Dec. 23, 2015

By Kristina Dean
Staff writer

LAKE PLACID -- After participating in a 33 day retreat centering around Father Michael Gaitley’s book 33 Days to Morning Glory, more than 50 people from St. Agnes Church and St. Bernard’s Church in Saranac consecrated themselves to the Blessed Mother on her Dec. 8 Immaculate Conception feast day.

After noticing “a division in the world”, organizer Christina Carlson felt the solution was consecration to Mary, the Blessed Mother.

The St. Agnes parishioner and mother of five originally began thinking of it for the parish’s Women of Faith ministry, but after attending a diocesan conference on forming intentional disciples, she felt it needed to offered on a broader basis and eventually it grew to include both parishes.

“The answer is Our Lady,” Mrs. Carlson said. “She can change hearts. She melts hearts and shows people the way to her son.”

“I started thinking of how to make disciples,” she said. “There is a supernatural grace that needs to come into play to move people beyond just going to church.”

Blessed Mother’s grace
The Blessed Mother’s grace and guidance was a common theme in the retreat, Mrs. Carlson said. One example was through Marcia Bugbee, religious education director at St. Agnes, who suggested praying the Rosary every Tuesday after Mass, starting in June specifically to prepare hearts for consecration and unity.

“I do think that was probably one of the biggest things where the graces came in through that prayer,” Mrs. Carlson said. “It changed us from having the retreat in just the women’s group to the larger parish, and to having all these people placed specifically where we needed them.

“It was just amazing how everything came together,” she said. “It all fit in really well. You know Our Lady’s hand was there. Everyone was working so well together. She brought the perfect combination of talents to make it a successful retreat.”

Recharged and excited
One of those talents was Dr. Maura Hearden Fehlner, who teaches theology for Desales University as well as St. Joseph’s College of Maine.

According to Mrs. Carlson, St. Agnes pastor Father John Yonkovig suggested Dr. Fehlner, who acted as the large group leader and master of ceremonies.

The theology professor said the experience was inspiring. “I left every session feeling recharged and excited,” she said. “It was just so good to get to know the people in my small group. Their insights helped me to learn more, it was mutually beneficial. It was so well put together. She (Mrs. Carlson) just did a fantastic job.”

One particular topic Dr. Fehlner addressed was the idea of Mary as a mediator between ourselves and Jesus, a subject with which some were struggling, Mrs. Carlson said.

In her lecture, Dr. Fehlner said she likened God to a mighty ocean, too vast and powerful for a human. Without help, we’d be crushed by His immense power. But because He loves us, He willingly limits himself, and becomes incarnate in Christ, she said.

“Christ is like a river designed to enter our dry parched land and bring us the waters of life,” she said. “I can approach the river, stick my face in the water and drink it up.

“It’s still kind of hard, though,” Sr. Fehlner said. “Because God is so generous, he creates this beautiful, perfectly proportioned glass I can use to bring water from the river to my lips. That glass is like Mary. Mary is this perfectly beautifully designed vessel of grace that God uses to help us receive.”

In addition to the Marian consecration, the Dec. 8 service included was a ceremony of enrollment in the Brown Scapular, and a blessing with holy oil which came from the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

Pope Francis began the Jubilee Year of Mercy on December 8.

“This ties into the year of (Divine) Mercy,” Dr. Fehlner said. “This year has a special Marian connection. She was created as this vessel of incarnation out of the mercy of God for our sake.”

Long tradition of Marian devotion
Father Yonkovig said Father Gaitley’s book is based on five strong figures within the church that give insight into Mary. The Catholic Church has a long tradition of Marian devotion as she is a role model, a pattern of all Christian living, he said.

“It allows us to tap into the mystery of the Blessed Mother, both her humility and her strength. Marian spirituality is part of every Christian, for some stronger than others,” he said. “Some people who came really did not have a strong foundation in Marian theology. This strengthened them, and gave them another look at Mary.”

The pastor agreed Mary’s grace was present as “tremendous motherly qualities” evident in the education and informing of the retreatants and in childcare that was available during the retreat.

One image that struck him was of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who in the book discussed Jesus’s words of “I thirst” as he was suffering on the cross. Jesus was speaking not just of physical thirst, but of his love for us.
“That captured people’s imagination. His thirst, his love for us,” Father Yonkovig said. “Those kind of images were enlightening and encouraging for people who may not have a strong devotion to Mary, but the session brought them closer to Jesus which is Mary’s purpose and goal.”

Support for families
Each night prior to the retreat, a light meal was provided to participants after Mass at St. Agnes school, allowing for fellowship. This was one of the suggestions of the forming disciples retreat, Mrs. Carlson said. She  wanted to help couples attend, especially those with children, so childcare was available as well. Both the meal and childcare were provided especially through Fr. Yonkovig’s help, she said.

“It’s hard for parents, and it’s tough on a school night, trying to get there and back let alone paying for childcare. Sometimes with married couples one of them stays home with only one getting to go, so it’s really nice when both can go,” she said.

Father Thomas Higman, parochial vicar of St. Bernard’s in Saranac Lake and Dr. Fehlner’s husband, John, also aided the retreat.