WINSLOW---Starting on Monday, December 21, the Sisters of St. Joseph in Winslow invite all to join them in praying the 6 p.m. Angelus together for the next month.

“At this time of national disunity and division, with increasing fear and the threat of violence as we move towards what should be a peaceful transition of power, we Sisters of St. Joseph hear the call from our tradition and our times to seek, pray for, and act on behalf of unity and the common good,” said Sr. Claudette Poulin.

Those interested can join via Zoom for the ritual or pray alone or with others using a handout the Sisters can provide. The Angelus will be followed by a brief reading, some general petitions, and a common prayer for peace and unity. The ritual will last no longer than 10 minutes. If you are interested in taking part, you can get the Zoom link or a copy of the prayer by emailing [email protected].

“We are on the threshold of a new beginning with the return of the light to our hemisphere, the celebrations of this holy season, and the start of the New Year,” said Sr. Judy Donovan. “It’s the perfect time to pray for and act on behalf of peace and unity. We invite all to join us once, twice, or for all 30 days.”

The Angelus has its origins in the Middle Ages, a time of great division, violence, and plagues. Just as the monks and nuns would stop everything at certain hours throughout the day to pray together, the Angelus began as a way for the laity in nearby towns and villages to stop whatever they were doing and pray when they heard the church bells ring at 6 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m.

The Sisters are also inspired by Pope Francis, who has been urging the world to overcome division by focusing on the common good:

“The coronavirus is showing us that each person’s true good is a common good. In fact, when we love and generate creativity, trust and solidarity, it is then that concrete initiatives emerge for the common good. The promotion of the common good is a duty of justice that falls on each citizen. And for Christians, it is also a mission. If everyone contributes his or her part, and if no one is left out, we can regenerate good relationships on the communitarian, national and international level and even in harmony with the environment.”

For more information, call (207) 873-4512 or email [email protected].