Like St. Paul, Rev. Leo faced obstacles in his missionary travels, but he has been undaunted! His efforts to get his visa for visiting the U.S. last week were recently thwarted, but with God’s help, all has come through just fine. He will arrive on Aug. 15, the Feast of Mary’s Assumption.

Nick giving the parish reflection appeal at St. Peter Damian this past weekend.

In his place, HEAL President, Nick Costello, made HEAL’s first mission appeal at St. Peter Damian Parish in Bartlett this past weekend. He gave a reflection at four Masses informing people about our mission for the integral human development of orphans and widows.

Of course, this is only the beginning of several events we have planned upon Rev. Leo’s arrival to spread the word about our unique mission and find new supporters.  Our main event will be the 2nd Annual HEAL Benefit, which will be in Northbrook.  Please RSVP if you haven’t already.  You will be riveted by our keynote speaker, Obianuju Ekeocha, founder of Culture of Life Africa, who will speak about her life experience in relation to HEAL’s mission! 

Other events during Rev. Leo’s visit include two parish mission appeals, the first at St. Norbert Parish in Northbrook on Sunday, 8/23, and the second at Our Lady of the Brook, also in Northbrook, on Sunday, 8/30. Rev. Leo will give the homilies, focused on the HEAL mission, at all the Masses in those parishes on those weekends.  Also, Rev. Leo and I will be guests on Relevant Radio’s show “On The Front Porch” with Patrick McCormick on Saturday, 8/29!  So, tune in on AM 950 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. on that day!

Finally, on Wednesday, 8/26, we will hold a prayer breakfast at Omega Restaurant in Niles from 7:00-8:30am.  We will have breakfast while several HEAL supporters speak to those in attendance on what they find most valuable about HEAL’s ministry to orphans and widows.  Rev. Leo will also speak for 10 minutes about how God has called him into this work!  Please call me at 312-952-4855 for more details about this event!

Now that you are informed about the main events during Rev. Leo’s visit, please come out and see us!  Also, if you know of any other events we should attend or contacts we should make, please let me know.

Here is the full schedule:

  • Sunday, August 23: Mission appeal at Saint Norbert Parish in Northbrook.
  • Saturday, August 29 at 10-11 AM: Guest on Relevant Radio’s “On the Front Porch”  with Patrick  McCormick (AM 950)
  • Wednesday, August 26 at 7-8:30 AM: Prayer breakfast at Omega Restaurant in Niles
  • Sunday, August 30: Mission appeal at Our Lady of the Brook in Northbrook

Most importantly, do not forget to RSVP for the 2nd Annual HEAL Benefit on September 2. This will be the climax of Rev. Leo’s mission appeal visit. Please pray for us, and please consider joining us for at least one of these events.