Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Joseph Karl Publishing's Writers Become Catholic Author Missionaries As Its Titles Make Their China Debut


Joseph Karl Publishing's award-winning titles were presented today at the 2012 Beijing International Book Fair.  Books written by Gene X. Kortsha, Paul A. Ray, Andre Bottesi, Nick Bottesi, Michele Bondi Bottesi, and illustrated by Kristina M. Pope were displayed, along with Harvey House Publishing's award-winning titles by Catholic children's author Nancy Carabio Belanger.

From the 2012 Beijing Book Fair's website:  http://www.bibf.net/websiteen/home/default.aspx

"The Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), now held eighteen times since its inception in 1986, continues to uphold its principle of “introducing excellent books from around the world into China and leading Chinese books to the world”. Over the past twenty years, the BIBF has been an event of the utmost importance to publishers, and has received major support and participation from domestic and overseas book and publishing industries, gradually confirming BIBF's international brand status, and turning it into a major international publishing event incorporating copyright trade, book trade, cultural events, displays, consultation services and professional networking."

"The 19th Beijing International Book Fair will be held at the China International Exhibition Center (New Venue) and runs from August 29 to September 2, 2012."

Monday, August 27, 2012

Don't Wait


If there was anything I needed to say to her, this was the time, and it would be my last opportunity.  

The final story in the forthcoming pro-life book God Moments III:  True Love Leads To Life.  

Sisters Belinda and Michele

It was almost Christmas 2011, and my sister Belinda was near death. Recently, she had been released from an unexpectedly long stay at the hospital.  She was admitted because her white blood cell counts were low, and had already been informed that cancer had spread throughout her body, and she was dying.  One medical condition after another presented itself.  At one point she went into renal failure, and we were all informed her condition was hopeless and she had at most several more days left to live. However, it is God alone and not man who has the right to decide who lives and who dies, and when.  Six weeks later, after various treatments for the conditions that presented themselves one after another, she was finally discharged from the  hospital. 

It was a triumphant day of sorts when our mother and I accompanied her home on this last leg of her journey.  Before I headed home, the three of us sat in the living room and chatted about the events of the last several weeks.

Two things stand out in my mind about that conversation.  

Belinda had spent years compiling our family genealogy and thanks to the computer age, she was able to maintain contact via e-mail and skype with our beloved relatives around the world. I asked her about her experience in the hospital, when she was on the brink of death.  She said she didn’t feel like she was dying, perhaps because as she said, “Nobody came for me.”  She shook her head.  All those relatives that had preceded us in death and whose personal stories she knew so well, and  “Nobody came for me.” 

They knew it wasn’t her designated time yet. 

She also said that material things, which never had any great importance to her unless used to help other people, were now of no concern to her at all.  We spoke briefly about what is of true, and eternal value, a subject we had discussed so many times before.   

Belinda’s health deteriorated rapidly after that day. 

Belinda kept pictures of us, on one of our last trips together, by her bedside

The day before she died, I went to Holy Mass and then brought her Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.  At that point she was no longer able to see or speak, but when the Host was placed on her tongue she clearly knew He was there with her and wanted to receive Him. She seemed to savor His Real Presence there on her tongue.

That day, my mother and brother and I were there with Belinda, and I remained with her when  my mother and brother left to run some errands.     

A kind woman from hospice had recently made a very helpful recommendation.  It broke Belinda’s heart to be leaving us, and our family had spoken of the moment that was coming when we would most likely need to give Belinda our permission to go to God.  What I had not thought of was how important it was to Belinda to know that our mother would be all right.    

And so I was left that day with Belinda all to myself as she lay in her bed dying, and realized that the opportunity I knew was coming had arrived.  If there was anything I needed to say to her, this was the time, and it would be my last opportunity.  

To be concluded... 

The conclusion of the story:  http://godisatworkinyou.blogspot.com/2012/08/dont-wait.html

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Production Begins on New Short Video Celebrating the Majestic Tridentine Holy Mass


Enjoy the images from Apostolate Films' archives as the team selects and prepares the many lovely pictures.

The following images were taken on the Feast of Corpus Christi 2012 at Ss. Cyril and Methodious Slovak Catholic Church in Sterling Heights, Michigan, U.S.A. 


 








Thank you, Ss. Cyril and Methodius Slovak Catholic Church for collaborating with us, again!

God is at work in you.  +

Friday, August 24, 2012

Launch Out Into The Deep


 
 
 
 
 
 



Thursday, August 16, 2012

"Come To Me"

Image taken just prior to the Holy Mass
on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
August 15, 2012
at Ss. Cyril & Methodius Slovak Catholic Church 
in Sterling Heights, Michigan, U.S.A.
 

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Our Sweet and Gentle Jesus

 
 

Monday, August 6, 2012

Believe