O’TERÇO | OTERCO.SUBSTACK.COM
Today’s ENCONTRO, EPISODE 1, offers words of comfort that might help manage our responses to suffering — especially aware of those who feel alone and who wonder, "Who is out there to reach out to me?"
The whole Church is suffering and throughout history, each generation is given a period of time in which we are called to live in the sanctifying grace of God, so Fr. Nuno Rocha invites you to listen to Fr. Anthony Gramlich, Marian of the Immaculate Conception and Fr. Elias Mary Mills, Franciscan of the Immaculate, with Dr. Blythe Kaufman, hosted by Amelia in this talk about Jesus’ response to human suffering, the final segment of St. John Paul II's 1984 Apostolic Letter, Salvafici Doloris.
Watch today’s presentation directed by Fr. Nuno Rocha with Amelia, Godric, Dan, Izzy, and script support from Dr. Kaufman and Fr. Elias Mary Mills here on our Rosary YouTube Channel and share with others:
APPENDIX 1: THE GOOD SAMARITAN AS READ ABOVE BY FR. ELIAS / FR. ANTHONY GRAMLICH, ASSISTANT RECTOR of the NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE DIVINE MERCY, shrineofthedivinemercy.org
APPENDIX 2: FATHER NUNO ROCHA’S NOTES ON JOY: "WHY IS JOY IMPORTANT?" from his book, "THE SECRET OF JOY" a new introduction to the Joyful Mysteries
APPENDIX 3: READ WITH THE ROSARY HOUR PODCAST this lent and RE-DISCOVER “SALVAFICI DOLORIS” by St. John Paul II here:APPENDIX 4: ABOUT OUR GUESTS, FR. NUNO ROCHA INTRODUCES THE FOLLOWING GUESTS TO THIS ENCONTRO 2025 IN TALK #1 on the GOOD SAMARITAN HOSTED BY AMELIA AND MODERATED BY FR. ELIAS MARY MILLS, FI from the USA: Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC, Vice-Rector of Shrine Liturgy, The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts (USA)
Imagine experiencing a touch of Heaven and then a special sense of family! That was my experience when I was ordained to the sacred priesthood on July 13, 2002, and then celebrated my first Mass the following day.
I was ordained in the sanctuary of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Mass. During the actual ordination — the laying on of hands and the Prayer of Consecration — I was transported out of this world into another one. I was there, but I wasn't there. It was almost like a touch of heaven. With ordination, you go through the seminary and you read about it, but then you experience it and can't put it into words. Even the theological words fall short.
The highlight of my first Mass the following day was a special sense of family. Following the tradition of the parents of a new priest providing him with a chalice and paten for his first Mass, my parents presented me with a chalice and paten.
And the chalice they gave me is of the Holy Family. On the base is an artistic rendering of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which represents for me my spiritual mother and earthly mother. There is an image of St. Joseph as well, representing for me my spiritual father and earthly father. Finally, there is an image of Jesus on the chalice.
This symbolism on the chalice summed up the family experience of my first Mass. All of the children in my family, many of my fellow Marians, and several Marian Helpers were all present — making it a very special family celebration.
During my priestly life of service to God's family, these are memories that I will always treasure.
Father Anthony Gramlich, MIC, is the host of "Mercy Moments Bible Study", and he is the Founding Spiritual Director of the Rosary Hour Podcast.
Fr. Anthony assisted our team with our Christmas Consecration Journey on December 8, 2024, in which he teaches the 3rd Joyful Mystery to those who have never prayed the Rosary before. He also teaches our listeners about "The Secret of the Rosary" in this popular video on our Rosary YouTube Channel:A Nebraska native, Fr. Elias Mary Mills, F.I. discernment to the priesthood and religious life
began before his graduation from Kearney State College where he majored in Mathematics and
minored in Computer Science. There he spent two years in formation as a Carmelite, being
professed in 1986. As a volunteer with the Conventual Franciscans at Marytown, he learned
about St. Maximilian Kolbe and Total Consecration to the Immaculata.
He entered into his seminary formation at Holy Apostles Seminary, here in Cromwell, CT. During
this time, he was introduced to the Franciscans of the Immaculate, who had just arrived at Holy
Apostles. Fr. Elias would join the F.I. in 1993 and make his Final Profession in September 1999.
In December, he was then ordained a Deacon in Castelpetroso, Italy. During the Jubilee Year of
2000, Fr. Elias, as a deacon, served in the sacristy of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. Later that
year on May 27, Fr. Elias was ordained a priest by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz in Lincoln,
Nebraska.
In his extensive travels as a missionary priest, Fr. Elias served the Friars’s mission in Western
Australia for three years as well as the F.I. Friary here in Griswold and then traveled back to
Castelpetroso, Italy. He was then assigned serving nine years as Father Guardian and Retreat
Program Director at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center in Bloomington, Indiana. In
December 2016 - August 2021, Fr. Elias served at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin as Rector of the Shrine Church. Fr. Elias’ passion and love for Our Lady is undaunted, as can be seen and heard in his many retreat talks and homilies. Ave Maria!
Fr. Elias supported Fr. Nuno Rocha in developing this ENCONTRO concept, a serendipitous exercise that took form in July 2024. He has assisted the Rosary Hour Podcast, supporting our listeners and answering questions about the Saints, sacramentals, and in today's episode he co-moderates this conversation with added spiritual direction about St. John Paul II's "Salvafici Doloris". Listen to his compelling SCAPULAR MIRACLE STORY which can be found here:
ALSO, WATCH:Dr. Blythe Kaufman is the founder of the Children’s Rosary®, an International Prayer group movement for children. She lives in Connecticut. She is a wife, mother of three, and endodontist. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Kaufman is the author of the book: Children’s Rosary: A Prayer Group Movement for Children which has been published in English, French, and Spanish. She is also the author of a new book called: Child Consecration: To Jesus through Mary—Following in the Spirit of St. Thérèse, the Little Flower. This book was recently used by Bishop John Keenan of Scotland to lead his Diocese in a Consecration to Jesus through Mary. Her work with children and evangelization has taken her to multiple countries in Africa.
She can be regularly seen on EWTN's series Children's Rosary. She also produced the series Rosario de Niños that airs regularly on EWTN's Estados Unidos and España-Latino América Networks. She is a frequent guest on EWTN where she has discussed the Children's Rosary, evangelization, and Consecration to Jesus through Mary. Her work and books have been featured in such news outlets as Catholic World Report, Catholic News Agency, Our Sunday Visitor, ZENIT, the Homiletic and Pastoral Review, and the National Catholic Register.
She has been a collaborator with the Rosary Hour Podcast and Co-Produced content for a number of projects since 2022. See her popular video here:APPENDIX 5: SAMPLE PRAYER CARD TO SHARE WITH OTHERS AND PRAY TOGETHER
In a future episode, Fr. Elias and Fr. Anthony with Blythe and Amelia present their presentation of the decade Rosary curated by Fr. Nuno Rocha for the 5th Sorrowful Mystery. This Rosary emulates the model prayed at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima, with added prayers that will be outlined on odiario.substack.com with images chosen by Dr. Deolinda Carneiro.
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Watch the trailer to this ENCONTRO and LISTEN TO FR. THAD LANCTON, MIC, Formator at the Seminary in Steubenville, OHIO, as he explains to Amelia the Jubilee 2025 Plenary Indulgence we can gain for Holy Souls in Purgatory by going to the Holy Communion TWICE in one day.
