Gayle Olson
The Robson Ranch Catholic Community met on Nov. 12 with a presentation given by retired Navy Vice Admiral Charles W. Moore, Jr., and his wife Linda on the making of a saint. Vice Admiral Moore and Linda relayed the story of her sister Lydia and the journey she experienced on the recovery of a terminal diagnosis of stage 4 cancer of the lungs, liver, and lymph nodes. Her medical team would not even consider treatment, as they gave her a devastating prognosis of living only two weeks. She was sent home to live out her last days with palliative care. Linda cared for her sister day and night. On a night when Lydia was in extreme agony, her sister Linda saw a vision of Blessed Stanley Rother.
Stanley Rother was a Catholic priest from Okarche, Okla., serving as a missionary priest in Guatemala where he was murdered by guerillas, a victim of the Guatemalan Civil War. Linda had no knowledge of Blessed Stanley Rother but was determined to learn about him and why she had this vision to pray to him for her sister’s healing. From the circumstances of Father Rother’s death, it was determined that he died as a “Servant of God.” After further investigation by Catholic officials in Rome, Pope Francis confirmed that Father Rother had been killed “in hatred of the faith,” and he was beatified on Sept. 23, 2017. Father Stanley is the first USA-born martyr and first USA-born priest to be declared “Blessed,” the first stage toward canonization and sainthood. Vice Admiral Moore and his wife Linda attended the beatification of Father Rother at the shrine in Oklahoma.
Linda is certain that praying for Father Rother’s intercession aided in her sister’s miraculous healing. Within weeks of her sister’s diagnosed terminal cancer, she began to get well. Her medical team could not understand or explain how this could have occurred. Two years later, her sister has had no recurrence of any cancer. Catholics pray to martyrs, as they believe martyrs are powerful intercessors because of the abundance of grace in their sacrifice. Martyrdom is a supreme witness to the truth of the faith.
Last March members of the RR Catholic Community visited the Shrine of Blessed Stanley Rother in Oklahoma City.
Our Catholic Community continues to grow. The November meeting attendance was 54. We welcome all RR Catholic residents new to the community, as well as established residents.
A core mission of our community is to support the needs of Our Daily Bread located here in Denton County. Our members donated 234 handmade scarves, 155 pairs of men’s underwear, 185 pairs of women’s underwear, 42 pairs of socks, 17 bras, and 22 T-shirts. This is just a fraction of all that was donated. Other donations included hygiene items, gift cards, writing supplies, flashlights, batteries, handwarmers, towels, and washcloths. In total, the donations weighed 418 pounds.