Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace in our Communities
In light of recent incidents of violence and racial tension in communities across the United States, Archbishop Kurtz, as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), invited all dioceses across the country to unite in a Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities on September 9, 2016, the feast of St. Peter Claver. He also appointed a special task force to support bishops in marking that Day of Prayer, and more broadly, in promoting peace and healing during this time of great strain on civil society.
The Archdiocese of Louisville will observe a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace in our Communities on September 9 with a prayer service at St. Martin de Porres Parish (3112 West Broadway, Louisville) at 7:00 p.m. All Catholics are invited to join Archbishop Kurtz at this event. Archbishop Kurtz also is inviting parishioners to fast* on that day:
“It will be a Friday in which we gather. While the Friday of Holy Week is rightly called Good Friday because of the salvation wrought through Jesus’ death, every Friday commemorates our Savior’s sacrificial love given that we might be one in Him. As my message announcing this day of prayer stated, ‘To my brothers and sisters in Christ, let us gather at the Cross of Jesus. Our Savior suffered at the hands of humanity’s worst impulses, but He did not lose hope in us or in His heavenly Father. To all people of good will, let us beg for the strength to resist the hatred that blinds us to our common humanity.’” Since we are observing this day of prayer on a Friday, our traditional day of fast, I also invite Catholics throughout the Archdiocese to observe a day of fast to raise awareness about our need for healing and reconciliation.”
St. Martin de Porres Parish
Archbishop also stressed the significance of the Feast of St. Peter Claver:
“Fittingly, September 9 is the feast of St. Peter Claver, one who in the 17th century worked tirelessly to lift up those in slavery and treat them with the dignity that they deserve as persons created in God’s image and likeness. Working in Colombia, South America, St. Peter touched the lives of thousands of slaves, uniting them to their savior Jesus and bringing into their lives the hope of salvation, the knowledge of the faith and a sense of dignity that allowed them to build a just society.”
*Fasting means we can have only one full, meatless meal. Some food can be taken at the other regular meal times if necessary, but combined the meals should be less than a full meal. Liquids are allowed at any time, but no solid food should be consumed between meals.
More information about future activities to promote peace, reconciliation, and healing will be shared as the national Task Force completes its work.
Issues of human dignity, including racism, will be the focus of the upcoming Life Conference in the Archdiocese of Louisville on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at St. Michael Parish. For more information, see www.archlou.org/life.
