Posts for category ‘Marian Center Events’

God willing, I might become a deacon by the summer of 2011 and possibly a priest for the diocese of Gaylord by the Advent/Christmas Season of 2011.

Over the past twenty-six years of my life, I have been blessed by the Catholic Church to learn about prayer, charity, and pastoral counseling through the Archdiocese of Chicago.  For the past seven years of my seminary training in Chicago, the Holy Spirit has challenged me to deny myself, pickup my cross, and to follow Jesus, who is the WAY, TRUTH, and LIFE.  Between educating young families about the importance of Catholic education and offering spiritual support to those who are seeking moral guidance from Jesus and His Church, the Holy Spirit has encouraged me to keep following my heart to the altar of Jesus as a future priest.  As I continue to discern the call to priesthood for the diocese of Gaylord, I hope and pray that my lay apostolic ministry at St. Francis Xavier in Petoskey will somehow inspire all ages of faith to grow deeper in holiness to always love and serve the Lord above and beyond our limited capacities.

Sincerely

Joseph T. Ortega

On January 27, 2010, the Board of Directors of the Marian Center enthusiastically voted to take the Marian Center off the real estate market!

With prayers answered and hopes for the Center running high, Josh, Lori, Bryan and Julie proposed that the Center be taken off the market. Our generous donors and volunteers now know that if we all work together, we can make the Marian Center a place for people to have their faith enriched for many years to come. Praise God!

Map & Directions

Praise be to God! We had a wonderful turnout for Sister Gabriel’s talk on January 13. Approximately 50 people were in attendance! The Grotto to the Archangels was alight again to welcome them to the Marian Center!

It was a very informal evening which began with Sister Gabriel leading the Divine Mercy Chaplet. It was absolutely beautiful to hear the prayers rising up to God again in the chapel that has been much to quiet! I said that if I had died that night, I would have went in peace; it was that awesome.

Sister Gabriel went right into her vocation story telling us that her Aunt Barb (Smith) was one of her greatest inspirations in her path to the religious life. She said that she felt very called to come to the Marian Center. Sister encouraged everyone to keep Barb’s mission alive by sharing their gifts and talents for the glory of God. She said that “it is one thing to say you are Catholic and another thing to be Catholic”.

Josh Mercer (with a little help from tiny Charles Mercer) then encouraged everyone in attendance to pray and fast for the earthquake stricken people of Haiti.

Bryan and I spoke briefly, reiterating the fact that we do not know exactly why God sent us to the Marian Center, but we know He has a plan in mind. We have already seen wonderful things happening here at the Center, with this evenings event showing us that God is working, and He is generous!

The evening concluded with a fun reception! Thank you very much to all who attended! What a great start to what we are sure will be a great year here at the Marian Center.

Julie Tuck