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DETAILS CONCERNING
PRESENTATIONS OF THE SOCIETY OF ST GIANNA AT CHURCHES
As people enter the church for Mass during the weekend of our presentation,
volunteers will give them an invitation to venerate St Gianna’s gloves,
before and after Mass. This invitation has a great impact on the success of
our presentation. Since adding the invitation early on, large numbers of parishioners
now venerate the relics of St Gianna. The invitation contains the Bible verses
Acts 19: 11 &12, “So extraordinary were the mighty deeds God accomplished
at the hands of Paul that when face cloths or aprons that touched his skin
were applied to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits came
out of them.” We have observed that these powerful words give people
hope and a willingness to participate in the presentation.
We normally locate our red satin table with the reliquary,
containing St Gianna’s gloves, near the center of the sanctuary. The
front of the table has a picture of Jesus, Divine Mercy. St Gianna’s
prayer to Jesus is placed next to the reliquary for people to read when they
touch the gloves. When people come forward to venerate her gloves; we give
them prayer cards, a St Gianna pamphlet and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
The table is moved before Mass.
After Holy Communion at each Mass, we are usually given up to 5 minutes
or so to share our devotion of St Gianna. Three members of our society take
turns giving the talk We read the prayer that St Gianna composed at age 15
while on a retreat, “I promise You, Jesus, to submit myself to all
that You permit to happen to me. Let me know only your will.” This
is an important part of our presentation as it was a turning point in St
Gianna’s life. From age 15 until she died at age 39, St Gianna tried
to do God’s will. She is a model for all us, but especially for mothers
and youth. We explain how St Gianna gave her life for her unborn child. We
also share several answered prayers, which encourages people to venerate
the relics and ask for extra prayer cards to give to people in need. We
will ask you how much time you will allow us to talk.
We display two self-standing donation stands, one on each side of the reliquary
table. The stands areplaced far enough away so nobody feels obligated to give,
but at the same time they’re available for anyone who wants to help defray
the cost of the presentation.
After Mass, people have waited in line for fifteen minutes or more to venerate
the relics. In an effort to create a reverent atmosphere, we play a cassette
tape of the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo De Silas – Gregorian chant,
etc.
ITEMS ENHANCING OUR PRESENTATION
1) Two outside banners .
2) Three outside signs – one sign contains a quote of Pope Paul VI.
3) Two indoor signs
a) Sign has pictures of Pope John Paul II with family members of Saint Gianna.
b) Sign displaying the Nov 2001 front page of the newsletter of the Eucharistic
Apostles of Divine Mercy which says,
“St. Faustina, Saint Gianna and the Gift of Life.”
4) Three indoor pictures of Saint Gianna (18” x 24”),
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