About Mychal's Message: Updates

Mychal's Message Celebrates the 70th Birthday of Beloved Friend, Father Mychal F. Judge, OFM with SURPRISE PARTY!

7 May 2003

May 11th marks what would have been Father Mychal's 70th birthday. Thanks to the generous donations that have come from across the country, Mychal's Message will celebrate Father Mychal's birthday by honoring those he loved most, the homeless. We will celebrate THEIR birthdays as we remember HIS.

On Memorial Day this year, we will be on the Bread Line of St. Francis Church in NYC to greet the homeless. "SURPRISE," we will tell them, "Happy Birthday!" It's a surprise party ... and they are the guests of honor!

We're hoping to greet between 200 and 300 men and women that morning. Each guest at the party will receive a special roast beef sandwich, can of soda and bag of chips in addition to their regular morning coffee. As they walk through the Bread Line, they will be greeted and given a birthday card and gift. Each gift (a new watch) has been specially wrapped in gold foil paper with brightly colored ribbon. Cards have been hand-made or bought, each personally signed and have been sent to us from across the country. As with all Surprise Birthday Parties, each guest will also receive his or her own personal-size birthday cake and a "goodie bag." The goodie bags contain a comb, a toothbrush, lotion and shampoo, a candy bar, a pen, 2 caramels, a pack of cookies or crackers, and Father Mychal's prayer card.

Among the donations received, came a letter from 2 young girls named Kelly and Emily in Washington State who had read Shannon's story in Girls Life and wanted to help. They collected enough money to sponsor 11 people for the surprise party! From Boca Raton, Florida, Marlene was happy to contribute because she shared her birthday (May 11th) with Father Mychal. And from Elana and Art in Harlingen, Texas came a beautiful letter explaining that their donation came in celebration of the life of their son, Mychal, who would also celebrate his birthday in May.

As we distribute these birthday goodies, we will play music from our new CD, to be released next month. Featured on the CD is a song written by Martin Doman about the life of Father Mychal as well as songs performed by the Innocence Mission and Shannon herself.

Thank you for helping us to help the homeless by honoring Father Mychal on his birthday!

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This page was last updated on: June 4, 2005.

Mychal's Message, Inc. is registered as a charitable organization with the Department of State's Bureau of Charitable Organizations under the Solicitation of Funds for Charitable Purposes Act, 10 P.S. Section 16.2 et seq., and is authorized to solicit charitable contributions under the conditions and limitations set forth under the Act. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of State, Bureau of Charitable Organizations