For the Weekend of September 12, 2021

Dear People of God,

For twenty years so many people in our country have carried with them the scars - hurt, anger, fear, loss, anxiety, confusion and the need for retaliation and temporal justice, that the events of 9/11/2001 rained down upon us from the skies over Manhattan, NY, Shanksville, PA, and Arlington, VA. Where are we now? How far have we come from all of the above? How many of these feelings are still with us?

Let me share this prayer and reflection with you that is still so relevant for all of us dealing with the troubles of today.

Twenty years have passed, O Lord, twenty years of mourning and of tears, of struggling to make sense and to go on. Twenty years since crashing planes, collapsing buildings, rivers of smoke and ash brought death and fear.

Give us the courage to hope again, Father. To pray even for our enemies, and for ourselves. Give us the grace to be freed from hate and unbound from the paralysis of fear. Give us the freedom of the children of God.

Awaken in our hearts a firm resolve “to reject the ways of violence, to combat everything that sows hatred and division within the human family, and to work for the dawn of a new era of solidarity, justice and peace.”

We ask this through the Prince of Peace, our Way, our Truth, and our Life, Christ the Lord. Amen

Next week we will host and sponsor our parish Ministry Fair after the 11:00am Mass. Please do your best to support this effort. Your involvement in our various ministry opportunities is a reflection of the faith life of our parish. Let’s show how healthy we really are.

As usual please remember to pray for all of the Salesians in our presence here at MHC . . . especially those at St. Philip Residence. Be assured we will be doing the same for you.

Peace Always!

Fr. Steve Dumais, SDB.
Pastor