Twenty-fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
What a week we have in store! On Tuesday Pope Francis comes from Cuba. How fitting that the two countries he was instrumental in bringing together after 55 years are joined by his visit.
Dear Family,
On Thursday at 5:45 p.m. we will gather at St. Sebastian to celebrate A Mass for Peace. There will NOT be an 8:00 a.m. Mass in the Morning on Thursday so that as many of us as possible can gather Thursday Evening. After Mass, with a little luck, we will move to the Parish Center and celebrate Evening Prayer with Pope Francis in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York. We will be praying not only for peace, but for the Holy Father himself, that the Lord will give him strength and wisdom to continue his mission as peace-maker.
Thanks to Terri Cremona and a host of talented knitters our Prayer Shawl Ministry has distributed more than 50 shawls to many people. The message
that comes with the shawl is that it is blessed and brings with it the prayers of many, not only the knitters, but all of us as well. The idea of
‘wrapping yourself in prayer’ is pretty cool. Actually come to think of it, it is so cool, it’s warm. (Sorry about that.) The knitters meet in the parish center from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. every Tuesday afternoon.
Occasionally I stop in for a ‘pastoral visit’ to bless shawls, but I can usually promote a snack or two.
I also saw a baby blanket floating through and I was really touched by that because it was for one of our ‘grandkids’ who has been ill. We should institute a special category of persons into our Prayers of the Faithful called, “Wrappees.” (Since I’m inventing the word, it has two ‘p’s.) Every time we hear the “Wrappees” being prayed for, we will remember all those who have received the shawls with our ongoing prayers. And think of all the fun we can have with people who hear the word ‘Wrappees” and wonder what on earth a wrappee is. Maybe you would also include in your prayer a good word for the ‘wrappers,’ our talented knitters.
There is another special occasion happening today in the Bronx which might be overshadowed by Papal festivities, but I suspect Pope Francis might say it is just as important. Today Sister Mary Rowley, SC, who with Sister Marguerite McGilly, SC, lived with us for eight years, celebrates the 70th Anniversary of her religious profession.
After we assured Annie (Gardner) that we could launch our Religious Education program without her physical presence, Annie went to join Sister Mary for the celebration. Annie is Sister Mary’s niece. When the sisters were here, Annie shared her home with them. So we send Annie to Sister Mary with our thanks and prayers, not only for the time she spent with us, but for the generosity of an incredible three generations of loving service to us, the Church.
In case you want to send Sister a card, send it to:
Sister Mary Rowley, SC
Kittay House # 9V
2550 Webb Avenue
Bronx, NY 10468
May all we do be In Jesus,
