Julia’s Weekly Shrine Round-up: 11/21

By Julia Rose

Can you believe it is less than one week until Thanksgiving? 

It's the time of year to take stock and count our many blessings. We should consider how we can express gratitude towards God and the many people in our lives. The Marians here at the National Shrine are no exception!

“I am so thankful for the gift of my life, my family, my parents, my friends, and my vocation to the Marian community,” says Fr. Mark Baron, MIC, a.k.a. "Father Joseph, MIC," director of the Association of Marian Helpers (and my boss!). “I’m especially thankful as Fr. Joseph for all the Marian Helpers who help us to be able to fulfill the mission that God has given to us as Marian Fathers.”

Are you a Marian Helper, a member of our spiritual benefit society sanctioned by the Holy See? Sign up is free and easy, and the benefits are out of this world! Click here.

Read the digital version of the new edition of Marian Helper magazine, out now! Click here.

With more than one million Marian Helpers, the Marian Fathers continue to expand their ministry, spreading the message of Divine Mercy, devotion to Mary Immaculate, and assistance to the Holy Souls across the globe. So, thank you!

By the way, if you're curious about what Fr. Mark (above) will be doing on Thanksgiving, he looks forward to watching the Detroit Lions-Green Bay Packers game with Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, eating turkey, and enjoying pumpkin pie from Costco, which he calls “the best pumpkin pie ever!”

Join the Marian Fathers for Mass on Thanksgiving morning at 9 a.m. ET, in person or here on TheDivineMercy.org, on YouTube at our channel Divine Mercy (Official), and on our Facebook page Divine Mercy (Official). Father Daniel Klimek will be the celebrant. 

“Why do we pray? Why do we fast? Why do we go to Mass? Because our Lord Jesus Christ died for us, and our Mother Mary suffered for us at the foot of the Cross," says Fr. Daniel. "I am always thankful for that, and I always think about it at Thanksgiving.” Amen!

Hope for the youth
One of the Marian Helpers we are thankful for is Marya from St. Ann’s Parish in Lenox, Massachusetts. Growing up in the Berkshires, she and her family are no strangers to the National Shrine. In fact, her great-uncle, Fred Leuchs,  designed the beautiful stained-glass windows (more on this below)!

Some of Marya's fondest memories of the Shrine involve attending Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve with her family, a beloved tradition they have continued every year.

“I’ve always felt particularly blessed to grow up near the Shrine because I grew up knowing about the Divine Mercy Image and of Jesus’ message of Divine Mercy that was given to us through St. Faustina,” Marya says. 

Currently youth minister for the tri-parish community of St. Ann, St. Vincent de Paul, and St. Patrick Parish, in addition to organizing faith formation classes, Marya leads middle school and high school youth groups, brings students to the Steubenville East Catholic Youth Conference each summer, and teaches Confirmation classes with Br. Stephen Camara, MIC!

Marya has a deep love for the Divine Mercy Chaplet, which she has enjoyed teaching her students during visits to the Shrine. “It’s a beautiful prayer, and I think for people who have experienced a lot of suffering in their lives, it is very relatable because they know what it feels like to be on the Cross with Jesus,” she says. 

Marya has tremendous hope in the young people of today, as she witnesses first-hand how eager they are to learn more about God, and how many are becoming Catholic despite coming from non-practicing families.

“They’re not just the future of the Church," she says. "They are the present.”

A gift from God
Any pilgrim to the National Shrine cannot fail to be impressed and inspired by the magnificent stained-glass windows designed by Marya's great-uncle, Frederick "Fred" Leuchs. In all, he created 36 stained-glass windows and two mosaics, portraying the mercy of God as seen in Scripture, as well as images of Mary and the Apostles. One of my favorites is the Crowning of Mary (above), certainly something we are thankful for!

I was thrilled to speak with Marya's cousin Paula about her artist father (above). 

“Daddy felt that his artistic ability was a gift from God," she said. "It was part of him praising God to create these beautiful windows.” And it was his first commission!

Paula fondly remembers spending time with her dad in his studio when she was growing up. She and her sister Catherine, a third-generation artist, are currently restoring that historic studio. When opened, the studio's huge two-story high wooden doors provided Fred with all the light he needed to create such detailed and magnificant windows.

Fred, who died in 1999, left an amazing legacy. Plaques below his stained-glass windows (above) honor his memory. 

Paula noted her father was a daily Massgoer. He always had a special devotion to Mary and a kind word for others. “He was gregarious. I mean, he’s been gone for 26 years, but people still remember him and light up. I always felt very blessed that I had a father who was so loved by everybody.” 

To learn more about Fred Leuchs, check out his website.

God bless! See you next Friday!

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