March 24, 2025

TASTE EVENTS

• LAST TALK — We welcomed back Elizabeth Leon as she gave the third talk in our Lenten Series entitled "The Heart of Healing: Relationship with Self and Others." Once again, we will make use of her beautiful slides which can be found HERE. Elizabeth reminded us again of our goal: to have a firm and renewed conviction that healing is not just possible, it is the promise. As the Lord’s beloved, there is nothing He wants more for us than our freedom and our flourishing. Last week, we identified two of the obstacles to the experience of freedom and flourishing in the world: Trauma and the enemy. We focused on trauma last week, and this week we will focus on the enemy, and how he has such a significant role in our relationship with ourselves and others. ... MORE. 

• NEW TALK — This week, we welcome Susan Brinkmann as she gives our final talk in our Lenten series entitled "In His Image: Healing Our Self Esteem."

• THIS WEEK'S DISCUSSION — We will discuss Elizabeth Leon 's talk entitled "The Heart of Healing: Relationship with Self and Others." The audio, video, reflection questions and other related material can be found HERE. The Zoom small group meets on the following Tuesday morning. Details on how to join can be found in a link at the bottom of this message.

• LENTEN SERVICE PROJECT — We feel called to do a Lenten Service Project this year, but since we are halfway through Lent, we want to make it easy to participate. We will collect items for the Food Pantry at St. Mary of the Mills. Each week, the Food Pantry distributes groceries to more than 60 families, and they are also providing special Easter bags to these families. Needed items include: Cereal, Canned fruit, Canned Meats (Spam, Chicken, Vienna Sausages), Canned beans, Boxed pasta, Pasta Sauce, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Mac & Cheese, Spaghetti-O's, Chef Boyardee, Rice, Baby Wipes. These are the items listed on St. Mary's website, but they will also take any nonperishable items. Please check those expiration dates and only donate unopened and non-expired items. Thank you for your generosity!

OTHER EVENTS / INTEREST ITEMS

• SPEAKER MATT AUJERO AND WIFE MIMI WELCOMED THEIR 8TH CHILD! — Baby Edith Michelle was born 6 weeks early via emergency C-section on February 23rd, just 10 days after Matt spoke at TASTE! Thanks be to God, baby Edith was able to come home on Thursday, March 6th and is doing well. To see pictures of their precious baby, to read more about her dramatic entry into the world, and for ways to assist the family, you're invited to visit their site HERE

• 3/27– SEND YOUR PRAYERS TO BOLOGNA, ITALY  — Cristina Morris is offering to take our prayer petitions to holy sites in Bologna, Italy during her upcoming trip. Please write down your prayer petitions and give them to Cristina at our next TASTE meeting on March 27th. One of our TASTE sisters had a miraculous answer to prayer last year when Maria Wittlin took our petitions to Medugorje. Prayer is powerful!

• 3/29– WOMEN'S LENT RETREAT  — Ascension Catholic Church in Bowie, MD is hosting a Women's Lent Retreat on Saturday, March 29th from 9:00 am - 2:30 pm. Our spiritual director, Fr. Larry Swink, will be giving a talk at this retreat. Please register by March 25th. See LINK.

• 4/5– SPRING GALA — St. Vincent Pallotti High School is having their Spring Gala on April 5, 2025.  Please consider either donating or attending this memorable evening filled with fun, fine dining, and spirited activities inspired by the timeless traditions of horse racing.  LINK Wish List  Sponsorship Form  Auction Item Donation Form

• 4/26 – FEAST OF BLESSED GILES SPRING FESTIVAL  — The Little Portion Farm on the grounds of the Shrine of St. Anthony is hosting a Spring Festival in honor of Blessed Giles, Farmer and Friar.  One of our own, Helen Griffith, will be playing with her band at this event.  Come for a farm fresh meal, live music, farm tours (by Michele Cardamone's husband Mike), plant sales, and games.  See LINK.

• 4/26 – BENEFIT FOR WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN — St. Jude's Catholic Church in Rockville will be hosting this benefit with special guest Fr. Dan Leary. This is the organization Kevin Wells spoke to us about in his TASTE TALK on 10/21/2021. See HERE for additional details. Register at this LINK.

• 9/22 – PILGRIMAGE TO IRELAND — Join Fr. Michael DeAscanis of St. Louis Catholic Church in Clarksville, MD on a 12-day pilgrimage to Ireland from September 22 - October 3, 2025.  LINK

PRAYER REQUESTS

• Please continue to pray for our TASTE program and our speakers. This week, please pray for:

• OUR SPEAKERS AND FRIENDS OF TASTE: 1) Sr. Mary Michael Fox for full recovery and 2) Fr. Larry Swink for healing and support.

• OUR TASTE MEMBERS AND FAMILIES: 1) Healing for Maureen Filiault’s grandson Xavier who had a seizure, 2) Linda Lupaczyk for healing of her back and ankle pain, 3) Nancy Beckfeld, mother-in-law of Joy Parker, for effective treatment of her lung cancer and healing of blood clots in her lungs and leg, 4) Maryanna Rice's continued healing, 5) Kate Christianson for eradication of her cancer, 6) Andrew, Larissa Cymerman's brother-in-law, in thanksgiving for a successful stem cell transplant and for a positive outcome for healing from blood cancer, 7) God's complete physical and spiritual healing for Helen Griffith's brother-in-law Rod, and 8) Maureen Filiault's sister, Nancy's healing from anxiety.
• We also pray for peace and comfort to the families of each of the people mentioned above.   New prayer requests can be sent to Joy Parker at joyparker73@gmail.com.