Praying For Abraham
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September 15, 2023I have asked our entire parish to PRAY FOR ABRAHAM! WHO IS ABRAHAM? One of our young parishioners is 13-years old. His family (father, mother, three daughters and one son) have been members of our parish for 10 years. I had the Joy of giving Abraham his First Holy Communion.
Many of you last saw Abraham at the Priests/Youth Concert in our Father Martin Hall on July 7. You will recall, the Hall was packed, and the music was uplifting. Abraham was one of the singers. This event was to raise funds for the 12 youth of our parish going to the World Youth Day in Portugal to meet with Pope Francis.
Abraham was well prepared to go on this pilgrimage to Fatima/ Portugal: many prayers were said and also many activities, including fundraising events. Abraham had a wonderful experience! The pilgrimage included visits to holy sites in Spain, such as Santiago de Compostela and The Carmelite Monastery of Avila, before meeting Pope Francis in Fatima. I received many pictures of our young pilgrims as they were all praying for my full recovery from my stroke of July 19th.
I saw Abraham in Waldorf when I returned to parish activities in late August. He was totally transformed. Through the pilgrimage, he had experienced a personal encounter with Christ! He was filled with Joy! You can imagine my shock when I learned 10 days ago that Abraham was suddenly and totally paralyzed! Last Thursday, I went with Father Jan to visit him at the Children' National Hospital in Washington DC. It was now my turn to pray for him! Abraham could move only his eyes. He did not show any signs that he was hearing me when I anointed him. Many doctors came to examine him. The only reflex he showed was a result of soles of his feet that led him to move his toes. This still gave me hope that he could recover.
On the way back, I asked our staff to send a message to the entire parish that the same evening we would begin praying for Abraham as we began the 40-hour Adoration.
Thanks to a great response to our invitation to pray for Abraham, the 40-hour Adoration was the best attended that we have ever had since we began 12 years ago! Many hours, the chapel was packed! One could feel a sense of unity as we had a total of seven hours totally dedicated to pray for just Abraham.I went back to Children's National Hospital last Sunday afternoon. Abraham had been transferred to the Pediatric ICU. He had made much progress that day. He could close his eyes when asked to do so. I felt for the first time that Abraham was able to hear me as he closed his eyes whenever I asked! The Lord is good! This is a small sign of progress, but it is a beginning! I believe that Abraham's encounter with Christ in early August helps him to accept whatever plan God has for him during and after this challenging illness. From the beginning, I told Abraham' s parents that Abraham will survive this paralysis and that God has a beautiful plan for him...maybe to become a priest? With God everything is possible, and He listens to our prayers.
I invite all of you to continue praying for Abraham. Communal prayer is very powerful. Some of you may recall when our entire parish prayed for Julian, a 10- year-old boy who was also critically ill and recovered miraculously. Praying for Julian's recovery United our parish and led to much joy. I believe that like Julian, Abraham will recover fully, and we will all celebrate with his parents. Abraham' parents have asked me to let you know how much they are grateful for your prayers for their sons. I responded that we will continue praying until Abraham has fully recovered. Through our 40-hour Adoration, our joint prayers for Abraham have already strengthened the Unity of our parish.
May God listen to our prayers for Abraham May the Holy Spirit help each one of us to be inspired by Abraham's battle for recovery throughout our year of RENEWAL! May Mary, our Patroness Saint, help us to have a special encounter with her Son Jesus Christ as Abraham's !
One in Christ,
Fr. Alain
ORANDO POR ABRAHAMLe he pedido a toda la parroquia que OREN POR ABRAHAM! QUIEN ES ABRAHAM? Uno de nuestros jovenes parroquianos de 13 años de edad. Su familia (padre, madre, tres hijas y un hijo) han sido miembros de nuestra parroquia por 10 años. Tuve la alegria de darle su Primera Comunion a Abraham.
Muchos de ustedes vieron a Abraham en el concierto de Sacerdotes/Jovenes en el Salon Padre Martin el 7 de Julio. Recordaran, que el salon estaba lleno y la musica era inspiradora. Abraham era uno de los cantantes. Esta actividad fue para juntar fondos para que 12 de los jovenes de nuestra par- roquia fueran al Dia Mundial de la Juventud en Portugal con el Papa Francisco.
Abraham estaba bien preparado para ir a ese pere- grinaje a Fatima/ Portugal: se dijeron muchas oraciones, y muchas actividades, incluyendo recoleccion de fondos. Abraham tuvo una gran experiencia! El Peregrinaje incluyo visitas a los lugares sagrados en España, tal como Santiago de Compostela y el Monasterio de las Carmelitas en Avila, antes de reunirse con el Papa Francisco en Fatima. Recibi muchas fotografias de nuestros peregrinos cuando iban rezando por mi recuperacion del derrame cerebral del 19 de Julio.
Vi a Abraham en Waldorf cuando regrese a las actividades parroquiales a finales de agosto. Estaba totalmente transformado. Por el Peregrinaje, el experimento un encuentro personal con Cristo! Estaba muy alegre, se pueden imaginar el impacto que tuve cuando supe que hacia 10 dias Abraham de repente estaba totalmente paralizado! El Jueves pasado, fui con padre Jan a visitarlo al Hospital Nacional Children en Washington DC. Ahora es mi turno de rezar por el! Abraham solo podia mover sus ojos. No mostraba ningun signo de que me escuchaba cuando le hice la uncion. Muchos doctores lo han examinado. El unico reflejo que ha mostrado tener es en la planta del pie y mueve sus dedos. Esto me da esperanza de que se recuperara.
Cuando regresaba, le pedi al personal que enviara un mensaje a toda la parroquia para que esa misma noche empezaran a rezar por Abraham cuando empezamos las 40-horas de Adoracion.
Gracias a la gran respuestas a nuestra invitacion de rezar por el, las 40-horas de Adoracion fueron las mejores atendidas desde que empezamos hace 12 años! Muchas horas, la Capilla estaba llena! Se podia sentir la unidad cuando estuvimos 7 horas en oracion dedicadas a rezar solo por Abraham.
Cuando regrese al Hospital Nacional Children esta tarde. Abraham habia sido transferido a la ICU. Habia tenido mucho progreso ese dia. El podia cerrar los ojos cuando se le pedia. Senti por primera vez que Abraham podia escucharme cuando le pedia que cerrara los ojos! Dios es bueno! Esta es una pequeña señal de progreso, Es solo el principio...
Creo que el encuentro de Abraham con Cristo al principio de Agosto ayudo a aceptar cualquiera que sea el plan de Dios para El durante este tiempo de enfermedad. Desde el principio, le dije a los padres de Abraham que El sobreviviria esta paralisis que que Dios tenia un hermoso plan para El... quizas se convertira en sacerdote? Con Dios todo es posible, y El escucha nuestras oraciones.
Les invito a continuar rezando por Abraham. La Oracion comunitaria es poderosa.
Algunos de ustedes se recordaran cuando rezamos por Julian, un niño de 10-años de edad que estaba muy enfermo y se recupero milagrosamente. Haber orado juntos por la recuperacion de Julian nos trajo mucha alegria. Creo que como Julian, Abraham se recuperara completamente, y lo celebraremos con sus padres. Los padres de Abraham me pidieron que les comunicara lo agradecidos que estan por todas sus oraciones para su hijo. Les respondi que seguiremos orando por El hasta que se recupere completamente.A traves de las 40-horas de Adoracion,nuestras oraciones Unidos han fortalecido la unidad de nuestra parroquia.
Que Dios escuche nuestras oraciones por Abraham, Que el Espiritu Santo nos ayude a inspirarnos por la batalla de Abraham por su recuperacion en el año de la RENOVACION! Que Maria, nuestra Santa Patrona, nos ayude a tener un encuentro especial con su Hijo, Jesucristo, asi como lo tuvo Abraham !
Uno en Cristo,
Padre Alain
