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Pray for Fr. Joe, Dan, Mary, Sanja,
        Rita, Jim, Rosie, Louie's family –
        Madonna, Christopher,
        all Shepherds of Christ intentions on lists.

                February 19, 2020

                R. Nursing Home Ministry

                R. Please help us reach, the Nursing
                    Homes –
                Prison Ministries with rosaries
                    and books

                Help us please to spread
                    prayer chapters praying
                    for our priests, the Church
                    and the world –

                Please help us spread
                    Apostles of the Eucharistic
                        Heart of Jesus –

                We need to pray now for the
                    world, for our country.

Prayer for Grace for our Country

Dear Father united to Jesus in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Sacrifice of Calvary sacramentally made present, celebrated around the world, in the Holy Spirit. We offer up all we do united to the Mass. We unite in one mind and one heart as members of the mystical body of Christ, with Christ our head in the pure and holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary, through the powerful intercession of Mary with all the angels and saints and souls in purgatory, and we beg for the saving grace, for our country, the United States. Please help us. We further pray for unity to always do the will of God in love. We spread the Blood of Jesus on the leaders and people of the United States and cast the devil into hell. We consecrate our country to the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart and all our dioceses, and beg for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. God help us. We pray for our families, the priests, the Church and the world. In the Name of Jesus please hear us, we pray. We pray for our president and leaders. We pray that we are united as one nation under God to work together in love as God wants.

R. Help us dear God –

We need our priests –

Keep praying for them

24 Hour Adoration before
Exposed Eucharist in China

Miracle building in Clearwater

Pray as never before

March 5th in Florida

March 13th in China

                    Healing significant love relationships
                of the past are vital to help one
                open up to love. Our relationships
                with our father and mother need
                to be healed in our hearts –
                also significant others where we
                were hurt in relationships need
                to be healed.

                    We are a product of our past.
                People in our lives taught us
                what was right and wrong
                and their influence in our lives
                helped us to develop into what we
                are today. Some things in
                significant love relationships can
                block us into growing in love,
                if they need to be healed and
                we refused to look at them.

                    We are a work in progress.
                No one was ever created uniquely
                like us.

                    We are very special to God –
                He loved us into existence –
                Others helped contribute to
                our lives.

                    God gives us the 10 Commandments
                and scriptures – He gives
                us the priest and the Church
                and the 7 sacraments.

                    The most important thing we
                can do - is God's will – living
                in the moment.

                    God created us special – we
                should take the time with the
                right attitude to serve Him
                in the moment as He calls us
                to – with love and respect
                for others in our hearts.

                    It takes courage to open
                our hearts and tell our
                feelings to another truthfully –
                love from the heart or sadness,
                from being wounded.

                    We were put here to love
                one another, to respect and
                treat one another in truth
                and dignity. To do this we
                need to be healed and open
                ourselves and rooted in
                God who has all the power,
                who is the source of love.

                    People who were hurt very
                many times hurt others
                unless they work through
                things. We have to learn
                to look at things and come
                to a place of forgiveness
                of those we were hurt by.
                No life that is normal is
                ever free from pain.

                    We need to embrace the
                past – remember what it
                was to be little and how we
                were feeling – the inncr-child
                of the past. In this lies our
                spontaneity. We can't close the
                door to the past – We are a
                product of the past.

                    We are all a creation of
                God. God created us uniquely
                in His image and likeness.

                    We have all made mistakes,
                even adults, parents make
                mistakes. We should not
                lie but try to correct what
                problems we caused,
                admit our mistakes,
                sincerely by sorrow for
                problems we caused.

Matthew 22: 34-40

‘Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets too.’

Matthew 7: 12

'So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the Law and the Prophets.

                R. Somebody can have such
                a hard heart from being
                wounded and never forgiving –
                and the heart becomes more
                hard.

                    Who does it help to hold onto
                anger? NOBODY – It can
                be like a spray can, a can
                full of anger and everyone
                we talk to we spray with
                anger if we are a can
                of anger and hurt others,
                wounding them, hurting
                children, so they can shut
                down their spontaneous
                spirit.

From The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. p.12

23. FIRST PRINCIPLE AND FOUNDATION

Man is created to praise, reverence and serve God
our Lord, and by this means to save his soul.

From The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius,
    by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. p.11

21.                     SPIRITUAL EXERCISES

    Which have as their purpose the conquest of self
    and the regulation of one's life in such a way that
    no decision is made under the influence of any
    inordinate attachment

                R. The vows of many religious
                        are poverty,
                        chastity and
                        obedience.

                    God asks us to give up our
                own will in the religious life
                and live the vow of obedience
                to the will of God by cheerfully
                complying with the commands
                of a superior.

                    Life in religious life is a life
                of one freely given, it's not slavery,
                having the right attitude is
                important. A religious life
                is a personal love of God and
                Jesus, His Divine Son, and
                the person has freely chosen
                to live this life.

                    The Church needs religious
                in order to grow. Vocations
                by those giving themselves
                to religious life and prayer
                and service are vital for
                the growth of the Church.

                    God calls the religious.
                God when He calls gives sufficient
                and necessary grace to live
                one's vocation as they should.
                One must be disciplined and
                willing to give oneself –
                selflessly if they intend to
                endure the religious life.
                When God calls someone, they
                can hear that call inside
                if they don't try to drown
                it out or neglect it. The
                call is between them and God.

                    A vocation to religious life is
                a special gift God calls someone
                to – the gift of giving themselves
                in love to God.

                    In most religious vocations
                for women, the Church
                tests the vocation by stages
                of postulant, novitiate –
                There is training and
                spiritual preparation for
                one or two years –
                after this temporary vows
                are usually taken if the
                person is thought to really have
                a vocation.

After 6 years final vows
can be taken.

                The family one enters becomes
                the family, now, of the
                religious.

                This is a serious commitment
                of marriage as the Spouse
                of Jesus.

                    One of the biggest enemies
                of the religious life can be
                pride where one chooses to
                not be under anyone and
                constantly fighting authority.
                Community life is to be
                observed and the rule of
                the order – these demand
                living with others in
                docility, respect, obedience
                and love.

                    This life has many gifts
                and graces, living ever
                closer to Jesus, our Savior,
                as the bridegroom of our soul.
                The love of helping the world
                to be more as God wants is
                indeed a great reward of one
                in growing in love like Jesus.

                    The religious life is a life of
                service to Jesus. That one
                grows in greater sanctity
                and love of God, others
                and as the Spouse of Jesus.
                There is joy living with
                others committed in religious
                life and praying united
                together.

                    We are to use our talents
                for the furthering of God's
                Kingdom. What a wonderful
                job out of all the jobs one
                could have as dedicated to
                God and the Church.
                What a vocation! A
                vocation as a priest is such an
                honor. Holy Orders is a sacrament.

                    One can be called by God to
                the married or single life.
                Marriage is a serious
                commitment between a
                man and a woman. It takes
                courage to make such a
                commitment. It is an
                act of the human will!
                Marriage is a mutual
                agreement between a
                man and woman and God as
                a silent partner.

                This contract is sacred
                before God –
                It has obligations, formalities,
                children possibly, unity,
                it is to last.

                R. Matrimony is a sacrament.
                Children are a blessing in
                    marriage – faithfulness –
                    grace –

                There are duties in marriage to
                    one another – to children –
                    as parents –

There is the vocation of the
single.

The Ten Commandments

1. I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.
  2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
  3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
  4. Honor your father and your mother.
  5. You shall not kill.
  6. You shall not commit adultery.
  7. You shall not steal.
  8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
  9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
  10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Excerpt from January 15, 2016

January 14, 2016

Dear Friends,

I give my heart to Jesus and Mary with you in love.

If you read Fr. Joe's book like I did on the 13th you can see how awesome it is.

It helps me understand what is happening in the writings during the liturgical year.

It is so very good, it makes me so eager to live the liturgy in my life,
live in the liturgical year.

Well we have sent over 13,000 of Fr. Joe's new cycle books since the beginning of November to priests and hierarchy
all over the world.

It can enrich so many lives with the weekly sermon rooted in the Word, the Eucharist,
the liturgy,
the Mass,

Baptism, love and unity.

When a priest uses the book weekly he focuses on the Bread of Life to feed the people.

Say a priest says 4 or 5 Masses weekly
Think of how many souls could be reached with the people attending Mass.

Fr. Joe speaks of love and being a member of the body of Christ, living in relationships
all in the context of the scripture.

We see salvation history and its ups and downs -
we see our calling from God
and we see our part in salvation history.

God calls - we respond.

The body of Christ can help the world to raise up to greater perfection.

What are you doing to help this coming election in the United States.

This book of Fr. Joe's can help so many people every week.

We have sent over 13,000 books out to priests and hierarchy to every priest in your state.

We have sent the books to so many priests in the United States and all Bishops.

Can't you help us.

We also send a Prayer Brochure with the Shepherds of Christ prayers praying for the priests, the Church and the world.

We pray in adoration 8 days a month with usually 6 Masses for you, your family and the priests the Church and the world.

We pray in 24 hour adoration before the Exposed Blessed Eucharist in China for all this and for you.

The China mortgage is due tomorrow

and we are struggling because of giving so much money to the Ministries.

Can anyone help us with a donation.

Also we are printing another 20,000 of Fr. Joe's books
going to all the priests in the United States.

This can enormously help for this coming election.

A weekly Priestly Newsletter used about the scriptures and everything at Sunday Mass.

Please we need your help.

If you want to know what to do to help the world and especially all active priests in the United States please help us with a donation.

We need your help today.
Thanks for your prayers and help in advance.

God Bless you and love you.

Rita Robinson Ring

Given January 15, 2004

Excerpt from January 14, 2000

Messenger: Today is the 14th day of the first month of the year. They were told in Exodus to roast the lamb on the 14th day of the first month and spread some of its blood on the door posts and lintels. At 12:00 midnight, death went through Egypt as described below.

Exodus 12:1-20

Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 'This month must be the first of all the months for you, the first month of your year. Speak to the whole community of Israel and say, "On the tenth day of this month each man must take an animal from the flock for his family: one animal for each household. If the household is too small for the animal, he must join with his neighbour nearest to his house, depending on the number of persons. When you choose the animal, you will take into account what each can eat. It must be an animal without blemish, a male one year old; you may choose it either from the sheep or from the goats. You must keep it till the fourteenth day of the month when the whole assembly of the community of Israel will slaughter it at twilight. Some of the blood must then be taken and put on both door-posts and the lintel of the houses where it is eaten. That night, the flesh must be eaten, roasted over the fire; it must be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with the head, feet and entrails. You must not leave any of it over till the morning: whatever is left till morning you must burn. This is how you must eat it: with a belt round your waist, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. You must eat it hurriedly: it is a Passover in Yahweh's honour. That night, I shall go through Egypt and strike down all the first-born in Egypt, man and beast alike, and shall execute justice on all the gods of Egypt, I, Yahweh! The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are. When I see the blood I shall pass over you, and you will escape the destructive plague when I strike Egypt. This day must be commemorated by you, and you must keep it as a feast in Yahweh's honour. You must keep it as a feast-day for all generations; this is a decree for all time.

"For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you must clean the leaven out of your houses, for anyone who eats leavened bread from the first to the seventh day must be outlawed from Israel. On the first day you must hold a sacred assembly, and on the seventh day a sacred assembly. On those days no work may be done; you will prepare only what each requires to eat. You must keep the feast of Unleavened Bread because it was on that same day that I brought your armies out of Egypt. You will keep that day, generation after generation; this is a decree for all time. In the first month, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day, you must eat unleavened bread. For seven days there may be no leaven in your houses, since anyone, either stranger or citizen of the country, who eats leavened bread will be outlawed from the community of Israel. You will eat nothing with leaven in it; wherever you live, you will eat unleavened bread."'

Exodus 12:29

And at midnight Yahweh struck down all the first-born in Egypt from the first-born of Pharaoh, heir to his throne, to the first-born of the prisoner in the dungeon, and the first-born of all the livestock.

Messenger: Today is the 14th. Following 12:00 midnight is January 15. This is Fr. Carter’s birthday.

Jesus said this day was important.

end of excerpt from January 14, 2000

Happy Birthday Fr Carter.

Excerpt January 17, 2000

Messenger: Before the 17^th meeting in January of 1995, I had received the following vision when at Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Chains. It was either late December, 1994 or early January, 1995. I drew the picture in the notebook.

It looks as follows:

The face was a flesh colored, but I could not see the features. The gown was white with a square neck.

The next day Jesus told me it was Father Carter.

end of excerpt from January 17, 2000

July 31, 1994

Words of Jesus to Members of
Shepherds of Christ Associates:

"My beloved priest-companion, I intend to use the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ, and the movement, Shepherds of Christ Associates, in a powerful way for the renewal of My Church and the world.

"I will use the newsletter and the chapters of Shepherds of Christ Associates as a powerful instrument for spreading devotion to My Heart and My Mother's Heart.

"I am calling many to become members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. To all of them I will give great blessings. I will use them as instruments to help bring about the triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the reign of My Sacred Heart. I will give great graces to the members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. I will call them to be deeply united to My Heart and to Mary's Heart as I lead them ever closer to My Father in the Holy Spirit."

- Message from Jesus to Father Edward J. Carter, S.J., Founder, as given on July 31, 1994,
feast of Saint Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits)

end of July 31, 1994 message given to Fr. Carter

August 1, 1994

Pray For The Success Of The Priestly Newsletter - Shepherds of Christ

Messenger: The following is the first official message I received before the statue of Mary at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center. It is a personal message for Father Carter.

Mary: (in front of the glowing statue of Our Lady of Sorrows) I am the Immaculate Heart. My Heart is glowing for love of all my beloved children. I am your most loving Mother. I am with you this day. Pray for the success of the priestly newsletter Shepherds of Christ. I am guarding your way. You will receive such graces to accomplish this task! Grace from God is so abundantly bestowed on you and will lead to the success of this endeavor! Pray for this cause at the Center. The priests will lead the people to the love of My beloved Son. This is no little task. It will take many prayers and graces. Pray hard, little one. Your prayers will change many hearts.

I am Mary, your Immaculate Mother. I bring this message to My beloved priest-son.

end of August 1, 1994 message

Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus

My dear fellow Associate Members,

Jesus is calling special apostles to join a new division of the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Here is a message from Jesus given to Father Carter:

    My beloved priest-companion, I am requesting that a new prayer movement be started under the direction of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. I am asking for volunteers who are willing to pray before the Blessed Sacrament for one hour, twice-weekly. Members of the Shepherds of Christ prayer chapters, as well as others, are to be invited to join this movement.

    These apostles are to pray for the intentions I am giving you. For part of the hour they are to use the prayers of the Shepherds of Christ Associates Handbook. They may spend the rest of the hour as they so choose.

    I will use this new prayer movement within My Shepherds of Christ Ministries in a powerful way to help in the renewal of My Church and the world. I will give great graces to those who join this movement. The name, Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, is to be given to this movement.

    I am inviting My beloved Rita Ring to be coordinator for this activity.

    I pour out the great love of My Sacred Heart to all. I am Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock.

    This is indeed a special calling for us to unite in one heart with His Eucharistic Heart and pray for the following intentions:

For the spread of the devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary culminating in the reign of the Sacred Heart and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart.

For the Pope.

For all bishops of the world.

For all priests.

For all sisters and brothers in the religious life.

For all members of the Shepherds of Christ Movement, and for the spread of this movement to the world.

For all members of the Catholic Church.

For all members of the human family.

For all souls in purgatory.

end of Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart message

"MASS IN CHINA WITH FATHER CARTER"

Pictures of Father Carter

Father Carter when he was young

Father Carter with one of his favorite pictures
of the Good Shepherd

June 10, 1997 - June 10, 1962
His 35th anniversary of becoming a priest

June 10, 1997 - June 10, 1962
His 35th anniversary of becoming a priest
(Father Carter with Rose)

June 10, 1997 - June 10, 1962
His 35th anniversary of becoming a priest
(Father Carter with St. Michael)

June 10, 1997 - June 10, 1962
His 35th anniversary of becoming a priest
(Father Carter with Emily)

June 10, 1997 - June 10, 1962
His 35th anniversary of becoming a priest

June 10, 1997 - June 10, 1962
His 35th anniversary of becoming a priest
(Father Carter with Don and Hal)

Father Carter in China, Indiana

Father Carter with the Exposed Eucharist
in China - June 12, 2000

Father Carter saying Mass
in China

Father Carter with the Exposed Eucharist
in China - June 12, 2000

Father Mike in China
June 13, 2000

Going to Mass at the Faber House

Faber House

There's where he prayed before the tabernacle
especially at 6:20

Father Carter when he was starting to be
very ill in the year 2000 in his Jesuit residence chapel
at the Faber House

There's John, the president, on Mother's Day

Father Carter August 8, 2000
on my birthday

This is Father Carter with Cincinnati
in the background long ago

This is Father Carter on a trip
long ago

This is Father Carter
June 12, 2000

This is a picture of Father Carter
when he was younger

Father Carter visiting the stable

This is Father Carter visiting the stable in Eden Park
He loved the live sheep

Father Carter visiting the stable

Father Carter with Florida friends

This is Father Carter with the Florida friends

Father Carter and Felix who carved the crucifix
John and Rita

Felix shows the proposed face of Jesus
for the crucifix

This was Father Carter when we took him out to dinner
for his anniversary June 10, 1999
on his 37th anniversary of becoming a priest

On January 17, 1999
we celebrated Father Carter's 70th birthday.
He's gathered with some friends.

January 17, 1999

Father Carter blessed a friend's house
followed by consecrating their house
to the Two Hearts

Father Carter with Joe Lee
July 5, 1999

October 14, 1999

Father Carter touching the cheek
of a little friend

Father Carter taping the Newsletter

Father taped the Newsletter in January 1999
behind Mary's Image. This was the only Newsletter
he taped behind Mary's Image.

Father Carter taping the Newsletter

Rita and Emily

Father Carter and John praying behind
Mary's Image

Father Carter blessing water

early in the year 2000
Father Carter at dinner with friends

Father Carter signing the Priestly Newsletter Book

On the way to China

October 13, 1994

The Birth of the Full Ministries
of the Shepherds of Christ

    "I wish to share with you part of a message which Jesus gave us on October 13, 1994. The message tells us about the expansion of the Shepherds of Christ movement:

    'My beloved priest-companion, today I come to you with another mission. I am asking you to establish Shepherds of Christ Ministries. At My request you have already begun the priestly newsletter, "Shepherds of Christ", and the prayer chapters, Shepherds of Christ Associates...

    'I am giving you this message on this day, the 77th Anniversary of the Great Apparition at Fatima, because of the close connection between the Shepherds of Christ movement and the Fatima message. The Fatima message is centered in devotion to My Heart and My Mother's Heart, especially in consecration to Our Hearts. Shepherds of Christ Ministries is also centered in devotion to Our Hearts. I will use Shepherds of Christ Ministries as a great instrument in helping to bring about the triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the reign of My Sacred Heart. When this occurs, My Church and the world will be experiencing the great era of peace promised by My Mother at Fatima.

    'Today, then, October 13, 1994, the 77th Anniversary of the Great Apparition at Fatima, marks the birth of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. I pour forth the great love of My Sacred Heart to all. I am Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock.'

end of October 13, 1994 message given to Fr. Carter

Father Carter's Birthday   January 15, 1929

Lucia's Vision                 June 13, 1929

From a Lenten Homily, March 24, 2000

Live in the Moment

Today’s Gospel in its story certainly points ahead to Jesus in His Passion and death. And as we read passages such as this during the Lenten season, we are reminded once again that the Church in her Liturgy of the Word gives us an opportunity to undergo a purification, an ever deepening cleansing of ourselves so that we may be a more fit instrument for receiving the great graces which are to be given to us at the time of the Resurrection memorial on Easter. And so all in all, Lent is a time of purification to prepare us for ever-greater gifts of the Lord. It’s a time of self-discipline, a time to renew our efforts to be self-disciplined in the service of the Lord. Self-discipline is an aspect of purification. And I suggest that one of the most difficult acts of self-discipline in the spiritual journey is to concentrate on the present moment. We have a very strong tendency to disregard the importance of the present moment by focusing in a wrong way on the past or in a wrong way on the future. There are proper occasions for thinking of the past and the future. For example, we have to learn from the past and we have to prepare for the future, but our great emphasis has to be upon the present. There is a Latin axiom which says, age quod agis, age quod agis, which means: do what you are doing, concentrate on the present. And of course we are familiar with that term in the history of spirituality: the sacrament of the present moment. And so the discipline of Lent certainly encourages us to include in a deeper self-discipline a greater determination to get as much as we can out of the present moment. People with a terminal illness have an opportunity as they prepare for death for increased prayer, contrition, love of God. However, some are taken very, very quickly. But for those who have the opportunity of knowing with some certainty the time of their death, I’m sure as they look back on their lives, they are saddened by the many times they did not use time and opportunities for the service of the Lord properly, and are overjoyed at those times in which they did use the present opportunity properly. A great means we have of living in the present properly is a greater focus upon our Lord. For if I have that awareness of the fact I am united with Jesus here and now, why should I be concerned so much about the future or the past? Yes, a great help in living in the present and deriving all the good we can from it for ourselves and others is an ever greater focus upon Jesus, because the more I focus upon Jesus and the more I live with Him in the present moment, the more I am satisfied with the present moment. And so let us in our Lenten activity resolve to grow in that self-discipline - which is very difficult at times - to really live in the presence with the fullness of our being as much as is possible, with the help of God’s grace. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the day of salvation.

end of Father Carter's homily

June 16, 2001 message continues

Messenger:    Father Carter believed in the messages Jesus
                    gave me. He spent a lot of time helping
                    to preserve the writings Jesus gave me.

                        These writings together given to us are to help
                    lead the world into a deeper love union
                    with the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

end of excerpt

John 19: 25-27

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

Written September 24, 2000

Messenger: I watched by his bed.

A book for those who help cancer patients, for their relatives and friends who need to cope with the suffering of losing a loved one.

It was a quiet day or so it seemed, the long months of watching John go "down hill" had come to an end.

I did not know that the end was indeed so near, but the story had been written in the days that went before, but I really never read the message given in the days that led up to that final page.

There were months of warnings, but I just lived every day coping with that day’s events and when the final page was about to be written, I felt shocked, empty and afraid.

The days before were all telling the story, but like anyone in love with a family member, who wants to think that days of parting might be so soon? Oh, but they were so soon. As I look back now, I see I just didn’t recognize them.

Every person can only do so much, but out of love those we love deeply and love us, sometimes, cover up their real conditions in an attempt to live life as usual.

Cancer is a mighty menace. It attacks the weak and the strong. It acts like an aggressive machine growing and growing inside someone’s body and they may not notice the gradual sucking of their life from the other parts of the body until it almost leaves them dead.

I was a little girl of five years old when the deadly disease ate away the cells in my mother’s body as it took over her body and she soon died.

But I am not here to make you feel sorry for me or to tell you about anything new, but to write of the dying and rising of my dear friend, Fr. Carter.

The signs were there, for in January he became very sick and even though he wanted to go to the Virgin Mary building to say a private Mass there, he could not go and the once held plane reservations were cancelled.

He remained sick and on February 5, 2000, when we opened the Rosary Factory in Clearwater, Florida at Mary’s Image site, he did attend, but he didn’t feel good and he continued trying really hard to serve us as a ministry.

Now, I don’t know, in September after they opened him up and told us what they did, how he ever did all he did, being so sick. It was September 22, 2000, when they operated on him and it was January 22, 2000, when we were supposed to go to Clearwater, Florida, exactly eight months later.

Father Carter continued to keep a hectic schedule.

Jesus told him to write the lengthy spirituality newsletter in which he summed up a great deal about the spiritual life. We could all study it for our entire life.

As I write this, I don’t know if he will ever tape record this 20 page newsletter or the next newsletter.

I do know this, the signs were there and Father worked really hard to continue doing all he did despite his sickness, weakness. His faith in the Movement never wavered. He had a burning desire to serve Jesus and help renew the priesthood, the Church and the world.

Father worked and worked because he loved us all so much and loved the world and he didn’t complain, ever.

His faith in this Movement and the messages of Jesus is shown in his life given to this.

Father showed us the message of Jesus in his life. He lived in such union with Him. He offered Mass every day praying so fervently for souls and for all of us.

I see the signs especially on the trips. Mary was adorned in gold on the building July 5, 2000, during the evening prayer service.

September 24, 2000 message continues

Messenger: Father was in the motel and he didn’t feel good.

After the Mass he had to sit and he didn’t think he would make it during the Mass because he was weak.

I watched a lot of Masses that way, between his blood sugar levels and he seemed to just sigh sometimes to do ordinary motions, but he kept serving God and loving us all.

I watched him look up to the Father and say, “through him, with him and in him”.

Through Him, with Him and in Him

September 24, 2000 message continues

Messenger: He lived for the Mass. He offered it for the Movement and for all of us, the whole Church and the world, to help bring about the Reign of Jesus’ Sacred Heart.

I can show you the picture taken on my birthday, August 8, 2000, he looked really bad and I worried about him so much I cried as I spoke to him, but in his calm, peaceful attitude, he assured me everything was okay as God wanted it and he was getting proper care.

September 24, 2000 message continues

Messenger: Every day he looked weaker and he coughed whenever he talked and we all prayed more.

He was determined to say Mass in China on the Feast of Mary’s birthday, September 8, 2000, and he paid a big price for it.

For about 4 months he struggled with the cough and he walked slower and slower and he looked sicker every day, but he knew what God was telling him and about his mission.

end of September 24, 2000

Father Carter’s Mission: Newsletters,
Prayer Chapters, and Spiritual Renewal

A primary purpose of the Shepherds of Christ movement is to distribute this newsletter to priests and to begin prayer chapters praying for the priests throughout the world in all their needs and praying for the renewal of the church and the world. A coequal purpose is to provide a spiritual way of life for people interested in the spiritual life.

The Shepherds of Christ Newsletter is currently being translated into Spanish, French and Portuguese. The prayers the people pray in prayer chapters were given by Fr. Edward Carter S.J. They can be found in the Shepherds of Christ Associates prayer manual which is enclosed and in this newsletter. They have been translated into Spanish, French, and Portuguese. All these prayers have the Imprimatur. Prayer manuals are available free of charge. Newsletters and tapes of Father Carter delivering the newsletter are available free of charge.

The English and Spanish newsletter goes to approximately 75,000 priests and 8,500 religious. Internationally, over 245 bishops and 4 cardinals have requested it for their diocese. Funds are needed to help us distribute the newsletter to 90 foreign countries in the world.

The second Newsletter Book is completed and ready for publication. This includes the newsletters of Father Carter from September/October 1996 to Issue 5, 1999. This too will be distributed worldwide to priests and bishops and others interested in the spiritual life. A Spanish version of 12 (July/August 1997 to Issue 5, 1999) of the newsletters in book form will soon be available. Please help us in anyway you can to distribute the newsletter. Help us by beginning prayer chapters, praying for the priests and the renewal of the Church and the world. For more information to order tapes or prayer manuals call or write us at :

Shepherds of Christ Ministries
P.O. Box 193 Morrow, Ohio 45152-0193
Tel: (toll free) 1-888-211-3041 or
(513) 932-4451.

Excerpt from Newsletter 2001 #1

On September 22, 2000, Father Carter went into surgery. They opened him up and found out he had cancer. His disease was very advanced. He spent the last days preparing this writing to continue his mission – to write the priestly newsletter for priests and others interested in the spiritual life. He is the founder of the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Father Carter, S.J., authored some 17 books revealing deep insights into the divine mysteries. His writing is not complete in the 33 newsletters he was permitted to edit. His writing is seen in the whole body of material he authored in the 33 years he wrote. He wrote the following prayers for prayer chapters to pray for the priests, the Church, and the world. For the past six years the newsletter has been distributed around the world with circulation increasing to approximately 75,000 priests in English and Spanish. Now the newsletter is translated into French and we are currently translating the first twenty page newsletter into Portuguese.

The first book Father wrote in 1967, Response in Christ was soon published and became the book of the month. It was then translated into Polish, Italian, and Portuguese. This began Father’s writing career. Thirty-three years later, God has called him home after touching so many souls with his writing and his work to help bring about the Reign of the Sacred Heart through all he did for sisters, priests, and laity. He founded the Shepherds of Christ Ministries to pray for priests and to help bring about the renewal of the Church and the world.

In addition to circulating the newsletter to approximately 75,000 priests, bishops and cardinals, he began prayer chapters praying prayers for the priests, the Church and the world, honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

For the past six years, a strong body of people have given their lives supporting this effort to get the newsletter into the hands of the priests and to pray for them and for the renewal of the Church and the world.

We try to get as many people as possible, in nursing homes, prisons, schools, and families to say the morning offering and offer their lives as a sacrifice united to the Mass for the priests, the Church and the world.

We try to tell people all over about the prayers in the red prayer manual Father Carter wrote so we can pray them for the priests, the Church and the world.

People all over the world gather every evening at 6:30 and pray these prayers for the priests, the Church, and the world.

Father Carter’s vision was that the Sacred Heart of Jesus would be the King and Center of all men’s hearts and that the Sacred Heart of Jesus would be honored and loved by men.

Father Carter’s love of Our Lady is shown in his writings. He always saw himself as a little baby in her arms. In his room that last day was a holy card of Mary holding the Child Jesus, which was the only holy card we saw in his room. It looked as if he had held it. It looked used. In going through his personal holy cards, he had so many holy cards of Mary holding the Child Jesus.

He worked hard to publish the twenty page newsletter. It was a review of the spiritual life. He said he had to do it. He went into surgery September 22, 2000. His funeral was December 22, 2000, exactly three months later.

In these months he struggled with chemotherapy. He wanted the newsletter to continue and directed how it should be done with his writings. This newsletter was reviewed by him in those sick days and finished on October 16, 2000. Here is the holy card from his funeral Mass.

This picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was his favorite one. He said how it helped him to become closer to Jesus. It was on his ordination card and now on his obituary card.

Sacred Heart of Jesus,
I Trust in You.

I Give My Heart to Jesus and
Mary with You in Love.

Father Edward J. Carter, S.J.

Born January 15, 1929

Ordained to the Holy Priesthood

June 10, 1962

Was Diagnosed with Cancerc

September 22, 2000.

Founder of the Shepherds
of Christ Movement

A Movement to Pray for the Priests and
Help in the Renewal of the Church
and the World.

Shepherds of Christ Ministries
PO Box 193
Morrow, Ohio 45152-0193
Telephone (toll free) 1-888-211-3041
(513) 932-4451 Fax: (513) 932-6791
Internet www.sofc.org

Besides writing those thirty-three years, Father Carter taught over 30 years at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He even taught class in the Autumn semester 2000, until he became so sick he couldn’t go.

end of excerpt from the Newsletter 2001 #1

Print this whole Newsletter off the internet. click here

end of excerpt

R. Fr. Carter gave His life to form
Shepherds of Christ.

R. Fr. Joe gave his homilies.

Excerpt from the Priestly Newsletter 1998 Issue 1

Scriptural Reflections

The Uncertain Path. Yahweh said to Abram, "Leave your country, your family and your father’s house, for the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name so famous that it will be used as a blessing." (Gn. 12:1-2).

God spoke to Abraham. He told him to leave his homeland, as He called him from the security emanating from the known to a type of insecurity rooted in the unknown. Abraham had known a particular type of existence and this carried with it a specific type of security. Now God was asking him to relinquish this security or certainty and to launch out into the relatively unknown with its attendant insecurity. Abraham responded to the word of God and departed his homeland. He accepted the forthcoming uncertainty, confident that the certainty of God’s love for him would allow him to cope properly with the uncertainty of his exodus.

Abraham is an example for all of us, since we all obviously must confront numerous and diversified uncertainties along the path of life.

For example, uncertainty confronts us when there seems to be various manifestations of God’s will, but we are not yet certain which option He intends for us. There are signs indicating He wants us to make this particular choice, but there are other signs which point in a different direction. We must bear with the pain of the uncertainty until the issue becomes reasonably clarified.

There are other occasions when God indicates He wishes a person to depart in certain respects from the patterned way he or she had been doing things. It is not that the person’s way was wrong, but rather that God now has certain new designs for the individual. The person is somewhat apprehensive concerning the newly-charted path God seems to be unfolding before him or her. There thus enters into one’s life an uncertainty born of the realization that to some extent one must leave go of the previous ways together with the certainty and security these ways provided.

When God permits uncertainty to enter our lives, He is presenting us with an occasion for growth. If we confront uncertainty properly, we become more mature Christians. We grow in the realization of the need for trust. We comprehend that our uncertainty is an opportunity to come closer to our loving God. The state of uncertainty, then, paradoxically leads to a greater certainty—to a deepened realization, a deepened certitude, that God loves us and cares for us.

A Sense of Community. If our life in Christ means anything to you, if love can persuade at all, or the Spirit that we have in common, or any tenderness and sympathy, then be united in your convictions and united in your love, with a common purpose and a common mind. That is the one thing which would make me completely happy. There must be no competition among you, no conceit; but everybody is to be self-effacing. Always consider the other person to be better than yourself, so that nobody thinks of his own interests first but everybody thinks of other people’s interests instead. (Phil 2:1-4)

A selfless person is a beautiful person. A person who is consistently thinking of others reinforces one’s belief in the inherent goodness of human nature. The Christian community needs this kind of person. He or she is a community-forming person. Such a person looks to the building up of the entire body. Such a person looks for ways to promote union and avoid divisiveness.

A community-forming person is one who rejoices in the gifts and accomplishments of others. He or she does not jealously brood over these successes, but thanks God, happy that the Church has been so blessed. One’s joy is thus being constantly multiplied, for the person easily and sincerely shares in the success of others. One’s own joy, consequently, is not enslaved to what happens only to oneself, but rather is a joy linked to the growth, interests, and accomplishment of community.

A community-forming person is also one who responsibly uses his or her talents and opportunities for the good of all. The person realizes that one’s own Christian growth contributes to the Church’s progress, while one’s mediocrity or regression is a burden to all. The person realizes that the exercise of one’s God-given capabilities is beneficial to the community as well as oneself, while abuse or neglect of talents likewise affects not only oneself, but others also.

We can, then, consider a community-forming person from many different perspectives. We see that such a person has a rich and diversified capacity to promote the Christian Community’s ongoing conversion, growth, and sense of solidarity. But from whatever perspective we consider the community-forming person, we always observe a person who is thinking and acting as guided by a sense of "we", not just "I".

The Good Life. I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full. (Jn 10:10).

We often hear the phrase, "the good life". As used within the context of contemporary American culture—and perhaps other cultures too—the phrase means being able to afford such things as a very nice home in the suburbs, a very expensive car, a jet flight to Paris, expensive ski-vacations, and the finest scotch whiskey. "The good life", then, means being able to enjoy the more expensive comforts of an affluent society…

The good life for the committed Christian has to mean something else. The good life means living according to the teaching and example of Jesus. The good life means exercising this way of life not only when it is extremely pleasant to do so. It also means living the life of Christian love when sorrow, suffering, and anxiety are with us in plentiful measure.

Jesus does not use glamorous advertising techniques as do those who variously try to persuade us to join the ranks of those who are living this world’s "good life". He does not demonstrate His way by telling us that happiness can easily be bought or had. He promises us happiness and fulfillment—the true good life—but He very candidly tells us that there is hardship involved.

Enjoying the material pleasures and comforts of life can certainly be compatible with the life Jesus came to give us. But these must be used according to God’s will. They are means and not ends in themselves. How evident this is, yet how often we can be tempted to think otherwise, even though we be committed Christians. A considerable portion of the human race has always operated according to the principle that wealth and the things money can buy are really the key to human happiness. Jesus has emphatically told us that this is a false philosophy.

We can at times be dull of mind and dull of heart, so slow to understand what Jesus came to teach and to give. By the way Jesus spoke and lived we know for certain in which direction true happiness—the true good life—actually lies. His way is the way to true peace, to true happiness, to the true fulfillment of life which the human heart so much desires.

Farewell, Mother Teresa

In these our times there have been few people who have touched millions of hearts the world over as much as has Mother Teresa. Truly, she has left us a lasting legacy teaching us how love of God and neighbor must always be present together. Here are excerpts from the homily given by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican Secretary of State, at Mother Teresa’s funeral Mass: "Our brothers and sisters in the Lord, distinguished authorities from India and from around the world, bereaved Missionaries of Charity: The hour has arrived for us to say a final farewell to the late Mother Teresa…

"At the close of a century which has known terrible extremes of darkness, the light of conscience has not been altogether extinguished. Holiness, goodness, kindness, love are still recognized when they appear on history’s stage. The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, has given voice to what so many people of every condition have seen in the woman of unshakeable faith: her extraordinary spiritual vision, her attentive and self-sacrificing love of God in each person she met, her absolute respect for the value of every human life and her courage in facing so many challenges. His Holiness, who knew Mother Teresa so well, wishes this funeral ceremony to be a great prayer of gratitude to God for having given her to the Church and to the world…

"It has been said that Mother Teresa might have done more to fight the causes of poverty in the world. Mother Teresa was aware of this criticism. She would shrug as if saying: ‘While you go on discussing causes and explanations I will kneel beside the poorest of the poor and attend to their needs.’ The beggar, the leper, the victim of Aids do not need discussions and theories; they need love. The hungry cannot wait for the rest of the world to come up with the perfect answer; they need effective solidarity. The dying, the handicapped and the defenseless unborn, who are without a constituency in the Utopian ideologies which, especially in the last 200 years, have been trying to model the perfect world, need a living human presence and a caring hand…

"In silence and contemplation, in prayerful adoration before the tabernacle, she learned to see the true face of God in every suffering human being. In prayer she discovered the essential truth which underlies the Church’s social teaching and her religious and humanitarian work in every age and in every part of the world: Jesus Christ, the eternal Word made flesh, the redeemer of mankind, has wished to identify himself with every person—especially the poor, the sick and the needy…

"Speaking at the Angelus prayer on Sunday last, the Holy Father recalled these other words of Mother Teresa: ‘The fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service and the fruit of service is peace.’ Let us begin to change the world for the better by turning in humble prayer to God, the creator of all that exists. Let us be renewed in faith. Let our hearts be filled with genuine love. Let each person do something useful and demanding for those in need. Only when we learn to see others, no matter how different and removed from us, as our beloved brothers and sisters will humanity learn the ways of peace…

"Dear Mother Teresa, the consoling dogma of the communion of saints allows us to feel close to you. The entire Church thanks you for your luminous example and promises to make it our heritage.

"Today on behalf of Pope John Paul II, who sent me here, I offer you a final earthly farewell, and in his name I thank you for all that you have done for the poor of the world. They are favorites of Jesus. They are also favorites of our Holy Father, his vicar on earth. It is in his name that I place on your coffin the flower of our deepest gratitude.

"Dear Mother Teresa, rest in peace."⁷

7. Cardinal Angelo Sodano, "Homily" as in Origins, CNS Documentary Service, Sept. 25, 1997, Vol 27, No. 15.

^{^{Given October 29, 2016



R.
Please spread blessed holy water

(You can also mix Jesus and Mary water

with your blessed Holy Water if you have it.)

in your yard, around your house,

in the state you live in.


    And ask God to bless your state


Ask God to bless the United States

Pray all prayers through the intercession of

Our Lady of CLEAR – WATER.

Ask the Lady of CLEAR - WATER

to help with the blessed water.

Mary has appeared to me for 22 years,

in Ohio and Florida.}}