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“Forrest has written a beautiful invitation to deepen our prayer through reflection on her own personal prayer journey. Wherever you may be in your own prayer journey, just beginning or more experienced, you will find something to enrich your prayer life through the pages of this book.” – Msgr. Keith Brennan, Pastor, Our Lady Star of the Sea, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
“This book offers helpful theological information, resources, and encouragement for both those who desire to begin a new prayer life, and for those who feel called to deepen an already established prayer routine.” – Adrienne Novotny, M.Ed., Acting Director, The Cenacle, Our Lady of Divine Providence House of Prayer, Clearwater, Florida
“After many years of experimentation and experience, Forrest Yanke presents a recipe for prayer, using as a foundation her charismatic Carmelite spirituality, while blending in portions of Ignatian reflection, and the rich nutrition of Eucharistic and Marian devotion. Good food for thought!” – Sister Mary Margaret, Prioress, Monastery of the Infant Jesus, Cloistered Contemplative Dominican Nuns, Lufkin, TX
Forrest Hemphill Yanke is a licensed clinical social worker and a licensed marriage and family therapist who has integrated her Catholic faith and knowledge of Christian healing into her therapy and teaching practices. For 35 years, she maintained a private practice in Christian psychotherapy in Panama City, Florida, where she was also instrumental in developing an intensive case management program for the homeless.
She taught pastoral counseling and Called and Gifted courses as an instructor for the Institute of Ministry Formation and was as an adjunct professor in the College of Social Work at Florida State University, Panama City campus.
For over 25 years, she served as an expert witness for the Catholic Marriage Tribunal in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee and has been recognized throughout her career with many awards for both professional and charitable work.
Forrest earned a doctorate in Religion and Societal Studies from Oxford Graduate School and holds a certificate in Spiritual Direction through the University of Steubenville and the Cenacle of Our Lady of Divine Providence House of Prayer. She is a professed member of the Secular Order of Carmelites and a long-time member and former president of ACTHEALS.
Currently she serves as outreach coordinator for the separated and divorced at her church and frequently leads workshops and retreats on prayer and healing.
Forrest is married to August Yanke and they have four children between them and seven grandchildren. They reside in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
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“A powerful witness to the wisdom of Christ on the way to establishing a harmony among men.” – Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, author of Radical Eschatologies: Embracing the Eschaton in the Works of Ngugi Wa Thiong’o, Nuruddin Farah, and Ayi Kwei Armah
Archbishop Hughes was ordained a priest for Boston in 1957. After securing a doctorate in Spiritual Theology at the Gregorian University, he served in parish, seminary and administrative roles. Saint John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Baton Rouge in 1993 and Archbishop of New Orleans in 2002. As Emeritus, he continues to serve the Church in multiple ministries.
Deacon Larry Oney, a permanent deacon for the Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, serves at Divine Mercy Parish in Kenner, Louisiana. He is the founder and president of Hope and Purpose Ministries, which aims to put the New Evangelization into practice through preaching, teaching, and the media, offering hope and purpose to all individuals. Deacon Oney is the author of several books: Amazed by God’s Grace, Divine Mission: Discovering Your Hope and Purpose, Reflections on the Kingdom of God, and UP FAITH! God loves a faith that is always looking up! He lives in New Orleans with his wife, Andi, and has 5 children with whom he enjoys fishing, reading, and spending time.
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A Widow’s Spiritual Journey is a tour of the reflections written in the years preceding and following Dianne Coyle’s husband’s death. From the pain and anguish of loss to gentle movements of God, from the back pew in the church to rosary leader, Lector, and Minister of Holy Communion, Dianne was drawn into a different ministry within the church – that of sacristan. It was here that she realized this was where God wanted her to serve.
Ben Rayner, “Dianne Coyle: Taking Time to Reflect,” Shore Publishing, May 4, 2022. For the online version, click here.
“Reflections, prayers, and poetry celebrate the sorrows and joys of living on earth while journeying toward heaven, from the poignant losses of a husband, a grandfather, and even a beloved dog, to the glories revealed in everything from a flower to a galaxy to the opportunity to deliver the Body of Christ to the dying. A deeply personal and powerful book, Dianne Coyle’s A Widow’s Spiritual Journey will resonate with every reader’s heart.” – Kevin Vost, Psy.D., author of Memorize the Mass! and Memorize the Latin Mass!
“A most heartwarming, bold and uninhibited journey into the depths of one’s soul is transcribed here in a powerful and unadulterated venue that all of us can grasp and cherish with love. Dianne speaks her mind effortlessly stating ‘Everyone’s relationship to God is unique. No two are the same … We will come to know him as He reveals himself to us.’ Kudos to Diane for getting to the heart of our very being. Experience the beautiful God driven sojourn of a truly multi gifted lady as she endeavors to uncover her life mission for all of us to ponder as we also seek to decipher the essence of our life intervals. Revealing … Yes, …certainly way beyond our typical syntheses abilities. The Holy Spirit has clearly dwelt here!” – Rev. Philip Schulze
“Dianne Coyle’s spiritual writings evoke a deeply personal relationship with God in a way that is rare. Her love for God and others shines through her essays and poems and she allows the reader a space to join her faith and see the fruits of trust in a loving God through Jesus Christ. Dianne gives a human voice to the personal mysteries of intuition, yearning, prayer and loss and she is never above the reader as a “teacher,” she instead gently reminds us to simply ask for and seek God’s grace and then be ready for a true and personal answer from Him. As a therapist and counselor to many afflicted with mental illness and additions I have used her poems and message to comfort some who struggled to re-find their Christian faith. I know Dianne indeed practices her faith devotedly as I have had personally from Dianne’s words and guidance as she ministered to my father during a long illness. Dianne has a true gift for comforting others with kindness and humility. This book gives only a glimpse of her spiritual wisdom.” – Elizabeth Driscoll Jorgenson, drug and alcohol rehabilitation counselor
“When Dianne began sharing her writings with me, I was taken with her ability to evoke compassion, encouragement, and a sense of one who is there to give me support. Her work is worth sharing with the world.” – Elaine M. Mott, M.A. Moral Theology from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, (Overbrook) Philadelphia, PA. Elaine has served as a Director of Religious Education, addressed seminars for new DREs, and currently directs the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
“I enjoyed reading “A Widow’s Spiritual Journey” very much. I noticed that it stretches over years, so it is the result of experience, reflection, spirituality and meditation. It is the result of an experience!” – Fr. Michael Sequeira
Dianne Coyle started keeping a diary as a child, writing reflections and letters to God usually in the evenings. She has kept a journal ever since.
Dianne is sacristan at St. Margaret Parish, Madison, CT, serving the parish family as a Eucharistic Minister and assisting at funerals.
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March 18, 2021“Dear children, in a motherly way I am calling you to return to the joy and the truth of the Gospel, to return to the love of my Son—because He is waiting for you with open arms; that everything you do in life you do with my Son, with love; that it may be blessed for you; so that your spirituality may be internal, and not just external. Only in that way will you be humble, generous, filled with love and joyful; and my motherly heart will rejoice with you. Thank you.”
“Barbara Lorenzo’s faith shines through in her wonderful book about the death of her brother, Paul, from the AIDS virus. The joy of spiritual healing and peace that the Heithaus/Lorenzo family found at the Medjugorje shrine, and later following Paul’s death in the USA, was a delight to read. I was reminded – on almost every page in the book – of Mary’s exhortation at Medjugorje to see Jesus in every person you meet.” – Peter Breen, author of Prodigal Pilgrim: Letters to Pope Francis from Lourdes, Fatima, Garabandal and Medjugorje
“This inspiring story of a family’s spiritual journey captures the heart of Medjugorje and serves as an invitation to all who read it.” – Mary Laing Robinson, a fellow pilgrim
Barbara Lorenzo is a wife, mother, sister, teacher, storyteller and a seeker of faith. A recent graduate of The Cenacle of Our Lady of Divine Providence School of Spiritual Direction, she loves to share her story of transformation and conversion through her witness of extraordinary faith. She has served as a Catholic elementary media specialist, a pastoral council member and contributed to ministries in her former parish in New Jersey. She was a contributor for the Metuchen Catholic Spirit newspaper, Evangelization Here and Now newspaper and, prior to her conversion, she had a career in the fashion industry. She is a former participant of the NJCWG for children’s books. She currently lives in Ponte Vedra Beach Florida with her husband and is a practicing Spiritual Director with Saint John Paul ll Parish. She holds a Masters in Elementary Education and a Bachelor’s in Fine Art in Fashion Design. This is her first book.
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Memoir of Grace (Children of the Cross) helps us to see the wonders and miracles that God has provided through the works of Mary Kloska, a woman from the first world who has touched the hearts of those in the third world with her pure and sacred love. Mary’s books have changed the lives of many here in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and elsewhere in the world.
In this memoir, Pakistani translator and missionary Aqif Shahzad looks at how Mary’s books have given light, life, and healing to wounded and persecuted Christians. He reflects on his own experience with God and shares his personal life journey of how God chose him, a simple person from a village, for this ministry of Children of the Cross.
Paperback: $12.95 | Kindle $5.99
“Aqif Shahzad’s book Memoir of Grace is a powerful witness to the great work God can do through a little soul who simply says ‘yes.’ Through the experiences he shares about his life and mission amongst persecuted Christians in Pakistan, the Holy Spirit can clearly be seen foraging a road of grace in the midst of the spiritual wilderness of the Middle East.” – Mary Kloska, author of Raising ‘Children of the Cross,’ The Holiness of Womanhood, Out of the Darkness, A Heart Frozen in the Wilderness, In Our Lady’s Shadow, and Mornings with Mary
Aqif Shahzad was raised in a family of four brothers and two sisters in a village in Pakistan. He lost his father early, and his mother, whose faith in Our Lady strengthened and deepened his love for Our Lady, played a significant role in his life.
Teaching and translation are his passions. Children of the Cross (Ministry) is the answer to his continued prayers. Giving life, hope, and healing to persecuted Christians in Pakistan and throughout the world is his vision. God has called him to reach the unreached. He lives in Pakistan with his small daughter, Eliana, who is four years old.
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“In Prodigal Pilgrim, Peter Breen focuses on the environmental crisis. He points to Pope Benedict’s thought (referenced by Pope Francis) that divine intervention will be necessary to eliminate this crisis. Breen, in a series of letters to Francis, uses Benedict’s statement to draw the fascinating conclusion that this intervention has occurred through the messages given at Lourdes, Fatima, Garabandal, and Medjugorie.” – Dr. Cynthia Toolin-Wilson, Professor of Dogmatic Theology, Holy Apostles College & Seminary, author of Survivor: A Memoir of Forgiveness
“Prodigal Pilgrim rewards the reader with an engaging conflict; the tug of unbelief on the one side and faith-engendered devotion on the other. Some may see Prodigal Pilgrim as a transliteration of Charles E Curran’s Loyal Dissent. In the book’s introduction itself, Peter Breen confesses to being a practicing Catholic with a crisis of faith in the Church, stemming from reasons that go beyond the sex scandals of the clergy. Through this trellised confessional Breen makes an impassioned plea for the Pope to recognize the miracles of Medjugorje. He takes the Pope and the reader with him on his pilgrimage to the sites of Our Lady’s appearances: Lourdes, Fatima, Garabandal and Medjugorje, encouraging a devotion to Mary as the prophet of our time. Mary, the mother of Jesus is presented as the one offering the world a lifeline. The epistolary form in which the author expresses his mix of faith and dissent is in itself unusual. There could well be smiles and frowns on what some may consider to be the cheek of the author to write a series of personal letters to Holy Father Pope Francis, addressed as Fr. Jorge Bergoglio; letters starting with Dear Fr. Jorge, as if to a parish assistant. It makes for engaging reading; an invitation to believe in the face of intellectual bumps. It offers the dissenting yet loyal Catholic a berth in what we may call, after Breen, the Prodigal Pilgrimage.” – Ivan Arthur, author of Saynt Lachmi and Pavement Prayers
Peter Breen is an Australian writer and the author of several books including the bestselling The Book of Letters published by Allen & Unwin. In his new book Prodigal Pilgrim, Peter returns to letter writing in a book of correspondence to Pope Francis about the Church in the modern world and private Marian revelation.
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