Joelle Maryn’s Master of the Pieces Tour

Above: Joelle sharing her testimony to the Family Educators Conference in Sydney

This month we welcomed Joelle Maryn to Sydney for the ‘Master of the Pieces‘ book tour. This was the worldwide launch for this book and we were blessed to be able to host Joelle for this event. It was eleven years ago this month that Joelle had that encounter moment and turned her life around. We also celebrated her birthday while she was here. She spoke to large crowds each day and was very busy sharing her testimony with so many people.

Above: Joelle speaking to a large audience in St Joseph’s Croydon

The tour was such a success that we completely sold out of her books. Fortunately, we have the licensing rights for the Asia-Pacific region and have since printed more copies. The feedback has been overwhelming from those who attended and from those who have read the book as well. From young and old, men and women, the talks have been a positive impact.

Above: Joelle speaking to all of secondary at Tangara school for Girls

Joelle is a former actress, singer, model, tv host, CEO, now speaker and author as well. She shared her story of how tragedy struck with a house fire in her home as a young girl, which resulted in the tragic death of her older sister. This lead to her being very angry with God and closing the door to Him. She lived a life that was focused only on worldly success and literally made it to the top in everyway. However, while being at the top, she was looking in the mirror and could not recognise the person looking back. She had an encounter with God soon after and it changed her life.

Above: Joelle gave over 15 talks in 8 days across Sydney. Including a podcast with Charbel Raish which is now available online.

To get the full story of Joelle Maryn’s testimony, I highly recommend that you get her book ‘Master of the Pieces‘ which is now available on the Parousia website. We also filmed her testimony at the women’s retreat, which is now available for free on our YouTube channel.

Above: Joelle speaking at St Joachim’s church hall in Lidcombe

Another talk on discerning God’s will in your life will be made available shortly on YouTube as well. Please feel free to share these great videos around, as you never know whose lives you will impact in doing so. This was a very blessed tour and organised in less than two months. It was pretty clear that God wanted this to happen. Thank you to all the venues who hosted Joelle, from the schools to the parishes, the teacher groups, catechists, women’s groups. Thank you to everyone who made this tour so special. Please pray for Joelle and her work. We are currently talking about the possibility of a pilgrimage to Italy with her, so stay tuned!

March For Life

Above: Thousands turned up for the March for Life this year. Organised by Paul Hanrahan from FLI and Led by Archbishop Anthony Fisher

A record crowd turned up for the March for Life procession this month. Thousands from all over turned up in large numbers to witness and defend the unborn. The procession started from St Mary’s Cathedral and the crowd walked to Parliament House to hear a speech from Steven Mosher before processing back to the Cathedral for Benediction. It was a great day that went very smoothly and peacefully. Let us continue to pray for a culture of life and to be the voice of the voiceless.

Parousia Podcasts

Above top: Steven Mosher sat down with Charbel Raish for a very informative Parousia Podcast. Above bottom: Paul Hanrahan, Vera & Steve Mosher along with Charbel.

It’s been another busy month for the Parousia Podcast, with great interviews with Katrina Zeno, Blythe Kaufman, Joelle Maryn, Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers and Steven Mosher. Look out for all of these great episodes on the Parousia website under ‘Parousia Podcast‘ as well as on YouTube and all other popular podcasting platforms.

Local Events

This month was also a busy one with many local events. I don’t remember a time where I have personally been invited to give so many different talks across many different age groups. We have had six bible study groups, over a dozen individual talks to schools, parishes, youth groups, men’s groups, committee groups, marriage groups and the list goes on. We also launched Fr John Flader’s latest book “The Final Exam” at Marymount Mercy Centre. It’s been wonderful to meet new faces at these local events with more to come.

Above: Charbel with Joseph from Radio Maria, Fr John Flader, Couples for Christ retreat and the Campion College retreat.

Albeit it’s been back to back with various engagements, we are not slowing down, as we prepare to welcome Fr Chris Alar and Anna Nuzzo in May for their first ever trip Down Under! We are also getting ready to assist the Servants of Jesus with Neal Lozano, when he visits in late April. I pray your Lent has been going well and encourage you to finish Holy Week strongly. May I take this opportunity to wish everyone of you a blessed Easter Triduum as we enter the most solemn season of the liturgical year. The three days that changed the world.

God Bless,

Charbel Raish – Director

Master of the Pieces

– Joelle Maryn (Paperback)

Ever feel like your life has been smashed into pieces?

Joelle understands…at six, a tragic house fire took her sister Maria’s life and disintegrated her family. Consumed with grief, she disconnected herself from God and rebuilt her identity as an actress, model, and CEO.

But when her dream trip to Hollywood blew up, a hotter fire ignited. It stripped her bare, exposed lies she believed about her identity and burned her idols to ashes. Out of her ruins – blazing brighter than her brokenness – she encountered Jesus and He redeemed every broken piece in her life. 

Healing begins when you encounter the “Master of the Pieces” and let Him rebuild your life as He envisioned. 

-Reconnect with God’s great love for you.

-Uncover the lies that are stealing your joy.

-Be rooted in your true identity. 

-Find peace in your trials & triumph!

-Rewrite your story making beauty from the ashes.

“A fire nearly took my life, another fire saved it!”

The Eucharist Foretold: The Lost Prophecy of Malachi

– Mike Aquilina (Paperback)

“From the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.”—Malachi 1:11

One Old Testament passage seized the imagination of the early Church—and directed Christian hearts and minds toward the Eucharist. It was the oracle of Malachi 1:11, and it was cited (like Isaiah’s Suffering Servant oracles) to prove the identity of the Messiah through His Church and His Sacrament.

In The Eucharist Foretold: The Lost Prophecy of Malachi, Mike Aquilina reveals that the Messiah’s true identity—and the identity of the Eucharist—helps us find our identity as “catholic,” and will lead us to discover our roots in the religion of ancient Israel. To the early Christians, Malachi’s oracle defined who they were individually and as a Church.

Coming Home to Confession 

– Dr James Prothro (CD)

As we dive into Lent and prepare our hearts for Easter, Dr. Christopher Blum recites some profound meditations from The Tears of Christ: Meditations for Lent by Saint John Henry Newman. Take time to reflect on these words and put some of these meditations into practice in order to have a peaceful and prayerful Lent.

Digital Disciple: Carlo Acutis and the Eucharist

– Philip Kosloski (Paperback)

A comic book based on the life of Bl. Carlo Acutis!

Meet Carlo, an Italian fifteen-year-old computer geek who loved superheroes and video games, but most of all, the Holy Eucharist. This action packed comic book highlights the final years of Blessed Carlo Acutis’ life and how he became a digital disciple, creating a dynamic website and stunning display that taught others about the many remarkable Eucharistic miracles around the world. Readers will be captivated by Carlo, a likable teenage boy who continues to inspire the world by his simple life and extraordinary example of holiness.

What More Courld He Do For You? – Fr Larry Richards

– (Parousia On Demand)

The God of the universe looked at you and He looked at Jesus and He chose you! What love He has for you!

Have you ever thought of what it cost God to love you? It cost Him His only Son, and our response should be one of great gratitude. Join Fr. Larry Richards as he unveils for us the love of Jesus Christ in this dramatic presentation on the Passion of Jesus. Your life will be changed forever as you listen to what Jesus did for you. Hear Mary as she holds her Son’s dead body in her arms, and she cries out to you, “What more could He do for you?”