Operation Good News prayer breakfast topic is ‘Praying for a Miracle’

Robert Gutherman traveled from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Cleveland to share the story of his miracle that led to the beatification of St. Katharine Drexel, A Philadelphia native, the second American-born person to be canonized, and the founder of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. He was the primary presenter at the Oct. 31 prayer breakfast sponsored by Operation Good News at St. Agnes/Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Cleveland. Miracles were the focus of the program.

Before Gutherman’s presentation, Sister Jane Nesmith, SBS, director of the diocesan Office for Black Catholic Ministries which hosted the event, asked attendees to share stories of any miracles they experienced. One woman talked about how a Bible in her home wasn’t damaged despite a fire destroying much of the structure. Another shared how she suffered from severe asthma and was hospitalized with such a debilitating attack that doctors feared she wouldn’t survive. Yet she’s doing well decades later.

Gutherman, the father of three daughters, was one of 11 children raised in a devout Catholic family that lived near the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament convent. He and his brothers were altar servers for their parish and the sisters, who were friendly with his family. Mother Drexel founded the community in 1891.

At age 14, he suffered a severe ear infection with excruciating pain that worsened to the point he needed hospitalization and surgery. The sisters and his family prayed to Mother Drexel asking her intercession to help him cope with his condition.

Doctors told his parents the infection, which destroyed two of the bones in his right ear, was so bad it could have killed him. They said he’d never be able to hear in that ear again.

Despite the bandages on his ear, Gutherman said he heard someone talking in the hallway one night. He also asked for a room change due to the noise created by his four hospital roommates.

Doctors were shocked to find that he could hear in the damaged ear . They also discovered that the bones had grown back.

“Bones don’t just regenerate,” he said, describing what later was determined to be a miracle. The incident was carefully documented, presented to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and later to Rome.

“I was told we could not discuss it,” Gutherman said. It took 14 years for the miracle to be certified. Pope St, John Paul II beatified Mother Drexel in 1980. Gutherman and his family were invited to the ceremony in Rome, which Sister Nesmith also attended. He said the pope greeted them and presented them with rosaries, which was meaningful since his family regularly prayed the rosary together. They also were invited back in 2000 when Pope St. John Paul II canonized St. Katharine. By that time, he had married and started a family.

Gutherman, who is approaching his 67thbirthday, said he never expected the lasting effect the miracle would have on his life. He’s shared his story countless times over the years.

“St. Katharine wants us to listen – not just to hear. There is a difference. It’s not that we don’t hear, we don’t listen,” Gutherman told the approximately 60 people attending the program.

“Jesus was there … I was listening and heard him … He’s always there … I tell people not to keep the faith but to take what they need and share the rest,” Gutherman said. He also shared the story of one man who heard his presentation and later told him he became Catholic as a result.

“Listen to God. We are our brother’s keepers. God wants us to use what we have to help others,” Sister Nesmith told the audience. “Take the opportunities God sends … All that matters is that we listen to God’s voice. Hopefully, today something spoke to your heart.”