This page is dedicated in gratitude to Jim and Margaret Gresser, of Woodford, New South Wales, Australia, and their family, which includes a son, Laurence, who is an FSSP priest in Sydney. We met this lovely family when my husband and I traveled to Australia for our son, John's Ordination in 2001. We knew no one in this land where we were first time visitors but we were made to feel at home in an instant. The Gressers are the quintessential traditional Catholic family, not only in Australia, but anywhere this special kind of family is gathered and one has been privileged to find himself in their midst. After we came back to Maine we received a very precious letter from them and a Christmas card, which bore the image of the above Madonna and Child, but trimmed with holly and in a rich yellow tone. The image of Our Lady and her Son was so enchanting, and the thoughtfulness included with the card so much like the Gressers, I knew that I would cherish that card throughout the years of my life, and I have. Regular visitors to Catholic Tradition know that I have adapted this image for various seasons. For the Gressers I chose a grape motif because of the Sacramental significance and because Australia has an excellent wine of its own and because wine is one of the hallmarks of hospitality, itself the hallmark of the Catholic families we met. The kindness the Gressers extended to us can never be adequately repaid, and as it is I have been too long amiss. As as I was putting this directory together they kept entering my memory and so in honor of Our Lady and the country that has Our Lady, Help of Christians as its Patron and Benefactress, I salute the most excellent of Catholic families, the Gressers, fruit of the abundant graces from the hands of Our Lady, and send back to them, by token of this little page, the Madonna and Child with all our thanks from the very bottom of our hearts. VIEW THE DESKTOP PRINT THE IMAGE DOWNLOAD THE ZIP FILE WITH THE MIDI THAT IS PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND Contact Us HOME---------------------MARY IS NECESSARY----------------------MARY'S INDEX www.catholictradition.org/Mary/gresser-dedication.htm