Two opportunities to pray for peace set for Sept. 24 and 26
Criterion staff report
Two opportunities to pray for peace in our nation are coming up on Sept. 24 and 26. They embrace the “both/and” teaching of the Catholic Church, calling for both an end to racial injustice and for protection for police as they try to maintain order in the midst of violent riots.
• National Day of Prayer and Fasting, Sept. 24: ACTS XXIX, a Detroit-based apostolate dedicated to parish renewal nationwide, is calling citizens of all faiths—and even atheists willing to consider the possible existence of God—to a National Day of Prayer and Fasting on Sept. 24.
In an interview with the Detroit Catholic, the organization’s founder Father John Riccardo of the Archdiocese of Detroit noted that Sept. 24 used to be “dedicated to Mary, Our Lady of Ransom, because her son is the one who ransoms us from captivity.”
Noting the current “tremendous upheaval” in the United States, Father Riccardo told the Detroit Catholic that “politics and law and public policies are very important, but they can’t fix the problem, they can’t fix the heart. Only God can fix the heart.”
According to the article, with the National Day of Prayer and Fasting he is asking Americans to fast until dinner “and to ask for two very specific things in our prayers: for God’s mercy on our country, and for the healing and conversion of our hearts.”
• Rosary Rallies for Peace and Police, Sept. 26: A national campaign called “Return to Order” is encouraging the praying of the rosary in front of police stations at noon on Sept. 26—the Saturday closest to the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel on Sept. 29—asking God for peace and for police officers’ protection during riots.
Catholic Radio Indy chairman Bob Teipen is inviting Catholics in the Indianapolis area to coordinate and participate (although these organized prayer rallies are encouraged throughout the archdiocese).
The rallies should be “peaceful and not encourage confrontation,” said Teipen.
Whether in the Indianapolis area or elsewhere in the archdiocese, a rosary captain is needed for each rally. That person will contact a police station where a rosary event has not been scheduled and ask for permission to bring a group of people on a given date and time (preferably at noon on Sept. 26, but the date and time are flexible) to pray for the officers’ protection and for peace.
“Be aware that the police may be concerned about the prospect of protestors,” said Teipen. “They may ask what we want from them. I would say that they are welcome to join our peaceful prayer session, but that we want to show public support and not create a hostile environment.”
Rosary captains will also invite their friends, family, neighbors and Church community to participate in the peaceful, prayerful event.
Those wishing to coordinate an event at a police station in Beech Grove, Fortville, Greenwood, Indianapolis or Lawrence can contact Patty at Catholic Radio at 317-870-8400.
For information on how to coordinate a rally in other areas of the archdiocese, go to tinyurl.com/yyeckku7 or call 844-830-3570 (toll free). †
Related story: In Mass for Peace and Justice, Archbishop Thompson says ‘it all begins in the heart’