Pastor's Weekly Message: January 17, 2021

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This week we observe a sad occasion on Friday, January 22: the 48th anniversary of the legalization of abortion in the United States. The over 60 million abortions since the 1973 decisions of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton reflect with heartbreaking magnitude what Pope Francis means by a “throwaway culture.” However, we have great trust in God’s providence. We are reminded time and again in Scripture to seek the Lord’s help, and as people of faith, we believe that our prayers are heard.

We are asked to observe January 22nd as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.

As individuals, we are called to observe this day through the penitential practices of prayer, fasting and/or giving alms.

At Mass on Friday, we will pray the Mass for Peace and Justice, asking that true justice be done for the unborn in our country in restoring their right to life. The vestments used at this Mass are purple as a sign of the penance that we undertake on that day.

Recent read: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. This masterpiece of late imperial Russian literature is generally regarded as the most tragic love story ever told. On a deeper level, Tolstoy reveals the misery that inevitably results from sin and the joy that comes from Faith. (N.b. I listened to this book via the free audiobooks available from the Elkhart County public library system via Hoopla. If you think you don’t have time to read, you should check this service out!)

St. John the Evangelist, pray for us!

Yours in Christ,

Father Royce Gregerson

Queridos hermanos en Cristo,

Esta semana, viernes 22 de enero celebramos una ocasión triste: el 48 aniversario de la legalización del aborto en Estados Unidos. Los más de 60 millones de abortos desde las decisiones de 1973 de Roe v. Wade y Doe v. Bolton reflejan con una magnitud desgarradora lo que el Papa Francisco quiere decir con una "cultura desahogada". Se nos recuerda una y otra vez en las Escrituras que busquemos la ayuda del Señor, y como personas de fe, creemos que nuestras oraciones son escuchadas.

Se nos pide que observemos el 22 de enero como un día particular de oración por la plena restauración de la garantía jurídica del derecho a la vida y de la penitencia por violaciones a la dignidad de la persona humana cometidas a través de actos de aborto.

Como individuos, nos llaman para observar este día a través de las prácticas penitenciales de oración, ayuno y/o dar la limosna.

En la Misa del viernes, oraremos por la Paz y la Justicia, pidiendo que se haga justicia por los no nacidos en nuestro país para restaurar su derecho a la vida. Las vestiduras utilizadas en esta Misa son de color púrpura como signo de la penitencia que emprendemos en ese día.

¡San Juan Evangelista, ruega por nosotros!

Suyo en Cristo,

P. Royce Gregerson