We begin our Vigil for LIFE and America at 10 am at the Marian Shrine in Stony Point, N.Y. Fr. Bill Bucciferro and Jim are getting ready to process to begin Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. 

For this Holy Hour of Intercessory Prayer for our Country to protect and defend the precious gift of human life we have more than 30 people praying.

The Blessed Sacrament is exposed and we are able to pray directly to Jesus.
We are directly praying, singing, and silently speaking to the Risen Lord.

Many families came to pray!

At 11 AM we began the JOYFUL MYSTERIES of the Most Holy Rosary. Peggy Beirne (right), the Rockland leader of Helpers of God’s Most Precious Infants led the congregation that had grown to over 60 people.

When Mass Began at 12 Noon as the Bells rang with all the Churches in solidarity for Religious Freedom, there were over 300 people praying for our beloved America and for LIFE.

Father Bill , Father Jim and Father Richard (Salesians) and Father Nicholas Callahan from St. Margaret of Cortona in Riverdale all celebrated the Mass.

Father Bill Bucciferro told us in his homily that FREEDOM is based on God’s Love for us. We are free not because of any government, but because of God’s Love.
We must continue to educate ourselves and others about our faith. We are Catholics and we are Americans. We are being tested. For over 200 years we have enjoyed religious liberty, but now there is a real threat to our religious freedom. Our religious freedom is being attacked.

Do we have zeal for our faith? Do we love as Jesus loves each one of us?
Each one of us must respond. We must have such a great love of Christ.
Mother Teresa said we are to look for Christ in one another.

WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD. JESUS AND MARY ARE CALLING US AND TODAY WE MUST BE GOOD CATHOLICS AND GOOD CITIZENS.
WE ARE TO HATE SIN BUT LOVE THE SINNER.
WE MUST SEE THE FACE OF CHRIST IN ALL WE COME IN CONTACT WITH.
WE MUST PROTECT OUR FAITH WITH COMPASSION AND EFFECTIVENESS.
OUR PROFESSTION OF FAITH IS NOT A PRIVATE MATTER, BUT A PUBLIC MATTER.
WE ARE TO CONTINUE TO DEFEND LIFE AT ALL COSTS.

HOLY MOTHER MARY WILL SHOW US THE WAY.
MARY IS THE GATEWAY TO LOVE.
SHE SAYS TO LISTEN TO HER SON.
MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS, PRAY FOR US!

Meanwhile, later that afternoon at St. Paul’s Church in Congers, Fr. John Palatucci lead the 30+ people in a Eucharistic Holy Hour from 5:45 to 6:45 pm. We prayed the rosary for the conversion of our nation and for our troops oversees. There was time for private mediation and reflection. The hour concluded with Benediction.

Father John spoke about how blessed we are as a nation. He believes that this threat to our religious freedom will bring Catholics closer together because we need to intensify the prayers. God knows the outcome. Our prayers and education will make a difference.

Father John spoke about Jesus driving demons out of men and putting them in swine and the swine jumping off a cliff and drowning.

All Jesus had to do was to say one word:
“GO.”

For LIFE,
Eileen Peterson