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Fr. Benedict Groeschel suffers stroke
NCR ^ | March 30, 2009 | catholicandgop

Posted on 03/31/2009 5:48:13 AM PDT by NYer

Father Groeschel speaks last October during EWTN's Family Celebration at Northern Illinois University. (CNS)

Father Benedict Groeschel, whose whole life has been spent preaching the Gospel, suffered a minor stroke in mid-March, leaving him with some speech difficulties.

Father Benedict made the news public on his regular Sunday evening talk show March 29 on the Eternal Word Television Network, “Sunday Night Life with Father Benedict Groeschel.”

Appearing before a life audience, the 75-year-old Franciscan Friar of the Renewal noted that he had missed the show the previous Sunday because he had suffered a stroke overnight March 20-21. Another member of his community, Father Andrew Apostoli, also well-known to EWTN viewers, substituted for him.

Father Benedict’s speech was obviously impaired as he revealed the news, and he misspoke Father Andrew’s name as Father Augustine.

He also confused a recent story in the news when he said that the University of Notre Dame was receiving an award from President Obama.

But Father Benedict said that his speech difficulties improve as he continues to talk, and, in fact, by the time the one-hour program was over, he was speaking much more normally. He even poked fun at himself for getting Father Andrew’s name wrong: “I’ll never live that down.”

His guest on the program was author Immaculée Ilibagiza, whose book “Left to Tell” described her experience during the mid-1990s tribal conflict in Rwanda that left 800,000 people dead. Although the subject of the interview was her new book, “Our Lady of Kibeho,” and the Vatican’s approval of the apparition, Father Benedict and callers to the program also discussed Ilibagiza’s survival of the atrocities in Rwanda and the role her faith played in it.

As if to drive home the need for faith and hope during such times, Father Benedict near the end of the program repeated the news that he had suffered a stroke. He said he decided to go ahead with his program so that viewers who may be suffering in some way won’t give up.

Father Groeschel also announced that he was beginning a new series on the network.


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Ministry/Outreach
KEYWORDS: catholic; groeschel; livenotlife
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1 posted on 03/31/2009 5:48:13 AM PDT by NYer
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To: Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; nickcarraway; Romulus; ...
Anyone ever notice that Fr. Groeschel bears a stong resemblence to St. Benedict.


2 posted on 03/31/2009 5:49:11 AM PDT by NYer ("Run from places of sin as from a plague." - St. John Climacus)
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To: NYer

For anyone who has not seen Fr. Groeschel’s program on EWTN,I highly recommend it.He is a brilliant,well educated man with a lot of common sense,a sense of humor and a great amount of experience.


3 posted on 03/31/2009 6:07:49 AM PDT by ardara
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To: ardara
For anyone who has not seen Fr. Groeschel’s program on EWTN,I highly recommend it.

Ditto! Like Archbishop Sheen, his viewing audience is composed of people from all faiths and even no faith at all. It was painful to watch him stammer last Sunday yet also inspiring when he announced that he would continue to host the Sunday show even announcing the next 8 part series.

Mother Angelica also suffered a series of strokes that have left her silent.

4 posted on 03/31/2009 6:22:12 AM PDT by NYer ("Run from places of sin as from a plague." - St. John Climacus)
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To: NYer
Sunday Night: Live


5 posted on 03/31/2009 6:37:43 AM PDT by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
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To: NYer
Oh, dear. Thanks so much for posting this. I missed his program last week and hadn't heard the news.

His is one of the best programs on EWTN. I appreciate his humor and his thoughtful explanations. I also highly recommend the program.

6 posted on 03/31/2009 6:46:41 AM PDT by Miss Marple
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To: NYer

That’s it! I saw the Icon of St. Benedict again recently and thought to myself that he looks like someone I’d seen but couldn’t place it. Fr. Groeschel is such a blessing to us, he has my continued prayers.


7 posted on 03/31/2009 7:26:51 AM PDT by fortunecookie (Please pray for Anna, age 7, who waits for a new kidney.)
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To: NYer

My prayers are with Father. He is certainly amazing to listen to and is most blessed with the Gift of Wisdom.


8 posted on 03/31/2009 7:48:38 AM PDT by Gerish (Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.)
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To: NYer

Prayers....


9 posted on 03/31/2009 8:53:30 AM PDT by onedoug
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To: nickcarraway; Lady In Blue; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; Catholicguy; RobbyS; markomalley; ...

 

Go to fullsize image

May The Lord bless you and keep you;  

May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

And may Our Lady bless you with   her maternal love


I
n the name of the Father, and of the Son
and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Catholic Prayer Ping

Please pray for Father Benidict Groechel    

If you would like to be added to the Catholic Prayer Ping List, please FReepmail me.

 


10 posted on 03/31/2009 9:06:41 AM PDT by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
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To: NYer

“Like Archbishop Sheen, his viewing audience is composed of people from all faiths and even no faith at all.”

####

Very true.

I wonder how many of those people are aware that Fr. Groeschel’s wisdom (like Archbishop Sheen), is built on the solid foundation of nasty old rigid, judgmental, dogmatic Catholicism.


11 posted on 03/31/2009 9:13:31 AM PDT by EyeGuy
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To: NYer

Fr. Groeschel included a passionate denunciation of the shameful acts at Notre Dame and asked his audience — that is you and me — to keep the pressure on them.

May the good Lord give him strength and long years. Lord, give succor to your faithful servant Benedict. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, amen.


12 posted on 03/31/2009 9:30:14 AM PDT by annalex (http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
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Prayers for Father Groeschel’s healing.


13 posted on 03/31/2009 9:32:00 AM PDT by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
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To: EyeGuy
I wonder how many of those people are aware that Fr. Groeschel’s wisdom (like Archbishop Sheen), is built on the solid foundation of nasty old rigid, judgmental, dogmatic Catholicism.

*snicker* Let's not tell them. Let them just absorb it. ;o)

14 posted on 03/31/2009 9:32:42 AM PDT by SuziQ
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To: EyeGuy

Oh, and God Bless Fr. Groeschel!


15 posted on 03/31/2009 9:33:11 AM PDT by SuziQ
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To: NYer

Prayers for the good Father


16 posted on 03/31/2009 9:44:15 AM PDT by Norman Bates
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To: NYer

I love this man. Prayers going up.


17 posted on 03/31/2009 10:07:16 AM PDT by diamond6 (Is SIDS preventable? www.Stopsidsnow.com)
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To: NYer
But Father Benedict said that his speech difficulties improve as he continues to talk, and, in fact, by the time the one-hour program was over, he was speaking much more normally.

WOW, I had no idea. I was watching the repeat of the program and came in after he said he was "sick". He was fumbling his words a little and I told my wife that Father Groeschel was fumbling his words a little and that he must have still been "under the weather". I thought he had a bad cold or virus or something but WOW!. He was absolutely speaking much more clearly and fluidly by the end of the show. WHAT A TROOPER!

God Bless the good father!

18 posted on 03/31/2009 10:22:25 AM PDT by frogjerk (NO TAXATION FOR REAMORTIZATION!)
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To: Salvation

Prayer said.


19 posted on 03/31/2009 11:12:51 AM PDT by Sun (Pray that God sends us good leaders. Please say a prayer now.)
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To: ardara

Yeah, he is a treasure! I’ve grown a good bit spiritually just listening to him.

I know that there are also a good many non-Catholic Christians who enjoy his insights and observations.

Prayers for his health.


20 posted on 03/31/2009 11:25:10 AM PDT by incredulous joe
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