Praying for Syria in the Diocese of Worcester

There will be a small prayer service downstairs at St. Peter’s Church (931 Main Street) in Worcester this Saturday at 3:30pm as part of the Church-wide day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria.

The Catholic Free Press reports on other Worcester-area events:

The bishop said he would ask those attending the Hispanic Marian celebration Saturday in Worcester to use the occasion to pray for peace. . . .

Father Tomasz J. Borkowski, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Whitinsville, said he is planning an ecumenical service there from 7-8 p.m. Saturday. . . .

Father Robert A. Grattaroti, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Charlton, extended an invitation to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow. . . .

Father Adam Reid, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Webster, said he plans to involve local Catholics in the call for prayer and fasting in a number of ways.

Presumably every mass in the diocese will have prayers for peace in Syria.

Assumption College, Worcester: “A group of students is organizing a Rosary for peace at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 12 midnight. All members of the community are invited to join in this prayer vigil and to visit the Chapel throughout the day on Saturday. ”

Pope Francis has asked all Catholics to pray and fast for peace in Syria this Saturday:

May the plea for peace rise up and touch the heart of everyone so that they may lay down their weapons and be let themselves be led by the desire for peace.

To this end, brothers and sisters, I have decided to proclaim for the whole Church on 7 September next, the vigil of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace, a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, the Middle East, and throughout the world, and I also invite each person, including our fellow Christians, followers of other religions and all men of good will, to participate, in whatever way they can, in this initiative.

On 7 September, in Saint Peter’s Square, here, from 19:00 until 24:00, we will gather in prayer and in a spirit of penance, invoking God’s great gift of peace upon the beloved nation of Syria and upon each situation of conflict and violence around the world. Humanity needs to see these gestures of peace and to hear words of hope and peace! I ask all the local churches, in addition to fasting, that they gather to pray for this intention.

Tony Homsy, SJ: A Prayer for Syria

Praying for Peace in Syria

This afternoon, 16 people demonstrated in Worcester’s Lincoln Square against a US military strike in Syria. Some of them were praying; some not.

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Pope Francis has asked all Catholics to pray and fast for peace in Syria this Saturday:

May the plea for peace rise up and touch the heart of everyone so that they may lay down their weapons and be let themselves be led by the desire for peace.

To this end, brothers and sisters, I have decided to proclaim for the whole Church on 7 September next, the vigil of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace, a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, the Middle East, and throughout the world, and I also invite each person, including our fellow Christians, followers of other religions and all men of good will, to participate, in whatever way they can, in this initiative.

On 7 September, in Saint Peter’s Square, here, from 19:00 until 24:00, we will gather in prayer and in a spirit of penance, invoking God’s great gift of peace upon the beloved nation of Syria and upon each situation of conflict and violence around the world. Humanity needs to see these gestures of peace and to hear words of hope and peace! I ask all the local churches, in addition to fasting, that they gather to pray for this intention.

Related: Catholic Bishops’ Policy Chair Urges Secretary Kerry To Work For Ceasefire, Serious Negotiations In Syria, Bob Waldrop’s Getting Us Into Wars

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Telegram & Gazette photo

508 #225: Sarai Rivera

508 is a show about Worcester. This week’s panel is Thu Nguyen, Callista Perry, and District 4 City Councilor Sarai Rivera. We talk about life on the City Council, economic development, youth services, and growing up in Worcester.

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Audio: Download the mp3 or see more formats.

Contact Info

You can watch 508 Fridays at 7pm on WCCA TV13.

Hiroshima Day 2013, Worcester

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13 people gathered in Worcester’s Lincoln Square today to repent, as Americans, for the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and to call for nuclear disarmament.

Vatican Radio:

The President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Peter Turkson, is in Japan for the “Ten Days for Peace” inititative, which is marked in every diocese of the country to mark the 10th anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which took place on the 6th and 9th of August, in 1945. He spoke on Tuesday morning at a meeting of inter-religious leaders.

“According to Catholic belief, God made man for life, for freedom and for happiness. And yet our destiny here on earth, much of the time, seems to consist of suffering, which we are tempted to undergo as chastisement or punishment, as a cruel fate. Such senseless suffering can eventually defeat us.

“In 1981, Blessed John Paul II properly named the suffering brought by war, specifically by the Atom Bomb, as the fruit of human sin and the result of evil at work. Pope Francis made a similar clarification: ‘The possession of atomic power can cause the destruction of humanity. When man becomes proud, he creates a monster that can get out of hand.’

“Individuals and societies are always tempted by the passions of greed and hate; but they do not have to succumb. Instead of excluding those who are deprived, let us meet their needs. Instead of avoiding those who suffer, let us accompany them. Instead of cursing what we ourselves suffer, let us offer it up for others. Instead of hiding from today’s problems, let us together bravely address the social situations and structures that cause injustice and conflict.

“For ‘no amount of “peace-building” will be able to last,’ according to Pope Francis, ‘nor will harmony and happiness be attained in a society that ignores, pushes to the margins or excludes a part of itself.'”

Related:

Red Sox co-owner buys T&G

I have occasionally blogged about the Worcester Telegram & Gazette here, so it’s worth mentioning that the T&G, along with the Globe and other properties, was recently sold to John Henry.

Cutting loose the Boston Globe may be a lifeline for the New York Times:

The Times bought the Boston Globe in 1993 for $1.1bn. It acquired the Telegram in 1999 for another $300m, and its interest in Metro Boston after that. In 20 years, in a story of upheaval, shortsightedness – even by 1993, you could have guessed buying a newspaper for top dollar might not be the greatest bet – and helplessness, the newspaper industry has gone from its peak to its bottom.

On Friday, the Times announced it was selling the lot for $70m. And that does not include the combined pension liabilities.

I haven’t seen anyone even try to guess how much the T&G by itself should be worth. More on those pension liabilities:

Mr. Henry paid $70 million, but The Boston Globe has approximately $110 million in pension obligations, which The New York Times Company is keeping on its books.