyou.Norma,Jesuslovesyou!”Withoutlookingatme,butsensingthedirectionofmypresencefrommyvoice,herhandslowlyreachesoutlikeatendrilinsearchofthesun.Igentlyplacemyhand

inhers.Weconnectandstaylikethatforalongwhile.Sherestspeacefully,weaklyholdingmyhand,andIsenseGod’slovingpresenceinourgentlecaressinthesilenceofthehospitalroom.SheUinallyfallsasleepagainandunconsciouslyloosenshergripuponmyhand.IthankGodfortheopportunitytotrulyconnectwithHimthroughNormawhoisknockingatthethreshold

ofheaven’sdoor. Inmyhospicecareministry,IbelieveChristguidesmeintolife’ssacredmeaning,revealingHispromiseofeternallifejustbeyondtheveiloftheotherwiseseeminglyordinary,everydayeventsofdeathanddying.AsaLAMPmissionaryservinginhospicecareministryIbecomeconsciousofarealitybeyondmynaturalexperienceopeningthedoorwayintothesacred. -KevinWright, LAMPMissionary

ADoorwaytotheSacred

KevinofferscomfortashereadsGod’sWordtoadyingmanwholistens.

DearFriendsofLAMP, SincethebeginningofLAMPMinistriesin1981,wehaveoftenreUlectedonthepassageinSt.Luke’sGospelthatrecountshowJesusenterstheSynagogueinNazareth,standsupandreadsfromIsaiah:“TheSpiritoftheLordisuponme,becausehehasanointedmetobringgoodnewstothepoor.Hehassentmetoproclaimlibertytocaptives…”(Lk4:18).FromLAMP’sbeginning,“…tobringgoodnewstothepoor”,struckusdeeply-thatisLAMP’smission.Inrecentyears,particularlyinLAMP’sministriesinlargecityhospitalsforthepoor,nursinghomesinpovertyareas,parishvisitations,weseehowtheLordisusingtheLAMPMissionary“...toproclaimliberty

tocaptives.”Thosegravelyill,neardeath,oftenhaveheavyburdenscarriedformanyyears.ThroughtheprayeroftheLAMPMissionaryandtheChurch’sSacraments,manyofthoseweservehaveexperiencedtheLordgivingthemanewfreedomthathelpspreparethemfortheirnewlife.Thiseditionsharessomeofthosestories.

Thankyouforhelpingtomakethislife-changingministrypossible.

OneinthecompassionateBeatingHeartsofJesus&Mary,

Tom&LynScheuringMarybeth&EdGreeneDirectors PastoralDirectors

Page 2: Accompanying the Suffering and Dying€¦ · Accompanying the Suffering and Dying Norma lies in a fetal position in bed not connected to any life support. ... presence from my voice,

EveryoneonthefourthUloorknewEpifania.Shehadlost,amongmanyotherthings,theabilitytospeakEnglishandSpanish.Onecanimaginehowmuchdistressandlonelinessthiscausedher.Sometimesitbecamescreams.WhenIUirststartedvisiting,shegenerallyrecognizedmypresenceandwasattentivewhenIwouldpraywithher.Butasherconditiondeteriorated,shewasmoreandmorewithdrawn.Thescreamingbecamemorefrequent.

Thisday,shedidn'trecognizethefactthatIwasnexttoher.Istartedtoprayaloud:"InthenameoftheFather,…"Instantlyshewassilent,inraptattention.TrustinginGod,Icontinued:"OurFather...".God’spresencewassoimmenselystrong.Iwasexpressingmyheart’sadorationoftheLord,whosepresencewassoreal,IcouldbarelyUindwordstosay.Attheend,shepronouncedahearty"Amen."TheUirstintelligiblewordIhadeverheardhersayinallmytimeofknowingher.IpresentedtheHostforadoration."BeholdtheLambofGod..."ShewasentirelyUixedonadoringherLord.ItseemedlikeHewasalreadypresentinher.WhenIsaidtheresponse"Lord,Iamnotworthy...,"IfeltlikeIwasspeakingformyself.Shecouldn’treceivethehostsinceshewasn’tabletoopenhermouth.IleftfeelingasthoughshehadsharedcommunionwiththeLord.Icertainlyhad. ThenexttimeIsawher,herconditionwasmuchworse.Therewasamatbythesideofherbed,waitingformetokneel.WasIkneeling

inrecognitionofthepresenceoftheLordinmypyx,orinrecognitionofthepresenceoftheLordinherperson?Iwondered. Shewasn'tabletoremainfocusedinprayerthistime.AsIgotuptoleave,shegrabbedmyhand.Icouldn'teasilypullmyselfaway,soIkneltbackdown.Momentslater,Itriedagaintoleave,andshegrabbedmyhandoncemore,andeventuallyscreamedforamomentasIhadtoleave.Mysolacewasthatshewasn'treallyholdingontome,buttoHim,whoseministrythiswas. ThenexttimeIvisited,EpifaniadidreceiveCommunion.AfterallofthedeepcommunionwithGodthatsheexperienced,sheUinallyreceivedHiminHisfullness."Lord,nowletyourservantgoinpeace..."IfeltasifIhadbeendismissedinpeace.Apparentlyshewas,too,becauseafewdayslatershewascalledfromthisworld.Restinpeace,Epifania. -ZachYoung, LAMPMissionary

“Lord,NowLetYourServantGoinPeace....”

FROMTHEARCHIVES!In1996,LAMPMissionaryEdGreene,servinginaManhattanparish,beganvisitingRose,whowashomebound,afUlictedwithmanyhealthproblems,andhungeringforfaithsupport.Foranumberofyears,EdbroughthertheEucharistregularlyandprayedwithheruntilshecrossedthatthinlinethatseparatesthoseonearthfromthoseinheaven.

DrawingbyBethanyLee

Page 3: Accompanying the Suffering and Dying€¦ · Accompanying the Suffering and Dying Norma lies in a fetal position in bed not connected to any life support. ... presence from my voice,

DREs,CCDteachersandparents/grandparents:

DoyouhaveaFirstCommunioncomingupthisSpring?YoumightconsidergettingEthan’sFirstHolyCommunionMiraclefor

yourclassoryourlittleonetohelppreparethemforthisencounterwiththeloving,beatingHeartofJesus.ItisalsoavailableinSpanishunderthetitle:MilagroenlaPrimeraComunióndeJulio.TheyareavailableonAmazon.com.Foragrouprate,pleasecontactLAMP:

mgreene@lampministries.org.TheselittlebookswerewrittenandillustratedbyLAMPLighterchildren,forotherchildren,soJesuswouldbemoreknownandloved!Pleasehelpusinthisendeavor.Thankyou!

“EvenThoseDifNiculttoLove”

ThisstorybeganawhileagowhenIwoulddiscussScripturewithagroupofresidentsatColerHospitalafterMass.Wefrequentlytalkedaboutlovingallpeople,eventhosedifUiculttolove,followingthewordsofJesusintheBible.Therearemanysuchfolksinthishospital/nursinghome.Sadly,manyhaveheartsthathavegrownhardandcoldthroughmuchdisappointmentintheirlife. Johnisonesuchperson.Heisanamputeeinawheelchair,hadnofriends,andwasveryangryandfrustrated.TheonlythingIwouldseehimdoisroamthehalls,sulk,andbegformoney.Hewouldapproachpeopleveryaggressivelyandwouldaskrepeatedly,evenifthepersonhadnomoneytogive.Thenhewouldgetveryangry.Hewasveryunpopularatthislarge800bedstatenursinghomeforthepoor. ImetJohnaboutaayearagoatthelunchareaofthehospital.AfewCatholicresidentsandIinvitedhimtocomeandjoinusforlunch.Hehadagoodtimewithus,andwewentoutofourwaytoincludehimandcelebratehim,tryingtofollowtheteachingofourLord. SincethenIhavenoticedaslowchangewithhim.RecentlywhenhecomesbeggingandIbrieUlytalktohim,Inoticehisfaceissofteningandheseemsmoreatpeace.AverysimplerecentexperiencegavemerealhopeforJohn.Iwasholdinganelevatoropenforsomebodyelseandhecametowardme.Iexpectedhimtobegformoney,buthappilyIwaswrong.Heputouthishandforahandshakeandgavemeabigsmile,saying,“Hi!”Itreallytouchedmetoseethechangeinhim.Itmaynotseemlikesucha

bigdealbutknowinghowcoldhishearthadbeen,itissonicetoseehimshowinghistrueself.GodissoawesometobeworkinginJohn’slife,thatnowheisreachingouttoothers! -StevePatterson, LAMPMissionary

“...Ihavenoticedaslowchangewithhim....Inoticehisfaceissofteningandheseemsmoreatpeace.”

mailto:[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]
Page 4: Accompanying the Suffering and Dying€¦ · Accompanying the Suffering and Dying Norma lies in a fetal position in bed not connected to any life support. ... presence from my voice,

2704SchurzAvenueBronx,[email protected]

RETURNPOSTAGEGUARANTEED

LAMPCatholicMinistriesispossibleonlybythegraceofGodandyourprayersandNinancialassistance.Pleasehelpus,bymakingadonationintheenclosedenvelope,orthroughPaypal,ifyouareable.LAMPMinistriesisa501(c)3taxexempt,notforproNitcorporation.Thankyou!

AnnouncementTheLAMPMissionarieswererecentlyinvitedbyCalvaryHospital’suniqueandinternationallyrecognizedPalliativeCareInstitutetovisitthemattheirBronxsite.LAMPisverygratefultohavethisopportunitytolearnfromtheiryearsofexperiencewiththesufferinganddying.

Wewishyouallthelove

inthebeatingHeart

ofthenewbornSavior.

BLESSEDCHRISTMASAND

AHOLYNEWYEAR!

Allmaterials©LAMPMinistries2017©©©©

Canyouhelpus?AkindFoundationhasofferedto“matchanycontributionupto$2,500,fromaneworincreasedsource,toLAMPMinistries.”AreyouabletoincreasewhatyoulastgavetoLAMP?Ifnevercontributed,wouldyoubewillingtomakeadonation?DoyouknowsomeoneyouthinkwouldappreciateandassistLAMP’smissionofevangelizationwiththemateriallypoor?Thankyou,andmaytheLordabundantlyblessyou!

(Left)Wewelcome(upperleft)Sr.FrancescaTherese(LorieCeniza)fromtheCommunityofSt.John,whoisservingwithLAMPthisyear.SheisjoinedbyLAMPMissionaries(lower)SarahMutchlerand(upperright)SamanthaChestneyincelebratingthat“YouarepreciousinGod’seyes!”

http://www.lampministries.org
http://www.lampministries.org
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