Dear friends in Christ

We have just completed, and returned from, our Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. The one thing we learn to do in Lourdes is to pray and to understand that all our prayer, especially when it is directed through the Heart of Mary, is for the praise and glory of God. Those of us who participated in the Pilgrimage again this year give thanks for the many graces received, and I can assure you that each and every member of the Parish Family was held in prayer. The Mass at the Grotto last Wednesday, I offered for the intentions of the Parish. Together with the many hours of Eucharistic adoration and Rosaries prayed, we hope that with the addition of Mary’s prayers, we have been pleasing to God.

The First Reading of Mass and the Gospel of this Sunday, teach us the necessity of unceasing and persevering prayer. We must never tire of speaking to God after the pattern Jesus gives us in The Lord’s Prayer…Our Father. The Saints show us how to never give-up praying, even when things are very tough and even when we don't seem to have our prayers answered. Of course, all prayer is good, all prayer gives glory to God, and all prayer is ultimately answered according to the way God sees best for us. Someone recently commented to me that had Saint Monica given up praying for the conversion of her son Augustine, we would not have Pope Leo now! That is, because Saint Monica prayed for Augustine’s conversion for sixteen years, he became the great Saint and Doctor of the Church we know today. She would never give-up on him. Pope Leo is a member of the Religious Order that follows Saint Augustine’s Rule, and thus one of his spiritual sons. Like the Church, let us take the long view when it comes to praying for things that seem impossible to us, but which for God are not!

God bless you!

Msgr Kevin Hale