Annunciation Announcement

My dear parishioners, 

Yesterday our mornings were all shattered by the sort of news that has become dismayingly commonplace in recent decades. What’s different this time is that the events occurred just ten miles from our parish home. This time, we know people who were in the church at the time of the attack. And it becomes all the easier to imagine ourselves or our loved ones involved in such a monstrous tragedy. 

I hardly need to add here to the expressions of outrage, sorrow, and condolence from those whom we look to for guidance in such moments. You can read Archbishop Hebda’s statement here. I would like to echo the words of Mother Angelica, however: “Sometimes, the best we can do is fall to our knees and beg God for mercy.” 

We can certainly do that, holding up in prayer our brothers and sisters across the river whose lives were shattered or ended by the barrage of profaning bullets yesterday. We also pray for that peace which alone comes when our hearts rest in Jesus Christ, for whom they were made, to reign in our nation, cities and neighborhoods, heeding the immortal lesson of the saintly doctor whom we celebrate today, a man who in his day also knew how to be a light in the darkness. 

Tonight (Aug 28) at St. Mark's, we will host a simple prayer vigil in solidarity with the local Church. Adoration will move into the main church from 5pm-9pm. I invite all the parish to come stop by and pray for a time during that stretch. I will lead Evening Prayer from the Office of the Dead after exposition at 5. We’d love to have leaders for Rosary or Divine Mercy chaplet at the top of each hour; please email me directly if you’d be willing to volunteer. 

May Our Lady, Queen of Peace and Comfort of the Afflicted, make her motherly presence known to those who most need it. 

Yours in the Heart of Jesus, 

Fr. David