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Nov 3rd THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY
That by our service to the weakest and most forgotten,
we might conform ourselves to the model of Christ
who humbled himself for the salvation of the world;
We pray to the Lord:
Nov 10th THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY
That ever ready for the coming of Christ in glory,
we might work to preserve all human life,
from conception to natural death;
We pray to the Lord:
Nov 17th THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY
That we might cherish the old, the sick, and the enfeebled,
as precious gifts from God: the pearl beyond all price;
We pray to the Lord:
Nov 24th OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING
That like the good shepherd,
we might seek out all who are alone, rejected, or forgotten,
ever-cherishing their lives as inestimable gifts from God;
We pray to the Lord:
turn your eyes of mercy towards us, obtain what your children most need. Open the hearts of the prosperous to the needs of the poor and the suffering. Enable the unemployed to find an employer. Help those who are poverty-stricken to find a home. Grant families the love which makes it possible to surmount all difficulties. Show young people a way and a horizon for the future. Pope John Paul II at the Shrine of Our Lady of Calvary, Kalwaria, Poland (19 August 2002) |
November 2002: Bulletin Briefs
Not only have we every right to join in the discourse on public policy initiatives – we have a duty – whether it be in the halls of Congress, in state capitols or city halls. And, most certainly, we must speak out on these issues, and encourage others to speak out, in the voting booth...The right to life is not a partisan issue. But it is the pre-eminent moral issue of our time.
"The Pope suffers with all those who weep because of bereavement and destruction; above all he is close to the numerous innocent victims who pay the price of this violence. He wishes to repeat to everyone, regardless of the ethnic group to which they belong, that there is no justification for those who kill defenseless civilians indiscriminately." -- John Paul II, Angelus address, Aug. 11, 2002, on the Israeli and Palestinian conflict
As pastors, we strongly believe that the use of the death penalty diminishes us as human beings. We recall the words of the poet who explained that, "No man is an island, entire of itself" and that therefore "any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind." How much more so are we diminished when a man is killed on our behalf.
"Our society has enough compassion, wealth, and love to care for mothers and their children, and to see the promise of potential of every life. In protecting the vulnerable and the weak, the imperfect and the unwanted, you are affirming a culture of life."