Jesus of Mercy Prayer Group

March 19, 2006

Over the past several years I have made brief mention of the Jesus of Mercy prayer group but I have never explained exactly what it is. It is a prayer group that was formed years ago by Gianna Sullivan at the request of Jesus Himself.

The members are married couples who meet once a month at one of the members home and pray the rosary, read a scripture passage that is picked by the host couple and reading the Liturgy of The Hours. After the prayer you have dinner which each couple took part in preparing. During dinner each person candidly discusses with the other members the happy and sad times that have taken place since they last met. There are about 5 or 6 different groups that meet each month. Once a year all of the groups meet at St. Mary’s and mass is offered usually by Fr. George Restrepo SJ.

Sister Genevieve Walsh first told me about it before we moved here and shortly after our arrival we were invited to join and we did. It has been a good experience and we have made some wonderful friends because of it. Since I have never really mentioned this in any paper I will give an example that happened the last time the group S.C.C. and I are in met on Sunday March 19th at Tom and Ann Fitzsimmons house.

S.C.C. and I drove to the Ferguson's house which is just down the street from our house. The other couples in our group are Phil & Aline C and Larry & Suzanne M. The Jesus of Mercy prayer group started at 6 pm. A little later Tom started and led the rosary and at the very instant he started the rosary I felt the peace and glanced at my watch and the time was 6:13:33.

After the rosary we did the Liturgy of the Hours and the scripture reading. Dinner followed and when everything was over we left. I glanced at my watch as we walked out the door and the time was 7:13.

This is just one example of how our monthly meeting go. In one way or another each meeting always follows the same unexpected pattern of 13, 33 and 333. It never fails. However, I am sure I am the only one who notices.

March 21, 2006

I left the house this morning and attended the 6:30 mass at St. Joseph’s. I then drove to work in Manassas and when I arrived the odometer was 13. I had not been at work very long when I suddenly thought about my April pay bonus combined with my tax refund being almost enough to think about another trip to Medjugorje. At the instant that idea hit I felt the peace and glanced at my watch and the time was 9:33.

This is not the first time I have been struck in such a way about going back to Medjugorje. We are in the early stages of considering another trip. If it is to be, it will just fall together like always, if not, it won’t.

It was busy at work and I can only take my lunch break as the work load allows. Because I was busy I never even thought about the time and just left to go pray my daily rosary the first chance I got. I got in my car to go to All Saint’s and when I started it the time on the dash was 12:13. I arrived at All Saint’s and the odometer was still 13.

I was about half way through the rosary when my co-worker Frank K arrived and joined me. After we finished the rosary we just talked for a little while and I returned to work and when I arrived the odometer was still 13.

Later when I got off work for the day I stopped at Circuit City in Manassas to buy a DVD burner to install on my computer at home. After getting the burner I got in my car and started it to drive back to Emmitsburg. Just at that instant the radio announcer said “The time is 6:13”.

I drove back to Emmitsburg and I had a very peaceful feeling. It made me want to stop at St. Joseph’s and pray another rosary. I arrived at St. Joseph’s and just as the car came to a complete stop the CD flashed 33. I sat out in the car and prayed the Glorious mysteries and when I finished I started the car to leave and the time on the dash was 8:13.

I drove home and very shortly after I arrived the phone rang and it was Karen M. Karen said she was calling for Gianna. She said Gianna would like for S.C.C. and I to leave the Jesus of Mercy group we are currently in and join hers. We said yes. We hung up and the time was 8:33.

R_____ C___

April 8, 2006

7:33 Pm