A Rain of Grace Poured Over Betania XIV and XV

The representatives of Betania XIV and XV catalogued the visit to Cayman Islands from February 5 to 14, 2014 as a heavy rain of grace with Father Timothy Byerley and the Bianchini family. The family was represented by four of Mrs. Maria Esperanza de Bianchini’s daughters, their spouses and four grandchildren. This delegation was also accompanied by members of the Betania Foundation, which completed a group of sixteen people.

The activities began on Thursday, February 6 at 7:00 p.m. with an extraordinary concert of the Betania Choir at Loyola Hall, in the Parish of Saint Ignatius. They were presented by the leader of Betania XIV, Merle Mc Gann, who hosted this spiritual retreat in collaboration with other members of that community. Immediately after, the American priest Timothy Byerley, Vice Postulator of the cause of beatification of the Servant of God Maria Esperanza spoke. He recalled that the formation of the choir was an inspiration Mrs. Bianchini had to evangelize through their music, uplifting the hearts and filling them with joy. He remembered the visit of the Servant of God to the Cayman Islands in 1998, whose picture is in the church. He said that perhaps one day that parish would be able to assert that they were visited by a saint, that Cayman Islands had a representation of Betania that gave continuity to her teachings; a community dedicated to live a full spiritual life, devoted to the Blessed Virgin, with the desire to promote unity in the world, in the family, among siblings, and especially with Jesus.

During the evening, the choir director, Maria Auxiliadora Bianchini Leon said that the Betania Choir was a family choir made ​​with the following ingredients: family love, perseverance, prayer, meditation, penance, daily Eucharist, joy, the preparation of meals, sharing, and self-donation.

The retreat was held from Friday, February 7 to Sunday, 9. Masses, rosaries, and reflections characterized this retreat that was under the direction of Father Byerley. Father meditated on the importance of the presence of the Bianchini family, since they grew beside Mrs. Bianchini, were acquainted with her spirituality, and have been spreading it from a very early age.

Maria Coromoto Bianchini Marrero said that the greatest commandment that Jesus had left was the commandment of loving one another, and explained how her mother gave them a clear conscience. Maria Esperanza Bianchini Foley followed, recalling moments of her childhood with her parents, who had been models of life, especially of family unity. Similarly, Maria Auxiliadora Bianchini Leon expressed the importance of being grateful; of seeing the graces, gifts, and details of love that the Lord has with everyone; and to pursue to see the good in every person. While Maria del Carmen Bianchini Leon reflected on the importance of complying with the Catholic and Apostolic Church, through confession, Holy Communion, visiting the Blessed Sacrament; and to pray when waking up, before bed, and with the family. Activities they always followed with their mother.

Also, Maria Veronica (granddaughter) spoke of the immense love her grandmother had for all human beings and in all the work she did. She reiterated the importance of asking God to give them his love, because this was the way to achieve reconciliation, forgiveness, self-mastering, and to be able to see the good each person has. In the same context, Maria Esperanza (granddaughter) expressed how her grandmother made ​​people feel like they were the only person with her, awakening consciences and changing hearts, and she affirmed that families were the first that had to be reconciled. Another granddaughter, Maria Auxiliadora, said that for her it was faith to learn about her grandmother, because she could not share with her as an adult, just as people love the Lord and know him through the Gospels. Maria Francesca (the youngest of the grandchildren) also declared it was an honor to be the grandchild of such a special person, and that she admired how something as small as the work of her grandmother with her family in Venezuela now had spread to the rest of the world through seventeen Betanias.

James Foley, Carlos Marrero, Jesus Leon, Juan Carlos Leon, Andrea Liscano, Hugo Liscano, Carolina Fuenmayor, and from Betania XV, Ginette Arsenault and Linda Murphy also shared their experiences.

Then the group traveled to Miami, Florida, USA on February, 14 where they held a meeting with members of Betania V on Saturday, February 15 at 6:30 p.m. At this reunion several miracles obtained through the intercession of the Servant of God Maria Esperanza were shared, as took place in Cayman Islands where the healing of the young girl Hailey Ardron was celebrated. She was about to lose one leg due to an antibiotic-resistant bacteria she had.

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