Thursday, February 13, 2020

medical update: I have been diagnosed with a brain tumor


As you are aware, a one day trip to the Mayo Clinic this week has turned into a four day trip.  I want to begin by saying I have so much gratitude in my heart for the wonderful medical professionals I've been able to work with through this entire process...such a great blessing in our country, and the Mayo Clinic is certainly a bright spot in our world.  My family doctor, Dr. Keith Landry has been wonderful, as well as my cardiologist, a Roncalli dad, Dr. Michael Barron.  I have a nurse, Lauren Alcorn, that has been such a kind help through all that has come up these past 12 months.  That care has continued here at Mayo.  Each person has played a key role in this process, and I am very thankful and amazed by the state of medicine in the US in 2020.

While the MRI that I had at St. Francis in December was thought to reveal a stroke, a second MRI that I had here at the Mayo Clinic showed that the affected area of my brain had not changed hardly at all over the last two months.  My Mayo Clinic doctors have said that a stroke would have already started to heal significantly in those two months, so they were able to say definitively that what I have is a brain tumor.

That certainly is a serous diagnosis, but I actually feel very blessed by the path that they have laid out for me, and the prognosis is very good.  The path involves the removal of the tumor and then possible radiation and chemotherapy to make sure that any remaining cells are taken care of.  Both the radiation and Chemotherapy that I would potentially do are not the severe forms that certain cancers call for, so I'm very thankful for that.

The path:

1) I can function as normal for the next several weeks

2)  I will travel back to the Mayo Clinic for a brain tumor surgery that will happen Friday, March 13th.  The expected time in the hospital is actually surprisingly short.  Brain surgery actually requires a lot less physical recovery than surgeries like open heart.  There may need to be an extended stay if physical therapy or speech therapy is needed.

3) The surgeon said that typically after only 6 weeks a person is back to normal.

One question that I thought it would also be helpful to address: "is the tumor cancer?"  Because of the fact that the tumor has been fairly stable for two months, they are very optimistic that it isn't any kind of aggressive cancer.  It may be a low grade cancer, but even if it is non-cancerous, it is still best to remove the tumor as it would still eventually grow and start to cause problems.   

One request: When the scandals of 2018 broke out, most of you know that they have affected me deeply, as they have most of the Church.  I prayed in 2018 that if there was some suffering I could undertake on behalf of all the victims, some cross I could carry, I would welcome that.  I feel like this is that cross, and I embrace it willingly.  I would love to have a list of victims of priestly abuse that I could pray for each day.  I would like to dedicate each day of this recovery/chemo/radiation to 5-10 victims, and I would like, if possible, to even write them a note letting them know of my prayers for them.  IF YOU KNOW OF A PERSON OR YOU ARE A VICTIM YOURSELF, with the victims permission, please send me the name and, if possible, a mailing address so that I can send them a note, that would be much appreciated.  my email address is fatherjohnhollowell at protonmail.

Also, I would like to pass this word on to SNAP, so if you know someone that is in leadership for SNAP, please let them know I'm interested in speaking with them to see if there's some way I could get the names of people to pray for and, if possible, send a note to in the midst of all of this. 


In closing, I am very much at peace.  Other than time in the hospital, the only effects of this tumor that I have had are 5 episodes of spasm/seizure that have each lasted 90 seconds.  I also realize I am blessed to have uncovered it through this process vs. finding out about the tumor down the road after it had grown more in size.  

You all will be in my prayers, as I pray daily for the salvation of all the souls of those who live and study within my parish boundaries.  


May Our Lady of Lourdes watch over and intercede for all those who are sick or suffering in any way!

88 comments:

  1. I'm adding you to my prayer list Fr. John. God bless you.

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    1. Praying for your full recovery Father.....thank you for your sacrifice for victims....you are truly a man of great courage and great love!!!...peace in your heart will be always present throughout your recovery!

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    2. Please Fr John if you see this, pray for Gerald McEvoy a victim of clerical abuse in childhood, victimised for 'blowing the whistle' on seminaries meeting with male prostitutes in Rome in 1970s and finally losing the families livelihood because he spoke in court about his abuse for which the church is refusing to acknowledge. God Bless you!

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  2. God bless you Father. We will be storming heaven for your recovery.

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  3. For a very long time now we've prayed for you every morning and will continue.

    Even not being within the boundary of your parish (and never having met you in person) I'm so grateful for your holy priesthood and catechesis; I learn from you and I'm so encouraged by you.

    Thank you for modeling so well the gift of redemptive suffering. The beauty of it is hard to explain or understand unless you've experienced it but your example will be an instrument of inspiration to many!

    God the Father, send your Holy Spirit to walk with, comfort, and heal Father Hollowell along this journey. Jesus, through your hands all sickness is made well, spiritually and physically. Sweet Mother, wrap your mantle of loving care around Fr. Hollowell and hold him up to the Lord. We pray to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit. ~Amen

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    1. Amen ��! I agree! Couldn’t state it any better, so I agree, and also pray! 🙏🙏🙏❤️

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    2. I pray for you daily Fr but will pray more for your recovery. I'm not in your parish but have followed you for the past few years and am so grateful for your constant words of wisdom and being such a wonderful role model in these dark days of the Church. I pray that your surgery and recovery will go well. Thank you for praying for all those victims in your suffering, you are a holy priest. God bless you.

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  4. Praying unceasingly for you and your intentions, Fr. John.
    Love and Continuing Peace,
    Beckita

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  5. Fr. John, you are an incredibly spiritual and holy priest. You are not afraid to speak truth...and you are not afraid to suffer for Christ’s mission. Such an exemplary model of Christian charity. May God bless and heal you..and give you strength to continue fighting the good fight! Cling to Him! May Our Lady be ever so near you...one of her beloved sons.
    Pax Christi

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  6. Prayers lifted for you and your medical team.

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  7. Continuing to include you in my rosary intentions.

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  8. I will add you to my prayers and please add my husband Dave to your prayers he has esophageal cancer that has spread to his thyroid. Thank you and God bless

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  9. God BLess You Father and Mary wrap you in her Mantle of Love. You will be in my prayers.

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  10. You have been on the King's Men prayer list at All Saints Parish/Dover IN for sometime now. We will continue praying for you. God bless you and all that you do for our Church.

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  11. Prayers to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus for your healing, through the Will of our God. You are such an inspiration to the world, Father, and we are so grateful for your holy priesthood.

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  12. I will be praying for you Fr. John and in turn I will pray for those you are praying for through this. God bless~

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  13. Sending our prayers to you in this difficult time Father! May God Bless and heal you!

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  14. God bless you Father. You are in my prayers.

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  15. Prayers for you in this journey. What devotion to our God you exhibit! May HIS grace, love and peace fill you and carry you through this time in your life. Monica and Rich Lively

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  16. You are dearly loved. You will be in my heart and prayers. I will add you to the intentions for our Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help next Wednesday at St. Rose Philippine Duchesne.

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  17. praying for your healing and strength, and for your entire family.
    May the Blessed Mother wrap her arms of love and protection around you.

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  18. I’m very sorry to hear about your diagnosis, Father, but glad you have a positive outlook about it and a good prognosis. I’m (just barely) outside your parish boundaries, but I pray for you often and have been thinking about you all day. If you wouldn’t mind saying a prayer for the salvation of my children, I would greatly appreciate that. May God bless you always...”and in all ways”...as Msgr. Moran would say. ����♥️✝️

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  19. God bless your sacrifices and I pray through the intercession of St. Peregrine, St. Gianna, St. Anne, and all the saints to accompany you as you bear this Cross. This crowd of saints accompanied my daughter and and also wife and mother through her own brain surgery for a Medulloblastoma tumor which also brought an amazing recovery. She is a Clinical Pharmacist at a major Catholic hospital. God is good!

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  20. Praying for blessings and healing for you. We serve an awesome God who loves us, and hears and answers our prayers.

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  21. Your strength, words and prayers are amazing. God will keep you in His loving and healing arms. I will pray for you and those who you are praying for.

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  22. Praying for full recovery! God bless you!

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  23. Father you and your parish family are in my prayers daily. I will add your name and intentions to our SVdP petition prayer list. It always "works" as God wills.

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  24. Praying for you, Father John. You are such a blessing to your parish and our community!

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  25. As a victim of priest abuse, I am touched that you are offering your prayers in your time of hurt and healing. I will also pay that your treatment is successful and your cross is a light one. My abuse occurred from 1983-1985. Although not a practicing Catholic now, I know it was my faith and my family that guided me through a very troubling childhood because of only 1 man. God is definitely good and His blessings abundant. I am proof. Again, prayers for you, Fr. John.

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    1. Katy, I am so sorry for what you have suffered. A group of Catholics in Milwaukee has written a letter of apology to all who have experienced abuse in our Church: www.awakemilwaukee.org/theletter. I hope you will read this small gesture of our repentance.

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  26. Father, we have scheduled a Mass at my parish, Good Shepherd here in Cincinnati, for the special intention of your improved health and healing. It will be our 7:30 p.m Mass on Ash Wednesday, February 26. God bless you, Father! You are a blessing to us!

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  27. You will be added to our family prayers, Father.

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  28. Remember, O' most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine assistance was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee oh Virgin of Virgins, my mother. to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful, O' Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions but in thine mercy hear and answer me. May our Loving Mother wrap you in the soft and sweet smelling blanket of her mercy! We will keep you and all priests in our continuing prayers.

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  29. My prayers for you each day, Fr. John.
    Deacon Marc Kellams

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  30. I will pray for HEALING for you Father, if it be Our Loving Gods Will.You inspire me.I am grateful
    Sharon

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  31. Fr Hollowell, you are in my prayers daily already! I will certainly continue to hold you up to the Blessed Mother everyday. I will request a Mass to be said for you this Sunday.

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  32. St Elizabeth Seton will be praying for you .God heal you. Kathy Stadker

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  33. Prayers for your healing.🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

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  34. You are in the right place. You will be in my prayers! Blessings on you!

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  35. I’m sorry to hear of your diagnosis and will be praying for you. I am a victim of priest abuse who also happens to have a benign brain tumor and was diagnosed with lung cancer (not cigarette related). I was spared from both diagnoses by early diagnosis. I am praying you will be fully healed so you can continue your good work. God bless you.

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  36. We will add you to our Monday Evening Rosary Prayer List at St. Barnabas, as well as to my personal prayers. Your positive attitude will go a long way toward your recovery. I also visit a "Prayer Warrior" in prison and will ask her to pray for you. May God bless and keep you.

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  37. You don't know me but...This nurse is praying for you =)

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  38. Prayers for your healing Father, I have a friend named Dan who is going through what sounds like an identical situation to yours. I would appreciate if you would pray for him if you can, in your charity. I would also like to ask your forgiveness, I gave you a hard time about a Nike shirt that you were wearing some months ago. I'm sorry, it was disrespectful and uncharitable, and I apologize wholeheartedly and promise to pray for you until you are healed. Please forgive.

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  39. Father, thank you for this powerful post and for your courage and grace. Joining you in hope and in prayer, that you and the survivors of the unthinkable abuse may experience complete and total healing. Amen.

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  40. I pray for your healing and full recovery dear Father! You are so brave! And it just goes to prove that our little whispers to God the Father are always heard, so think of what you ask for!

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  41. Father i don't know if you will see this but PLEASE contact Dr. Henry Friedman at Duke. You can't know what kind of tumor it is without a BIOPSY. Proper diagnoses is crucial to ensure you get the best treatment. I would even be happy to set up a meeting for you with Duke!

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  42. Praying for you Father. I know you will bear this cross with dignity and compassion for others. God bless you.

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  44. Dear Father John Hollowell,
    You are certainly the priest that Jesus loves as your namesake disciple. I have loved listening to your posts on Instagram and am grateful to be catechised in the faith by your teaching. How blessed we are to hear you as you give us solid teaching in Christ and His truth. God bless and heal you as your priesthood has been our blessing too. A lifelong practicing Catholic who will pray for you always ��

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  45. Hello Father John. I am saddened to hear of your condition. I recently come to know you through your weekly sermons on YouTube. Please be well Father and continue to share the Good News. I have great guidance from your candid sharing approach during your homilies. Thank you for your straight to the heart of it message. You are in my prayers along with the teachings you share from Jesus. God Bless. - Frank

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  46. Fr Hollowell you have been and will continue to be part of daily request for intercession from St Peregrine, Our Lady and Our Lord.

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  47. I like your optimism. If I were you, I also would want to believe cancer was an answer to prayers and not punishment for my treatment of gay people.

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  48. Fr. John, you probably don't know about the Maria Goretti Network/MGN. We are a peer-led support group for ANY victim of abuse. A few of us are survivors of clergy abuse but most of us were abused in some way by non-clergy. We need all the help we can get so thank you for your prayers for all survivors. May God Bless You, Miguel Prats Mgr MGN www.mgoretti.org

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  49. Father you are an awesome example of a Holy Priest.I'm praying for you!

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  50. My prayers for a speedy recovery Fr. John. My nephew had this done 2 years ago. He was 40 years old and he did remarkable! He drives a truck for his living long distance and has no issues! God's graces with you!

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  51. Praying for you Father John. Prayers also for your doctors and medical team. May God bless you during this time of surgery and healing!

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  52. Fr. John, what a beautiful testament you are to the faith! I will be praying for you during this process!

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  53. Dear fr John please pray for my atheist husband Alec who had blood cancer and the two dibeates and for our two older sons who don't know thd loved of God may our Lord watch over you and may our lady Queen of heaven watch over you jesus living in Mary pray for us amen

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  54. Iam praying for you get well soon God love you amen

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  56. Father Hollowell, I appreciate so much your homilies and will be praying for you as you suffer for the victims and for our Church. May God bless you.

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  57. I got this through a friend who attends LI SNAP meetings with me.
    This is divine providence because I have rarely been Directly afflicted by the past event of my abuse as I have been most recently lately so unexpectedly. I attribute that to event in front of the blessed sacrament at a retreat that led to my saying yes in a sense to God’s proposal to me to be his “ wife” by joining his breathlessly beautiful bride known as His church. And I don’t ever say that easily knowing fully those who have betrayed that spousal relationship we are all called to have as part of this church. But now more than ever we must keep our eyes physically on His Presence in the Eucharist and at Adoration for continued healing.
    Our diocese is and has been in dire need of effective spiritual and logistical help on this for way way too long compared to other dioceses where many victims are finding lasting and truly deep healing (And particularly less lack of self control with the anger) in Christ and becoming truly fruitful for souls in larger numbers.
    I can explain more about this verbally quicker And more respect fir anonymity if the group etc if by phone.
    Normally I don’t recommend putting phone numbers up but mine is used in my riding academy listings online publicly anyway so feel free to call or text 631-949-5629.

    St. Agnes, patroness of our diocese and of purity, pray fir us.

    Thanks,
    Teresa

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  58. Typos up there ... sorry .
    Attribute that to the event,

    (that event led to my deepest healing and turning point in my deep suffering and affliction post discovery)

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  59. I just heard about your diagnosis. You are in my prayers for a complete recovery. Thank you for your prayers and offerings on behalf of victims. As a victim I appreciate your offering not only for myself but for Holy Mother Church, so much in need of purging and healing. Thank you so much. God bless you.

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  60. Father John, reading this brings tears to my eyes. We never want the ones we cherish to suffer... But! God is with you. You are a man of God and He is with you always. I pray that you recover quickly and I will pray for your surgery too. Also, may God make this time very profitable for you to grow in Grace. I listen to your homilies on youtube and I live down here in Brazil. May our beloved Servant of God, Carlo Acutis, be with you too. Thank you.

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  61. Hello Father John,

    Peace be with you as you deal with this illness. I did contact SNAP per your request. They did reply and invited you to contact them directly. If you go to their webpage you can find their contact information. They also passed along this list of suggestion to share with you about preventing abuse and supporting survivors: https://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_s_reflection_points_21_things_people_can_do_feb19

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  62. My Mass and Communion for you on Sunday, Father. The Immaculata will see you through this!

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  63. Father John Hollowell, I've watch your homilies on youtube and very moved by them. You're in my prayers!

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  64. Hello Fr. John, my name is sr. Susannah. I am an American living in a French community, and serving as the point person in the diocese regarding sexual abuse in Strasbourg, France. You may know that France is just in the last three years rocked by it's own scandals and cover up of bishops. The bishop asked me in June to accept this position, I did so with a certain degree of trepidation. I now accompany around 15 victims, and am deeply shaken by what I hear. I pray that the Church may one day be a credible witness of Christ, seeking truth and light not cover up and silence. I am touched by your offering, and your story. If your offer of prayer extends to France I would be happy to provide you some names of the people I walk with.

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    1. Sr. Susannah - Thank you for stepping up to do this important work. I am a fellow Catholic who walks with survivors of abuse in our Church, and I am similarly shaken by the horrible stories I hear of both abuse and mishandling of abuse by Church leaders. If you ever want to connect, you can find me at www.inspiritandtruthblog.com.

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  65. Much love and prayers Fr. John from across the miles in Hong Kong. May the Lord continue to be glorified through you. Thank you for offering up the course of your journey and treatment for the victims of priest-abuse...reminded me of my radiation treatment that I offered for the release of Fr.Tom (Indian ISIS captive.)

    From my experience I can only say, continue to feel the love our Triune God & Mama Mary is flooding you with.

    I raise my prayers for your complete total healing through the intercession of Fr. Mike Scanlon

    Godcidentally 13th March 2013 if I remember right was when Pope Francis was elected to Papacy and 19th March was his inaugural Mass.

    Love
    Sukrutha-tFpf��


    (Hong Kong has suspended all Masses, due to the Wuhan Corona Virus won't stop me from offering them for you whenever am out of Hong Kong esp. 13th March.

    Do keep us updated ��

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  66. Praying for you father john. Love watching your homilies and youtube videos. Thanks for all you do!

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  67. Father, as I pray for you please pray for my son James D. Fish who was molested by our parish priest when he was an altar boy in the 1970's. Bless you and Thank you.

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  68. Father, please pray for the repose of my husband's soul. Michael died Feb. 13th after a very long battle with a slow growing brain tumor, a glioma. His very first symptoms were in 1997 but formal DX amd treatments didn't begin until 2014. I will pray for you for courage and perseverance. Your offering of yourself as a victim soul is a tremendous gift to Holy Mother Church. Thank you.

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  69. To all Catholics who are reading this post and offering their prayers for Fr. John and for survivors of sexual abuse, I invite you to read and sign this Open Letter to Survivors as a small gesture of repentance: www.awakemilwaukee.org/theletter.

    "A message for all who have experienced abuse in the Catholic Church:

    Dear Brothers and Sisters,

    We are writing as members of the Catholic Church, to offer you an apology. We are deeply sorry for the abuse you experienced in our Church and for the lifelong aftermath of that abuse.

    The abuse you endured was horrific and inexcusable. The Church should have been a sanctuary for you; we are so sorry that it was a place of trauma instead..."

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  70. Father, I'm having a Mass said for you on Friday, March 13 at 12:10 pm at my parish Sacred Heart in Newport, Oregon. May God give you peace and grace. Thank you for showing me how to live my faith!

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  71. Father,
    When my mom mentioned to me this news I was greatly shaken. You have impacted my life greatly, even though I do not live within the boundaries of your parish; I am sure I am not the only one making this testament. I pray for your swift and full recovery!

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  72. Daily prayers for strength and courage.

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  73. As John stood with Mary at the foot of the Cross, and became her support and consolation, he well understood that the essence of priesthood is holocaust. Like Christ, let us take on the suffering brought about by sin and so redeem through unconditional love that which has been twisted, still seeing in the sinner and in the victim the face of a son, of a daughter, of our Absolute Dad. Thank you for your witness. If the darkness comes, He will accompany you silently, asleep in your boat.

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  74. Hi Father, I wonder how you are. I got off of Facebook and don't know as much stuff which is fine, but I was looking for a priest who has a brain tumor (I think) and I was searching for him and your name came up so I thought I'd see how you are. You are on my list of priests to pray for. I know priests are really suffering right now. Thank you for your priesthood. God bless and keep you, Mrs. Liz Feuerborn Lincoln, Nebraska

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    1. I just had my first weekend back in the parishes. It is good to be home!

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