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Christmas 2001

Dear hero of the latter days,

          Since September 11, I’m sure you have read many times about the heroes that emerged from the devastating terror attack on America. May God bless the police, fire and emergency workers for their brave and inspiring efforts, many who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their fellow brother and sister.

          However, there’s another class of heroes that exist today that are just as remarkable, perhaps even more so in the eyes of the Eternal Father. And that’s you. 

          Maybe you are humbled or embarrassed by the greeting above or perhaps think it’s a bit overstated or dramatic. But think again.

          You are daily living and bringing an unpopular message to a world mad with sin and a Church in shambles (Jesus, April 2, 1977), notwithstanding your own heavy crosses. With no support from the Church or society and usually with little or no support from your family, your sacrifice and generosity is often greeted, not with praise and gratitude, but with abuse and persecution.

          And yet you plow on through the darkness against all odds with your candle of light, giving courageous witness through your prayer and example to this beautiful and powerful message of Our Lady of Bayside. 

          That’s a true hero to me!

          Or champion, the word Our Lady prefers: “It is because you are Our champion. All whom We have taken to set as disciples for the work of saving souls throughout the world will be subject to great physical, mental attacks” (Dec. 30, 1972).

          Here’s some good news to encourage you in your heroic work. I recently spoke with Mario Aguero, 35, of Queens, N.Y., a friend of the late Fr. Malachi Martin. Mario said he and his mother were having lunch with Father in a Manhattan restaurant in the summer of 1998, less than a year before Father died, when the topic of Marian apparitions came up. Mario asked this renowned theologian his opinion on the Bayside apparitions. Although he expressed to Mario his disbelief with other major and more popular alleged apparitions, this Vatican insider and advisor to three Popes stated, “I believe that Bayside is a true apparition. For many years I did not believe that Bayside was legitimate but certain circumstances now have led me to believe that in fact it is a true apparition.”

          It’s nice to know that someone of Fr. Martin’s stature acknowledged the authenticity of the Bayside apparitions, even if we may not agree with everything he has said or written.

          In any event, as you all continue to valiantly persevere in the Mission, we always appreciate your needed prayers and offerings. We can’t do without either. They are the dual engines that run this Mission. Our 2000 inventory report showed we printed nearly 1.5 million messages plus 300,0000 rose petal cards. The final figures for the 2001 inventory are not in yet but we know for sure that we printed much more than that. That’s a lot of good work but a lot of big expense too.

          Our operating budget is currently taking some big hits, too. It cost us $6000 for a 30” power cutter (trims and cuts all the messages and rose petals cards) because our former one was just dying out (it was 50 years old). We also have to purchase replacement windows ($4000) and repair the roof ($2500) to Our Lady’s workshop. This mailing alone to 34,000 pilgrims cost us $10,000.

          And so, in this season of giving, we will be thankful for your kind and generous gift today to help defray costs. Whether it’s a widow’s mite or $1000, everything helps. And counts.

          You can be sure Our Lady will generously reward anyone who helps get Her message out to the world. For your convenience, charge your tax-deductible gift to your credit card by calling our toll-free orderline 1-888-830-SMWA or click donation. We hope to hear from you today.

          From the family of SMWA to yours we wish a very blessed Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. As always, we remember you in our daily community prayers and Rosaries and as a little Christmas gift to you, we have arranged with a priest-devotee to celebrate 25 Masses for the intentions of the Bayside faithful.

          Thanks for being a hero for Jesus and Mary. Keep up the good work in 2002.

          May the Infant Jesus bathe you in His light and holiness,

          Michael

P.S. Our first Rosary Vigil in 2002 is Friday, Feb. 1, which by the way is the first anniversary of the Miracle of the Doves. Will they grace the sacred grounds again?!