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Fr. Abraham: If you had only one word to describe the Apostolate you direct, what would that word be?
Joan Barnwell: MIRACULOUS!
Fr. Abraham: And how did you arrive at that conclusion?
Joan Barnwell: I guess because so many of the ongoing events were obviously from God. He has been there giving us life in the beginning, 45 years ago, and now there is this tremendous unexpected growth! He has been our Master Planner.
Fr. Abraham: How did all of this begin?
Joan Barnwell: It began with a fish aquarium and a small Marian statue inside of it. About seven years later the Eucharistic phase began. A Nigerian priest said one reason he believes in the Apostolate is because of its slow growth. He said that is the way God operates.
Fr. Abraham: Is this officially approved by the Church?
Joan Barnwell: An archbishop described us as a private movement in the Church. As far as I know, the Holy Father has never heard of us. But we have wonderful support from Cardinal James Francis Stafford, Former President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, and our immediate Bishop, Bishop Joseph Sartoris. Our total Consecration Prayer was composed with the assistance of Bishop Carl Fisher of this Los Angeles archdiocese, shortly before his death. In addition to celebrating Mass for us, several other Bishops willingly support us with their Masses--to say nothing of the numerous other dear priests who do likewise.
A framed treasure is a letter from the LATE GREAT ARCHBISHOP. FULTON J. SHEEN, written September 19, 1978. Archbishop. Sheen writes:
"...I compliment you on the zealous apostolate you direct. May it continue to fructify in the hearts and lives of all who come in contact with LOTS--(an earlier name for the apostolate.) It will be my pleasure to offer Holy Mass on October 27th for your 20th anniversary of LOTS. May you and all your members share in the blessing of the Good Lord and His Mother, Mary. Because you asked me and in admiration of your apostolate, I shall be happy to offer the Christmas Mass you described in your letter. My blessing to you and all your members. God Love You! Faithfully in Christ"
(signed) Fulton J. Sheen, Titular Archbishop of Newport.
Fr. Abraham: Why should there be a Shrine in our home when we have the churches and we have Jesus in our mind?
Joan Barnwell: Being active in Eucharistic Home Shrines is a tremendous opportunity, not only for union with Christ, but also it enables us to feed the world with his Most Precious Body and Blood, thru our Shrine prayer!
Fr. Abraham: Is there any membership fee or monthly dues?
Joan Barnwell: No, not per se. Everyone knows that Masses, postage, printing costs, etc. takes money. We are most grateful for donations and kiddingly say. "If you send us an offering, we promise not to hate you."
Fr. Abraham: What are members supposed to do?
Joan Barnwell: Members have to have a picture of a Chalice and Host, or even a three-D representation of a Chalice and a Host. It must be blessed by a priest with the intention of being a Eucharistic Home Shrine. We have many pre-blessed ShrineS which we are happy to give out - with the assurance of the Keeper's true intention. We have no meetings, so basically we hope only that all Catholic members will be faithful to our prayers.
Fr. Abraham: Are non-Catholics or non-Christian members of this program? Do they need to be baptized in the Catholic Church to join the EHS?
Joan Barnwell: No, Shrine Keepers do not have to be Catholic. A few of them are not. And they, of course, are not bound by our prayers. It is a joy to know that our prayers are getting Our Blessed Lord into their homes, via the Masses we attend and the more than ninety Masses celebrated each year for our membership.
Fr. Abraham: I detect a golden thread of Colorado in your review of EHS.
Joan Barnwell: The roots of EHS are definitely in Denver, Colorado, specifically two houses from Blessed Sacrament Church. That is where the first Shrine was dedicated by Fr. Francis Syrianey. It will be interesting to see in Heaven how the little seed grew. I have not mentioned before that as we were moving from Denver to California, we got a loving letter from Abp. Urban J. Vehr, Archbishop of Colorado, in which he said he was praying for a SPECIAL GRACE for us! We already had the ShrineS started there - so just where did his prayers go? We will have to wait until Heaven to know the answer to that, I think. In the meantime, thanks be to God for the communion of saints.
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For questions on Eucharistic Home ShrineS, please mail to Joan Barnwellat joanbarnwell@socal.rr.com / EHS@socal.rr.comSend mail to Fr.
Abraham Mutholathu Jacob at
mutholath2000@yahoo.com with
comments about this web site.
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