From the Desk of Fr. Peter
My dear parishioners and good people of God, greetings in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. May the grace of this Triduum be upon you all. Easter is at hand and my prayers for everyone and every family. As we experience this unprecedented time in our lives we pray that the grace of the risen Lord at Easter will dispel the darkness of this coronavirus and brighten us with the New light of Christ.
Please I want to encourage us to join in some spiritual activities coming up from the quietness of your home. Tomorrow, Good Friday at 12 noon, I encourage us to join the president of the United State’s Conference of Catholic Bishops, all the bishops of the United States and the entire world to pray the litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for an end to Coronavirus Pandemic. The Holy father has granted a special plenary indulgence to those who pray for an end to this pandemic.
On Easter Sunday at 9am, there will be a diocesan-wide Ringing of the Bells for 3 minutes. It is anticipated that all will join in this effort in the hope that, through our celebration of Easter this year, we will be confident that God will indeed make all things new. As family or individual please say this prayer at that time:
Leader: Make sign of the cross
Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen.
All: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Leader: May His grace and peace be with you.
All: May He fill our hearts with joy.
Prayer of the day by all (prayer of St. Richard 13th century):
Thanks be to you, my Lord Jesus Christ for all the benefits you have given me, for all the pains and insults you have borne for me. O most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother, may I know you more clearly, Love you more dearly, Follow you more nearly. Amen
Blessing:
Leader: May Easter joy resound in every heart and throughout the Diocese of Saginaw.
All: In Jesus, crucified and risen. Amen. Alleluia!