Pray for Peace

Today we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. Traditionally celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter, honors God’s infinite mercy, a devotion revealed to St. Faustina Kowalska.

Yesterday, Pope Leo led the world in a prayer service for an end to the war in Iran. Pope Leo said, "Let us believe once again in love, moderation and good politics. We must form ourselves and get personally involved, each following our own calling. 
Everyone has a place in the mosaic of peace!" 

He went on to observe that the Rosary, like other ancient forms of prayer, united the faithful in its steady rhythm built on repetition, pointing out that peace gains ground in the same way, "word by word, deed by deed, just as a rock is hollowed out drop by drop, or fabric woven stitch by stitch." The Holy Father reminded that these are the slow rhythms of life, a sign of God’s patience. 

"We must not allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the pace of a world that does not know what it is chasing. Rather," he suggested, "we must return to serving the rhythm of life, the harmony of creation and healing its wounds."

Let us pray this day for peace in our world, in our hearts, and in our homes.

 

A Prayer for Easter

 A Prayer for Easter

 Before the Resurrection, so much suffering had to be endured.

Before the tomb was left behind, death was the harsh reality.

You call us, O Lord, to recognize

that both suffering and Easter hope

are part of our journey as we follow you.

You call us to hold, at the same time,

both death and new life in our hands,

so we may be embraced

by the Paschal mystery

and thus be renewed

for the healing work ahead.

Grant us wisdom, O Lord;

grant us Easter grace.

Amen.

Jane Deren, “A Prayer for Easter.” Copyright c 2021, Education for Justice, a project of Center of Concern. www.educationforjustice.org. Used with permission.

                                                          "The Empty Tomb" by Julia Stankova

Palm Sunday

Happy Holy Week! It is hard to believe that it is Palm Sunday already. As we begin Holy Week we enter more fully into Christ’s Passion and Resurrection. Tomorrow in the New York Archdiocese is Confession Monday. Priests will be available for several hours to hear the confession of the faithful. It is an opportunity to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Easter.

Today we participated in the reading of the Passion story from the Gospel of Matthew. In our prayer service we used the shorter version. We had four readers, and, in several points, the entire gathering joined in from memory. It was a most moving experience as those gathered shared their memory of the story.

As we move through these days of Holy Week may we embrace God’s abundant love for us as we follow Jesus to the cross and ultimately the resurrection on Easter morning. How will I make this week special? How can I enter the story of Jesus’ passion in a new way? How can I walk with Jesus in my daily life? May these days be filled with peace and hope as we journey as people of faith.

5th Sunday of Lent

Today we mark the Fifth Sunday of Lent. It is hard to believe how quickly the days are flying by. In today's Gospel we hear the familiar story of the death of Lazarus. Is it a story about death or a story about true friendship? In the story Lazarus has died and is int he tomb, Jesus does not go immediately but waits. When Martha reproached him for not getting there sooner, Jesus takes the opportunity to teach her about death and the glory of God. Jesus tells them to roll away the stone and weeps. He wept at the death of his friend. Before Jesus raises Lazarus he speaks aloud to his Father so all the mourners can hear him.

Jesus raised Lazarus and many begin to believe in him. In this story Jesus is teaching about God's glory and that he, the Son of God, will be glorified too. Jesus wants them to believe in him and what he teaches. He wants us to believe and trust in him too. As we journey this day let us reflect on what it is we need to be freed from, unbound from, untied from. Like Lazarus let us trust that Jesus will free us from all that keeps us bound. Let us be people of hope and not despair. Let us welcome Jesus into our lives to heal and save us as we continue to prepare for the celebration of Easter.

Fourth Sunday of Lent

In many ways it is hard to believe that it is already the Fourth Sunday of Lent. Time is flying by. As we begin this Fourth Week of Lent let us look back and see where we have followed our desires and where we have let others go. I always enjoy the Fasting and Feasting that we find shared at this time. Perhaps as we enter the Fourth Week we can renew our commitment to deepen our relationship with our loving God.

FASTING AND FEASTING

Let us fast from judging others and feast on the Christ that dwells in them.  Let us fast from anger and feast on patience.

Let us fast from resentment and feast on forgiveness.

Let us fast from discouragement and feast on hope.

Let us fast from lies and feast on the God’s truth.

Let us fast from wasting time and feast on the holiness of work.

Let us fast from gossip and feast on holy silence.

Let us fast from shame and feast on the mercy of God.

Let us fast from prejudice and feast on our kinship in Christ.

Let us fast from selfishness and feast on generosity.

Let us fast from worry and feast on the story of God’s care.

Let us fast from gloom and feast on the beauty that surrounds us.

Let us fast from busyness and feast on cherishing every moment.

International Women's Day

March is one of those busy months as we celebrate Women’s History Month, International Women’s Day, March madness, the promise of spring and so much more. Women’s History Month is the national recognition highlighting the contributions of women to events in history and in society.

On Sunday, March 8, 2026, we celebrate International Women’s Day. rally with women and girls around the world to demand equal rights and equal justice to enforce, exercise, and enjoy those rights.

Nowadays, no nation has closed the legal gaps between men and women. Right now, women have only 64 per cent of the legal rights that men hold worldwide. In fundamental areas of life, including work, money, safety, family, property, mobility, business, and retirement – the law systematically disadvantages women.

International Women’s Day 2026, under the theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”, calls for action to dismantle all barriers to equal justice: discriminatory laws, weak legal protections, and harmful practices and social norms that erode the rights of women and girls.

Today’s Gospel for the Third Sunday of Lent recalls the Samaritan Woman at the Well as she encounters Jesus. Jesus gently reaches out to the woman, a sinner. In this encounter Jesus transforms her and raises her to new life. As we recall this woman may we honor the many women who have shaped our lives.

Prayer for Peace

Yesterday the United States and Israeli forces attacked Iran. The Maryknoll Mission Office sent out this prayer. May we pray for all involved in this attack. Let us bring peace and compassion to all who we come in contact with.

For families in Iran living in fear, and for all who live under the evil rain of bombardment, may they find safe refuge.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For world leaders, that they stop the bombs and choose diplomacy over destruction and dialogue over retaliation.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For all those who are poor and vulnerable, who bear the heaviest burdens of war, may their cries transform our hearts.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the courage to see the face of God in our neighbors and to build a culture of genuine encounter.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For a lasting peace based on justice, mercy, and the sacred dignity of every life.
Lord, hear our prayer. Amen.