Parishes consecrate themselves to Mary

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press

A laywoman’s invitation has blossomed into clergy, parishioners and whole parishes being consecrated to Jesus through Mary.
“The Lord put it on my heart” a few months ago to invite the clergy to make the consecration, said Kimberly Harmon, a member of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in Worcester. She also attends the Scripture study that Father Michael N. Lavallee leads at his parish, St. Ann’s in North Oxford.
She recommended to him, and clergy from her parish, the book “Totus Tuus: A Consecration to Jesus through Mary with Saint John Paul II” by Father Brian McMaster. Modeled on St. Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion to Mary,” it guides readers through 33 days of preparation for praying a prayer of consecration – and living it out. (Ms. Harmon formerly helped people use a similar book, “33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat In Preparation for Marian Consecration,” by Father Michael Gaitley, MIC.)
“It’s really an act of the will to give one’s life completely to Christ through Mary,” Father Lavallee said; the prayer of consecration is a culmination of coming to that decision and choosing it every day.
He said he was drawn to Father McMaster’s book because of the Scripture component.
“People often separate Marian devotion from Scripture, but it actually goes together,” he said, noting that Mary’s “yes” in Scripture is a model for every disciple.
“The process of consecration was probably the best thing I’ve done for my spiritual life since my ordination,” said Father Lavallee, a priest for 13 years. “I received an abundance of graces that gave me new spiritual life. … I really wanted the people of my parish to share in those same graces, or have a similar experience.”     
So he invited them to get the book themselves, and Ms. Harmon led retreats to help them use it. At a 6:30 p.m. Mass on Dec. 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, some parishioners and others are to make their consecration, and Father Lavallee is to consecrate the parish and its outdoor shrine. All are welcome, whether or not they’ve been doing the preparation.
“The goal of the consecration is to give the entire parish and the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes into the hands of our Blessed Mother,” Father Lavallee said. “We’re really anticipating the spiritual renewal of St. Ann’s Parish,” starting with this and following up with additional formation.
Ms. Harmon said that seeing Father Lavallee receive graces, which he said have continued since his Oct. 7 consecration, led her to approach clergy at her parish.
Father Richard W. Polek, pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa, made his consecration with his parishioners and consecrated the parish Saturday on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, at a Mass celebrated by Bishop McManus.

“Our parish was built and dedicated to Mary – 1903,” Father Polek said.    
So, he said, when Ms. Harmon suggested he make the consecration, he thought it would also be good to make it “with the present parishioners,” especially given the tension in the Church today. He figured it would be in line with the prayers for priests and vocations that the parish holds the first Thursday of each month.
Interested parishioners got the book in either English or Polish and many attended retreats. Ms. Harmon led English retreats. Polish retreats were led by Kasia Olczewska, a parishioner who leads the parish’s Polish prayer group, and Father Tomasz Góra, associate pastor.
About 180 people in the two parishes made the retreats, and more than 100 just used the book at home, Ms. Harmon said. She said even those who didn’t use the book can make the consecration at the Masses.
Father Góra and parishioners visiting the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico are to make their consecration on her feast day Dec. 12.
Deacon Stephen T. Kohut, who serves at Our Lady of Czestochowa, already made his consecration, starting shortly after Ms. Harmon invited him.
Julie Koss-Stephany, the parishioner who leads the prayers for priests and vocations, who also helped promote the consecration, said she and her daughters have been refurbishing a statue of Mary, which Ms. Harmon was to crown at the consecration Mass.
Ms. Harmon said she crowned that statue when she was in first grade at the parish’s school, St. Mary Elementary, and that’s when she fell in love with the Blessed Mother.
“Mary is on the move,” she said. “Mary wants to be so close” to her children, “especially during this trying time in our Church. Mary’s giving us so much hope.”
As for the future, she said, “The plan is whatever God’s will is. … I’m just leaving it up to Jesus and Mary. … There’s so much joy” in doing this with each of the parishes.
“If you are seeking to renew your own spiritual life in Christ, I would extend a personal invitation to look at Father McMaster’s book … and make the consecration,” Father Lavallee said. “Open your heart to receive the graces God wants you to have.”