Fr. Giovanni Merlini to be beatified on Jan. 12, 2025
Chad DeBoard Chad DeBoard

Fr. Giovanni Merlini to be beatified on Jan. 12, 2025

The Missionaries of the Precious Blood have announced the beatification of Fr. Giovanni Merlini, its third Moderator General, on January 12, 2025, at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. The occasion marks a significant milestone in recognizing Fr. Merlini’s unwavering dedication to faith, service, and the mission of the Church.

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An encounter with awe 
Chad DeBoard Chad DeBoard

An encounter with awe 

I am always fascinated gazing into the night sky when there is a full moon shining, along with an abundance of stars. When I walk below the starlit night sky, it is as if God is presenting me with a gift, a gift as beautiful as a diamond ring. God is showing his love. The stars are not just thrown out there randomly. Those who look closely and study them can connect the dots and see figures of animals and humans. The skies reflect the beauty of God’s creation on earth.   

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Precious Blood profile: Father Vince Wirtner, C.PP.S.  
Chad DeBoard Chad DeBoard

Precious Blood profile: Father Vince Wirtner, C.PP.S.  

Like much of the campus, the chapel at Melbourne Central Catholic High School in Melbourne, Florida, is open and welcoming. The decor is contemporary and fresh, like the students themselves. They wander in during free periods, dropping into comfortable seats set off in a sunny nook.

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International retreat for Precious Blood brothers 
Chad DeBoard Chad DeBoard

International retreat for Precious Blood brothers 

Twenty-eight brothers got together either in person or by Zoom to once again join in retreat and ponder the vocation of brotherhood. It was a joyous occasion to gather in Lakeside, Michigan, during a week in October leading up to the Feast of St. Gaspar. We were led in reflection by Br. Michael McAward, a Marianist brother.   

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Reconciliation and restorative justice  
Chad DeBoard Chad DeBoard

Reconciliation and restorative justice  

Raechel hopes to gain additional tools and understanding to bring to her current work of offering healing to those who face housing insecurity. Created by the Schreiter Institute of Precious Blood Spirituality at Catholic Theological Union and supported in part by Missionaries of the Precious Blood, the certificate offers both practice and theory that students use to gain a deeper understanding of the spirituality behind reconciliation and restorative justice and apply that understanding to their work.

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High school students visit Sorrowful Mother Shrine  
Chad DeBoard Chad DeBoard

High school students visit Sorrowful Mother Shrine  

During the fall months, the Sorrowful Mother Shrine becomes a vibrant hub of activity as nature and spirituality converge. The changing colors of the leaves and the crispness in the air set a tranquil backdrop, inviting pilgrims and visitors to experience the sacred space in a new light. 

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Vocations update from Fr. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S. 
Chad DeBoard Chad DeBoard

Vocations update from Fr. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S. 

Last week, a young adult came up to me and said, “I am so mad at God. For some reason, He won’t tell me what my vocation is. I’ve asked him to please answer my prayers for months now, and I’m not hearing anything!”

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Message from the director of vocations 
Chad DeBoard Chad DeBoard

Message from the director of vocations 

One of my heroes growing up was Superman. I remember several times as a child using a bath towel as my Superman cape and climbing up on the flat-roof shed behind the house, taking a running leap …

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HIBAKUSHA
Chad DeBoard Chad DeBoard

HIBAKUSHA

As tensions spiral in the Middle East, we must be aware that this is only one area in which war and the threat of war are upending the international order.

The good news is that a grassroots Japanese group, Nihon Hidankyo, recognized for its efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

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No fence is too high  
Chad DeBoard Chad DeBoard

No fence is too high  

The news has focused on record numbers of migrants crossing over into the United States from our southern border. Most of these migrants are entering the country legally by entering into the asylum system. The problem is that our immigration system is broken...

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Yet another year without the "Great Pumpkin!" 
Chad DeBoard Chad DeBoard

Yet another year without the "Great Pumpkin!" 

At the end of this month, yet another Halloween most likely will come and go — and still there will be no “Great Pumpkin” rising out of the pumpkin patch — although I intend to remain vigilant!  

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PBMR Education Lab launches new programs 
Chad DeBoard Chad DeBoard

PBMR Education Lab launches new programs 

Expansion of the Education Lab at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation in Chicago allows us to better serve the needs of our communities. Read more from the latest issue of Missionary Pulse.

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Fr. William Hoyng, C.PP.S.
Chad DeBoard Chad DeBoard

Fr. William Hoyng, C.PP.S.

August 22, 1934 – September 28, 2024
Fr. William Hoyng, C.PP.S., 90, died at 11 p.m. on Saturday, September 28, 2024, in the infirmary of St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio, where he made his home.

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Br. Theophane (Fred) Woodall, C.PP.S.
Chad DeBoard Chad DeBoard

Br. Theophane (Fred) Woodall, C.PP.S.

Br. Theophane Woodall, C.PP.S., 85, died at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 28, in the infirmary at St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio, where he had lived and ministered for 55 years. He had been in failing health in recent years.

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