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'Dear Friends' March 2012

Week of March 5, 2012
Prayer Requests
  

When Your Care-receiver Doesn't Want Help

Dear Friends:

        Here's how our newest Topic begins:

       There may be times when your loved one simply says no. When he or she wants nothing to do with what you’re proposing. You may have come up with what you think is a great solution to whatever problem or need your care-receiver is facing, but he or she doesn’t see it that way. And so he digs in his heels or she gets that look in her eyes, and you know it’s going to take a lot of work on your part to get your loved one to budge on this one.
       What can you do to avoid that kind of confrontation?
       --Prepare for a crisis. It helps to talk about concerns early and often. It’s much easier to hold what-if discussions before a crisis arises. “What if you need some help around the house?” “What if you can’t safely drive anymore?” What could your loved one do, what could you do, what could someone else do to help out? What are other people you both know doing in those situations, or not doing? The more comfortable your care-receiver is discussing what-ifs, the easier it will be for him or her to tell you when he needs the help. . . .

       You can read more here and it's available as this month's flier on CatholicCaregivers.com. (There are Prayers of Intercession and Bulletin Briefs, too.)

- - -

       Again a reminder that you can find Creighton University's daily online Lenten feature, "Praying Lent," here.

- - -

       This week we're so pleased to welcome Shellie P. of Nevada as the newest member of the Friends of St. John the Caregiver. Please keep her and her intentions in your prayers. She has promised to pray for you and yours.
       And we
cordially invite you to join the Friends of St. John the Caregiver! (FSJC's programs include YourAgingParent.com and CatholicCaregivers.com.) You can find out more about becoming a member here.
       No meetings, no dues. All we ask is that you pray for caregivers and those receiving care. Our members include caregivers, care-receivers, and those who support both (including quite a few former caregivers).
       You can:

        sign up on-line here
       
        or call us toll-free at 1-800-392-JOHN (5646)
      
        or print and mail an application form.

       God bless you!

                                                          Monica and Bill

To contact us
To join FSJC
To make a donation
To view or make prayer requests
Materials order form
Past "Dear Friends" letters
"Among Friends" quarterly newsletter
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week of March 12, 2012
Prayer Requests
  

"The Lorica [Breastplate] of St. Patrick"

Dear Friends:

        The feast of St. Patrick is this Saturday, March 17. A traditional prayer attributed to him is "The Lorica [Breastplace] of St. Patrick." (Sometimes called "The Deer's Cry.") It's a good one for caregivers. You can read the entire prayer here. These are some lines we especially liked. They make a wonderful morning prayer.

 

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me . . .

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

 

- - -

       Again a reminder that you can find Creighton University's daily online Lenten feature, "Praying Lent," here.

- - -

       And again this week we cordially invite you to join the Friends of St. John the Caregiver! (FSJC's programs include YourAgingParent.com and CatholicCaregivers.com.) You can find out more about becoming a member here.
       No meetings, no dues. All we ask is that you pray for caregivers and those receiving care. Our members include caregivers, care-receivers, and those who support both (including quite a few former caregivers).
       You can:

        sign up on-line here
       
        or call us toll-free at 1-800-392-JOHN (5646)
      
        or print and mail an application form.

       God bless you!

                                                          Monica and Bill

To contact us
To join FSJC
To make a donation
To view or make prayer requests
Materials order form
Past "Dear Friends" letters
"Among Friends" quarterly newsletter
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week of March 19, 2012
Prayer Requests
  

The Fears of Joseph and Mary

Dear Friends:

       Today, March 19, is the feast of St. Joseph and next Monday, March 26, is the Annunciation. (Yes, it's a day later this year because the 25th is a Sunday.) What jumped out for us when we read the Gospels for both days was that Joseph and Mary, on hearing what was being asked of them, were afraid. And rightly so. Certainly, that's the first reaction of many caregivers as they begin, as they accept, that calling. And it's an initial response for those who realize they're now care-receivers.
       Simply put, even these two members of the Holy Family were fearful. (And were they ever when they "misplaced" Jesus and later found him in the Temple! That must have been an awful three days.)
       Our point is fear is a part of life on earth, no matter who you are. And to not necessarily overcome that fear but to press on despite it, it helps to keep in mind Mary's words to the servants at the wedding feast at Cana, the scene of Christ's first public miracle: Do whatever he, whatever Jesus, tells you!
        That means, of course, we have to keep listening.

- - -

       Again a reminder that you can find Creighton University's daily online Lenten feature, "Praying Lent," here.

- - -

       This week we're so pleased to welcome Diane F. on Minnesota as the newest member of the Friends of St. John the Caregiver. Please keep her and her intentions in your prayers. She has promised to pray for you and yours.
       And we
cordially invite you to join the Friends of St. John the Caregiver! (FSJC's programs include YourAgingParent.com and CatholicCaregivers.com.) You can find out more about becoming a member here.
       No meetings, no dues. All we ask is that you pray for caregivers and those receiving care. Our members include caregivers, care-receivers, and those who support both (including quite a few former caregivers).
       You can:

        sign up on-line here
       
        or call us toll-free at 1-800-392-JOHN (5646)
      
        or print and mail an application form.

       God bless you!

                                                          Monica and Bill

To contact us
To join FSJC
To make a donation
To view or make prayer requests
Materials order form
Past "Dear Friends" letters
"Among Friends" quarterly newsletter
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week of March 26, 2012
Prayer Requests
  

Lights, Camera . . . Information!

Dear Friends:

       This week we thought we'd offer a little reminder that you can find caregiver videos on our YouTube channel: JohnTheCaregiver.
       (They're all available on two DVDs, too. For free, of course.)
       Here's a sample. It's a concern a lot of families face: "Helping a Loved One Give Up the Car Keys."

 

 

- - -

       This week we're so pleased to welcome Charlotte McC. and Mary Z. of Louisiana as the newest members of the Friends of St. John the Caregiver. Please keep them and their intentions in your prayers. They have promised to pray for you and yours.
       And we
cordially invite you to join the Friends of St. John the Caregiver! (FSJC's programs include YourAgingParent.com and CatholicCaregivers.com.) You can find out more about becoming a member here.
       No meetings, no dues. All we ask is that you pray for caregivers and those receiving care. Our members include caregivers, care-receivers, and those who support both (including quite a few former caregivers).
       You can:

        sign up on-line here
       
        or call us toll-free at 1-800-392-JOHN (5646)
      
        or print and mail an application form.

       God bless you!

                                                          Monica and Bill

To contact us
To join FSJC
To make a donation
To view or make prayer requests
Materials order form
Past "Dear Friends" letters
"Among Friends" quarterly newsletter
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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