Saint Mark Announces Cure for Mosquito Bites!

Saint Mark, who works with http://www.SaintsforSinners.com and is often invoked and asked for help when flies and mosquitos are biting, has announced that he is helping to develop a pill that humans can take to ward off those pesky bites.

This will probably be very good news for athletes playing sports in the summer, like the "Geaux Cups," an accomplished team of softball players in New Orleans, Louisiana and pictured above. There are still a "few kinks in the line, however," Saint Mark said, adding "I'm trying to get the pill approved and used in Africa, because mosquito bites are sometimes lethal over there."

The medicine is called "ivermectin," or Mectizan, depending on who is talking about it. According to New York Times reporter Donald McNeil, Jr., scientists are "turning people into human time bombs for mosquitos." He writes that "when mosquitos bite people who have recently swallowed the drug, ... they die."   

Unfortunately, though, some people are dubious as to whether the medicine can really work effectively. A worm guy ( also known as a "parasitologist" ) is somewhat dubious: Dr. Frank O. Richards, from the Carter Center in Georgia, commented that "it's very difficult to say 'Let's treat a million people' - and then have to test each one." Apparently, for the medicine to be effective, all the people in the mosquito-ridden area have to take the pill at the same time." Saint Mark acknowledged that fact is troublesome, but he has asked Saint Matthew, the patron Saint of Accountants, to figure out a way to get millions of people to do something all at the same time and in the same area. Saint Matthew acknowledged the difficulty presented, but said he may be able to work the numbers, adding, "I've got a stellar abacus!"

Saint Catherine of Siena Promotes Palliative Medical Trend

There's a new trend taking place in America's Medical Schools and it aims to discourage superlatively high-achieving book smart students from getting into Medical School based solely on their excellent grades. Saint Catherine of Siena who was a highly communicative and expressive person, is working with Saints Luke and Cosmos and Damien, the 3 patron saints of Doctors, to make sure that future Medical School students learn the art of empathetic listening, before being allowed the privilege of entering Medical School.

Saint Catherine, the author of the classic, "The Dialog," has created the "Multiple Mini Interview,"  ("MMI") to be used in screening Medical School applicants. By using her Heavenly Powers, Catherine has been able to persuade 8 Medical Schools to have applicants go through several interviews before being accepted. Medical School applicants hoping to attend UCLA, Stanford, and Virginia Tech Carilon, along with other Medical Schools, will go through a procedure where they read a story about a fictional patient for 2 minutes. Then the applicant will walk through a door and be greeted by a team of people to discuss how to "treat" the patient. The interview lasts 8 minutes, and then is repeated approximately 10 times in a row.

The goal of the MMI, according to Saint Catherine and human beings, such as Dr. Stephen Workman, a Dean of Admissions at Virginia Tech, is to help usher in a new era of Health Care in America. The prospective Medical School students are not necessarily graded on whether they answer the questions correctly, which seems fair since these people have not even gone to Medical School yet! Instead, the interviews help weed out the arrogantly opinionated who, like most "know-it-alls," often fail to listen and also jump to conclusions, clinging to their notion of what is "right" and what is "wrong."  Gardiner Harris, a writer at The New York Times recently noted there are a lot of Doctors who are "insufferable know-it-alls who bully nurses and do not listen."

If Saint Catherine of Siena is successful with implementing the Multiple Mini Interview at more Medical Schools, it is estimated that the number of needless deaths and injuries in Hospitals will decline considerably. And it will be because channels of communication will be widened, not narrowed.  

SaintsforSinners Blog Gets a Facelift!

Hi everyone! Here's a short note to let you know we just updated and revised the SaintsforSinners Blog and eliminated all the SPAM posts. Here are our two commercials. Please share them with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, StumbedUpon, Diggit, and any other social network. We hope to be making posts regularly and soon we will be going to Europe to find more saint medals. We also added new retail stores in the Carolinas and Santa Barbara, California! Let us know about great retail shops in your area (or let them know about us!) and if you are looking for a particular saint medal we will try our best to find it during our medal hunting trip. Cheers! rob clemenz@ SaintsforSinners

P.S. Special thanks to Dimitrina, who helped make the Blog look much nicer! Soon we will be adding more saint stories and updating the http://SaintsforSinners.com web site too! :o)

Hand-Painted www.SaintsforSinners.com Imported Italian Saint Medallions of Saint Joan of Arc will be Given Away during the 3rd Annual Krewe of Saint Joan of Arc Birthday Celebration on January 6th, 2011 in the French Quarter of New Orleans. There will also be swords, medallions, magnets, and other surprises. According to Sir Richard Duplantier, Jr., "the Saint Joan of Arc Parade is the highlight of Twelfth Night and the most fitting event to attend for ushering in Carnival Season & Mardi Gras."

Joanie on the Pony Rides Again - Krewe of Joan of Arc Takes Over French Quarter January 6th, 2011

Get Ready for the 3rd Annual Krewe of Joan of Arc Parade, set to roll on "Twelfth Night," January 6, 2011, in the French Quarter. Help us celebrate Saint Joan of Arc's Birthday by celebrating her extraordinary life and spirit!

Our New "WISH" Ad

Our New Ad in WISH (The New Orleans Times-Picayune)

Please Repost!

Happy Easter!

www.multipraying.blogspot.com

Joanie on the Pony - Joan of Arc Twelfth Night Parade, French Quarter, New Orleans

January 6, 2010, Joan of Arc parades with the Krewe of Jeanne d'Arc, in the French Quarter of New Orleans, to celebrate Twelfth Night, or "King's Day," the preamble to the Mardi Gras Carnival Season!

Hmmmm.... Wonder where she got that hand-painted Joan of Arc medal she is happily wearing?

More photos by Victoria Pisarello to follow....

http://saintsforsinners.com/saint-stephen-medal-story.html

Happy Saint Stephen's Day!

December 26, 2009 is Saint Stephen's Day, and celebrates the life of Saint Stephen the Martyr, who was stoned to death because he refused to disavow his own personal convictions.

His story can be found at www.SaintsforSinners.com, which is linked above.

The sterling silver toggle clasp bracelet, featured left, can also be purchased from SaintsforSinners, but for the time being, orders are best completed over the phone, because we are trying to coordinate and individually customize the bracelet and medals to suit your specific, individual requests.

Click on the image to enlarge the photo.

The bracelet pictured here is one of our "There's Something About Marys" designs, featuring, yes, you guessed it, a series of Blessed Virgin Mary imported Italian Saint Medallions, all hand-painted in New Orleans, Louisiana.

From left to right, the Virgins listed are: 1. Our Lady of Fatima, 2. The Immaculate Heart of Mary, 3. Our Lady of Guadalupe, 4. Our Lady of Perpetual Help and 5. The Miraculous Medal.

Contact us if you would like to help us create your very own specially made "There's Something About Marys" Sterling Silver Toggle Clasp Charm Bracelet, including all of your favorite imported Italian Saint Medallions, hand-painted in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Our sister web site www.TheresSomethingAboutMarys.com is "coming soon," to a computer near you, 1n 2010!

Our Fund Raiser for the Volunteers of America's Elderly Servives Program

This nice article by the New Orleans Times-Picayune's Fashion Writer, Susan Langenhennig, appeared in the "LIVING" section yesterday, December, 14, 2009.

You can click the image to get an enlarged view.

SaintsforSinners is proud to be working with the Volunteers of America of Greater New Orleans in an effort to raise funds for their Elderly Protective Services Departments.

Buy a hand-painted Saint Anthony or Saint Vincent de Paul medal package and all proceeds will go to the Volunteers of America, a Charity committed to "touching lives and building community."

Thanks to Susan Langenhennig, the Volunteers of America's Director of Marketing, Sheryl LeBlanc, and Egghead Designs Erica Normand for working with us on this project.

Saint Robert Meachem, A Modern Day Saint Dismas, the Good Thief

New Orleans Saint Robert Meachem (# 17) is a Modern Day "Saint Dismas," the Saint who is known as the "Good Thief."

Saint Dismas' story can be found at http://www.saintsforsinners.com/

If he were alive today, he would be New Orleans Saint Robert Meachem, a saint who recovers fumbles for touchdowns, makes interceptions, and is fantastic thieving NFL athlete! His 53 yard touchdown catch with less than 2 minutes left to play in the game against the Washington Redskins had all of the New Orleans Saints fans in the world joyous!

The image of our Saint Dismas the Good Thief medallion is featured at left, (click the image to enlarge) and includes a fleur-de-lis tattoo on his chest, all available through SaintsforSinners.

We're trying to present an image of Saint Dismas as a token image of New Orleans Saint Robert Meachem.

Robert's play today, December 6, 2009, where he stole the ball from the Washington Redskins, and scored a touchdown was one of the most excellent plays in the history of the National Football League (NFL).

Congratulations, New Orleans Saint Robert Meachem; you are, like Saint Dismas, truly a "Good Thief!"

Make that "Great Thief!" And a great Saint!

WHODAT!?

Saint Nicholas of Myra's Feast Day, December 6th

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Nicholas of Myra, the patron of merchants. Saint Nicholas' image is featured to the left, as is his story. Click the image to enlarge.

His medal depicts Saint

Nicholas holding 3 gold balls and there are also 3 boys, cooking in a barrel of oil.

Don't fret; Saint Nicholas saved the 3 boys and went on to become a beloved saint.

Happy Saint Nicholas of Myra (that's where he is from) Day from all of us at www.SaintsforSinners.com, the home of imported Italain Saint Medallions hand-painted in New Orleans!

"A Divine Gift!"

IN HONOR OF SAINT NICHOLAS: STORES SELLING HAND-PAINTED ITALIAN SAINTSFORSINNERS SAINT MEDALLIONS

Saint Nicholas of Myra, Patron Saint of Merchants is our Guest Blogger today.... Today, December 6th, is Saint Nicholas' Feast Day. His story can be found at www.SaintsforSinners.com.

Hello, my name is saint Nicholas of Myra, not to be confused with the fat guy, "Jolly Saint Nick."

I asked the folks at www.SaintsforSinners.com to let me offer a big thank you to all of our retailers, past and present.

As the patron of Merchants, I am the saint who cajoles you into ordering the hand-painted medals from SaintsforSinners.

Our very first store that carried the Original SaintsforSinners cards and medals was located in the French Quarter on Royal Street and was called:

1. The Living Room

It later became known as Pamela's Living Room and we are sorry to report that the store went out of business a few months ago, due to the slow economy. Our medals sold briskly and they were the store's best seller, but the revenue gained from the sale of our medals was not enough to sustain their boutique. We were sorry to see the store close, and we were also very disappointed to learn that:

2. Shine Spa, another French Quarter shop on Conti Street that was carrying our medals, also closed down.

Fortunately other French Quarter shops are currently and actively selling our medals. They are:

3. Feet First, located on Royal Street;

4. Yesteryears, in the heart of Bourbon Street;

5. Ragin' Daisy's, located in the lower Quarter on a corner near the lively French Market;

6. Feet First has another location, located in Uptown New Orleans on Magazine Street, and it also offers our medals.

Another great store in the French Quarter, 7. "Plum," carried our medals for many years. Plum's owner, Dannal Perry, has a good eye for unique items and her store is fun to visit.

Other Uptown Boutiques actively selling our medals are:

8. Jean Therapy on Magazine Street, near the Jefferson Street intersection.

Jean Therapy also offers our medals at their store (9.) in One Canal Place and also 0n Canal Street, 10. Jean Therapy for Kids

Jean Therapy is also located in (11.) Lakeside Mall and (12.) Baton Rouge

Another Baton Rouge Boutique offering our medals is 13. Ted & Daisy's, located in the LSU area.

The 14. Cyprus Medetarian Prayer Center in Baton Rouge also sells our saint medals. In the University area near Tulane and Loyola, 15. Sweet Pea sells SaintsforSinners medals, as does

16. SaveNola, on the first floor of JAX Brewery on Decatur Street.

Crowley's 17. Louisiana Church Interiors also sells our designs, as does the

18. Immaculate Heart Book Store in Alexandria and

19. T Fig in Lake Charles.

20. Blink in the Riverwalk in New Orleans, sells our medals too.

In New York City, the trendy 21. 22. 23. Selima Optique Boutique sells our medals in all 3 of their locations.

In Croton on the Hudson, visit 24. Sherwood Forest Designs to find our medals and if you're out in the Hamptons on Long Island, try

25. The Pharmacy in East Hampton, to see some of our medals.

Over on another continent, if you are in Tokyo, Japan,

26. The Espresso Bar briskly sells our medallions.

Back in America, and on the other side of the country,

27. The Holy Family Book Store in Pasadena, California, is selling SaintsforSinners designs,

as does 28. Zimmer's in in the Valley near Tolouca Lake.

Back on the Bayou, 29. The Jefferson House

and 30. Blue Roof Denim are selling our medals on the Northshore near Covington and Mandeville.

If you go to the beach in Asbury Park, New Jersey, check out our medals on 31. Pavillion One

Another beachy locale selling our medals is

32. Bella Beach in Destin Florida.

Up in Oklahoma, try 33. The Clover Leaf, and when in Little Rock, try

34. Liza's Skin Care and

35. Box Turtle

36. Duque & Duque Spa & Boutique offered our medals in their store in Seattle, Washington.

37. Light Years Jewelry in Memphis

38. Maggie's Pharm

39. Pursue Good STUFF, like our medals, in Kansas City sells our medals.

40. InBetweenz in Lafayette, Louisiana sold our medals but we are sorry to report that they have closed down their shop.

41. Art and Soul

42. Small Town Music

43. Little Miss Muffin in Lakeview and

44. Little Miss Muffin in Old Metairie sell lots of our medals!

We also sell on 45. The Internet at www.saintsforsinners.com

Once a month we sell our medallions at

46. The Harrison Avenue Market in Lakeview

47. The Gretna Festival invites us to sell our medals during their annual music extravaganza.

Athens Ohio's 48. Artifacts sells the medallions 49. Happy Hands in Baton Rouge 50. Eaton's Church Supply in Moussouri sells the medals and the

51. Paradise Cafe, in Metairie, near Barnes & Noble, sells our medals. The owner, Linda is a great cook and she feeds us when we visit!

Healing Saints on the SaintsforSinners Sterling Silver Bracelets

We are excited to begin offering sterling silver toggle clasp bracelets with our hand-painted Italian Saint medallions.

One of the first bracelets we designed is featured, at left, and it included a collection of the "healing saints," Padre Pio, Gabriel the Arch Angel, Raphael the Arch Angel, Agatha, Peregrine and the Virgin Mary on the Miraculous Medal. Click on the medals to see a larger image.

The basic bracelet designs were conceived by SaintsforSinners but the final and overall creation is made by the person ordering the bracelet.

We enjoyed matching all the saints featured above and the lady who envisioned the color scheme had a great vision.

We were happy to help her learn more about the saints that would fit well on the healing bracelet and we added the Arch Angel Raphael, the saint known for creating "happy meetings" as a surprise gift.

For information about pricing and turnaround times, please call SaintsforSinners at 504.482.2467.

Writing for Mike Fratello

A long, long, time ago, I can still remember how the tale began ....

It was after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when I was living in a tiny apartment on Bayou Saint John in New Orleans.

A lady named Paige and her Mom, Rosemary, had been ordering medals and we got to "know" each other through e mailing and our work at www.SaintsforSinners.com

Paige was involved in an Akron, Ohio Hospital fund raiser for kids with cancer called Denim and Diamonds.

She asked if we (SaintsforSinners) would be willing to contribute some items for the Silent Auction. Of course, we said yes, and somehow, through luck or just because my cousin Sue is a gem, we also got my dear cousin Sue to help us design beautiful one-of-a-kind SaintsforSinners necklaces.

Sue, being from eastern Long Island, is a lover of the water and the ocean and she collects beach glass. She offered to weave (Saint Anastasia, patron of weavers must have been lurking nearby) some of her beach glass into a SaintsforSinners medals and create a unique necklace.

So, that's what she did and the result was that we were able to raise a lot of money for the fund raiser, which was great!

Somewhere along the line, some people involved with the fund raiser also asked if we could do something special for the sports broadcaster and then Memphis Grizzlies coach, Mike Fratello, because Mike was helping with the fund raiser too.

Of course, being the celebrity hound he tends to be, the founder of SaintsforSinners said yes!

We decided to write a new story about Saint Sebastian, the patron of athletes, for Coach Fratello.

The Grizzlies were losing games and not doing very well in the official NBA standings.

So, we got to thinking and questioning whether winning or losing really mattered, and we concluded it did not.

What really, truly matters in athletics, and life, is how the "game" is played.

The Grizzlies were struggling but Coach Fratello was still working hard and also dedicating his free time to help raise money for a hospital dedicated to helping kids with cancer.

So, we wrote a new story about saint Sebastian, the patron of athletes, and we hid a story within the story that was a message to Mike Fratello, the man.

We reminded him that the things that were most important were playing the game with a sense of fair play and integrity, and working as team.

We managed to convey that what an athlete does off the field, like say, working to raise needed funds for hospitals, is also part of the "big equation."

And we sent our saint Sebastian medal package for Mike off to Akron, Ohio.

We did harbor a hope that we might hear from Mike Fratello and somehow get him on the SaintsforSinners "Hall of Fame-ous," and although we did hear back from Mike's friends, the Hall of Fame inclusion was not meant to be.

That was OK, though, because Sue and SaintsforSinners made a nice contribution to the Denim and Diamonds Fund Raiser and that was the most important thing.

Time passed (that's what it does, like it or not).

We moved out of our little apartment and back into a brand new home in the exact same spot where our old home had been bulldozed away after the flood.

2009 arrived and a phone call came in to SaintsforSinners. It was from a lady named Jessica and she wanted medals for a boys football team at Our Lady Mount Carmel in Indiana.

We offered a nice discount and went about preparing the medal packages for the boys.

Thanks to our work for Denim and Diamonds and Mike Fratello, our story was already written and with a few quick edits, and with some time spent carefully painting Saint Sebastian medals, we had the Saint Sebastian medal packages prepared and ready and off they went to Indiana.

Weeks went by and we did not hear from the folks in Indiana. We wrongly concluded that perhaps the medals were not up-to-par and were disappointed.

Time kept marching and December 3, 2009 arrived.

Late in the day, SaintsforSinners received an e mail from the coach of the boys football team in Indiana.

In it, he thanked us and also Jessica, for "finding" us. He said that the medals and the story were "perfect" and reinforced the integral themes about "good sportsmanship," which is the most important thing to learn when beginning to play sports of any kind.

The coach also included a nice picture of all the boys proudly wearing their saint Sebastian medals. It's included up above (click on it to see a larger image) and that photo of those boys wearing our medal designs will go up on our Hall of Fame-ous soon, right between Paula Deen and Bruce Springsteen. Bruce and Paula should be proud to be in their company.