Oct. 17, 2023 | Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace in the Holy Land

As we witness the humanitarian catastrophe in the Holy Land with hearts that cry out to God for an end to war and violence, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, has called for a day of fasting, abstinence, and prayer for peace and reconciliation.

​Therefore, Bishop McGrattan is calling on the Diocese to respond to the request of the Cardinal by designating Tuesday, October 17 as a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace in the Holy Land in the Diocese of Calgary.

“We ask that on Tuesday, October 17, everyone hold a day of fasting, abstinence, and prayer. Let us organize prayer times with Eucharistic adoration and with the recitation of the Rosary to Our Blessed Virgin Mary. Although most probably in many parts of our dioceses, circumstances will not permit large gatherings, it is possible to organize simple and sober common moments of prayer in parishes, religious communities, and families.” - Cardinal Pizzaballa  | Read full letter

Ways to pray as an individual, with your family and the parish community….

1. Observe a day of fasting and abstinence, and hold or participate in a parish Eucharistic Adoration for Peace and a Rosary for Peace in the Holy Land. The Holy Father also asks that Catholics continue to pray especially in this month of the Holy Rosary through the intercession of Mary, "for the gift of peace for the many countries of the world marked by war and conflict.“ 
   
   
2. Pray for peace as an individual or with your family at home. 
   1. Read the following for ways to pray for peace in the world at home.   
   2. Pray the Novena for Peace in the Holy Land. Individuals or families can join in the Novena for Peace in the Holy Land from Hozana.org. Novena will be sent daily to your email with specific intentions for peace in the Holy Land. 
      
      
3. Include the the following petition in your prayer:
   For those killed, displaced, and impacted by the terrorist attack in Israel and the ensuing war, may God grant eternal rest to the deceased, console those grieving, protect and comfort those in fear, and guide world leaders so this conflict may be brought to a peaceful end, let us pray to the Lord...  

Read: Statement by the Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary and CCCB President, to the Catholic Faithful in Canada on the Recent Escalation of Conflict in the Holy Land - Read letter