After attending the September twenty-first TX Tropical Trail outing in Rockport, Steven and I went in search of the chapel I’d discovered online a couple of years ago. Although we’d anticipated that Stella Maris might be closed on a Tuesday afternoon, we were disappointed nonetheless but perked up at the thought of returning for Mass, October 9.
What a joy to hear Fr. Ralph’s stories about his first-class St. Peregrine relic and the miracles God has performed!
Prayers to St. Peregrine
O God, in Saint Peregrine you gave us an outstanding example of faith and patience. We humbly ask you that, by imitating him and by the help of his prayers, we may believe more fully in your healing help, bear the suffering of this life without wavering, and come with joy to the peace of heaven. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For strength and healing… Loving and gracious God, in faith and trust we place ourselves before you. Fill me with your healing love. In St. Peregrine you have given the world an outstanding example of courage, faith, and hope in the midst of pain and affliction; and you showed your greatness and compassion by the miracle of his cure.
Now I ask you, through the intercession of St. Peregrine, to help me, your servant, to endure my illness with courage; and, if it be your will, to restore me to health through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Contact information
St. Peregrine prayers are from Franciscan Mission Associates, P.O. Box 598, Mt. Vernon, NY 10551-0598.
Fr. Ralph’s homilies: 10 Oct 2010 / 22 Jan 2012 / 16 Sept 2012…
Links of interest… Fr. Ralph Jones (d. 2.13.18) / Franciscan Mission Associates… Gratitude… Relics… Msgr. Rory Deane (d. 3.6.16)… Signs, miracles, & worship… St. Peregrine: about / articles (prayer card) / “cancer saint” / chaplet / devotions / feast / friends of / healing power / May 1 / novena / prayer circle / shrine… Stella Maris: anniversary / facebook / history (blog post) / Lamar, TX / marker…
WP posts… Call of service… Delightful visit… Father’s roses… Healing service… Memorable as ever… Powerful intercessor… Prayers and blessings… Saintly connections… St. Peregrine relic… Stella Maris moments
Filed under: chapels, holy relics, homilies, prayer, St. Peregrine | Tagged: building community, overcoming adversity, Stella Maris Chapel-Lamar TX, TX Tropical Trail Region |
Shared thoughts... 
Thank you, Fr. Ralph, for praying for me last night. I am thankful. God bless you.
What a gift to receive such a special blessing! Fr. Ralph always appreciates sweet acknowledgments, so I’ll send him a note to let him know. God bless you sweetly!
Hi Deli:
I am just catching up on reading testimonies and comments on your blog. If you don’t mind here is testimony I want to share with you and your readers.
In the summer months we travel to KS, IA, and NE to visit family and friends. Prior to this year’s visit I was seeing a chiropractor for pain I was having in my lower back. Fr. Ralph knew of the pain I was having. The travel only aggravated my lower back, and the pain intensified.
Our first stop was at my son’s house in Kansas City, MO. There I got to meet my son’s next door neighbor.
We traveled on to Lake Panorama, IA where the pain only became worse, such that a lady friend loaned me a walker and cane.
While at the lake I received a call from my son. He and his family had visited us on Memorial Day weekend, attended Mass at Stella Maris, and met Fr. Ralph. My son informed me that his neighbor’s son had been rushed to the hospital. There the doctors discovered a large tumor on the brain. My son asked that I call Fr. Ralph and ask for prayers.
We were at a campground where phone reception was bad, so I drove about 300 yards to get a clear phone signal. I called Fr. Ralph and explained the situation to him. He took the man’s name so he could pray for him. Father also asked how my back was doing, so I told him things had gotten worse. I was using a walker and a cane to get around. Father asked me to keep the phone on my ear and place my other hand on the area with pain. I did as told and he prayed. From the time I drove back to the camper the pain went away, and until this day I have very little pain.
Regarding the tumor, the doctors were preparing to do surgery but upon another examination discovered the tumor had shrunk. The patient has been informed that no further work needs to be done. Yes, miracles do happen!
Regarding Fr. Ralph, as you know he developed a very bad cough during the Mass you attended. He had to have a surgical procedure done. We are hoping he will be presiding over Christmas services. Please pray for him.
I wish you and Steven the merriest of Christmases.
John, thank you for sharing your stories! As Fr. Ralph keeps saying, “God answers prayers. We just need to believe!”
Of course, we also need patience. But, like you, I’m a believer! The more we acknowledge the miracles in our lives, the more we receive them. We are so blessed!
I love to see Fr. Ralph’s face light up when we visit Stella Maris. He’s such a joy! It’s amazing to catch up and share the miracles. Even when we visited him at the rehab center he was ON. I never get enough, and neither does he! God must get quite a charge out of us!
Steven and I had intended to return to SMC this past Saturday, but we had a promise to keep with George and Olivia at St. Paul’s in Flour Bluff. And we’ll be elsewhere during the holidays; but Fr. Ralph is always with us mind, heart, and soul. He’s unforgettable!
So, yes! Again I tell you, if two of you join your voices on earth to pray for anything whatsoever, it shall be granted you by my Father in heaven. Where two or more are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst (Mt. 18:19-20).
Thanks again, John, for taking the time to share your thoughts. I’ll write to Father, and we’ll be back at Stella Maris soon. May this Christmas season be your most memorable ever. God bless you and your family most abundantly!
Fr. Ralph, may our Lord give you a speedy recovery. Our prayers and thoughts of you are in our hearts. We love and look forward to seeing you. God bless and heal you.
Felita Allred and the prayer warriors from St Patrick Church!!
Dearest Felita and St. Patrick Church prayer warriors, I join with you in praying for our beloved Fr. Ralph. I’d heard from Sr. Mary and our friend, Ning, at St. Paul’s that he was ill but didn’t want to believe it. After all, so many of us depend on him!
Fr. Ralph has always welcomed us— everyone, actually— with open arms anytime we’ve gone to see him. He does so much good through his devotion to St. Peregrine and his healing prayer services at Stella Maris that, yes indeed; we need to rally ’round him more than ever at this time.
Again I tell you, if two of you join your voices on earth to pray for anything whatsoever, it shall be granted you by my Father in heaven. Where two or more are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst (Mt. 18:19-20).
Thank you for posting your comment so that everyone sends a heavenward hallelujah as thanksgiving and praise for Fr. Ralph’s healing. Thank you for your heartfelt prayers!!! God bless you and yours most abundantly!
Dear Felita,
I’m replying to your comment from last November regarding Fr. Ralph’s surgery and recovery, hoping that everyone who reads this will see that he is once again in need of prayers.
After being diagnosed cancer-free April 2014, he is once again battling lung cancer. He has spent two months in Houston receiving chemo at MD Anderson, but he is still fighting the stage 4 lung cancer
He has chosen to move back to Lamar and will go to Houston once a month to continue his treatment. In the meantime, we are all praying that he can beat cancer for the third time.
We appreciate the prayers that you and the prayer warriors offered for him last year and your ongoing prayers now that God will renew his strength and deliver him from this illness. We pray that anyone who reads this posting will join their prayers with ours on behalf of Fr. Ralph. God bless you all.
Dear Jeane, what a caring, thoughtful person you are. Thank you for your heartfelt petition.
Fr. Ralph is a trooper. His positive outlook and bright smile warm my soul.
And so we pray, “Dear God, we give you thanks and praise for this fine, gentle priest— a true friend to all who call on him. We entrust our beloved Fr. Ralph to your infinite wisdom, love, and care. We walk in faith believing that you alone know what’s best.”
Again I tell you, if two of you join your voices on earth to pray for anything whatsoever, it shall be granted you by my Father in heaven. Where two or more are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst (Mt. 18:19-20).
Is Fr. Ralph still at Stella Maris? I have a sister with a rare form of cancer, and we’ve heard of Fr. Ralph’s healing powers.
Hello! Yes, Fr. Ralph is a walking-talking miracle all on his own and still going strong. If you can’t make it to Stella Maris with your sister, you can call him. He believes that God works miracles regardless of where we are; we only need to believe in his saving grace to be healed. Please call him. He’ll be so very happy to be of service.
Thanks so much for your thoughtfulness!
I’ve enjoyed reading your posts and glimpsing the life of a twenty-something-year-old.
Here’s to making a huge difference in life, eh?!!
You are an incredibly sweet person. Thank you.