Page 5 - Catholic Extension Magazine Spring 2020

Extension | Spring 2020 5

J ust as we were about vibrant, courageous communi- LITANY OF PRAYER
Dear Friends,
ties is barely making it. Because
9:00 a.m. • Prayer for those infect-
of the lack of day-to-day funds
ed with the virus and all who are ill
to go to print with our
for operations—the result of our
Lord, place your healing hand on those
necessitated national shutdown
spring edition of Extension
who suffer illness. Bring them to full
magazine, with articles
of social gatherings including
health and ease their anxious hearts.
weekly Sunday liturgy—they are
written and layout com-
May our prayer and the intercession
plete, the world turned
all struggling for survival. You
of the Blessed Virgin Mary encourage
upside down. For the last
few weeks, all of us have
the parishes we support have
this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN
an average Sunday income of
found ourselves living in
12:00 p.m. • Prayer for health care
scarcely $300!
the frightening reality of may not know this, but most of them that they are not alone. We ask
global pandemic. Even as I Catholic Extension and you, workers and those attending to
am writing this new letter to you, our treasured donors, are their the sick
it is weeks away from when you only lifeline. There is no group of Lord, we are ennobled by those who
will be reading it. philanthropic donors nearby to put their lives at risk in caring for the
In this terribly unsettling time, them or in a neighboring parish sick. Keep them safe and embolden
I want you to know that I am to come to their aid. They are them when they are weary. We ask this
holding each of you and your totally isolated except for the in Jesus’ Name. AMEN
families in my heartfelt prayers bond of solidarity that you have 3:00 p.m. • Prayer for first respond-
for your health, safety and well- created with them through Cath- ers and essential workers
being. And I’m also asking olic Extension. Lord, we pray for those who run to
you to join me in prayer for our Their stories of hope urgently danger to keep us safe and those who
brothers and sisters in Exten- need your generosity and also in serve the common good. Embrace
sion Dioceses, living under siege the months ahead. I am asking them with your mantle of protection
in the most under-resourced each one of you in this Easter and comfort the fears of their families.
regions of our country. moment of hope and Christ’s We ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN
As you read our magazine, you promise of new life to please
will obviously notice that there contribute to our new fund at 6:00 p.m. • Prayer for people of
is no mention of COVID-19. Yet catholicextension.org/COVID19. every nation and their leaders
the articles do address something May I close by offering another Lord, the pandemic opens our eyes to
that we all need to hear right way of expressing our solidarity see each other as brothers and sisters
now as we are challenged by the with one another. Cardinal Blase in one human family. We pray for peo-
ple of every nation and their leaders,
spread of the virus. Every story Cupich, the chancellor of Cath- asking that they be inspired to seek
you will read is a story of hope, olic Extension, has written this the good of all and quell the voices of
inviting us to deepen our sense Litany of Prayer for us during this division. We ask this in Jesus’ Name.
of solidarity with one another perilous time. I invite us all to AMEN
even as we are called to practice pray this in common with one
physical self-distancing. another until the pandemic ends. 9:00 p.m. • Prayer for those who
I genuinely hope that you Easter blessings to you! have died today
realize how much your personal Lord, we grieve the passing of our
generosity and your profound Yours in Christ, sisters and brothers who have died this
act of solidarity with these good day. We commend them to your tender
people in our Extension Dioceses mercy, confident that nothing, not even
have made possible these inspi- death, will separate us from your love.
rational stories in our magazine. Rev. John J. Wall We ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN
Nevertheless, right at this PRESIDENT,
moment, each one of these CATHOLIC EXTENSION