God Provides

Josephine Lomasney
Mar 11, 2016
3 min read

This past week has been full of God’s abundant blessings on me as I prepare for the World Youth Day trip. Two major events stand out to me the most and I would like to share God’s workings in my life!

Last weekend I attended all of the Masses at my parish because afterwards I had set up what I’m going to call a “Prayer Exchange” table in the lobby. I had little notecards with our WYD itinerary on one side and the Memorare prayer on the other side for my fellow parishioners to take, then on the other side of the table I had an empty shoebox with blank notecards and pens strewn about. I was asking that people take one of my notecards and remember to pray for me during my WYD trip, and I was offering for them to fill out the blank cards with their prayer intentions for me to take when I make the trip! Kind of a “If you pray for me, I’ll pray for you” deal ☺

This experience was amazing! I don’t think anything like this had ever been done at my parish, and my pastor was somewhat surprised by how many people were crowded around my table! So many people thanked me for doing this~ it brought tears to my eyes. One gentleman came up and wrote on his prayer card for me to pray for his three sons, all of whom have a physical or mental disability. It was so touching to be entrusted with people’s prayers. I received so many hugs and handshakes~ my heart was already full from receiving Christ in the Eucharist, and it overflowed with love for my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ!

Even though I did not ask for financial help, I had many parishioners discreetly slipping me money for my trip and I received over a hundred dollars~ the generosity of God’s people cannot be outdone!

When I first started planning for this trip I was working two jobs, unfortunately two and a half weeks ago I had to quit one of my jobs unexpectedly. Due to this loss I began to doubt whether I’d be able to financially make it to World Youth Day. I began to pray and apply to as many jobs as I could! I got an interview with the Great Wolf Lodge after only a week of waiting! I was not thrilled with this though because I had submitted numerous applications to the schools, and I really want to work in the schools because I’m going to college to get a degree in some field in education. But I attended the interview with the Great Wolf Lodge anyway, and was hired on the spot.

A week and a half after I was hired, on the day that I was supposed to begin my training at GWL, I got a phone call from a position that I had interviewed for just the day before~ a position which I wasn’t sure I was qualified for. The lady on the phone was super nice, and she said, “Hello Josephine, I am calling from the school system regarding your interview to be the Preschool Manager at Eastern Elementary school. I would like to offer you the job!”

I accepted on the spot! I am now the four year old preschool teacher at one of the elementary schools! With much better pay and benefits than I could have imagined I would have before my 21st birthday! And I am basically starting my teaching career before I even have anything higher than an Associate’s Degree!

God truly works in mysterious ways~ I had to quit my restaurant job and endure almost three weeks of not knowing if I was going to make it, before I reached God’s ultimate plan of opening this door for me! Trust in God~ He has such great plans for us that we cannot even fathom!

These two events, being hired for this amazing job, and being able to ask for prayers and pray for others, has brought about in me a deeper trust in God and the knowledge that He really does have the whole world in His Hands!

Praying for everyone else who is going on World Youth Day with the Community of the Beatitudes, especially for those who are struggling financially:

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.