Expressing his deep concern and sorrow for the number of lives lost and destroyed, Bishop Robert Deeley encouraged Catholics across Maine to join Pope Francis and the faithful around the world in participating in a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace in the Holy Land on Friday, October 27.
“I join with Pope Francis in his call for peace in the Holy Land. It is heartbreaking to see the number of casualties increasing daily, to know that thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes and lack basic necessities, and to hear that hundreds of people, including young children, continue to be held hostage,” the bishop said.
Pope Francis has asked Catholics around the world, as well as people of other faiths, to join in a day of prayer and fasting for global peace on the 27th. The pope announced that an hour-long prayer vigil “in the spirit of penance” will be held in St. Peter’s Square at 6 p.m. (noon in Maine) on that day, and he asked that similar services be held in churches around the world. Individuals are also asked to spend time in prayer and to participate in fasting on that day.
“I am very worried, saddened. I pray and I am close to all those who suffer, the hostages, the injured, the victims and their families,” the pope said following his Angelus address at the Vatican on October 22.
Currently, seven parishes in Maine have services scheduled for Friday.
The Parish of the Ascension of the Lord will hold a Holy Hour with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from noon until 1 p.m. at St. Raphael Church, 6 Whipple Road in Kittery.
The Parish of the Holy Savior will hold an hour of eucharistic adoration at noon at St. Athanasius & St. John Church, 126 Maine Avenue in Rumford.
At the Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord, the 8 a.m. Mass at Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street in Old Town, will be celebrated for “the preservation of peace and justice” and will be followed by eucharistic adoration until 12:30 p.m. in the Queen of Peace Chapel. During adoration, a Litany for Peace will be prayed.
St. Mary of the Visitation Parish, 110 Military Street in Houlton, will hold a eucharistic holy hour from noon to 1 p.m. during which the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary will be prayed.
St. Matthew Parish, 19 Dora Lane in Limerick, will hold an hour of eucharistic adoration at noon led by Deacon Paul Lissandrello.
St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Bangor invites people to gather to pray the Rosary at noon at St. John Church, 207 York Street in Bangor.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish will hold an hour of eucharistic adoration, led by Father Wilfred Labbe, at noon at Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue in Sanford.
In addition, Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish plans to hold a prayer service for peace on Friday, November 10, at 5:30 p.m. at St. Mary of Lourdes Church, 142 Main Street in Lincoln.