DECEMBER 2015

mary: the personification of mercy
Marian Conference draws hundreds
BY IKLAS J. BASHI
Witnessing four seasons in one day at the
foot of Boyne Mountain, more than 550
faithful gathered the weekend of October
16 for the 24th annual Marian Conference
where the theme was “Behold, Your Mother.”
Attendees came from all over the state and
Kentucky Ohio, and Illinois. The lineup of dynamic
speakers included powerhouses within Catholic
circles who spoke on the topic of mercy.
“Without mercy, heaven would be empty,” said
Fr. Dennis Stilwell of the Diocese of Gaylord. As a
young man in Catholic elementary school, in fear
and trembling he was sent to the office to see the
principal. After hearing the facts, she picked up a
blank book and wrote down his name and his offense.
She told him she had never seen him in the
office before and that she would write his name
lightly in her book. If he didn’t ever return to the
office, she would erase his name from her book. “I
was so scared and yet I left so happy,” he said.
Mercy is a powerful and beautiful thing and
Mary is the very personification of mercy. It all
started with her “yes.”
“In this country, we have more people in jails
than anywhere in the world. We are a country hell
bent on punishing people. We are afraid to be merciful.
We worry about people getting away with
wrongdoing but Pope Francis would say mercy is
greater than right,” said Fr. Stilwell.
The message of mercy struck a deep cord with
attendee Brian Laesser. “The love that the Eucharist
poured into me — being such a broken person.
This conference has rewritten the pages of my
heart and recreated me,” he said.
Fr. Larry Richards, author of Be a Man!, said
that when we place one hand in the heart of Jesus,
who is Divine Mercy, and the other hand outstretched
to others to give mercy, then we can be
true instruments of peace.
“The reality is that God will give you what you
love the most. Instead of fitting Him into your day,
you should build your day around Him. One drop
of the blood of Jesus is enough to cleanse you,” he
said.
“My soul has been so nourished here,” said Julie
Kaszubowski. “I came giving myself totally to this
weekend and now I’m leaving knowing God’s personal
love for me.”
In his talk, “Only One Heart, Only One Soul,”
Fr. Ben Luedtke of St. Albert the Great in Dearborn
told the faithful that love and joy are a decision.
“Love each other like Christ. Be His image to
each other. He defined it by hanging on the cross,”
he said.
Clockwise from top left: Fr. Larry Richards; Brian Flynn: One drop of the blood of Jesus is enough to cleanse you.”
Brian Flynn performs for youth at the conference. Attendees celebrate mass.
Clockwise from top left: Fr. Larry Richards; Brian Flynn performs for youth; celebrating mass.
Fr. Luedtke told how his parents were divorced
and as a young man he looked for other examples
of love in his life through his aunts and uncles.
He advised married couples to never give each
other the silent treatment, describing this as a
“form of hell.”
“I always tell couples on the day of marriage that
you have to live as if you were going to die tonight.
With what love, with what tenderness would you
have kissed your spouse last night? When we think
we have tomorrow, we screw up today,” he said.
The joy we all desire comes from sanctifying grace.
Sr. Maria Inviolata presented about St. Catherine
Labouré’s apparitions. Mary, the Blessed
Mother, is the source of many graces as symbolized
in the Miraculous Medal. When St. Catherine
asked why some of the rays of light did not arrive to
land, Mary replied, “Those are the graces for which
people forget to ask.”
The weekend included masses, confession,
healing service, talks, a raffle and bookstore.
There were special presentations for young adults
and children.
Marial Brooks, 8, wants to be a nun when she
grows up. She said her favorite part of the conference
was making sacrifice beads. “I will play with
my brother even when I don’t want to,” she said,
referring to the first of 10 sacrifices represented on
her beads.
Among the other speakers were Sr. John Dominic
from Ann Arbor and Rev. Richard Ho Lung
from the Missionaries of the Poor in Jamaica.
Award-winning international Catholic recording
artist Brian Flynn provided music and worship.
As always, the conference was hosted by the
Marian Center in Joy Valley in Petoskey, which is
about 30 minutes north of Boyne Falls. Julie and
Brian Tuck are the directors. Next year’s event,
the 25th, is set for October 14-16. Visit Marian-
Center.org.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CARL TUREK
38 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2015