The world must be educated to love Peace, to build it up and defend it." - Pope Paul VI, 1968
From Bishop Tobin's Message to the Diocese June 15, 2020: This moment can be an occasion for an honest examination of conscience: What is my attitude about people of other races or ethnic groups? Am I committed to racial justice and equal opportunity for all? Have I failed, in my thoughts, words or deeds, to live these virtues? Do I have any blind spots in this regard? How can I do better in the future? Some suggestions that parishes and individuals might consider in keeping with this theme:
On the weekend of July 3-5 to offer the “Mass for the Nation,” or the “Mass for the Preservation of Peace and Justice” using the texts found in the Roman Missal. It would be appropriate to address these themes in homilies and to include these intentions in the General Intercessions.
On that weekend, parishes might offer a special time of public prayer – a period of Eucharistic Adoration after Mass, or the recitation of the Rosary. Perhaps a small group of parishioners would like to gather for a Scripture reading, a personal reflection, discussion and prayer. (The Covid-19 restrictions should be carefully observed.)
Perhaps individuals, or families, could pause for a few moments of silence in their homes to pray for those who have suffered and died because of racial injustice, and to ask the Lord to bestow upon our land the gifts of justice, peace and racial harmony.
Parishes are certainly free and are encouraged to develop their own plans and initiatives as well.
It is important to emphasize that this weekend is not a placebo, nor will it be the final word of what we must do to address racial discrimination and injustice. Going forward we need to renew our commitment to study, pray and act, in concrete and tangible ways, to promote dialogue with our brothers and sisters, and to make real progress in securing racial justice and harmony. The Diocese of Providence in its “
Strategic Pastoral Plan for Black Catholic Communities” announced last year, has already begun walking together along this path. The plan should be implemented in each of our parishes.
Dear brothers and sisters, as our nation celebrates its Independence Day we do well to rejoice in and thank God for all the blessings of freedom, justice, peace and prosperity he has bestowed upon us. Indeed, our country is “America the Beautiful.” But it will be even more beautiful when “God mends our every flaw,” and the American dream becomes a reality for all of our brothers and sisters.
Thank you for your consideration of these requests. May God bless us, and may God bless America with justice and peace for all!
Sincerely yours,
Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of Providence
Pope Francis’ Prayer for Peace Lord God of peace, hear our prayer! We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain.
Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: "Never again war!"; "With war everything is lost". Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace.
Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness.
Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words "division", "hatred" and "war" be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be "brother", and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam!