Many people have a sense that things in our Church and world are unraveling.  From the COVID epidemic, the responses to it, controversy over the 2020 election, the war between Russia and Ukraine, the confusing Synod in the Church, to the Hamas terrorist attack against Israelis.  The death and suffering of so many cause us sadness.  Hatred and deceit on the part of some cause us anger.  My own discernment is that these are harbingers of greater trials in the future.  Do not be afraid.  Our refuge is in the Lord to Whom we pray in confidence for salvation.    

I ask all of you (if you are able) to fast from food for a period of time tomorrow, October 13th.  The picture above is from the Miracle of the Sun that took place in Fatima on October 13, 1917. Fridays are traditionally days of penance to commemorate the Passion and Death of the Lord Jesus.  This might mean not eating your first meal until after 12 noon, or skipping a meal in the middle of the day.  Voluntarily uniting our suffering to His helps to extend the redemptive power of the Cross through time and space.

October 13th at 7pm is our regularly scheduled Encounter prayer night.  We will pray for the needs of the Church and the world, including the Divine Mercy Chaplet.  Confessions will begin at 6:30pm and continue through the Encounter.  Our time is better spent together in prayer than in doom scrolling through the news feeds.