I would like to give all readers an update on my health and ask for your prayers. Most of you know that I have just finished my first year at St. Charles seminary, and for the past 15 months I have been taking chemotherapy for brain cancer. Unfortunately, recent tests upon returning to North Carolina revealed that one area of the tumor has begun to grow.I have consulted many doctors, and they recommend that I begin a treatment of three drugs that are currently being researched to treat brain cancer - Bevacizumab, Irinotecan, and Carboplatin. Two of these are harsh chemotherapy drugs with very unpleasant side effects, and there are significant risks of internal bleeding and blood clots involved when taking them. If I respond to the initial treatments, I will receive these IV injections every other week for the next year.
My bishop has released me from my original Summer parish assignment in Wilmington, and instead he has given me the "assignment" to pray for the Church and diocese while I undergo these treatments. I will likely be living at the Sacred Heart parish rectory in Dunn, NC for much of the Summer, at the kind invitation of Fr. Parkerson, to be close to my friends and family. I ask you to please pray for me as I begin these treatments, and that my health will permit me to return to the seminary in the Fall. Please be assured of my prayers for you all as well!
117 comments:
Aww wow I am certainly praying for you. Your sacrifice will surely do good for the Church. Hang in there.
Prayers for you Philip. I'm sure you'll save lots of souls with your sufferings, nausea, needle pricks, fatigue and all the rest that goes with the chemo.
God bless you,
Adele (Class of Hodgkin's Lymphoma (2000))
I am praying for you. Surely this vocation which Almighty God has chosen for you is the very best one and will bear much good fruit. May God bless you and Our Lady protect you.
Offering a rosary for your intention.
Philip, I am praying and am asking others to pray for you too. God bless,
Philip,
I am a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed just days after the birth of my ninth baby...and the death of my 20yo brother in a car accident. This will be difficult for you, but you can be assured God loves you very much to allow you to join in his suffering for the redemption of souls. When united to his suffering, your suffering becomes a gift. A blessing. Redemptive. You know this intellectually, but now,God is asking you to experience it as well in a very personal way. . He must love you very much.
Please know I am praying for you as you go through treatment.
Theresa
I'll pray for you.
I and my group OCDS group will continue to pray for you!!
God bless you!
Still with you, shipmate.
Prayers.
Dear Phil, I and my friends in the Focolare (Work of Mary) will be praying for you, along with everyone else out there. May Our Lady accompany you every step of the way on this Holy Journey. Count on our prayers. We are with you in the Mystical Body, notwithstanding time or distance. Mary
I will pray for you as I do daily now, with little sacrifices offered up here and there for you, too. May God guide you to always be a good witness to the Faith and may your sufferings help others gain Heaven. God Bless you, Philip!
Philip: As mentioned in a previous email, I have begun a novena for you to St. Gianna Mollo. The novena prayer is as follows. I would hope that others who read this comment will join with me in this endeavor.
St. Gianna Mollo, I wish to make a perpetual novena to you starting tdoay, May 21, 2010, on behalf of Philip Johnson, a seminarian at St. Charles
Borremo Seminary. Philip has a brain tumor and soon will begin a new and intensive course of chemotherapy. Please pray, St. Gianna, that the treatment will e successful so he may continue his studies and eventualy serve Our Lord at the altar. You are a physician, St. Gianna, and have profound insights into these matters. Please ask the Lord to heal Philip. Thank you. Amen.
I will offer some Mass intentions, Rosary and Office intentions for you Philip. Stay strong. Your suffering, in Christ and with Christ, will do much for the Church (Col 1:24).
Continuing to pray for you everyday during my Holy Hour.
Philip:
Having prayed for you myself, I have posted a prayer request as well for you on my own blog site.
http://freethroughtruth.blogspot.com/2010/05/pray-for-courageous-seminarian.html
May God in His Mercy bless you
Michael Brandon
Be assured of my continuing prayers!
In solidarity. Praying.
I entrusted you in my prayers to our Blessed Virgen Mary. Blessed be God forever.
God choose you for a reason.
you are in Gods own hands.
He will guide you-protect you and take good care of you.
Thank you for your testimony of unconditional love.
You are in my prayers.
Our lady is here with you,
there's nothing to be afraid.
Enjoy and let God love you
the way he wants to love you.
Mary
My son was healed of life threatening brain injuries in 2007, after many prayers. I believe in miracles and will offer part of my Rosary for you, daily. Keep strong, God can and will heal you. God bless, rest in Our Lady's arms, as a child, whenever you are frightened.
Philip
I will add you to my prayers as well. Keep close to Our Lady, and may She sustain you during the days ahead and keep you close to Her Heart and the Heart of Her Son.
God bless you!
Veronica
Philip,
I went through my own battle with prostate cancer earlier this year, and am currently going through follow up radiation, and I'm only 47.
Blessed Marmion got me through the worst of it.
I'll be honored to pray for you.
Come Holy Ghost and cure Thy servant Philip.
Dan Hunter
You are in my prayers!
Always praying for you, Philip. God bless you and keep you.
Prayers for you through the intercession of Ven. Pauline Jaricot,
via Fr.Z's website.
Pleased be assured of my prayers for you. I will remember you during my rosary and office.
fr. Anselm, Tongerlo Abbey, Belgium.
Philip, I was at Sacred Heart for Mass today and prayed for you. I just returned to the faith (actually was in Rome in late March and had my 1st Communion (again) in St. Peters - after an examination of conscience). Sacred Heart is a beautiful Church. I pray for your healing and recovery. Oh god, come to Philip's assistance. Oh Lord, make haste to help him.
God bless.
You are still in my prayers, Philip. I know god loves you very much to give you this burden right now. Know that we are all praying for you and that your Bishop will ordain you to the Holy Priesthood.
I am praying for that because I know that is your special wish .
Elizabeth Forshaw.....St. Louis
You are still in my prayers, Philip. I know god loves you very much to give you this burden right now. Know that we are all praying for you and that your Bishop will ordain you to the Holy Priesthood.
I am praying for that because I know that is your special wish .
Elizabeth Forshaw.....St. Louis
You are in my prayers. Know that Our Blessed Lord is with you all the way!
Elizabeth Forshaw St. Louis
You'll be in my prayers.
Your name is on my prayer list on the sidebar of my blog. God be with you, Philip.
Annie
Philip, Tonight I will be joining with the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy for their monthly Mass and adoration you will be in my prayers. St Faustina Pray for us.
I am praying for you through the intercession of Ven. Pauline Jaricot, as suggested by Fr Z.
Praying for you, for complete healing and grace throughout these times. God bless you and keep you.
God bless and heal you, Philip! May Our Mother hold you close to her heart to comfort and protect you. Ask St. Philomena's help also. When I put her blessed oil on my leg, I never even felt one iota of pain from a biopsy or later surgery to remove a melanoma. No pain at all!! We all know that what you offer up to the Lord will help the Church. You are in our hearts and minds.
You are in my heart and prayers!!
Praying for you, Philip. God Bless.
Praying!
I will bring your suffering to the throne of God in this morning mass.
My Dear Squid!
Know that you will continue to be in my prayers. I will have a Mass offered for you as well as remember you at Holy Communion.
I look forward to seeing you return to seminary AND to be able to bust your chops this December when Army beats Navy!!
Your West Point friend!
Always in my prayers, Philip, since I followed your blog. God bless you! Fiat!
Prayers for you through the intercession of Ven. Pauline Jaricot,
via Fr.Z's website.
Praying for you Philip
Philip, you are in my prayers! I also pray through the intercession of Fr. Eugene Hamilton and your beloved Lady of Mercy and all Mercedarian Saints!
Dear Philip - I heard about you from Cathy of Alexandria. I will definitely pray for you and I also want to let you know about Fr. Darin Didier. Fr Disier died of leukemia shortly after his ordination. He has gained quite a reputation of sanctity - I was fortunate enough to meet him. He may be a good intercessor for you.
Here is a link to his story:
http://emmitsburg.net/grotto/father_jack/2005/requiescat.htm
I am praying for you.
Terry Nelson
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.
I would recommend the prayer never known to fail to Our Lady of Mt Carmel - link
http://devotionstoourladyofmtcarmel.blogspot.com/2008/09/prayer-should-be-said-devoutly-for.html
Am a parishioner at Sacred Heart in Dunn and will continue praying for you daily. I am so sorry about this update. Please know you are loved and prayed for by so many. God bless you and keep you, you are touching so many, many souls in ways you may never know. Take care and my Our Blessed Mother be with you always.
Dear Philip,
I will include you in my daily prayers and Masses. If you want a second class relic of Bd. Pier Giorgio Frassati please sne me an email with your address. He saved two of my Parishioners form the same. Becasue there had been treatment the Vatican Congregation called it a "grace" and would not accept it for his canonization, however. But it did happen.
fhrgp3@cox.net
Fr. Héctor R.G. Pérez, STD
St. Stephen Ro,a Catholic Church
Pensacola FL
Dear Philip, I read this on Father Z's blog. I offered the prayer he suggested through the intercession of Venerable Pauline Jaricot. I will add your name to my list of Rosary intentions. This, from a daughter of a Navy veteran! May God's will be done, through the prayers of Our Lady Star of the Sea, St. Bernadette of Lourdes, and Venerable Pauline!
From Málaga, Spain, I pray everyday for you. God bless you.
From Málaga, Spain, I pray for you.
Dear Philip, I will pray for you and I ask you pray for me as I fight incurable bile duct cancer. I am at stage 4 with mets to the lungs and lymph nodes. My new chemo is in two weeks. God bless you and give you strength as you fight the cancer, weakness and nausea.
My prayers and thoughts are with you, shipmate!
My continued prayers for you Philip. May you have continued peace and strength during your new treatment.
I will pray for you every day through the intercession of Ven. Pope John Paul 11. God bless you.
Judy
Praying for you, Philip!
You are in my prayers, Philip. You will get through this as we all pray each day for you.Something very special awaits you, I just know.
God loves you very much.
Elizabeth Forshaw....St. Louis
You are in my prayers, Philip. You will get through this as we all pray each day for you.Something very special awaits you, I just know.
God loves you very much.
Elizabeth Forshaw....St. Louis
I came here through Cathy's blog (Recovering Dissident) - I will pray for you.
praying for you and for complete healing.
PRAYING!!!
You have my prayers as always.
Saw the note on Father Z's blog. You're in prayers! Good bless and I look forward to hearing about your ordination.
You'll be in my prayers at Mass tomorrow, at perpetual adoration on Monday morning, and in the future. God bless.
Praying for you, Phillip
I'll pray for you. Benedicat vos Omnipotens Deus +
My dear brother,
We have never met, but my heart completely goes out to you. While I was in the seminary, I had a suspected cancer. In the event, after many investigations, they gave me the all-clear, but what small inconvenience I went through then gives me a tiny corner of understanding of what's going on for you. I remember praying to God to keep me long enough to celebrate Mass just once.
Of course, the most important thing is God's will: He will achieve more good by our acceptance of His will than we would ever do by our evasion of it; to accept His will is, in a sense, the most priestly thing we could do; certainly the most Christian.
God willing, you WILL be a priest; I shall tell God so, and if he doesn't listen to priests, then he jolly well ought to!
You don't have to post this. Just know I am praying for you here in England.
Oremus!
My friends and I have been praying and will pray harder than ever now. I look at your prayer card every day.
May Our Lady watch over you.
Jenny
May Our Blessed Lady hold you very close. My prayers.
Dear Philip Johnson: I would read the book entitled: “A Priest Forever: the Story of Fr. Eugene Hamilton,” by Fr. Benedict Groschell. (EWTN-Sunday Night Live Host) This book tells the story of an American Seminarian, who had Cancer too. Pope John Paul II, allowed him to be Ordained a Priest. He was Ordained a Priest, 3 Hours before he died. His only act as a Priest, was to Sign the Sign of the Cross, in his fellow Seminarian’s Palm, before he died. He is a Priest Forever, according to the order of Melcheizedek. So, pray to Fr. Eugene Hamilton, for this Seminarian: Philip Johnson, to also, be allowed by Pope Benedict XVI, to be Ordained a Priest, before he dies. God Willing of course.
St. Peregrine, is the Patron Saint of Cancer Patients. So I ask St Peregrine, to pray for you, as well as Fr. Eugene Hamilton, to pray for you. I will too, everyday on my Rosary and Chaplet of Mercy.
I hope you get completely cured, like Fr. Patrick Payton did. Whatever is God's Will.
Our Lady of Lourdes, and Our of All Nations, in Beurange, Belgium, said come there for healings...so stop there this summer too. There is a Miraculous Spring there too. It's an approved Marian Shrine, in Belgium.
I hope for the best, and leave the rest up to God. Take care. And, May God richly bless you and yours, and your vocation to holiness, and your vocation as a sick person, and perhaps priest. Whatever God wants, I want for you, too.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
May God Bless you. I will follow the example of 'anonymous' and say aa novena for you:
"Philip: As mentioned in a previous email, I have begun a novena for you to St. Gianna Mollo. The novena prayer is as follows. I would hope that others who read this comment will join with me in this endeavor.
St. Gianna Mollo, I wish to make a perpetual novena to you starting tdoay, May [23], 2010, on behalf of Philip Johnson, a seminarian at St. Charles
Borremo Seminary. Philip has a brain tumor and soon will begin a new and intensive course of chemotherapy. Please pray, St. Gianna, that the treatment will e successful so he may continue his studies and eventualy serve Our Lord at the altar. You are a physician, St. Gianna, and have profound insights into these matters. Please ask the Lord to heal Philip. Thank you. Amen.
Salus infirmorum ora pro eus !
You are in my prayers !
Angel
Prayers. You're an inspiration.
I will say my rosary tonight for the intention of your healing and you will remain in my prayers.
As a licensed acupuncturist, I highly recommend acupuncture for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Acupuncture can be a huge help for nausea and poor appetite and can help keep your immune system strong enough to tolerate the most aggressive chemo schedule. Go to www.nccaom.org to search for a practitioner in your area.
Philip,
I will keep you in my prayers throughout my recitation of the office. God Bless.
Blessings and prayers from Sydney Australia.
God Bless
Frank
Dear Philip,
I think it would be better for everyone if you lived on to be an awesome priest! We need you in this world.
Please consider taking a break from chemo and trying it another way. No one lives longer on chemo. Chemo is poison, as you know...
http://www.healingcancernaturally.com/brain-cancer-cure-testimonials.html
God Bless you!
You can count on my prayers. May I ask you to please pray for my mother Nancy? Thank you and God bless you!
As a former parishoner of Sacred Heart parish, I know you will be in good company there. I will pray for you, and your loved ones...
I just found your blog via an article on the internet, and will check in regularly. God bless you
I will offer for you my hour on Monday's in Perpetual adoration.
May the Divine Physician bless you and keep you in His merciful heart.
May God grant you equanimity and every grace to sustain you. May it be God's will that you are restored to health, in Jesus' Name. Peace be with you.
Phil.
My name is Sarah Flynn I am a Cancer survior I was diagnosis with stage 4 throat cancer. 4 of my limp nodes were cancers. I will pray for you that our God will spare you and let you be a survior of your cancer. May God bless ad keep you. Amen
Philip, you don't know me but I will pray for your recovery. God Bless you and keep you in His loving care.
Geraldine
Ottawa Ontario, Canada
Philip, you are in my prayers. I have a word for you also in regards to prayer for your situation. Please contact me at kmac537@beld.net.
Pray to St Charles Borromeo. I will be praying a novena to him also. I will explain later.
God Bless,
Kerry
Hi Philip. I will be praying for you. Pray to St Charles Borromeo. I will be praying a novena to him also for you. There are several threads here to explain to you about St Charles. Please contact me at: kmac537@beld.net.
God Bless,
Kerry McMasters
http://www.kerrymcmasters.com
Philip,
I will pray for your recovery - and for your coming years in the priesthood.
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Denis G. Riley
Hi Philip, we'll add you to our prayer list and I'll share your story with my son's prayer warriors. He has a small army praying for him and they are very good at what they do. Please add my son to your prayers. His name is Matt and he is 11. He has dilated cardiomyopathy and will most likely need a heart transplant in the future. We'll be thinking of you and saying lots of prayers all the way from Maine. From a family of Navy veterans, you won't be forgotten.
we bless these medications. May they do what they are intended to do .. and nothing else.
I pray that all who touch you do it in love: that all medical personnel
and care givers make no mistakes.
All for the Glory of God.
Sandra Sonnen
John's mother
Philip, I'll pray for you... I'm a Portuguese Priest... You are not alone, no matter what happens, God is with you...
Father Jose Araújo (Portugal)
Dear Philip - know that you are in my prayers. I pray the recent chemo treatments dissolve the tumor and that you are restored to health that you may return to the seminary! May He who is our life and hope bless you abundantly!
Juanita Sweet, Charlestown, NH
Dear Philip,
Thank you for your awesome witness. My family will pray for you when we say our family rosary every evening (well, all except for our youngest, Anthony Benedict Gerard--age 6 months).
When reading the comments on Damian Thompson's blogpost about you, I saw that you were at Our Lady of Lourdes in Overbrook, Philly, PA. That's the parish in which my grandfather-in-law was raised. A wonderful place.
Might I ask a favor of your prayers? Our almost-14-year-old son, Cyprian, has been saying since he was 4 that he wants to be a priest. Will you please pray that he listen for God's call and follow wherever He leads?
Thank you, and God bless you now and forever.
Phillip:
I would take to long in going through my accounts of why I believe I am still here.
But, Fr John Mc Donougher deceased, but prior to his death, he had been known for answering calls from frantic parents and family members in the surrounding area hospitals of Boston MA. Healing more than a few, God did through him.
I went to see him, with at the time a recent new diagnoses of Pancreatic CA. Just turned 50yrs old. Mother, grandmother, sibling and three long term best friends. My first feeling, please God I am going to make others suffer...Help me to be brave for them..
I was conservative in every sense. Praying over was for holy rollers. Well, I went because it was surgery that had no promise. In short, he almost did not pray over me, he was 87yrs old, ill and not good that day. I got through the first surgery, and oops the doctor missed some of the tumor, and in 7 days barely alive I had to go back. As I woke up in recovery at 9:15 PM there was Father McDonougher right over me, praying with a woman dressed in a black dress, black waves in her hair, and a mantila on her head. Though I was dreaming, but my siblings saw him and my children. Praise to Jesus, HIS Mother and Ours. I am now alive but new growths with what the world would call "no hope." LOL ! Hope is not of this world, of humans but in God, HIS love, HIS graces.
I am now interceeding to Fr John McDonougher for you. Pray and ask him with me every morning. Just whisper him a short note. He is a great interceedor.
Hope in our Master, and all to come. Smile!
Hey brother! I just found this site. Thank you for your posts. You will certainly be in my prayers. You are blessed to have so noble a summer assignment. How many Saints before you were given great sufferings to offer Jesus like little sweet offerings? May he give you the strength and the wisdom to embrace each of them with confidence and love.
I am sure you are an inspiration to others. God Bless, will pray for you.
The friends of Rinascimento Sacro pray for you.
Today Philip was prayed for at the tomb of S. Philip Neri in Rome on his feast day...oremus!
Aloha Philip, you are in my daily prayers. May God bless and keep you ever close to His heart.
Grace & Peace
My prayers are with you. My God in his infinite mercy and love heal you and allow you to continue on your work for him.
EMC(SS)/Ret Timothy Shaw
Dear Philip, I'm praying for you. I'm 26 years old and had a testicular cancer in 2008. Had the surgery, chemotherapy and I thank God I'm fine.
Our Lady of Health, pray for us!
I'm praying for you, and I'm very glad that you share your testimony and example of courage and confidence in Divine Providence! May Our Lady from Czestochowa, Queen of Poland, shower upon you all graces you need.
With my very best regards,
Jakub from Poland
Jeremiah 30:17 "But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds," declares the Lord.
Christ is among us! He is and always will be!
Philip, I am also praying for you, and am eternally grateful for your prayers.
Philip,
I am struck by your courage and your absolute faith -- in Christ and His Church. You have my prayers. I lost my mother to lymphoma on May 23, 2008. Her battle over eight years was also my battle, so I know what you face. She was brave, as you are. I beg Jesus and Mary to restore you to health, so you can serve the Church that so needs men like you. Pax Christi.
Hi Philip!
We were down at the Naval Academy this past weekend to attend my nephew's graduation. While we were there, we spent some time in the prayer chapel in Bancroft Hall. We said extra prayers for you there. Matt even spent a little extra time with the Blessed Sacrament for your intentions. Hope you are doing well!
Praying for you, especially to Ven. Pauline Jaricot, per the instructions of Fr. Z.
Yours in the Lord, Will.
I've heard about you through various messages and am finally getting a chance to view your blog.
We will keep you in our prayers here in Orangeville, Ontario, Canada.
BTW, one of my husbands friends from Holy Apostles Seminary is Fr. Eric Kowalski in Mt. Airy, NC - do you know him?
Very good priest.
Philip, you have inspired me over the past year or so in my fight against cancer and I have kept you in my prayers. I will continue to do so and to also pray for your family.
Praying for you! God bless you!
Philip, we are all keeping you in our thoughts and prayers daily. We are praying for you to have the strength you need to undergo these treatments. We love you!
Cyndy, Bill, Chris and Leah, Justin Davis
Dear Brother Philip in Christ and Mary: a friend forwarded me your link and is currently being shared in Peru and other South American countries. Please be certain that you are included in our prayers. Your generosity in attending God's call is highly valued in Heaven and Earth.
Grace and Peace to you Philip. I have been praying for you for months.
Your indomitable spirit and joy are such an inspiration to all of us. Thank you for sharing your faith, hope and deep love for our Lord with all of us. Be assured of our continued prayers as you carry this cross. We love you
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