Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Pope Leo XVI urged an end to violence in the Middle East on Sunday, as joint U.S.-Israeli air strikes on Iran continue.

In an Angelus appeal last Sunday, Pope Leo said he was following “with deep concern what is happening in the Middle East and in Iran in these dramatic hours.”

“Stability and peace are not built with mutual threats nor with weapons, which sow destruction, pain, and death, but only with a reasonable, authentic and responsible dialogue.”

Leo expressed his deep concern that the situation in Iran risked escalating into “a tragedy of enormous proportions.” He urged all parties involved “to assume the moral responsibility of halting the spiral of violence before it becomes an unbridgeable chasm.”

“May diplomacy regain its proper role, and may the well-being of peoples, who yearn for peaceful existence founded on justice, be upheld,” he said, “and let us continue to pray for peace.”

Let us pray.

Peace and blessings,

Father Gil

Jesus invites us to enjoy his living waters, which lead to salvation: “’the water I shall give will become … a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’” He is patient, waiting for us to come to him, never forcing himself on our will. Sometimes he people he chooses to spread his Good News are surprising, like Paul and the Samaritan woman. Sometimes they are ordinary individuals, like us. When we support the Together in Mission Annual Appeal, we are bringing others to the Christ’s life-sustaining waters. 

For our immigrant sisters and brothers living in fear of deportation, may the Lord accompany them through the ministry of the Christian community:

For the healing, comfort, and peace of the sick, for Gary Orfield, Manolo Velez, Anne Wadad Shalhub, Madeleine Lord, Victoria T. Picard, Amparo Haber, Bruno Raineri, Shirley Ruess, Sister Irene Wright, Melinda Nadres, Greg Tinsley, Jack & Vicki Phillips, Tel Ramon, Mary Pat Cooper, Todd Wiench, Bernadette Tee, Estrella and John Monzon, Charles Candel, Marisa Kavanau, Carol King Wolcott, John Wolcott, Angel Appleton, Clark Gassan, Lohriena Lohrie Counts, Nora McCormick Heinen, Weldon Tilley, Paul Lannan, Eileen Gaffney.

For the eternal rest of our beloved departed, Terry Casey, Darrel Bengry, Joan Doyle, Cristina Mirendolf, Elaine Vucelich, Marietta Lavin, Jeffrey Graham, Renee Good, Alex Pretti, Robert J. Burns, John 'JJ' Goldrick, Dellie Abad, James Kennedy, José Fernandez, Terry O'Malley Seidler, Rich Puppione, Christie Farmer, Alfred Ruess, Christohper Hudlin, Alan Culver, Laura James, Anne Marie Hannick, Father Greg Goethals, SJ, Ron Schuster, Bobby Burks, Father Jack Lynch, CSP, Arlene Havel, Phil Duncan, Michele Kearin, Father Brad Schoeberle, CSP, Mary Tokuza, Haruko Hiromura, Donny Kie, Cesar Robeniol, Nellie Scholar, may they rest in peace.

For peace in every nation: for an end to the war in Iran, Ukraine. For all those wounded and killed and for the safety of service members in harm's way. For peace, may the light of the Holy Spirit transform hearts so that all may seek the way of peace together, let us pray to the Lord: