July message to our elderly parishioners

Dear Praise Ministers,

July is upon us, the month of high temperatures and, sometimes thunderstorms and monsoons, as moisture from the Gulf of Mexico streams north to meet cold fronts from the north and west.

The beginning of July is also the time of celebration by our country of one more year of freedom, as first proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence. The second paragraph of the Declaration begins with:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

As Catholic Christians and American citizens, we are grateful that these words of Thomas Jefferson were endorsed along with the rest of the Declaration in Philadelphia 237 years ago by those courageous men – including one extraordinary Catholic, Charles Carroll of Maryland.

In the subsequent years Catholics have prospered in this most unusual country. Despite periods of discrimination and even persecutions, the Faith of Our Fathers has blossomed.

However, we now appear to be entering a new period of persecution, as there are those in power in our country who wish to force Catholics and other Christians to undertake actions that are contrary to their faith and conscience. Prayer is needed. If you agree, offer your prayers to Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Heavenly Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit for:

(1)    freedom of religion in our own country and around the world,
(2)    protection of the unborn, the elderly, and the disabled
(3)    conversion of political leaders to realize their obligation to protect all of their citizens, from conception to natural death
(4)    protection of our service men and women around the world
(5)    strength and courage for all Catholics and Christians to exercise all of their God-given rights.

Can you pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be for each of these intentions?

May the Lord bless you always.

Deacon Rex Pilger

Director of Business and Adult Formation.