Dear Friends in Christ,
Our Lady of Hope Parish has been blessed this past week. From Tuesday through Thursday, our parish celebrated the traditional Forty Hours or Hours of Eucharistic Adoration. Thank you to all who spent time in the Presence of Our Lord. What blessings for our parish and I am sure for everyone who sacrificed time to spend special moments that affects their eternal life. I would think that when we meet the Lord for our judgment, He will see this as one of the most important things that we could do with Him. On Friday, parishioners from our parish, thanks to our Knights of Columbus Council participated in the Annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. Some thought that the March might end with the Roe vs. Wade decision, returning the decision to destroy life back to the states. Of course, most states continue to allow the taking of human life in the womb (even preparing to sell do-it-yourself abortion pills at pharmacies), the push for euthanasia and the harmful effects of contraception. The world’s march to depopulate continues. So, we go to Washington, not only in protest, but to rejoice in human life and to thank Almighty God for every breath. It is no wonder that we continue on a satanic death spiral when we see indications of an animosity against Christ. Recently, at the Mall of America, a man was told by a security guard to either take off his “Jesus Saves” t-shirt or he would need to vacate the mall. The guard said, “Jesus is associated with religion and it is offending people. People have been offended.” The guard later explained that “people” had complained to him concerning the shirt. At least two decades ago, I was in Mexico and at that time, it was against the law to wear clerical attire off Church property. I see the day looming when I and all priests will be to prohibited by law from dressing in clerical attire in public due to the claim that it is offensive. When I was a transitional deacon in 1987, I made a promise to the Lord that I would never be ashamed of being a priest. I never have been. While ashamed of my sins, I have never regretted being ordained or being recognized as a priest. My friends, I am confident that you and I will need to defend our faith more and more over time. Spending time in prayer before Our Lord’s Real Presence is what will give us the strength to not cave in to the satanic forces being unleashed upon the world. Jesus Christ be praised!
God bless you,
Father Szolack