“Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all men, but especially to those who are the household of the faith.” (Ga 6:10)
At Remembrance Sunday, we are entering the second lockdown, which brings even more sadness as we cannot be together on this special day with our veterans whom we respect greatly. Thinking of those who dedicated their lives for others, please accept an initiative to embrace each other, every parishioner in prayer (the Angelus) said together every day at 12 noon.
It looks like many people these days are drawn into this world to the extent of losing their hope in eternal life! They act as if their faith was limited to this Earth and they never even tasted the Food of Angels – the Holy Eucharist. There are more and more people who are overtaken by growing challenges and uncertainties, who hope only that the crisis will finish soon and the safety zone will be re-gained. By putting their whole hearts only in protecting this material world, they are on the way to being lost forever.
As Christians, we learn that this world neither can satisfy us, nor is it eternal. Truly “this world in its present form is passing away” (1 Cor 7:31). “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we, also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20).So, “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His Might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph 6:10-12)
Let us start praying from Friday, 6th November till the end of the pandemic embracing everyone from our parish whom we know and do not know, who live within the range of the parish borders, and those who chose OLOP& Bl Dominic Barberi as their parish, for all living and all the dead. All of them belong to our community without any exclusion and all of them need spiritual protection.
The chosen prayer is the Angelus with added prayer for the souls of the faithful departed. It is because this prayer expresses our identity as parishioners. To see the roots of Mary’s title “Our Lady of Peace”, we are invited to Mary’s house in Nazareth. Here, we find the source of Peace. Many people were wandering, searching for the meaning of life and many did not see any hope. When the Archangel Gabriel announced the great mysteries to the Virgin Mary., amazingly, when her answer was “yes”, all of heaven became speechless in awe.
The intention of our prayer is to grow in faith and holiness at this challenging moment.
Apart from this prayer, I encourage you to come over for private prayers and particularly, adoration.
Fr. Stan