WHAT IS GARABANDAL?: News on the Grotto /Death of a Friend

Sunday, January 24, 2016

News on the Grotto /Death of a Friend

From Thomas Fahy:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Life of the Divine Will,

We had a splendid day today, here in Garabandal. The weather was warm and sunny! A lot different than back home in much of the USA.

Because it was sunny today, I took some pictures of the Grotto, which is mostly complete after weather delays, etc. Two pictures are attached. Unfortunately, I waited too late, and the sun cast a shadow over part of the Grotto. The flooring needs some more cleaning up after the grouting of the tiles.

We still have to hire an electrician to install outlets and lights. We have a blacksmith coming tomorrow to take measurements for installing decorative railing on top of two sides of the Grotto, which will also serve as safety feature. He will also take measurement to install a decorative metal door at the entrance way.

Also, tomorrow, we will have some loads of gravel brought in to cover the large, general parking area in front the House of Sanctification. Then, appropriate furniture and decorative items will put the finishing touch. So, as you can see we are still open for some providence to help with the costs. I think $2000 - $3000 more will cover these

extra expenses.

The Statue of Our Lady will be the Center Piece of The Grotto. I am pretty sure that the pledges and donations specifically for the statue are already sufficient. Thank you dearly.

I have done intensive investigation into the making of statues for outdoors and should soon make the decision on the statue we will obtain.

_________________________

In another matter, we learned that a friend of ours, José Maria, here in Garabandal died this evening, possibly while we were saying the Rosary. He was about 71, from what I was told. He was a big help when we opened the House of Sanctification in the year 2000 on June 1. He also was very helpful in several ways over the years.

Please join us in prayers for his speedy entrance into the Enjoying Mode of the Divine Will in Heaven.

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UPDATE: THE CHURCH"S POSITION ON GARABANDAL

The magazine "Garabandal Journal" has updated some information regarding the village of Garabandal, the current Bishop and Pastor.
For many years, while never being condemned, the Garabandal events were under a dark cloud as some of the first bishops (but not all) opposed the events. But the tide started to change with Bishop Juan Antonio del Val Gallo (1971-1991). While he at first did not believe in the apparitions he took a more open position. In 1981, he became a believer and during his reign, he lifted the ban on priests going up to the village and allowed them to celebrate Mass in the village church with the permission of the village pastor. The next bishop, Jose Vilaplana Blasco, was a non-believer, but left in place the positive changes made by Bishop del Val. In 2006, he was transferred to another diocese in southern Spain and Archbishop of Oviedo, Carlos Osoro Sierra, was made Apostolic Administrator of Santander. The Archbishop, building on the positive measures taken by Bishop Del Val, allowed priests visiting Garabandal to celebrate Mass in the village church even if the pastor was not there (he ministered to a number of other villages and was not always in Garabandal). The Archbishop also gave visiting priests faculties to hear confessions.
In 2007, Ed Kelly from the United States, wrote to the Archbishop requesting the current status of Garabandal and received a letter from the prelate, under his own stationary and signed by him dated May 7, 2007, in which he said: "I respect the apparitions and have known of authentic conversions. In light of these events, how can we not always feel the need to open our heart to our mother Mary to tell her that we need her protection, help, spirit, desire, hope and love! I encourage you to continue maintaining this devotion to our Mother."
In 2011, two 50th anniversaries were celebrated in Garabandal (1) for the first appearance of St. Michael on June 18, 1961, and (2) the first vision of Our Lady on July 2, 1961. The celebrations were conducted under the auspices of the Santander Diocese represented by the village pastor Fr. Rolando Cabeza (also dean of the area). During the celebrations, another ban was lifted when Fr. Cabeza, spoke of the apparitions from the pulpit, and read the two formal Messages of Our Lady at Garabandal.
On May 6, 2012, current Bishop of Santander, Vecente Jimenez Zamora (installed in 2007) celebrated a Mass in Garabandal in commemoration of the completion of a restoration project of the village church. In a refreshments period after Mass, he was open and most cordial with all the villagers and visitors. On May1, 2013, the Bishop again celebrated Mass in the village church of Garabandal and prior to the Mass, kissed a crucifix belonging to villager David Toribio that was kissed by the Blessed Virgin at Garabandal. We don't know if the Bishop knew that but we suspect he did.
Bishop Jimenez's Masses in Garabandal were firsts, since no Bishop of Santander had ever said Mass in the village church from the time the apparitions began in 1961.
Deacon John

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WHAT IS GARABANDAL?

Sunday, January 24, 2016

News on the Grotto /Death of a Friend

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