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VICTOR Our Prayer Journey for All Blacks Rugby World Cup 2011 Victory

40-DAYS ROSARY FOR THE ALL BLACKS BEGINS IN BLESSED JOHN PAUL II MASS CENTRE On July 31, 2011, Fr Sam Pulanco, Auckland Catholic Tertiary chaplain, started the “You Play, We Pray” Rosary for the All Blacks before the 10:30am mass at the Blessed John Paul II Mass Centre, Albany with the churchgoers participating. After the mass, families volunteered to say the rosary in their respective homes on their assigned days during the first week, namely Magtibay (Mon), De la Cruz (Tues), Jose (Wed), Angeles (Thurs), Halili (Fri), and Cutten (Sat). Other families are expected to join as prayer warriors for the All Blacks, New Zealand’s premier rugby team that has won the inaugural staging in 1987, but has been denied the William Webb Ellis Cup in succeeding tournaments.

TawagAwit-Blessed John Paul II Mass Centre Chapter fully supported Fr Sam in his efforts. Other chapters of TawagAwit will also conduct daily prayers as follows: Aug 7-Aug 13 Our Lady of Lourdes; Aug 14 - Aug 20 St Mary’s; Aug 21 - Aug 27 St Mark's; Aug 28 - Sep 3 St Thomas More; Sep 4 – Sep 8 St Patrick's Taupo. Other individuals have volunteered to participate as well. Most inspiring was a brethren from Blessed John Paul II Mass Centre who announced that she would recite the rosary every day.

Fr Sam said that he had asked other parishes to join in the rosary, and distributed booklets that will contain the introductory prayer written by Bro Mel B Libre and the rosary prayers. Bro Mel who initiated the prayer journey wrote that “the win that the All Blacks and its supporters thirst for will not alone emanate from talent, not from might, not from techniques, not from resolve, rather it will come from the One who wills it to happen.”

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VICTOR BLOTFREE Vol 4

By Bro Mel B Libre*

You Play, We Pray The New Zealander took a canned beer as he viewed with his mates the telecast of New Zealand’s All-Blacks victory in the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, with the Kiwis defeating France twenty-nine points to nine in the final. The man then decides not to open the can, reserving it for the next World Cup win of the All Blacks.

Fast forward, the man brings his canned beer, only to be frustrated that New Zealand failed again and again in every World Cup. The TV advertisement ends with the Kiwi, now much older, bringing his treasured beer as he and his mates proceed to view the finals with a hope that this year, New Zealand will raise the William Webb Ellis Cup again.

This nation of a little more than 4 million is a superpower in the rough and sometimes brutal game of rugby. The dream of a New Zealand rugby player is to don the All-Blacks jersey, the highest honour for a player. Becoming an All-Black leads to fame and fortune, and provides a ticket to playing in any professional rugby team in the world.

In most, if not all, of the pre-World Cup tests, the All-Blacks are always no. 1 and feared by all teams including its archrival Australia’s Wallabies. The coaching team not just obtains the players with the most talent, but must also have the stamina, be physically fit with achievements in other tournaments. There is no question about the level of physical and mental preparation of the All-Blacks in its road towards victory.

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VICTOR “There is no space for emotions, just concentrate on being clinical in your games,” told one Kiwi coach to the players of the New Zealand Rugby champ Crusaders in their Super 15 Championship game against Australia’s Reds where the Crusaders lost by 1 point. I say one has to be emotional; one has to be spiritual in pursuit of this journey to victory.

We must learn from Jacob: “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the LORD will be my God. And this stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house; and of all that Thou dost give me I will surely give a tenth to Thee.”” (Genesis 28:20-22).

Bob Deffinbaugh in his study wrote on Jacob’s victory: “To me, this was a bargain with God. In return for God’s presence, protection, and provision, Jacob would let God be his God... Jacob clung tenaciously to God to accomplish what He promised to do, even when it seemed humanly impossible.”

The win that the All Blacks and its supporters thirst for will not alone emanate from talent, not from might, not from techniques, not from resolve, rather it will come from the One who wills it to happen. “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts (Zechariah 4:6).

As a resident of New Zealand, I will take the cause of the All Blacks and New Zealand to the Final Arbiter. Starting on July 31 (40 days before the first game on September 9), I shall begin a “You Play, We Pray” daily rosary for victory of the All Blacks. And on the days when the New Zealand team plays I shall recite all of the mysteries.

Let us make this not just a journey for World Cup victory, but that of the Victory for the Lord. While we do sing, “God Defend New Zealand”, this time let us shout, likewise, in chorus, “God Lead New Zealand to Victory!” *Bro Mel B Libre is the Lead Servant of TawagAwit, a Catholic Ministry spreading God’s Word through music and other acts of love

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VICTOR PRAYER FOR THE ALL BLACKS TO WIN THE RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011

We praise You Lord God; You are Our Almighty Father in heaven and on earth. You are our joy, our victory, we adore and honor You. As New Zealand hosts the Rugby World Cup 2011, we ask You to send your Holy Angels to guard the players, the spectators and supporters from harm and violence; and secure the venues of all the games.

Send the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen the All Blacks, who have been denied the World Cup since winning this in 1987.

Fill the coaches with your wisdom. Fill the players with your strength. Fill their hearts with your overwhelming power. Make your presence felt in every game as You lead them to victory.

We offer this Prayer for the All Blacks, that as they have faith in themselves, they have faith in You – the Final Arbiter.

We thank You Lord for hearing our prayer and plea.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

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VICTOR How to Pray the Rosary The purpose of the Rosary is to help keep in memory certain principal events or mysteries in the history of our salvation, and to thank and praise God for them. There are twenty mysteries reflected upon in the Rosary, and these are divided into the five JOYFUL MYSTERIES, the five LUMINOUS MYSTERIES, the five SORROWFUL MYSTERIES, and the five GLORIOUS MYSTERIES. 1 Make the Sign of the Cross and say the "Apostles' Creed."

2 Say the "Our Father."

3 Say three "Hail Marys."

4 Say the "Glory be to the Father."

5 Announce the First Mystery; then say the "Our Father."

6 Say ten "Hail Marys," while meditating on the Mystery.

7 Say the "Glory be to the Father."

8 Announce the Second Mystery; then say the "Our Father." Repeat 6 and 7 and continue with Third, Fourth and Fifth Mysteries in the same manner.

9 Those who pray the Rosary regularly would do well to be enrolled in the Confraternity to gain extra spiritual benefits for each Rosary they pray.

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VICTOR Prayers of the Holy Rosary SIGN OF THE CROSS In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

APOSTLES' CREED I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

OUR FATHER Our father, who art in heaven; hallowed by Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

HAIL MARY Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

GLORY BE TO THE FATHER Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

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VICTOR HAIL, HOLY QUEEN Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. O GOD, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

After each decade you can say the following prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima: "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy."

As suggested by the Pope John Paul II the Joyful mysteries are said on Monday and Saturday, the Luminous on Thursday, the Sorrowful on Tuesday and Friday, and the Glorious on Wednesday and Sunday (with this exception: Sundays of Christmas season - The Joyful; Sundays of Lent - Sorrowful) THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES 1. The Annunciation 2. The Visitation 3. The Nativity 4. The Presentation 5. The Lost and Finding at the Temple

THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES 1. The Agony in the Garden 2. The Scourging at the Pillar 3. The Crowning with Thorns 4. The Carrying of the Cross 5. The Crucifixion

THE MYSTERIES OF LIGHT 1. The Baptism at Jordan 2. The Marriage at Cana 3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom 4. The Transfiguration 5. The Institution of the Eucharist

THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES 1. The Resurrection 2. The Ascension 3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit 4. The Assumption 5. The Coronation of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven and Earth

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VICTOR NEWS THIS WEEK: The All Blacks gave South Africa 40-7 beating on July 30 during the Tri Nations test at Westpac Stadium in Wellington. Springbok side was without its 21 front-line players. The win follows the previous week’s dismantling of Fiji where the New Zealanders scored 60-14 in Dunedin.

Commentators said that the All Blacks were an improved team when they beat the Springboks. The next test will be on July 6 when NZ’s

premier rugby team battles Australia for the Bledisloe Cup in Eden Park, Auckland.

New Zealand 40 (Zac Guildford 2, Cory Jane 2, Wyatt Crockett, Colin Slade tries; Daniel Carter 2 pens, 2 cons) South Africa 7 (John Smit try; Morne Steyn con). HT: 18-7.

Be Part of the Prayer Journey for All Blacks Rugby World Cup 2011 Victory  Volunteer for a day when you will say the Prayer and the Holy Rosary with your family. (email: librelaw@yahoo.com)  Say the Prayer at least daily  Ask friends to join you in your Prayer and Holy Rosary

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