It was a Wednesday evening towards the end of September. I was traveling to Bradford, England, for the blessing and formal opening of our newest foundation, St. Pio Friary. Br. Thomas Joseph was traveling with me, as he had been assigned to the new house. We purposely arranged for a late-evening flight so that we would have ample time to get everything in good order. However, it was not to be!

The friars lay prostrate during the Litany of the Saints at the Mass of Final Profession of Vows on July 31. An image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, present in the sanctuary, reminded us of her example of generous poverty, fruitful chastity, and trusting obedience. The friars who made their final vows this year are Br. Gerard Kanapesz, Br. Damiano Vaissade, Br. Isaac Spinharney, Br. Simon Dankoski, and Br. Albert Osewski.

Since we were traveling directly to Manchester, England, we needed to fly from Newark Airport. Crossing the Hudson River from the Bronx to New Jersey can sometimes be like attempting to ford the Mississippi in a canoe with no paddles. Hours seemed to pass as our car crept across the George Washington Bridge. Although the traffic finally opened up on the Jersey shores like the parting of the Red Sea, precious minutes had passed.

For some unexplainable reason, the lines at the airport check-in counter were particularly long that night. Because Br. Thomas was moving his life to England, bags had to be checked (even if ever so few). The swirls of interior impatience seemed to swell my brain as we waited an experienced eternity for an opportunity to approach the airline agent. Finally, our moment had come and we were invited to the desk. Passports, tickets, and all necessary documentation were set before the attendant. She proceeded with her seemingly mindless task of checking the information, typing into her computer all the pertinent details, and rattling off all necessary security questions. Suddenly she stopped and said, "I am sorry, Mr. Murphy, but you are listed on a 'No Fly List'".

I could feel the blood rush to my face, my pulse begin to race, when the airline agent looked up and said "Oh! what a beautiful countenance." I thought to myself, "Lady, you must be out of your mind," when I realized she was not looking at me. She was looking over my shoulder. I quickly turned to see what she was gazing at. There stood Br. Thomas holding his precious cargo, a three foot-image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. "What a beautiful face she has, so peaceful, so serene," the attendant commented. At that moment, the whole tenor of the day shifted. Suddenly an abiding sense of God's presence and provision filled my heart. Without hesitation, I knew God was in control.

The agent immediately returned to her computer and stated that there was no difficulty with my flying. The name and birth date in my passport did not match the information present on the computer screen. As she typed in all the necessary prompts to get us through the security check, the agent asked question after question about Our Lady and Her Son. After fifteen minutes of pleasant exchange, the agent sent us on our way with a welcome seat change to bulkhead for more leg room.

The St. David's Relief project is another Marian connection. Many friars and other Christians have experienced Our Lady's presence in Medjugorje in remarkable ways. The Balkan War of the last decade left a wake of destruction, so the friars have been assisting lay friends of the Community every summer in rebuilding homes, schools, and churches in the former Yugoslavia. Last summer, they were, like Saint Francis of Assisi, literally rebuilding an ancient church and monastery so that it can be used again for the spiritual rebuilding of retreatants and guests. Here, Fr. Glenn Sudano is shown blessing a recently constructed mountain shrine to Saine Anne.

Having effectively obtained our boarding tickets, Br. Thomas, Our Lady and I proceeded to our next frustration, the security checkpoint. Although lines are commonplace in air travel these days, the back-up at security seemed particularly marked that evening. As we awaited our turn to pass through the metal detectors, we emptied our pockets of any metallic objects. Without our notice, a holy card of Our Lady slipped out of one of our breviaries. Just as we were to continue down the line, a guard called out to us, "Excuse me, sir. You dropped this." As we stopped to see who beckoned us, we turned to see the airport security guard standing back upright, having picked the image from the floor. With a quick, but pious pause, the middle-aged man gazed at the picture, gave it a reverent kiss, and handed Our Lady back to us. She was clearly still at our side.

After what seemed like another interminable wait, we finally were ushered onto the plane and settled into our seats. The flight was on its way, and the drama of the day seemed to be fading into the past. It was a late-night flight, so we were eager to have our dinner and get some rest. The flight attendants too seemed determined to finish their tasks with haste. Trays were removed, lights were dimmed, and the sonorous groans of sleeping passengers could be heard. I was about to settle in when one of the stewardesses came and inquired if we were Franciscans. I said that we were. At this, our attendant sat down on the floor and began to tell us her story.

Many lay associates and friends were on hand for the official opening and blessing of St. Pio Friary in Bradford, England on Sept. 23, the feast day of St. Pio. Bishop Arthur Roache blessed the friary while many of the local faithful expressed their gratitude for a new presence of frirs to bring the hope of the Gospel to this poor area near Leeds. Fr. Fidelis Moscinski (left), the Local Servant at this new mission friary is shown with Fr. Bernard Murphy, our Community Servant and Bishop Roache. St. Pio of Pietrelcina has been a great friend of the friars and sisters, and we will rely heavily on his intercession for our brothers and new "extended family" in Bradford.

Some weeks before, this stewardess had been assigned to a flight to Lisbon, Portugal. Although she was a "non-active Catholic", as she described herself, she felt an impulse to visit the famed shrine of Our Lady at Fatima. While there, she found her heart moved by the fervor of the pilgrims, particularly those seeking a favor of Our Lady. Mindful that her aunt was to have cancer surgery the next day, the stewardess, in pious imitation of those around her, lit a candle, mouthed some prayers, and hoped for the best concerning her aunt's procedure.

Upon her return to the States, the attendant told us that she called her mother to see how her aunt had fared. To her surprise, her aunt answered the phone. She was visiting the mother. "I thought you would still be in the hospital", the stewardess said. It was then that the aunt shared with her the remarkable news.

The day before the scheduled operation (the same day the stewardess was in Fatima), the aunt went through some preliminary tests. To the astonishment of the doctors, no trace of cancer could be found. After further investigation and consultation, the surgery was deemed unnecessary at that time ("and at any time", added the stewardess). Tears welled up in the stewardess' eyes as she relayed to us the gracious kindness of Our Lady.

Fr. Terry Messer and Fr. Conrad Osterhout are shown with a displaced friend in Houma, Louisiana after the tragic Hurricane Katrina struck. A dozen of our friars were sent to offer spiritual assistance and the peace of the Lord in the midst of the storm that continued in these people's lives. The friars were also ministered to and edified by the faith-filled and trusting response of many whom were displaced. Franciscans have a heritage of quick response to emergency needs in the history of the Church, so we felt it was appropriate to be personally involved in responding to this disaster. Usually these friars are assisting migrant workers in Yonkers, New York at the Casa Juan Diego.

The Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Renewal have a great love for Our Lady. Like our late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, we believe she has a special role to play in our personal lives, as well as in the life of our Church. We are consecrated to Our Lady, renewed each December 12, under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She is the patroness of the Americas and the Mother of the Unborn. In 1999, during his visit to Mexico for the canonization of St. Juan Diego, the late pontiff proclaimed her the Patroness of the New Evangelization. Mary is and always has been a Mother and Model, a protectress and intercessor, a companion and guide to each of the Friars and Sisters. We know Her love, we experience Her protection, and we are convinced that She is always at our side.

Soon the stewardess was called by her colleagues to tend to some of her duties. My thoughts turned to the loving and abiding presence of Our Lady throughout that fading day. I adjusted the pillow behind my head as I hoped to get a few hours' rest. As I turned toward the window, I found the sky lightening in the East. The moon could be seen on the horizon. And there at its side was the Morning Star, reminding me of Our Lady who is always near.

Thank you, Mary, for your love. Thank you, Mary, for your gracious intercession. Thank you, Mary, for your prodigal provision. Thank you, Mary, that you remind us OFTEN of your presence. And thank you that you are always Our Lady at our side.

Fr. Herald, Sr. Clare, and Sr. Francesca are shown praying in a Honduran home in which three of the children have cerebral palsy. The friars and sisters seek to be good intercessors by sharing in the joys and sorrows of those for whom they are praying. We in turn are strengthened by the prayers of Our Lady, who shares in our joys and sorrows and who told Saint Juan Diego, "Let nothing disturb you... Am I not here who am your mother?"

After the investiture of Sr. Francesca, (far left) the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal happily gather around an image of Our Lady of Fatima. As in most families, our holy Mother helps to keep us united in our service to one another and to the Church.