Image by Ramone Romero
This past week, one of my parishioners found out that he will be deployed to Iraq for a year beginning on October 25th. At Mass this morning, I called Mark and his wife and sons forward at the blessing and dismissal so that our parish might pray over him and his family. These are the words I prayed. You might want to pray them for someone you know who is serving overseas. And please keep Mark in your prayers, too!
Mark,
we pray that God the Father will hold you
in the palm of his hand...
We pray that Jesus will be by your side,
night and day...
We pray that the Holy Spirit will fill you
with wisdom and courage...
We pray that angels will surround you
with gentleness and with strength...
Be sure that you leave our community
wrapped in our support and with our prayers...
Every Sunday when we pray in the intercessions
"for those who serve and protects us,
for those in harm's way and for an end to war"
we will be praying for you, Mark,
and for your safe return...
We pray for your wife, Sue,
and your sons, Mike and Matt,
that the Lord will be with them while you're away
and while they wait for you to come home!
May God bless you, Mark,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
-ConcordPastor
beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYou are truly a Pastor---
ReplyDeleteIt was a wonderful Holy Famil moment that we could all reach out to bless Mark and his family. Very touching and I will be praying for the Mark and family very day.
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing what you did today.
May God bless him and keep him safe. And the strength for his family to endure this unimaginable situation.
ReplyDeletePraise God to walk the road with them all. And all our other servicemen and women and their families.
Oh, what a blessing. What a good thing you have done Concord Pastor as you shepherd your flock.
ReplyDeleteMark and his family will be kept in our prayers over here in NY.
Thank you so much Father Austin for providing us the opportunity as a parish family to bless and show our support of Mark and his family. It was a beautiful moment and a much needed reminder that there are families in our own community going through this and we all need to support them and pray for their safe return. I hope the donations for the care package box continues!
ReplyDelete