Dear Friends of Our Lady of Pompeii,
One month ago, I asked you to prayerfully consider a contribution to the Pompeii Rising Restoration Project. We needed to raise $846,000 in cash by Christmas in order to reach our $2.75M goal–50% of cost for Phase II.
Miracles come in all shapes and sizes. By God’s good grace and your generosity, I am happy to announce that we have exceeded this goal with a result of $903,318! This means Phase II financing is secured and contractors will be submitting for permits in February 2025. Once construction begins, the work will not stop until we occupy Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic Church for Mass. Our contractors estimate that this will take 10 months.
The Octave of Nativity is a perfect time to ponder how this can happen. We should ask the Christchild to open our hearts to fathom the unfathomable. The manger was the first monstrance. The Holy Family and the shepherds - the first Adorers. United to them, let us lay all our fears and desires at the adorable swaddled feet of the newborn Jesus, which from all eternity will be pierced and placed in a shroud for our sins, but are now glorified forever in Heaven.
Once our minds are focused we can ask with confidence why the Blessed Lord allowed a small congregation to triple in size. How did it come to pass that the masterpiece of Springfield just so happened to hit the market at the exact same time we needed a church? What does Old Holy Rosary’s past tell us about Our Lady of Pompeii’s future? Only once we see the entire picture through the eyes of an Adorer can we realize the role each one of us is chosen to play. Will we play it?
Thank you for your prayers, sacrifices, and commitment. Beginning today, additional money raised will reduce the amount needed to borrow. The smaller the loan, the faster we pay off Phase II and the sooner Phase III can begin. A long way to go, but Our Lady has already shown Pompeii Rising is in her hands. Things will start moving fast, so please continue to check back on the website for updates. We cannot take our foot off the gas yet so please share this exciting news with your friends and family, whether it be in person or on social media. And most importantly, don’t stop saying your Memorares!
Puer natus est,
Fr. David Thomas
This month's mailbag submission comes to us from a wonderful friend, teacher, and mother of six named Marie. It's a long one, but you’ll want to read till the very end. For context, both Marie and her husband are visually impaired, and their first date was at Mass.
As it became clear they were meant to be married they looked for a parish to call home. Marie was married to Brian at Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic Church, but this church was in Dobbs Ferry, New York. In 2022, this parish celebrated its 100th anniversary, no doubt built by Italian immigrants. After finding Tradition and a stint in London, the family moved back stateside to Oklahoma until COVID struck. A vacation to Florida became a one way ticket, and Mrs. Marie was asked to teach at our school in Sanford.
This time last year, Marie noticed a disturbance in her vision, and knew something was wrong. At first, the leading ophthalmologists in Central Florida said it was nothing. Three months later with no improvement, Marie was retested. A very serious macular hole was found, and what was worse - doctors said no local surgeon would to touch it as her eye had too much scar tissue. Marie was warned to prepare for total loss of sight. Heart wrenching. Searching everywhere for a second opinion, a referral from an eye doctor while visiting Oklahoma brought her full circle back to Jacksonville, where a renowned Retinal Specialist said he could fit her in.
Although he was booked for months, the only time he could squeeze Marie in was Wednesday May 08, which happens to be the Feast of Our Lady of Pompeii. On Sunday, May 05, before my sermon, I invited the parishioners in Sanford to drive up to Jacksonville for the unveiling ceremony of a unique replica painting of Our Lady of Pompeii. Marie told me after Mass, “Father, you know I was married at Our Lady of Pompeii, the one in New York.” She continued, “and I have an eye appointment in Northeast Florida on Wednesday morning.” I looked at her and said, “Mrs. Marie, you need to make a deal with Our Lady. If you have a good appointment, come to the unveiling ceremony.”
The morning of May 08th comes, and Marie meets with the eye doctor who confirms the prognosis: the macular hole is advanced, it is very degenerative, and she will go blind if she does nothing about it. However, this time, in a very matter of fact way, the doctor continues. “But I can fix it…”
Overjoyed, Marie upheld her end of the bargain. She joined us for the unveiling of the Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Pompeii, in Jacksonville. The Blessed Mother of Pompeii has always made arrangements for her daughter Marie. The eye surgery was scheduled a week later on May 13th, which is also no mere coincidence. While the point of the surgery was not to correct her vision, but to save it, Marie tells me she can actually see better than before.
After months of recovery, I wanted to save this story for a really important newsletter. Please ask Our Lady of Pompeii how you can help her and how she can help you. Remember, miracles come in all shapes and sizes. Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
L to R. Sister Celine Marie, Marie, her husband Brian, and Fr. McCall on the Feast of St. Dominic after first vows. |
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