The CatholiCity Message
Volume XXI, Number 5 – July 17, 2017
Meet Me in Chicagoland?
Dear CatholiCity Citizen,
If you live near Chicago, you might have a chance to meet me in person and grow in your faith this week. I am also very very excited—I have never been more on fire for souls in my life and over the next few weeks you are going to understand why because I have something very big to share with you.
It has been several weeks since my last message because we have been working extremely hard on our most amazing new tool for evangelization, since, well, since ever.
With your help I believe it will help more people convert, revert, repent, and change their lives than any free CD, book, webpage, or booklet we have ever offered. I'll have more details for you next week when I send a more traditional message.
So if you don't live in driving distance of Chicago...God bless you and skip to the end for our cyber prayer. But if you do live in near the Windy City...
Where and When to Meet Bud
In case you have ever wanted to meet me in person, I am going to be at the annual Catholic Marketing Network (CMN) Trade Show at the Renaissance Convention Center on 1551 N Thoreau Drive in Schaumburg.
I actually helped co-found the CMN in 1995. Although the CMN Trade Show is attended primarily by owners of Catholic bookstores, retailers, publishers and manufacturers, there will be several opportunities to say hello to me and pray with me.
National Kolbe Shrine on Tuesday, July 18
First, I will be at the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe on 1600 W Park Ave in Libertyville with some of the CMN attendees tomorrow, Tuesday, July 18 from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. If you have never been there, well, you're in for a profoundly beautiful spiritual experience. I will be hanging near the entrance doors of the church and I'm not hard to spot—look for the big, happy guy in jeans and a dark sport jacket; short haircut.
I'll have free copies of my novels with me, along with my True Cross relic, and I would love to say hello, pray with you, chat, and sign books for you.
Renaissance Hotel on Wednesday, July 19
On Wednesday evening between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm, I will be hanging out in or near the Gather Bar on the second floor of the Marriott Renaissance Hotel attached to the convention center on Thoreau Drive. Same thing: big guy, jeans and dark sport jacket.
CMN Catholic Leadership Dinner on Thursday, July 20
For $75 you can attend the 1st Annual Catholic Leadership Dinner honoring legendary prolife warrior Joe Scheidler. There is book signing by Joe at 4:00 pm, followed by a 5:30 pm Mass with Fr. Pavone of Priests for Life, then a gala reception and dinner at 6:30 pm (you can get tickets online through Tuesday night, July 18). I'll be floating around. Don't delay on those tickets.
Catholic Writers Guild
If you're an aspiring writer, the wonderful Catholic Writers Guild always holds its annual convention at the CMN. I'll be floating around the CWG as well.
I may or may not be at all the Masses below, but the CMN always has the best Masses with outstanding homilists, which are open to the general public, of course, so I might as well give you the Mass times...
Mass Times at the CMN
- Tuesday, July 18, 5:15 pm at the Renaissance Convention Center
- Tuesday, July 18, 7:30 pm at the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe
- Wednesday, July 19, 7:30 am at the Renaissance Convention Center
- Thursday, July 20, 5:30 pm at the Renaissance Convention Center (Fr. Frank Pavone)
- Friday, July 21, 7:30 am at the Renaissance Convention Center
You Are in My Prophecy
When I helped co-found the Catholic Marketing Network with a handshake in 1995, I assured Alan Napleton, our beloved founder and current CMN President Emeritus, that the Mary Foundation would throw itself into it so the Holy Spirit could foster relationships and providential meetings that would help save countless souls "over the coming decades."
It is not a coincidence, my friends, that the powerful new "tool for evangelization" we will unveil in August was conceived with a conversation I had at last summer's Catholic Marketing Network show.
Next month, you are going to become a crucial part of my "prophecy."
Let's Pray!
In 1983, as a senior at Notre Dame, inspired by Saint Maximilian Kolbe and my heart bursting with love for the Mother of God, I consecrated my heart completely to Immaculate Mary as a Militia Immaculata (which Maximilian founded 100 years ago--yes, the same year that Our Lady appeared at Fatima, 1917!). It has been my honor, cross, joy, struggle, and pleasure to serve her by helping many millions of people enjoy opportunities for life-changing, grace-filled conversion, reversion, and growth in friendship with Jesus. Uncle Max and Mary are just getting started with us!
My "way" is simple. I ask you to be a part of her work. Let us pray, then, in thanksgiving for all the beautiful gifts Jesus has given us (especially the people who love us), echoing the words of Saint Maximilian Kolbe himself in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...
O Immaculate Mary, my life (every moment of it) and my death (when, where, how) and my eternity belongs totally to you. In all these things do whatever pleases you most! Amen.
And Amen. Until next week, I remain yours...
With Saint Joseph,
Bud Macfarlane
Founder and President
