A Prayerful Monday Night

(Note: A week or two ago, we the parishioners of the four clustered parishes were invited to participate in the March for Life in Washington, D.C. on 23Jan2012, which is today. This annual event is an important way to show support of this concern for human life. Those who couldn't attend were invited to participate in Pro-Life Prayer Service at St. Paul's Catholic Church.)

This evening at 7 PM, my sis-in-law, my wife and I participated in the Pro-Life Prayer Service in our church. Our parochial vicar, Reverend Fr. Jarek. led the parishioners in this prayer service. At the outset, he reminded us about the 39th anniversary of Roe vs Wade. He likewise informed us that about 400,000 participated in the 39th Annual Respect Life March held this morning today in Washington, D.C.

First, we had the opening song, followed by opening prayer. Then, we listened to the Scripture readings: First Reading. Then, the Responsorial Psalms  were sung by our church pastoral musician. Second Reading was read by another assigned parishioner. Next was the Gospel Acclamation, followed by the Gospel Reading (from Matthew 25:31-46) by Fr. Jarek. Then, came his homily or "sermon." In his homily, he talked about the culture of life as opposed to the culture of death. He reminded us to love life.

There was the Intercession prayer, followed by Penitential Rite. Then, we sang another song about the creation and beauty of the Earth. After the singing, there was the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.  Then, Fr. Jarek led the faithful to the praying of Prayer for Life:  

  

Loving God, I thank you for the gift of life you gave and continue to give me and to all of us. merciful God, I ask your pardon and forgiveness for my own failure and the failure of all people to respect and foster all forms of life in our universe. Gracious God, I pray that with your grace, I and all people will reverence, protect, and promote all life and that we will be especially sensitive to the life of the unborn, the abused, neglected, disabled, and the elderly. I pray, too, that all who make decisions about life in any form will do so with wisdom, love, and courage. Living God, I praise and glorify you as Father, Source of all life, as Son, Savior of our lives, and as Spirit, Sanctifier of our lives. Amen.

The Tantum Ergo was sung, followed by Benediction, and then the Final Song. Rev. Fr. Jarek thanked all of us for attending and participating in the prayer service.

From our church bulletin Sunday, 22Jan2012, we read: "Our concern and respect for all aspects of human life is very important. We should constantly pray that all phases of life from conception to natural death are respected by everyone."

In closing my blog post, I urge everyone to be pro-life. Thank you. Until next time around, folks. Take care.-chris.a.quilpa, 23Jan2012

P.S. The posting time is 3 hours late because my laptop was set at West Coast time, not Eastern Time. Please  take note. Do appreciate it.)