November 12, 2022 

       Guest Speaker: Fr. Brian Flanagan

Father Brian Flanagan, Pastor Emeritus of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

 Father Brian grew up as a cradle Catholic in a family of eight children. His parents Jack and Harriet sent their children to Catholic school through college. They prayed the rosary nightly as a family and were involved in parish activities. In many ways a typical Catholic family of the 1950’s. Fr Brian from the age of 5 wanted to become a priest and actually contacted the Maryknoll Missionaries in 8^th grade about attending the high school seminary. They advised him to attend regular high school and stay in touch. Fr Brian was in high school from 1962-1966, during Vatican II. He attended college from 1966-1970, the Viet Nam war era. When he finished his Education he wasn’t sure what we believed anymore, so much had changed. He never stopped praying but became an occasional Mass attendee. In the 1980’s while teaching at South Tech in Boynton Beach a friend had the opportunity to go on pilgrimage to Medjugorje. She asked Fr Brian if he would like her to ask the Blessed Mother anything for him, sarcastically he said,” ask her what God wants from me.” He learned don’t ask the Blessed Mother anything you don’t want to know. Come and join us to hear the rest of the story.

In these words of the Magnificat, Mary proclaimed to Elizabeth her gratitude for the wonderful action of God in her life.  The entire scene of the Visitation is the inspiration for this ministry, which adopts the name of Mary's hymn of praise and the spirit of this biblical encounter as its own. Following the example of Mary and Elizabeth, this woman-to-woman ministry attempts to generate a lively faith in God and His action in our lives along with a love for Mary and the Church.

Please join us at a breakfast for Catholic women of the Palm Beach Diocesewhere we will share together in that same spirit of gratitude and praise of God.   After a meal, there will be a time of prayer for the needs of all present and an opportunity to hear one woman's experience of the transforming love of Christ in her own life. 

Please plan to come and bring a friend to rejoice in the presence of the Lord.

"Glorify the Lord with me.  Let us together extol His name."  Ps 34:4