AZ Republic Article on the Shrine 2/27/10

"Mesa Shrine Draws Cancer Patients"
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Cancer Resource Center offers help

The Cancer Resource Center, located inside the new St. Peregrine Shrine, assisted one of our first patients last week.

After receiving a call from a patient wanting to obtain a wig from the Center, she was encouraged to come in and select a style from the choices available. When the patient arrived that same morning, she was able to pick out a wig she liked, plus was she was given other helpful items such as a special prayer shawl (created by volunteers who pray for the recipient as they knit the shawl), a St. Peregrine medal, and extensive printed material to take home, from the American Cancer Society. The patient spoke to a trained volunteer who was able to provide peer support, and then took a tour of the Chapel, which included viewing the Wailing Wall that contains prayer notes visibly tucked into the wall.

When expressing a desire to receive the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, the director of the Shrine, Melissa Veselovsky, was able to locate Fr. Peter who administered the sacrament on the spot. She received Father's blessing and was anointed with oil.

Before completing her visit, the patient was moved to pray with the relic of St. Peregrine, located in the Resource center, as well as offer her prayers in the Shrine before the sacred Host. She affirmed that the Shrine was a beautiful, healing place that gives peace to those in need of support before, during and after treatment.

The Cancer Resource Center provides supplies for cancer patients, including head coverings, wigs, booties, prayer shawls, printed material, plus emotional and spiritual support to all patients and family members, all offered free of charge.

Hours are Tuesday and Friday, 9:00am – 12noon, and by appointment. For special needs, further information, or cancer support, please call 480-844-4493.

Honor Your Loved One

You can have your name, or the name of a loved one, engraved on a special brick to be placed in the area around St. Peregrine Chapel. You can also choose the Family Stone option, engraved with multiple names. Or you may select a History Stone, to be engraved with a corporate logo or child’s artwork.

Not only will your loved ones names be permanently placed in sight for all to see, but your tax-deductible contribution will make a real difference in the lives of families affected by cancer.

Order your St. Peregrine Shrine Stone today! Orders must be received by May 1^st, 2010, for the next placement opportunity.

Click here to order a stone now!

A Reflection by a Cancer Ministry Volunteer

Since the opening of the chapel, committed adorers have come to sit all hours of the day and night. It is quite impressive to know that over 400 people have signed up to adore Him for one hour, once a week.

Visiting with Jesus every week, is a powerful experience. You cannot come in with your troubles and leave with same state of mind. The effects of his presence are profound and cannot be easily dismissed. Although we say “Yes” to Jesus at weekly mass, being before him in the Chapel is a different kind of feeling. Sometimes it is overwhelming.

Immediately upon entering, I can sense His spirit fill the air. My eyes become transfixed on the spectacular monstrance before me. He seems to pierce my very soul at the moment of entry, pulling out all my emotions, even ones I don’t even know I have. It’s not always easy being before the King. He seems to expose my very heart; not for my own humiliation, but for His healing touch.

We may enter this place with broken lives and flowing tears, but we know He has been waiting for us with endless Love, Comfort and Joy – Peace comes from Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Parking Alert

Construction on the new parking lot has begun!

A grant from Virginia Piper Foundation is funding this much needed renovation. Construction will take approximately 55 work days to complete.

Please exercise caution and plan accordingly when accessing the Shrine late at night.

We ask for your patience and understanding for this minor inconvenience, as we improve access to the church and chapel.

St. Peregrine Laziosi

Peregrine Laziosi was born in Forli, Italy, in the year of 1265.

During his days as a young man, Peregrine was so opposed to the papacy that he struck St. Philip Benezi, who was a representative of Pope Martin IV, with his fist. In his humility, Philip offered Peregrine his other cheek to strike. This moved Peregrine so much that he apologized and vowed to change his life. Peregrine followed through by joining the Friar Servants of Mary and soon after, he became a monk.

Known for preaching, holiness, penance, and devotion to the sick and poor, Peregrine would stand in prayer for hours as an act of contrition. The physical stress of standing for such long periods caused him to develop varicose veins, which may have been what led to the development of cancer in his leg.

Peregrine’s leg cancer worsened to the point of requiring amputation by the time he reached 60 years of age. The night before the surgery was to be performed, he prayed both for God’s healing, and the grace to accept God’s will whatever the outcome. Peregrine then fell asleep at the cross, which led him to experience a vision of the crucified Jesus coming down from the cross and touching his cancer-ridden leg. When he awoke shortly after, miraculously, the cancer was gone.

Peregrine lived 20 more years in service of Christ, dying in 1345. He was canonized by Pope St. Benedict XIII in 1726.

CANCER SHRINE TO OPEN IN MESA

First of its kind in Arizona

MESA, Ariz. – (November 6, 2009) The dedication of the St. Peregrine Shrine – Arizona’s first 24-hour Adoration Chapel devoted to serving families of all faiths affected by cancer will take place with Bishop Thomas Olmsted at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, November 14, 2009 at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1551 E. Dana Ave, Mesa.
The free standing 2,400 sq. foot gold-domed shrine will hold up to 70 people and will be open 24 hours a day for prayer. The shrine is devoted to serving families of all faiths affected by cancer and offers emotional and spiritual support, cancer resources, education, outreach, wigs, treatment supplies, and medical equipment loan all free of charge. Staffed by volunteers trained by the American Cancer Society, the shrine will ensure that families affected by cancer have support in all areas of their cancer journey.
“A cancer diagnosis can be very complicated. It may bring with it grief, changes in lifestyle and appearance, spiritual concerns, financial concerns, physical changes, and a great sense of powerlessness. The shrine wants to help families affected by this disease cope with the diagnosis and everything that comes with. We fully expect miracles here.” said Shrine Director, Melissa Veselovsky.
Veselovsky’s words are echoed by a National Cancer Institute study on spirituality and cancer care that found “spiritual and religious well-being may be associated with improved quality of life in the following ways: reduced anxiety, depression, and discomfort; better adjustments to the effects of cancer and its treatment; increased ability to enjoy life during cancer treatment; feeling of personal growth as a result of living with cancer; and improved health outcomes.”
“If we can help people cope with cancer by supporting them emotionally and spiritually – we should see more people surviving cancer.”
The St. Peregrine Chapel is named after St. Peregrine Laziosi, a thirteenth-century monk that was miraculously healed from cancer.
For more information, contact the Chapel Director at 480-844-4493 or www.cancershrine.org or www.cancershrine.blogspot.com on the internet.