Two thousand and twenty-four has been named a Year of Prayer by the Holy Father. This designation is made in preparation for the Jubilee or Holy Year of 2025. In a sense, this is to be a quiet year amidst the thunder of war, noise of political campaigns, screeching sounds of local and global unrest, and even the busyness of our own necessary activities. In the Catholic Church each twenty-fifth year is a year of jubilee—so this is a time to lay groundwork for it.
The universal synod process that is carrying out directives of the Second Vatican Council has invited the world to usher in a new church led by the Holy Spirit, a church that listens to God’s people and cares for its marginalized members and outcasts. The synodal process, to be implemented during the jubilee, encourages us to pause in the thick of chaos so we can re-unite with Jesus’ ministry to others and assess our modern world and current circumstances in relationship to His mission. Pope Francis reminds us that there are many ways to pray, many avenues to connect with Christ, and many means of preparation.
With an early Lent arriving in just a few weeks, we’ll find numerous local opportunities to pray with others, as well as privately. On the first Saturdays of February (2/3) and March (3/2), Saint Therese Little Flower Parish will host events on prayer and peace. The February offering focuses on The Sisters of Selma; it will be from 10:00-noon at the Little Flower church hall, 5814 Euclid Avenue. As you may be aware, several Sisters of Saint Joseph (along with other church leaders from Kansas City and other nuns from various religious orders across the country) marched through Selma, Alabama in 1965 in support of voting rights and other civil rights for Blacks and other minorities. At the gathering, we will view and discuss a documentary film about the courage of those religious women who challenged church and government authorities to walk closer with Christ and closer with those suffering from injustices. The March offering, also from 10-12:00, will be led by Father John Dear, an internationally renowned author, speaker, and peace activist.
By way of example, prayer that we might offer at Avila University this semester includes a chapel devotional each Tuesday and Thursday at 11:30, a periodic 4:50 prayer pause, some mini retreats, Sunday gatherings, and Friday holy-to-happy hour gatherings. The Tuesday and Thursday prayer is held in the campus chapel in Foyle Hall and is open to neighbors and friends. Sometimes the prayer form will be Mass, sometimes a rosary, sometimes reflections on various prayer traditions—specifics will be updated on the university calendar each week. The 4:50 pause is a salute to the Congregation of Saint Joseph Sisters, founded in 1650 in France, which was commissioned to serve God and care for the dear neighbor without distinction; on certain days as the clock hits 16:50, members of the Avila Family will receive phone notification with an invitation to take a moment for prayerful reflection upon our purpose and mission. I will also lead some two-hour mini retreats to assist students, staff, faculty, and neighbors that seek to deepen their love, hope, and faith. Sunday Mass is offered at 11:00 in the chapel. And on certain Fridays we will celebrate the conclusion of the work week while inaugurating the weekend with a time of prayer and social engagement.
Yes, there are lots of prayers and many paths that can bring us closer to God, to one another, and to our earthly mission of manifesting God’s will. Let’s use this Year of Prayer to gain greater self-awareness and self-understanding as people of faith; it may lead to self-betterment and serve as a springboard to holiness for a Year of Jubilee.
