Issue 2025-8

18208 Preston Road, Ste D9-552
Dallas TX 75252

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Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.

We now have a president who’s American, and a pope who’s Catholic. It would be hard to not be hopeful. When I think where we were just a year ago… A sizeable section of the Catholic world has ecclesiastical post-traumatic stress after the last few years, and are afraid to trust again. I don’t blame them. But the name of this game is “Wait & See.” I think it’s reasonable to hope Pope Leo may fulfill some of the promise we see in him at this infancy of his pontificate.

Opinions expressed in this newsletter, unless otherwise attributed, are my own.

Sheryl Collmer, editor
May 15, 2025
sherylc@coracusa.com

From the cockpit of the Subaru

CORAC founder Charlie Johnston travels from coast to coast in his trusty Outback to speak in person to those now weathering the Storm.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Courage Under Fire

Join us for the 2025 CORAC National Conference in Atchison, Kansas on July 11-13. Read more about… more >

NEWS

Ten Shocking Stories the Media Buried
This Week

What the media won’t tell us… more >

The Pope

There’s no shortage of media about Pope Leo. Here’s one… more >

Coffee & Covid

I was interested to see that Coffee & Covid is also a daily staple for Charlie… more >

Vaccinations Class

Member Anne Hajek, a certified classical homeopath, will present a free Zoom class on vaccinations… more >

MORE CHARLIE

Blog and Podcasts

Catch up on all the latest from A Sign of Hope, Crosstalk, CORAC’S Angels and From the Whirlwind… more >

APPENDIX

Novena to Our
Lady of Fatima

Join us in this 9-day Novena… more >

Not By Sight

While driving back to Texas to launch a big project, I thought my car had given up the ghost about 9:30 Monday night. With an eerie howl and a loud clattering, something blew out and it was suddenly undrivable just west of Hayti, Missouri (pronounced Hay-tie). I got hold of a local tow service and pondered what I was going to do now.

The tow driver arrived about 45 minutes after I called. He took a cursory look at the problem, then drove me to a hotel for the night. He said he would be back to pick me up at 8 the next morning and would then drop the car off at a local repair shop. So he was and so he did.

The folks at the busy repair shop got it right in, hoping to get me back on the road by midday. Turns out, the sway bar had disconnected from a link up front, started poking at, and then blown out, the front passenger tire. The mechanic reconnected the sway bar and mounted a new tire, telling me that I would need to replace it when I can. He didn’t replace it because it required parts to be ordered. Sure enough, by midday, I was back on the road.

Amazingly, the whole thing, with the tow, cost just barely under $300. The shop only charged me for the tire, not for reconnecting the sway bar. When I told the editor of this newsletter the story, she noted I have the most amazing penchant for falling in with incredibly kind people when a crisis arises. Boy, is that ever right; it flabbergasts me.

I once had a fellow in the middle of nowhere spend an hour in the hot Texas sun, on a Sunday afternoon, repair a damaged tire for me. The poor man had lost his shop due to Biden regulations, so was working out of his truck. He had turned on his personal vehicle to get the air going and told me to sit in there so I didn’t burn up – and gave me a cold soda while I waited. When he was finished I asked him how much I owed him. He turned to me and kind of shyly asked, “Would 25 dollars be okay?” I kid you not. I gave him $125 and thanked him profusely, telling him he was very kind, but not to so undervalue himself.

Monday was the eve of the 108th anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady at Fatima. It was also the 13th anniversary of my mother passing on to the next world. At the time the car showily gave out, I had just finished praying the Crucifixion Decade of my Rosary. I spent the rest of the evening trying to figure out how I was going to replace the car and get to the launch of my big project in Texas with minimal delay. The next day, as I unexpectedly got back on the road with a minimum of fuss (contrary to expectations) the first decade of my Rosary was the Resurrection. Sometimes I think God amuses Himself – and when He throws subtlety to the wind, He is working to amuse us, too, if we are steady enough to perceive it.

I have been saying all year that the power of darkness is broken, that the rules have changed, and that the only battles the faithful will lose are those they are frightened away from fighting at all. All the devil has left is to run a spook show to intimidate us.

This is the time to walk entirely by faith, not by sight. And, again, trust does not mean expecting God to do things your way, but trusting the good He intends for you in whatever He allows to happen with you. Are you a screw-up? Not to worry…He already has that baked into the cake. When a serious obstacle comes, He is either re-directing your course or proving your faith and trust. To you, not to Him: He already knows. When something shakes you say, “You know I believe in you, Lord. Help my unbelief.” Then go about dealing with the problem, neither expecting – nor being surprised by – the Lord’s intervention in your plans.

I also believe that much of the promise of Fatima is going to be realized this year. It is, after all, the pivotal year for us. From May through October each year I pray a Novena each month to Our Lady of Fatima, beginning on the fifth of each month through the 13th, when the apparitions appeared. Except for August. That was the month when Portuguese authorities held the children in jail and (literally) threatened to boil them alive in hot oil, hoping to get them to recant or, at least, prevent the apparition from coming that month. The authorities accomplished neither goal. The children would not recant, even under threat of a painful death. When the authorities released them, Our Lady appeared, anyway, on the 19th of the month. So I begin my Novena in August on the 13th of the month and finish on the 21st.

It was with such a Novena, celebrated entirely camped in the mountain forest below Mt. Meeker, that I concluded my year and a half long walking pilgrimage on Aug. 21, 2012. Won’t you join me in the Novenas for the rest of this year?

See APPENDIX for the novena prayers to Our Lady of Fatima. You can also find them at America Needs Fatima, along with a summary of what occurred at each of the apparatition dates.

Read more >

Fatima novena schedule for the rest of the year:

June begin Thur, June 5 ending on Fri, June 13
July begin Sat, July 5 ending on Sun, July 13 (National Conference Day
August begin Wed, Aug 15 ending on Thur, Aug21
September begin Fri, Sept 5 ending on Sat, Sept 13
October begin Sun, Oct 5 ending on Mon, Oct 13
Latest brief from Charlie: Trajectory. The good, bad, normalcy bias, and the way we make decisions based on our comfort level.

Watch video >

If communication goes out for any length of time, meet outside your local Church at 9 a.m. on Saturday mornings. Tell friends at Church now, in case you can’t then. CORAC teams will be out looking for people to gather in and work with.

REGISTER NOW!

NATIONAL CONFERENCE JULY 11-13

Join us for the 2025 CORAC National Conference in Atchison, Kansas on July 11-13. Read more about the Conference and the charming town of Atchison here >

Register here >

Conference schedule here >

David Daleiden
Founder, Center for Medical Progress and defender of the unborn

Most Rev. Joseph
Strickland
Bishop Emeritus

State Sen. Mike Thompson
Kansas Republican, meteorologist

Charlie Johnston
Founder of CORAC and transcontinental pilgrim

GET TO KNOW THE WEBSITE

The CORAC website started from scratch in 2020, and has grown encyclopaedically! This tutorial is to help you
navigate. First, go to the corac.co website homepage here >

Along the top bar, there are six items. Go to the far right LOG IN/LOG OUT and log in. If you’re not a registered member, sign up. It’s free and doesn’t subject you to any obligations. Logging in will give you access to more info.

Once you’re logged in, hover on MEMBER RESOURCES. This is the neighborhood I visit most often. You’ll get a dropdown with five categories. Go to the far left colomn, which is Collaborate. Now you can select areas of interest:

    • Health & Wellness – first aid, homeopathy, herbal medicine, etc
    • Prayer – intentions, Brazen Serpend, Catechism videos
    • Communications – all things radio and electricity
    • Sustainable Living – gardening, foraging, survival topics, water storage, outdoor cookery, sanitation
    • Education – resources for homeschoolers, Catholic trade schools
    • Crisis Scenarios – survivor library, disaster deck, printable instant-action cards for crisis situations
    • Defense League – home security, self-defense, ethics of defense

Each page has a search index. If I was looking for info about emergency sanitation (say the water supply was temporarily restricted) I would go to the Sustainable Living page because it houses survival topics, then enter “emergency sanitation” in the search block. It returns five articles, the top two of which would be helpful to me: “Emergency Toilet Guide” and “What To Do In A Water Emergency.”

Try a search on one of your favorite topics, just to get the hang of it. Once you locate one article, you will no doubt find more items that catch your interest along the way. Most articles have a downloadable PDF copy if you want to print it out and keep it on hand for reference.

One of my favorite resources is the Foraging Guide created by Mick (Health & Wellness team) and MP (executive director.) Go to Health & Wellness, and enter “Foraging” in the search block. Eleven items are returned. The foraging guide was a series, so you’ll see Session 1, Session 2, etc. Go all the way to the bottom of the list and click on “An Introductory Weed Walk.” You’ll get a page with a video, bullet points and a downloadable PDF. Click on “Info Sheet PDF” and you’ll get a beautifully produced “book” with photos (you must have photos to identify plants!) safety precautions, suggestions for equipment, phone apps, plant identification books, and some common plants you’ll likely run into on your own weed walks.

Do you see how there are buried treasures all over our website? Go to your favorite topic and start drilling down to find things you’ll probably want to print and keep. A lot of member expertise and creativity has gone into these PDFs, so have fun exploring them!

NEWS

Ten Shocking Stories the Media Buried This Week

The Pope

There’s no shortage of media about Pope Leo. Here’s one:

Chris Stefanick interviews Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver >

Pray for Pope Leo XIV

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski published a litany for holy popes, invoking the intercession of every canonized or beatified pope in our long Catholic history:

A Litany for a New Pope >
The link includes a printable copy.

Bishop Strickland’s prayer for Pope Leo >
(a little shorter than the four-page litany!)

O Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Thou hast permitted Pope Leo XIV to ascend the Chair of Peter at a time of great confusion and suffering for Thy flock. We place him into Thy Sacred Heart, praying that he may be conformed ever more deeply to Thee, governed not by the spirit of the age, but by the Spirit of Truth. Grant him the grace to teach with clarity, to govern with justice and humility, and to sanctify Thy people in truth.

Let him be a rock for the faithful, a light for those in darkness, and a defender of the holy Catholic Faith handed down from the Apostles. If he falters, give us the grace to remain firm. If he suffers, grant us the courage to suffer with him. And if he walks in fidelity, may we support him with prayer, sacrifice, and love.

Preserve us, O Lord, from both despair and delusion. Keep us alert, rooted in Scripture and Tradition, yet full of trust in Thy providence. Teach us to hope not in men, but in Thee – for Thou, O Christ, reigneth even in Thy Passion, and Thou wilt never forsake Thy Church.

May Mary, Thy Mother and ours, intercede for Pope Leo XIV, that he may be a true shepherd after Thy Heart. May all Thy saints defend him from error and guide him in holiness. In Thee alone, O Christ, is our peace. To Thee alone do we look, in this hour and in every age. Amen.

Coffee & Covid

I was interested to see that Coffee & Covid is also a daily staple for Charlie (quoted in his latest blog post, “A Future And A Hope”) Jeff Childers is the antidote to so much of the “fake news” out there. He documents and cites his information so you can check his work. He is also funny, which is a rare commodity in the news media. Highly recommend a daily subscription. It’s free, though once you get hooked on it, you may want to throw a little change his way. He is an excellent journalist, working independently so that he can tell the truth as he sees it, not as advertisers demand it.

Coffee & Covid >

Books Being Hastily Published for Pope Leo XIV

Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope, Sophia Institute. Authoritative biography by Matthew Bunson, longtime Vatican journalist and chronicler of saints. $17.95
Buy now >

When the White Smoke Clears, Ascension Press. A collection of essays (Fr. Mike Schmitz, Edward Sri, Jeff Cavins and more) about Leo XIV, papal elections, and prayer for the Pope. $17.99
Buy now >

There are a couple others; I recommend vetting the authors before you plunk down your cash.

Vaccinations: What You May Not Know

Member Anne Hajek, a certified classical homeopath, will present a free Zoom class on vaccinations, what’s in them, why they come with warnings, etc, on Wednesday, May 28 at 7:00 pm Central time.

Visit Anne’s website to join the class on the 28th >

Sacramentals for Your Home

CORAC members Lisa and Jerry Walker in Oregon founded a ministry, WalkingWord, to provide sacramentals for the home, such as beeswax candles, bells, and home blessing packages.

Items are available for a suggested donation, which covers costs with any remaining funds contributed for Masses for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Take a look at their website, and see if there aren’t some things that could bless and protect your home and family:

WalkingWord.org >

Hypuro-Fit

This team of personal coaches has been mentioned periodically in The Loop, published by Catholic Vote. The team advises on nutrition and fitness from the Catholic perspective. You can choose various levels of coaching at differing price points. I have been very pleased with their program, which is helping me get back on the fitness track that I somehow lost around 2021.

Check them out here >

MORE CHARLIE

Charlie’s Blog: A Sign of Hope

Charlie’s posts are a rich resource, synced to immediate events. There are not many places you can get a Catholic perspective on the issues right in our faces at the moment. I highly recommend devoting the time to read them.

Comes the Sword

Comes the Sword

2025-07-29

“I come not to bring peace, but a sword.” – Matthew 10:34 We had a great National...

Crosstalk

Charlie interview Catholic leaders who boldly live the faith in action. This is a great new production! Listen to them all. They’re around 45 minutes each, perfect to listen to while on your daily walk.

CORAC’s Angels

Here’s another new interview series. Charlie talks to CORAC members who are doing notable things in theircommunity. Give a listen; you may get ideas for yourself.

Sister Bear: Serviam

Sister Bear: Serviam

2025-08-05

In episode 11 of CORAC's Angels, Charlie Johnston talks with special guest Sister...

From the Whirlwind

Charlie’s weekly radio show on matters of faith.

DOGE Clock

This is presented to counter the Leftist narrative that DOGE is not doing good work. It’s not just good; it’s imperative for our nation’s survival.

You can see the clock in action at >

PRAYER

May Prayer Intentions

  • That CORAC members join in saying “AMEN” to Charlie’s prayer: “A little over a year ago I began praying for what is simultaneously both a great blessing and a great curse for everyone in the world. I asked the Lord that, for everyone, whatever they do for or earnestly wish for another, it return to them twofold. For those of good heart, it is a blessing. For those of scheming hearts, it is a curse. I believe the Lord has been ~ and is ~ answering that prayer right now.” ~ A Sign of Hope, April 24, 2025

  • That CORAC members near and far make plans to attend the CORAC National Conference to be held July 11-13 in Atchison, Kansas; and for traveling graces for all

  • That we discern the needs of our neighbors and respond sensitively and kindly with the Prayer of Doing

  • For the completion and dissemination of CORAC’s manual: Revival: A Handbook and Manual for Building Functional Communities

  • That many people be healed in body, mind, and spirit through the online Physical Healing Prayer Session via Zoom; and through many other healing prayer ministries in which CORAC members are engaged

  • That CORAC members desire and act to support financially our website and ministries

  • For all intentions carried in the hearts of CORAC members and those posted on the CORAC Prayer Hotline, with gratitude for prayers answered in our daily lives

St. Gabriel, enlighten us.
St. Michael, defend us.
St. Raphael, protect us.
Ave Maria, Stella Maris!

APPENDIX

Novena to Our Lady of Fatima

DAY 1 – First Apparition of the Angel

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.

By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen

3 x Our Father….
3 x Hail Mary….
3 x Glory Be….

DAY 2 – Second Apparition of the Angel

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.

By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen

3 x Our Father….
3 x Hail Mary….
3 x Glory Be….

DAY 3 – Third Apparition of the Angel

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.

By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen

3 x Our Father….
3 x Hail Mary….
3 x Glory Be….

DAY 4 – First Apparition of Our Lady

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.

By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen

3 x Our Father….
3 x Hail Mary….
3 x Glory Be….

DAY 5 – Second Apparition of Our Lady

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.

By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen

3 x Our Father….
3 x Hail Mary….
3 x Glory Be….

DAY 6 – Third Apparition of Our Lady

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.

By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen

3 x Our Father….
3 x Hail Mary….
3 x Glory Be….

DAY 7 – Fourth Apparition of Our Lady

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.

By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen

3 x Our Father….
3 x Hail Mary….
3 x Glory Be….

DAY 8 – Fifth Apparition of Our Lady

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.

By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen

3 x Our Father….
3 x Hail Mary….
3 x Glory Be….

DAY 9 – Sixth Apparition of Our Lady

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.

By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I soearnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen

3 x Our Father….
3 x Hail Mary….
3 x Glory Be….

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