November 5, 2024

Patriotic prayer service to be held election night

REGIONAL
Staff report

The sun shines through a statue of Christ on a grave marker alongside an American flag at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Appleton, Wis., in this 2018 photo.   (OSV News file photo/Bradley Birkholz)

SPRINGFIELD —  A Patriotic Prayer Service will be held election night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 8-9 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Parish in Indian Orchard. The evening will include Eucharistic adoration and a patriotic rosary. The Office of Missionary Discipleship is organizing the event in response to Bishop William D. Byrne’s letter sent out to parishes last week encouraging all to vote and pray, noting the contentious nature of the election.

“It saddens me to see our great nation, once the symbol of democracy and peaceful transition in government, buckle under the weight of today’s political battles. Our nation is being torn apart,” the bishop wrote in his letter, dated Oct. 24. “But each of us can do our part to restore civility. First, pray. Yes, pray! If you already are praying, then double or even triple your efforts and encourage others to do so as well. Invoke our Blessed Mother, the Immaculate Conception, the Patroness of our land, as our intercessor to God the almighty, to calm these stormy seas,” the bishop wrote.

The Holy Hour will also include patriotic hymns.

“I realized that in our homes and in our families, we have become so divided,” said Joe Austin, the director of the Office of Missionary Discipleship.

“I know so many people are so stressed out about the election and so I wanted to provide a place where they could go after voting and just offer it all to Jesus. Maybe turn off the phone and try to spend an hour in silent prayer with Jesus. Because at the end of the day, he is the only one who can save us. America needs Jesus,” Austin said.