I pray that you have had a peaceful summer season, blessings to you and yours as we celebrate this Labor Day weekend. “Prosper the work of our hands!” (Psalm 90:17) The following is a prayer to St. Joseph the Worker composed by Pope St. Pius the 10th.
O Glorious St. Joseph, model of all those who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work in a spirit of penance for the expiation of my many sins; to work conscientiously, putting the call of duty above my natural inclinations; to work with thankfulness and joy, considering it an honor to employ and develop by means of labor the gifts received from God; to work with order, peace, moderation, and patience, never shrinking from weariness and trials; to work above all with purity of intention and detachment from self, keeping unceasingly before my eyes death and the account that I must give of time lost, talents unused, good omitted, and vain complacency in success, so fatal to the work of God.
All for Jesus, through Mary, all after thy example, O Patriarch, St. Joseph. Such shall be my watchword in life and in death. Amen.
Our parish school of Notre Dame de Lourdes first opened its doors to welcome students on 7 September 1960. This week marks the begin of the 65th year of Catholic Education at Notre Dame de Lourdes. Blessings to Mrs. Pileggi our principal, and to our dedicated faculty and staff for the quality Catholic education afforded to our students.
Recall that this summer’s National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis began with a two-month Eucharistic procession commencing from the four corners of the United States. These four processions became one when they simultaneously reached the Eucharistic Congress in July. Designated pilgrims were the main members of this procession, but they were frequently joined by the faithful of various communities throughout the procession routes.
This procession, and its spontaneous sojourners, leads to the next stage of the National Eucharistic Revival – Walk with One. The Walk with One program finds its source in the Sacred Scriptures where Jesus frequently walked with others and invited people to follow him. The Walk with One program models our Redeemer through the process of identifying an individual who could benefit from accompaniment; interceding to the Holy Spirit to open the heart of that individual; connecting the individual to a spiritual foothold through conversation and listening; inviting the individual to experience the beauty of Mass and worship within a faith community.
In one month, our parish will celebrate its annual Forty Hours Devotion from Wednesday 2 October through Friday 4 October. Forty Hours is a three-day encounter with the Blessed Sacrament through prayer, adoration, praise, fellowship, and worship. The Devotion begins with our 8:30 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Peace and continues with Evening Prayer on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. and Friday evening, at Notre Dame de Lourdes at 6 p.m.
On Thursday evening, 3 October we will have a celebration of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick with a Mass of Healing at Our Lady of Peace at 7 p.m. After the conclusion of Forty Hours on Friday evening, 4 October at 7 p.m. we will celebrate the memorial of St. Francis of Assisi with the Blessing of Animals in the “Barking” lot of Notre Dame de Lourdes.
Plenty of opportunities to identify, intercede, connect, and invite as we Walk with One another.