From Father Steven - January 15, 2023

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Dear Brothers & Sisters,
 
I’m not sure how much people are aware of the power of prayer. In the case of the battle of Lepanto in the 1500’s it was enough to change the course of history. In many other circumstances, whether miraculous or not, prayer has a great power to help those in need. On this week which the March for Life will take place in Washington, we invite everyone to pray for life in our next 24h Adoration.
 
It may sound cliché, but every time when I met a priest or a nun, I always asked them to pray for me in their adoration. During my time in the seminary, I struggled for a while accepting the will of God and I would take whatever help I could get. After 9 years, I came across a number of people, I had many, many people praying for me. I firmly believe that if I am a priest today it is because of all of their prayers. There were moments that for “mysterious” reasons I followed God against my will, or I rejected great desires I had. None of that was by my own strength…it was that extra strength given to me by the grace of God through the intercession of others. Looking back at my life I still cannot understand how I was able to go through great challenges. Truth to be told, it was by the grace of God. There are many stories that I could tell, but they all would point in the same direction, people who gave up their time to pray for me.
 
The Pro-Life movement is not an anti-abortion association. It goes beyond saving babies’ lives. It is the care of ALL LIVES, from the moment of conception to natural death. The sacredness of life comes from the gift of God, and no one can tamper with it. In today’s world, every life is at risk! Whether it is an unwanted pregnancy, children whose care is neglected, sick people whose lives are measured by the money spent in their treatment, elderly whose value is forgotten because they “can’t function anymore”, and many lives that are on the brink of suicide for various reasons. There will be thousands of people marching this week in Washington to protest against laws that favor the access to abortion and prevent anyone from helping them. Since Roe v Wade was overturned, there were many state laws approved in many places that only expanded abortion to almost full term, but it also facilitated the access of abortion to minors without legal or parental consent and eliminated many medical provisions to safeguard the health of women. On the other spectrum of life, there is a new push to approve euthanasia for the elderly and eventually almost anyone (as it happens already in Europe). But what can you and I do about it? To pray for it in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
 
There is all sorts of stories of people who were about to commit suicide, abortion, euthanasia that in the last second something held them back and it was a major source of grace (and conversion). We can be part of that process with our prayers. Just imagine for a second that someone is alive because we spent one hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Whether it is a person known to us or not, every life matters. We might even have people from our families or our circles that might be struggling in their lives that surely could use some spiritual help from us. The same could be said for those in Congress or the House of Representatives who could change their vote in favor of life. Therefore, I exhort you to come to our 24 HOURS FOR LIFE THIS THURSDAY 6PM TO FRIDAY 6PM. If you would like to sponsor a full hour, please check on our website and sign up. If you cannot sign up, please come all the same whatever time you want.
 
Lastly, it is also important to note that we are the first beneficiaries when we pray to someone one. Every day, Fr Kevin and I pray for all of you and all the families from the parish in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It is a great source of grace to be able to pray for you, it’s my job, but it also kindles in me the fire of the love of God. Therefore, it’s a win-win situation for all of us!!! As we sang so many times this past month, COME LET US ADORE HIM!
 
God Bless,
Fr. Steven