A Significant Moment in the Life of the Church (E-Pistle)

There are many significant moments in the life of the Church that draw us to a deeper encounter with God, especially through the sacraments which remind us of our baptismal character of being part of the Body of Christ. This journey, highlighted in this holy season of Lent, binds us together and calls us to live out our relationship with God not only for our own graces, but more importantly, for God’s graces to be given to others in our lives. Today, the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord, is a day that manifests this spiritual reality, when Pope Francis will carry out a solemn Act of Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

In a letter dated March 21, 2022, our Holy Father wrote to the bishops of the world saying: This Act of Consecration is meant to be a gesture of the universal Church, which in this dramatic moment lifts up to God, through his Mother and ours, the cry of pain of all those who suffer and implore an end to the violence, and to entrust the future of our human family to the Queen of Peace. I ask you to join in this Act by inviting the priests, religious and faithful to assemble in their churches and places of prayer on 25 March, so that God's Holy People may raise a heartfelt and choral plea to Mary our Mother. 

In communion with Pope Francis, this morning at 11 a.m, I will join the Holy Father in this Act of Consecration and I invite the faithful of the Diocese of Austin to pray with me.  We will begin with a Celebration of the Holy Eucharist, followed by Marian devotions and concluding with the Prayer of Consecration provided to us by the Holy Father. This will be broadcast live from the Diocesan Pastoral Center via livestream to our WATCH page [https://www.austindiocese.org/watch]. There you will also find the Worship Aid that includes the Prayer of Consecration so that together, with one voice, we may pray for our brothers and sisters facing this senseless violence. May we continue praying for the end of the war in Ukraine asking the intercession of our Blessed Mother.