Not able to view the talk live? The video will be available immediately following the live stream at the link above. 

Ethan Milukas – (Sponsorship cost $2,000 for flight and tuition) 

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to attend the School of Holiness because I am not a cradle Catholic, I joined the Church with my mother as a teenager. Since I became Catholic I have looked for opportunities to grow in holiness along with my peers. For this reason, I was heavily involved in my Church’s youth group and attended Ave Maria University in Florida. During my time at AMU I have made friends who have been involved with DFOT before and who introduced me to the messages and teachings given through Anne. It was clear to me that this was another opportunity to continue growing in my faith, which I welcomed. I attended a DFOT retreat in Chicago and I look forward to attending the School of Holiness as well. I am not the only AMU student attending, and if we all are able to go it will certainly give us excellent experiences to share with our fellow students once we return next school year.”

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Paul Emil Johnson – (Sponsorship cost $1,000 for tuition)

“To give a complete one year for fulltime ministry, right after my graduation, was very challenging for me. But I found it as a great opportunity and a formation period to grow more in God’s love and to extend my service to help Jesus in His rescue mission till the end of my life. Being in North- Eastern part of India, living in a tribal society, God is using me miraculously and I feel that He is preparing me for a greater mission. With no doubt I can say that DFOT has helped me a lot in my spiritual formation. I have been reciting the Allegiance Prayer for the past one year and it is really powerful. The comforting and encouraging words of Jesus, Mary and many Saints really supports me in my mission. I learned to be at peace all the time and to accept everything in love. The Volumes, Heaven’s Speaks booklets, and Anne’s books changed my life and taught me how to serve Christ. As we all are called to be the saints of this new millennium, it is a fact that, the world finds it very difficult to be holy, especially the present youth. I myself know, how much I have been fighting in the past, and it continues and the state of holiness is reachable, but need to grow more in it. As I am working among the youth in my mission land, I found the value of life and the call to lead a holy life is least transferred to them. I am really excited and look forward to be a part of the upcoming ‘School of Holiness Retreat’  in spite of all the struggles, so that I may equip myself to continue the rescue mission for Jesus with more zeal.”

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Teresa Ratajczak – (Sponsorship cost $2000, for flight and tuition)

“My name is Teresa Ratajczak. I am a sophomore at Ave Maria University in Florida, with an intended major in philosophy. I came to be involved with Direction for Our Times through a friend, and I have come to have a great interest in this mission. I really look forward to participation in the School Of Holiness. I believe that this new addition of the youth involvement will be invaluable in recapturing the hearts and spirits of the Catholic youth!  For young adults seeking a path, it is easy to be misguided and led astray by the world around us. With this School of Holiness showing us how we can live our faith, we can find direction in following God’s will. Knowing this, I look forward especially to being able to help in formulating and carrying out this program. As a young adult who has come to recognize that this is the path I wish to be on, I very much want to allow God to work through me in any way possible to bring others closer to Him. I believe that this is what God is asking of me now. Through Direction for Our Times, and most especially through the School of Holiness, I know that this is possible. This summer, this mission will be my mission, and I will dedicate myself to it heart and soul.”

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Nabil Azmy – (Sponsorship cost $1,550 for flight and tuition)

“I would very much like to be in your summer program inshallah (Arabic = God willing!)  I am Coptic Catholic from a poor village on the Nile in Upper Egypt.  We are a family of peasant farmers with 5 brothers and 2 sisters.  I am 22 years old and the first in my family to study at university.  I am working as a chef in Cairo to pay for my studies.

Because of the revolution last year my oldest brother may soon lose his job in Sharm el Sheikh since tourists are afraid to come.  And since I must help my big family I cannot save for the summer.  Jesus says to keep knocking, so I am writing to you now.  And if Jesus calls, can’t we walk on water?

Last week my priest friend brought me the Catholic catechism in Arabic from Lebanon.  A great gift from Jesus because we cannot find it here.  I am studying the faith but teachers are better than a book!  My English is not perfect but I pray for this opportunity to come to Ireland.  I love to share my faith with others but I need teachers too!”

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Mitchel Raftery- (Sponsorship cost $1,000 for tuition)

“Hi, my name is Mitchel  Raftery, I am 19 years old and attending college. I would love to attend the School of Holiness in Ireland this June. I am a college student, and as such; do not have the money to attend so I am looking for a sponsor for the tuition cost of $1,000. I am very much into my Catholic faith, but I have had some trouble lately and I would really like to make it better. Because of that I see this School of Holiness as just the opportunity I need to go deeper in my faith as well as understand all the different aspects of my faith better. Being with other peers who are also striving for holiness will assist me greatly. So if there is someone that can sponsor me that would be great. I will be praying that someone will sponsor me. Thank you very much, and God bless.”

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Mark Siadat- (Sponsorship cost $1,000 for tuition)

“I’m Mark Siadat and I’m in my junior year at a Catholic High School in Phoenix, Arizona. I am originally from San Francisco and I moved to Arizona when I was 13. I’m 17 now and am beginning to look at colleges. For the past several years I have deeply questioned and reflected on Catholicism and the mission of the Church. As I began to question and explore, my teachers were extremely receptive and patient with me. They’ve spent countless hours with me before and after school in an effort to help me understand the Church’s teachings. My motivation to question and understand the faith lies in my expectations of college and beyond. I want to become convicted in my Catholic faith because I know I’m going to be challenged in the years to come as I’m exposed to different faiths, perspectives, and ideas. I think by attending the School of Holiness this summer, my Catholic beliefs can become solidified and that will greatly help in the years to come. Thanks a lot!”

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For help or questions in sponsoring a student for the School of Holiness Please contact:

Justin Sofio: Justin@directionforourtimes.org  or 708-496-9300

To watch the video click here. 

Family Retreat Flyer (May 2012)

During Lent, we are offering the book Heavenly Healing for the temporary low price of $4.95 (reg. $14.95) with an order of Whispers from the Cross.

Heavenly Healing is written by Bonnie Shoemaker, a lay apostle who collected testimonies from lay apostles all over the world who have been touched by Christ’s redeeming love through the writings and graces of the Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King.

This book serves as a great reminder of the difference the saving power Christ’s sacrifice on the cross can make in our lives.

To order Whispers from the Cross, click here.

To order Heavenly Healing, click here.

In each book, Jesus and Mary’s messages are full of peace, joy, and practical advice for little ones on how to live as the beautiful children of God that they are.  With delightful artwork contributed by artist Jean Keaton, Jesus’ and Mary’s words come alive in a whole new way. 

Order your copies today and share the gift of these messages from heaven with a special child in your life!

Click here to visit our online store and complete your order!  Also available in Spanish!

There is a new book available by Anne, a lay apostle! In her new book, Whispers from the Cross, Anne directs our attention to the value of contemplating the Crucified Christ.
“Every lover of Jesus Christ will eventually find his way to the foot of the cross, where he will gaze at the Crucified One and engage in contemplation of those wounds which delivered salvation to humanity. Through contemplation of these wounds, we find our own place in the salvation story.”

Anne identifies some of the temptations we experience during our service to Christ. She explores the importance of the vertical relationship with Christ that is central to the success of our service in our individual vocations in the Church. Anne encourages us to accept the crosses we experience in our earthly journeys and also to accept the crosses God wills for those around us.