A DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER FOR PEACE

Please join us as we keep Friday, October 27th as a day of fasting and prayer for peace.

On Sunday, October 22, Pope Francis renewed his appeals for peace and restraint in the war in the Holy Land. 

“I am very concerned, grieved," he said at the Angelus prayer. "I pray and I am close to all those who are suffering, the hostages, the wounded, the victims and their families.” He lamented the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and blasts at the Anglican hospital and Greek Orthodox parish there. “I renew my appeal for spaces to be opened, for humanitarian aid to continue to arrive and for hostages to be freed.” He also recalled Russia's ongoing war in "martyred Ukraine". "War, any war that there is in the world - I also think of martyred Ukraine," the Pope continued:  "is a defeat. War always is a defeat, it is a destruction of human fraternity. Brothers, stop! Stop!"
 
The Holy Father has called for 
a day of fasting and prayer 
for the sake of peace.  

A rosary, prayed to Our Lady Queen of Peace, might seek her intercession.  

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A PRAYER FOR PEACE BY POPE FRANCIS 

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!
We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms.

How many moments of hostility 
and darkness have we experienced;
how much blood has been shed;
how many lives have been shattered;
how many hopes have been buried…
But our efforts have been in vain.
 
Now, Lord, come to our aid!
Grant us peace, teach us peace;
guide our steps in the way of peace.
Open our eyes and our hearts,
and give us the courage to say:
"Never again war!"; "With war everything is lost".
Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace.
 
Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love,
you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters.
Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace;
enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. 
Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens
who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace,
our trepidation into confident trust,
and our quarreling into forgiveness.
 
Keep alive within us the flame of hope,
so that with patience and perseverance
we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation.
In this way may peace triumph at last,
and may the words "division", "hatred" and "war"
be banished from the heart of every man and woman.
Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands.
Renew our hearts and minds,
so that the word which always brings us together will be "brother",
and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam!
Amen.

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DIOCESE OF DALLAS SYNOD

The Diocese of Dallas is preparing to rekindle the faith in our community, and we invite you to join us. Learn more about the synod. Attend an upcoming listening session, where you can share your thoughts on how the diocese can better fulfill its mission of evangelization and service. Join other members of our community in charting a course for the future.

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YOUR PRAYERS FOR VOCATIONS ARE WORKING!

At Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, our Bishop Edward Burns instituted seminarians into the ministry of acolyte on Monday, October 9, 2023. The ministry of acolyte is the final ministry before seminarians are ordained to the diaconate. In the rite of institution, the bishop hands those to be instituted a paten with bread and says, “Take this vessel with bread for the celebration of the Eucharist. Make your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of His Church.” Bishop Burns encouraged the seminarians to remain committed to their formation and to rely on the grace that comes with their vocation.  One of those acolytes was Zak Zapletal from our parish community.  Please pray that Zak and all seminarians be sustained as they continue their journey, and pray for all of us who have the blessing, honor and responsibility of the one priesthood with Jesus Christ.

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BISHOP'S ANNUAL APPEAL

Help meet the Bishops Annual Appeal by make a gift to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries.

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CATHOLIC CHARITIES

Every day, Catholic Charities helps our community’s most vulnerable by taking on the effects of poverty and helping all those in crisis move toward a better life. Help to become the change in North Texas.

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