Hello, Shrine Family,
Wow! Seems like the Christmas season flew by! All around us, everything is moving faster and faster. As one gift shop employee is taking down Christmas decorations, another is putting out Lent and Easter merchandise. I feel like I want to just step back, take a deep breath and relax a moment.
It's times like these that I slip away and go visit the Infant Jesus. The shrine is always such a peaceful oasis. To be able to sit in the dimly lit sanctuary, in the presence of the Little King, is a blessing in itself. To look at the statue and think about all the favors and prayers of Thanksgiving that are offered up to Him each day around the world is astounding. I feel very fortunate to be able to work at His shrine and to have the opportunity to interact with the shrine members on a daily basis.
We are countinuing to take orders for the pavers for either the Queen Mother's Memorial Garden or the Children's Playground. These pavers can be purchased not only as a memorial, but also as a tribute to a living person(s). Be sure to write clearly and check if you want it to be placed in the Mother's Garden or the Playground. Last week, a donation was made that enabled the movement of the large Mother and Child statue from the north Stations of the Cross area to the new Queen Mother's Memorial Garden. So, I guess you could say constrction has been started. We are waiting on a couple of things to be included on the drawings of the gardens before we send them out to you. Maybe they'll be ready by next month.
Instead of a Book of the Month for February, we have a wonderful CD I'd like to share with you. It's called Daily Prayers, Morning, Mid-Day & Evening by Jack and Sandra Heinzl. There are four tracks on the CD. Track 1 is 14 minutes of morning prayers, track 2 is 13 minutes of mid-day prayers, track 3 is 12 minutes of evening prayers, and track 4 is 20 minutes of instrumental medley of favorite Catholic hymns. This is a great addition to your prayer/music collection. It sells for only $15 and if purchased during February, would be discounted 10%, making it only $13.50 plus $3.00 shipping for a total of $16.50.
The final count for the names on the Remembrance Christmas Tree was 2,251! More than ever before! here is a picture of it all decked out in its 2,251 bells - each one of them numbered to correspond with the names/numbers on the display board placed near the tree.
May the Infant Jesus pour His blessings upon you and be at your side during the Lenten Season. Take time to relax and reflect. If you are traveling through Oklahoma, stop and visit the National Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague.
Rhonda Bartos
Shrine Director
