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.

Cancer Survival Strategies

The St. Peregrine Shrine has come up with "Seven Strategies for Cancer Surivival." You can read them here:
http://www.examiner.com/x-18324-Phoenix-Cancer-Examiner~y2009m10d23-Cancer-shrine-strategies-for-cancer-survival

Please feel free to email or post your suggestions for future articles on cancer survival. We would love to hear from you.

Expect Miracles Gala

All are invited to the "Expect Miracles" Gala hosted by 12 News' Rick DeBruhl and his wife, Patricia DeBruhl, an oncology social worker for Banner Desert Hospital for an evening of excitement and joy as we celebrate and raise money for the St. Peregrine Chapel - Arizona's first Adoration Chapel devoted to serving persons affected by cancer. Special concert by renowned performing artists julie and Kurt Carrick, live and silent auctions, and a chance to bid on sculptor Sandi Clark's 14" bronze model of the life size statue of St. Peregrine commissioned exclusively for the chapel.

The final deadline for tickets has been extended to October 31, 2009.

For reservations, you may email melissav@ctk-catholic.org or call 480-844-4493, or mail the information below to CTK-Expect Miracles Gala (1551 E. Dana Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85204). Visa, MC, and Discover accepted. You may also email melissav@ctk-catholic.org for an official registration form.

WIG OUT WITH ST. PEREGRINE Wig Drive

Wig Out with St. Peregrine!
During the month of September, drop off or mail your new or used wigs to the St. Peregrine Chapel at Christ the King - 1551 E. Dana Ave. Mesa, AZ 85204. The wigs will be cleaned and styled and given to people with cancer - free of charge. Wigs are often an expensive and dreaded part of dealing with cancer treatment side effects. Please help us make things easier for people with cancer by donating your wigs. LET'S COLLECT 300 WIGS THIS SEPTEMBER! WE CAN DO IT!! SPREAD THE WORD. Email the chapel director at melissav@ctk-catholic.org for a flyer to email to others or post in your community or on your website.

St. Therese of Lisieux Window

The second stained glass window to be installed in the chapel (by Utopian Studios) was St. Therese of Lisieux. St. Therese, also called "The Little Flower", was born in France on January 2, 1873. She was a determined and strong-willed child. Therese's mother died of breast cancer when Therese was only 4 years old. Therese's sisters became mothers to her and each went on to join the Carmelite order when they came of age. Therese shared their desire for vocation at an early age. In 1887 her indomitable spirit was evident when she had the courage to beg the pope for acceptance into the order even though she had been forbidden to speak to him. She entered the Carmelite order in 1888. St. Therese suffered from illness and had periods of time when she felt isolated from the Lord. Through her own suffering and struggle, she came to realize that trusting in Jesus was the path to holiness and that making small daily sacrifices was the way to His Sacred Heart. St. Therese knew the pain of losing her mother from cancer, her father from stroke, and several Carmelite Sisters from influenza. St. Therese died after a long struggle with tuberculosis on September 30, 1897.

ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX PRAYER

Dear St. Therese,
You were stubborn and strong.
Yet through your trials you held fast to the love of the Lord and looked to him for light in the darkness.
Please pray that I may find light in the darkness as I face this struggle.
Pray that I may find little ways to recognize His face in the midst of my own pain.
Even if it means allowing others to help me or forgiving people that I don't like.
It is the ordinary things done with great love that can reveal His glory to me.
Please pray to God on my behalf.
(your intention)
Amen.

COPYRIGHT 2009 ST. PEREGRINE CHAPEL

St. Padre Pio Window Installed

A couple of weeks ago, the first stained glass window designed by Utopian Studios of Mesa, AZ was installed in the chapel. The incscription on the window reads "St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina. Although his name is technically "St. Pio", he is known affectionately to most as "Padre Pio" so the decision was made to place "Padre" in the inscription. St. Padre Pio was born in Petrelcina, Italy on May 25, 1887. He had an extraordinary call to holiness and consecrated his life to God at the age of five. He joined the Capuchin Friars at age 15 and was ordained to priesthood at age 23. Padre Pio prayed almost continuously and was known for contemplation and simple prayer. Although Padre Pio suffered from physical and spiritual afflictions, he worked 19 hour days and denied himself vacation time. He was blessed with many spiritual gifts such as healing, bilocution, stigmata, and reading people's hearts. He saw Christ in those who suffer - such as the sick and the poor. He encouraged his followers to "Bring God to all those who are sick. This will help them more than any other remedy." He knew what it meant to bear the burden of a loved one - as he bore the stigmata - the physical wounds of Christ. He died on September 23, 1968.

ST. PIO PRAYER

Dear Padre Pio,
My heart is heavy.
I need God's help to continue.
I am burdened and am in need of His strength to carry the load.
I am sorry for my sins.
I am far from being perfect and know that there is much that I can do to be closer to God.
You showed love and kindness to the poor and sick in your lifetime.
Please show this compassion to me as I carry this cross.
Please pray that I may be gracious and loving to others and keep my eyes focused on Our Lord.
Please pray to God on my behalf.
(your intention)
Amen.

COPYRIGHT 2009 ST. PEREGRINE CHAPEL

St. Anne's Cancer Ministry Coordinator Dies

Last Thursday, Healing Through the Body of Christ Cancer Ministry Volunteer Coordinator for St. Anne's Catholic Church in Gilbert, lost her battle with cancer. Debbie Bond was an incredible volunteer and an inspiration to people faced with a cancer diagnosis. Despite enduring treatments for Stage IV Breast Cancer for almost four years, Debbie worked tirelessly to improve the lives of people affected by cancer. An engraved brick will be placed at the chapel as a permanent reminder of the love and compassion that she showed for others. We have no doubt that she will have the best seat in the house for the dedication of the chapel in November. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Gilbert on Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 11am.