U-Got-2-Believe!




Dear Fr. Stan,
My name is Marcia Reina and I am a mother blessed with two beautiful daughters. Kate, 15 a sophmore and Samantha 12, an 8th grader. We live
in NJ and attend St. Teresa of Avila parish. We were fortunate to have met you at the Catholic Festival in Salem, Mass. My daughter Samantha was most especially excited to have met you. Thank you for taking the time to make such a difference and spread God's love and compassion.

In May, 2002 my family took a trip to Georgia to visit family. While there, we visited a Catholic bookstore and while shopping I picked up your book for my two daughters to "share". I recognized your picture on the cover and knew that you recently were in Newark, NJ - although we did not get to attend your concert - rumor had it that your music was something teens related to. I quickly flipped through your book and decided that this was "THE" book I would purchase for my girls.

Little did I realize what an amazing impact it had on my younger daughter Samantha. She picked up the book - first and began reading. Suddenly she announced that she was going to bed. It was only 8:30 PM! Shortly thereafter as I headed upstairs myself, I went into her room to kiss her goodnight. There was Sam - propped up in bed with your book, the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church! She was following your directions - referring to passages in the Bible and whenever you reference the CCC - she immediately read it as well! Samantha completed your book within a week. As you suggested in your book, Samantha wrote a prayer to our Lord at the end of the book. I will share this with you at the end of this e-mail.

As a family, we recited the Rosary, but now Samantha began to pray the Rosary on her own. Over the next several weeks other changes began to unfold. As school ended in June, Samantha asked to join me at daily Mass. Before getting ready for day camp, she would get up early and accompany me to 7:00 AM Mass. After a few weeks she announced how she would miss Mass when school began again in September!

One Saturday afternoon in June, Samantha said "I think we should go to Confession". I agreed and the following Saturday - off we went to Confession. This summer, among her required reading assignment for school, Samantha read 10 books on various Saints in preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation in the ninth grade.

I wanted to take a moment to THANK YOU and to affirm that your book has been instrumental in Samantha's spiritual life. My 12-year old girl read your book and was brought closer to the Lord - Praise and glory to God! This beautiful book was the vehicle that moved her.

I will be teaching 8th grade Religious Education and will recommend your book to my students and their parents. I pray that your words continue to touch and awaken other souls.

God bless you, Fr. Stan.

Marcia

Here is Samantha's prayer...

PRAYER TO BE

I need to love
I ned to accept
I need to forgive
I need for forget
I need to praise
I need to give
I need to thank
I need to live and
I cannot lie
I cannot steal
I cannot swear
I cannot feel but
I must follow
I must lead
I must discipline
I must bleed
I must sacrifice
I must kneel
I must have faith
I must be real
AMEN

PRAYER OF NEEDS

Protect me in all your ways
Help me to love and praise
Give me courage, give me strength
To be willing at any length
Guide me all the days of my life
So I may pass all this trouble and strife
Let me be grateful and thankful too
For I am blessed because I know you
With you in my life, it shines so bright
Even in the dark, you are my light
Teaching me the right thing to do
By having faith and trusting in you
Oh Lord, you are here with me
And to the end of time, forever will you be.
AMEN

All for the glory of God! Keep writing!
Marcia