Prayer in Our Time of Illness and Fear

Heavenly Father,
Almighty and yet all-loving,
we have come to know first-hand
the fragility of humankind.
We pray for Your mercy
upon those who need healing
and the multitudes who fear.

Lord Jesus,
loving Savior who experienced
our humanity, You taught us
to have faith.
We pray that when distance
keeps us measurably apart,
we will draw closer than ever to You.

Holy Spirit,
please bless us, our families,
friends, and all in need of hope,
for we are only human
in our vulnerability.
Beloved by You, we pray together
for peace within our hearts.

Amen.

Some Said, “No Soap”

Cooks have favorite herbs and spices to give homemade dishes wonderful flavor. When Jesus called Himself “living bread” from heaven, even seasoned listeners didn’t understand. Like cilantro, an herb that tastes delicious to some people and like soap to others, the Bread of Life did not sound good to the many people who walked away from Jesus. In this month’s bulletin, you will find more food for thought in Fr. Tony’s reflection on the Saints Peter and Paul. Before an angel rescued St. Peter from imprisonment, his missionary work had temporarily derailed. Evangelization picked up steam under the leadership of St. Paul, the “Apostle to the Gentiles.”  In honor of Father’s Day, an article entitled, “Under Joseph’s Wing” salutes the humble ways that fathers and grandfathers show their love, with St. Joseph as a role Model. Click here to open this month’s bulletin for prayers, pointers to online resources from Heart of the Nation, and more.

Prayers, inspirational reflections, and information about joyous Catholic celebrations in May all provide ways to find spiritual strength in this challenging time. Please also join us for Sunday Mass on TV or online. (Heart of the Nation taped several weeks of Masses in advance. Like families, friends, and employees longing to get together again, we pray that choir and congregation members will soon be able to safely gather for more TV Masses.)