As announced last week by Bishop Mark, on Friday in your FaithInWV e-bulletin, and at Masses this weekend: REMEMBER to fast and pray for peace on Sept. 4!
Diocesan Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace, Sept. 4
Bishop Mark Brennan is calling the faithful in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston to observe Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, as a day of fasting and prayer for peace and justice in our world especially in Ukraine and the Holy Land.
This is the second day of prayer and fasting in two weeks for this intention. The first being Aug. 22nd, as called for by Pope Leo XIV.
Additionally in our diocese, the Sept. 4th day of fasting and prayer, precedes the special collection to be held at all Masses in the diocese on Sept. 6-7 for Gaza Relief.
Both are a sign of our solidarity as a Church family with those suffering as an offering both spiritual and material support.
Let us open our hearts generously and compassionately mindful of all traumatized and displaced by war. Invoke the intercession of Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, to take our prayers directly to her son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace.A prayer for peace by Pope St John Paul II for victims of war, violence and refugees fleeing oppression.
Let us pray to our Almighty Father,
Hear my voice, for it is the voice of the victims of all wars and violence among individuals and nations.
Hear my voice, for it is the voice of all children who suffer and will suffer when people put their faith in weapons and war.
Hear my voice when I beg You to install into the hearts of all human beings the wisdom of peace, the strength of justice, and the joy of fellowship.
Hear my voice, for I speak for the multitudes in every country and in every period of history who do not want war and are ready to walk the road of peace.
Hear my voice and grant insight and strength so that we may always respond to hatred with love, to injustice with total dedication to justice, to need with the sharing of self, to war with peace.
O God, hear my voice and grant unto the world Your everlasting peace.
Amen.
Fund collected Sept. 6-7 will be sent to The Catholic Near East Welfare Association and Catholic Relief Services.
