By Deacon Sal Lema
Years ago, I served as Communications Director for the Order of Carmelite of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Province at their main offices in Darien, Illinois. The Communications office was housed within the Shrine of St. Therese. It was a wonderful place to have our offices. Just around the corner from our doorway was a recreated cell of the Little Flower. It contained objects that matched those in her room in Lisieux, France. One item was not a replica, but was the actual item. it was the door that was the very entrance door of her cell. Occasionally, when times called me to reflect before responding, I would come to that room and simply touch the door, asking St. Therese to guide me with my answer. Most of the time I was gratified with what I came up with.
It is my greatest pleasure to welcome a new writer, one who emulates The Little Flower. She is Luciana Ballesteros-Heras, a girl who is 12 years old. Jesus said that one needs to be like a child to enter into the kingdom of heaven. After meeting Luciana, I now know what He was talking about. Since the start of this newsletter, I was searching for a young person who would be willing to write for us. Most young people that I asked were either too busy or not interested. I didn’t have to ask Luciana — she volunteered. She sent us an article titled “The Ultimate Friend”. I read it and was deeply appreciative of this child’s ability to understand what her faith is about and to write so well for a youngster of twelve years of age.
You may have already seen Luciana in church as a lector for mass. She truly touches my heart when I hear her proclaim the Scriptures. We are truly blessed to have this gifted child writing for The Family Seton. Her style of reading is beautiful. Her first article, The Ultimate Friend, is presented in this issue, along with an introduction about Luciana and her family. Her article is a great read and one that you should not miss, even if you read nothing else.
“Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” St. Therese, the Little Flower.
