Bishop Walkowiak declared Sept. 9, the feast of St. Peter Claver, as a day of prayer and fasting in the diocese for racial healing. On that evening, Bishop Walkowiak celebrated Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew.
Watch Mass Video: on Facebook
Watch Bishop Walkowiak’s homily:
View photos from the Mass:
In the midst of ongoing racial unrest in our country, we come together to pray for healing, atone for the Church’s and our personal past sins of racism and seek forgiveness, and call on the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen us in continuing to work for peace and racial justice.
To focus on these actions, Bishop Walkowiak declared Sept. 9, the feast of St. Peter Claver, as a Day of Prayer and Fasting in the diocese for racial healing. St. Peter Claver is a Jesuit missionary who spent his life in service to African slaves in South America during the 17th century. He is the patron saint of African missions, African Americans, slavery and interracial justice.
Catholics of the diocese are encouraged to take the following actions:
- Read the U.S. Bishops Pastoral Letter against racism, Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love.
- Pray the rosary
- Join Bishop Walkowiak for Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew at 7 p.m. on Sept. 9. The Mass will be available via livestream on Facebook, or on the website. Or attend Mass at your parish, or join in a celebration of daily Mass online or on TV.
- Read the USCCB’s pastoral letter, and learn more about the life of St. Peter Claver and the work of the Church in fighting racism: https://www.usccb.org/committees/ad-hoc-committee-against-racism
En medio del continuo malestar racial en nuestro país, nos reunimos como católicos para orar por sanación, expiar los pecados de racismo pasados personales y de la Iglesia, buscar el perdón y pedir al Espíritu Santo que nos guíe y fortalezca para continuar trabajando por la paz y la justicia racial.
Para enfocarse en estas acciones, el obispo Walkowiak ha declarado el 9 de septiembre, fiesta de San Pedro Claver, como día de oración y ayuno en la diócesis para la sanación racial. San Pedro Claver es el patrono del trabajo misionero entre los esclavos negros.
Se les invita a los católicos de la diócesis a tomar las siguientes acciones:
- Leer la carta pastoral de los obispos de los Estados Unidos hablando en contra del racismo, Abramos Nuestros Corazones: El Incesante Llamado al Amor
- Rezar el rosario o asistir a misa
- El obispo Walkowiak celebrará la misa en la Catedral de San Andrés a las 7 p.m. esa tarde. La misa se transmitirá en vivo a través del sitio web diocesano, (grdiocese.org) y en la página de Facebook.
- Aprender más sobre la vida de San Pedro Claver y el trabajo de la Iglesia en la lucha contra el racismo: https://www.usccb.org/committees/ad-hoc-committee-against-racism
Additional resources from the USCCB:
Responding to the sin of racism
Practical steps for eradicating racism
Five ways to cultivate peace and work for racial justice (We are Salt and Light, USCCB)
