From The Bishop

In the Second Reading for the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, St. Paul says the following to the people of Corinth: “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God.” This statement is quite true when we consider what happened in Fatima, Portugal one hundred years ago. God chose three small children, Lucia (aged 9), Francisco (aged 8), and Jacinta (aged 6) to speak truth to the world. These peasant children were considered weak and insignificant in the eyes of the powerful and quite foolish and unwise for sharing a message that they received from our Blessed Mother. Initially they were ridiculed and despised by many; however, with courage and faith they endured. The children believed what they had been told: in the end, Mary’s Immaculate Heart will triumph. Our Lady of Fatima told the children to pray the Rosary every day for the salvation of souls and for peace in the world. In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus states, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” God wants us to be ‘peacemakers’ and our Blessed Mother shows us the way. We can feel overwhelmed by what is happening in a world that is filled with sin and division. In a world of uncertainty, we need to focus on what we know for certain. One of those certainties is the power of praying the Rosary. As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, I am initiating the Year of the Rosary for our diocese from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2018. Our intention will be to pray for world peace. I ask that we focus on praying the Rosary as individuals, parishes, schools, and families. Let us ensure that everyone has a rosary and knows this prayer. On October 13, 1917, the Lady revealed her identity: “I am Our Lady of the Rosary. I have come to exhort the faithful to change their lives and to stop offending the Lord by their sins.” She also said: “Pray the Rosary every day to obtain peace in the world and the end of war.” Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.