Kelly Sweeney, parishioner and Year of Prayer group chairperson at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Corona met with the parish’s priest Father Ba “Philip” S. Lam, to discuss having parishioners share their testimonies on answered prayers during Lent. During Masses on March 15-16, parishioners were given the opportunity to share their testimonies after the celebrant gave a brief homily.
Some examples of the testimonies shared included:
- The impact of prayer in their marriage, especially during the hardships of losing a child.
- Healing of a brain tumor
- Healing of Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Doctors were mystified!
- Two children born is physical deficiencies are both now self-sufficient, happy, productive adults.
- Being in despair after so many losses in the family and crying out to God saying “If you are REALLY hearing me, God, show me a sign! Anything. … even a DEER!”. Then suddenly a deer out of nowhere ran in front of her car!
“I was grateful for the opportunity to reflect on how God has answered prayer in my life,” shared parishioner Terri. “I ended up realizing how God sometimes answers the unasked prayer before we even know what we need! I’m glad I thought about it so I could thank Him for all those times I didn’t realize He was there until long after the fact.”
After hearing various testimonies, parishioners were left feeling deeply touched.
“As I reflect on the answered prayer sharing, I know I am truly blessed with the support I have now,” shared parishioner Dottie. “My faith tells me I am not alone and to trust that God is always with me.”
The Year of Prayer group, in honor of the 2025 Jubilee Year, coordinated a pilgrimage to St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Riverside.
While at the designated Jubilee parish, individuals were offered the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the group prayed the Jubilee Prayer, had a guided meditation on “bathing in God’s love,” had four Scripture based meditations with time to talk to God after each one to listen to the Holy Spirit, prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet together, and prayed the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary and Prayers for the Holy Father.
“What an amazing morning! I went to Mass, received the Holy Eucharist, [went] on to St. Thomas [the Apostle Church] for Reconciliation, Adoration and prayer and walked away with a Plenary Indulgence,” shared a participant. “I felt like the luckiest lady ever! It made me much more aware of the occasions of sin and not wanting to ‘blow it’ on the ‘clean slate’ I had been given. What a wonderful blessing! Thank you for the opportunity.”