Today, August 14, the Eve of the Immaculate Conception, is the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe. He is the Polish Franciscan priest who is best known for offering his life in Auschwitz, in place of a family man who was condemned to death in the starvation bunker. At the age of 21, Kolbe earned a doctorate in philosophy at the Gregorianum in Rome and a doctorate in theology there by age 28. He organized the Militia Immaculata in Rome to work for the conversion of sinners and the

Dear Friends, As you read this article, I am in Caracas, Venezuela! I make this pilgrimage every August to celebrate the anniversary of the passing of the Servant of God Maria Esperanza. She died in Long Beach Island, New Jersey, on August 7, 2004, and we celebrate this day each year with a solemn Mass in the chapel of Cemetery East in Caracas. The Betania Choir sings for the Mass and hundreds of people attend. After Mass we process to her grave, pray the rosary and sing hymn