On August 18th, St. Maxmilian Kolbe Fraternity will be hosting a Healing Prayer Service for anyone suffering from the disease of addiction. Our guest blogger Dorothy O’Reilly writes about the history of The Secular Franciscan Order and St. Maxmilian Kolbe, the Patron Saint of Addicts who is the inspiration for their upcoming healing service. 

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By Dorothy O’Reilly - Minister of St. Maximilian Kolbe Fraternity

Members of the Secular Franciscan Order, St. Maximilian Kolbe Fraternity are sponsoring a Healing Prayer Service for all those suffering from addictions on Sunday, August 18 at 2 PM at St. Peter’s Church, 406 Forman Ave, Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742.

The Secular Franciscan Order was founded by St. Francis of Assisi over 800 years ago. The worldwide order is open to lay people, married and single who want to live the Gospel life in the spirit of St. Francis Assisi.

Like Francis, the Secular Franciscans hear the call to “Rebuild my Church” and try to take an active role in spreading the light of the Gospel to a dark world. We are striving to rebuild all institutions: family, church, country, world through our words and actions.

St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Franciscan friar known as the Martyr of Charity and the Patron Saint of Addicts, offered his life in place of a prisoner who was a family man at Auschwitz Concentration Camp. After surviving two weeks in a starvation bunker, he was killed by an injection of carbolic acid.

Many miracles have been attributed to St. Maxmilian Kolbe, and we are still believing in God for miracles today. Addictions are a serious epidemic in our country, and we want to give people hope through the power of prayer.

Notice: This article reflects the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ). This information should not be construed as legal advice from the author or PDFNJ. Please consult your own attorney before making any legal decisions.