The latest letter of Pope Francis, his Encyclical, Fratelli Tuttii “Brothers and Sisters All,” is one that should touch every heart, stimulate our minds, awaken our conscience, warm our emotions and motivate us to do good and make this a happier, just and better world. Can we humans ever unite as one humanity to change the world and together reach out to the downtrodden and the poor? Can we work together to lift from suffering the wounded, the excluded, the marginalized and unwanted, rejected, poor people in our neighborhood, community, town and city? That is the challenge posed by the letter
The Parkari Kohlis are one of many tribal peoples in Sindh, Pakistan, who live in an on-going state of liminality; that is geographically, religiously, economically, politically and socially they live on the edge. Even the oppression they endure as bonded laborers leaves them in liminality as their resilience to their present suffering reveals their longing for a better future.
Lord Jesus,
Who was born for us in a stable,
lived for us a life of pain and sorrow,
and died for us upon a cross;
say for us in the hour of death,
"Father, forgive,"
and to Your Mother,
"Behold your child."
Say to us,
"This day you shall be with Me in paradise."
Dear Savior, leave us not, forsake us not.
The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew You,
before you were born I dedicated You…”
We can say the same is true for us.
The Lord has chosen each one of us
for a special purpose.
At times we feel at a loss.
We think the Lord is absent.
Does the Lord really care?
St. Gregory, you are known for your zeal
for the Catholic faith, love of liturgy,
and compassion and mercy toward those in need.
Please help and guide us
so that we may share in these virtues
and thereby bring Jesus into the hearts
of our families and all we encounter.
We especially ask for blessings on our parish family,
our priests and our deacons.
O God, who through the fruitful virginity
of Blessed Mary bestowed on the human race
the grace of eternal salvation, grant, we pray,
that we may experience the intercession of her,
through whom we were found worthy to receive
the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity
Dear God, thank You for making
all things new.
Thank You for all that You've allowed
into our lives this past year,
the good along with the hard things.
The coronavirus, the isolation and the unrest
of 2020 have reminded us how much
we need You and rely on Your presence
filling us every single day.
We pray for Your Spirit to lead us
Dear Jesus,
You came to show the real meaning of life.
You came to bring forgiveness and healing to a broken world.
By your giving of yourself even to the point of death,
you save us and bring the promise of new life.
May your touch and example embolden us
in facing the challenge of the coronavirus.
Amen.
— By Columban Fr. John Comiskey
Father, you confirm the true faith
with the crown of martyrdom.
May the prayers of St Thomas Becket
give us the courage to proclaim our faith
by the witness of our lives.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen
The Subanens are an indigenous people whose ancestral habitat is the highlands of northwestern Mindanao in the Philippines. When the Columban Fathers arrived in Mindanao in 1938 we took little noticed of the Subanens because we were so engaged in a full schedule of parish pastoral activities which included dozens of far flung barrio communities.