Dear Friends,
A very happy New Year to you and Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God! I’m delighted that you have signed up to my newsletter and hope it blesses you.
Many of you will know I stepped into full-time ministry in April 2021. Taking up new opportunities for mission, I have created Parrhesia Ministries newsletter – and what better way to begin 2024 than by glorifying Almighty God for all He has done! At this time of the year, it is good to be reminded of the antiphon we say during the Easter Vigil: “All time belongs to Him, and all ages; to Him be glory and power, through every age and for ever.”
Time always tells that God is good and faithful!
Below are glimpses of my journey of ministry throughout 2023 – a testament to God’s goodness and faithfulness.
January / A Pilgrimage Gift
2023 began at Our Lady’s Shrine in Fatima! Today (January 1st), the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. Begin 2024 with Mary. In the words of St Zelie Martin: “I have reason to have confidence in the Blessed Virgin. I have received from Her favours I alone know”. It wasn’t long after Fatima that I was inspired with what developed into Parrhesia Ministries!
February / “It is trust and nothing but trust”
In February, I began reading a book on a saint who has inspired me much: St Therese of Lisieux. She said of the Gospel: “It is trust and nothing but trust”. To those who came to Him, Jesus constantly said: “Do not be afraid; only have faith.” (Mark 5:36) I was privileged to dive into this message on Radio Maria England (where I am a monthly speaker) and at the Praise Fest prayer group in Milton Keynes.
March / Preaching in the Emerald Isle
March was amazing! I had the privilege of following in the footsteps of Saint Patrick to share the Gospel in Ireland. Speaking to over 1,500 people at the Galway Cathedral Novena, it was an honour to proclaim the Gospel in the land of my ancestors! You can watch my sharing here on YouTube or listen here on Apple Podcasts.
April / We are an Easter people & Alleluia is our song
This month I led a four-day Divine Mercy Parish Mission at St Joseph’s Eucharistic Shrine in Stockport on the importance of approaching the throne of grace with confidence and humble boldness – because Christ has given us full access. We should not be afraid. I also spoke to a Mother’s group on what it means to be a woman of God and daughter of the Father. Finally, I spoke to a young adults group on the Holy Spirit who helps us find our identity and security in Christ. AMDG!
May / Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace
In the Church, Mary is given the title ‘Mediatrix of all Grace’ because She birthed Grace Himself – Jesus Christ – into the world. One of the most amazing truths to ponder is that every grace we have ever received in our lives has come through Mary, whether we know it or not. In May, the month of Mary, I was graced to speak to the Women of Saint Joseph about Mary’s motherly role in our lives. I also had the amazing opportunity of attending the Catching the Fire Conference in Knockbridge, Ireland, where I met some inspirational speakers including Ralph Martin, Peter Herbeck and Terry Quinn.
June / I have come that you may have life & life to the full
June focused on a deeper level of trust – surrender. First I spoke at RENEW Northampton on Psalm 62:8. Then I spoke at Our Lady & the Apostles Parish in Stockport for their third week of the Life in the Spirit Seminar. This focused on the the importance of surrendering to the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus surrendered in the river Jordan (see image). The result of every true and humble surrender is always the same result that Jesus received: ‘Suddenly the heavens were opened to Him.’ (Matthew 3:16)
July / JOY
In July, I headed over to the beautiful Shrine of Skalka near Trencin in Slovakia for the New Dawn Conference. There I spoke to over 600 adults in a workshop on the family. I also delivered two youth workshops. The whole experience was a complete gift and JOY!
August / “England’s Nazareth”
In August, I then had another joy of speaking at New Dawn in Walsingham! In a nutshell, the whole talk was that JESUS CHRIST is the answer everybody is looking for. You can watch my sharing here. St Pope John Paul II sums it up powerfully: “In every age the Church offers the one ultimately satisfying answer to the deepest questions of the human heart – Jesus Christ Himself.”
September / Back to the Emerald Isle & more!
September was rich in grace. I began back in the Emerald Isle for Cana Talks at the TF Royal Theatre speaking on the much needed topic of how to combat stress and anxiety in Christ. I then spoke to teenagers in the Paisley Diocese on why they shouldn’t be afraid to open wide the doors to Christ (Pope Benedict XVI). I also spoke to a young adults group in the Salford Diocese on making the choice for Christ every-single-day (perseverance). Finally, I had the AMAZING opportunity to visit the home and incorrupt body of my favourite saint – St Therese of Lisieux! The amount of grace was truly a “shower of roses” – just as she promised. Parrhesia Ministries is inspired by the fearless trust of St Therese – so evident in one of her most famous sayings: “He has chased all fear out of my heart”.
October / A Shower of Roses
October, the month of the Holy Rosary and the feast of St Therese of Lisieux (1st October), was a taking stock month. Parrhesia Ministries was fully birthed (so-to-speak) and I developed a new website and podcast show. A shower of roses!
November / Come to Me
This month was all about how to listen to God. I headed back up to Paisley to speak to 13-14 year olds. I then spoke to a group of young adults (listen here) and also on Radio Maria England (listen here). So how do we listen to God? The answer is hidden within the word ‘listen’ itself which spells another word: S-I-L-E-N-T. Jesus said: “Come to Me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) One way we can do this is by spending time in quiet prayer. Pray for the grace of silence.
December / Advent Missions
A month of advent missions, December began at St Chad’s Parish in Cheadle on John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Followed by an evening at the Blessed Sacrament Shrine in Liverpool on Christ the Light of the World – who knocks on the door of our hearts. Concluding with an evening at the Sacred Heart Parish in Gorton on the Child Jesus, specifically the words of the Infant of Prague: “The more you honour Me, the more I will bless you.” On the day I was speaking at Sacred Heart, I rang the priest to see if he by any chance had an Infant of Prague statue that I could use during the talk. God-incidentally the Parish had just been donated one and they had never had one before (fourth photo below). God provides!
Sometimes, we don’t recognise the Lord’s blessings and graces until we look back on our journey. If you haven’t already – I encourage you to take some time searching for the Lord’s ‘unseen footprints’ (Psalm 77:19) in your journey through 2023. Recalling what the Lord has done for us in the past increases our faith and hope in His faithfulness and integrity for both the present and the future: ‘I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; I will remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate on all Your work, and muse on Your mighty deeds.’ (Psalm 77:11-12)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8) He is alive and with you always. He truly loves you. As we begin 2024 His words are nothing but encouragement: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
I wish you a very happy New Year and every blessing for the year ahead.
I look forward to sharing more with you in the future and ask that you keep Parrhesia Ministries in your prayers.
Thank You & God Bless!
Daniella
If you would you like to learn more about how you can support Daniella with Parrhesia Ministries click here – thank you!
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Well done Daniella on the launch of your first Parrhesia subscription publication, very inspiring and look forward to receiving more!