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Veterans Day: Honoring Those Who Served

Posted on November 04, 2021 in: Reflections

Veterans Day: Honoring Those Who Served

The Return

“The Return,” an emotional depiction of a World War I soldier kneeling before a crucifix inside the Church of the Holy Innocents on West 37th and Broadway in lower Manhattan built in 1866. Both the crucifix and the church are still in place today.

God of peace, we pray for those who have served our nation and have laid down their lives to protect and defend our freedom.
We pray for those who have fought, whose spirits and bodies are scarred by war,
whose nights are haunted by memories too painful for the light of day.
We pray for those who serve us now, especially for those in harm’s way.
Shield them from danger and bring them home.
Turn the hearts and minds of our leaders and our enemies to the work of justice and a harvest of peace.
May the peace you left us, the peace you gave us, be the peace that sustains, the peace that saves us.
Amen.

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Posted on December 10, 2024 in: Reflections, Advent

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We are all given special talents and gifts from God. One of my special gifts is the ability to rest. I can sit down and fall asleep faster than anyone. At night, my head barely touches the pillow, and I am at rest. I see this as a sign of God’s love. Being able to rest allows us to receive God and receiving Him gives us true rest. As St. Augustine wrote, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” We all need time to rest in our lives. Even God rested on the seventh day of creation. That is why Sunday sho...

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Christmas Pastoral from Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne

Posted on December 19, 2024 in: News, Reflections

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Christmas Pastoral from Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne

Christmas 2024 My friends, I am pleased to share with you this Christmas pastoral letter as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Norwich. Many of you are regular Mass goers. Some of you come occasionally, once a month or so. Some come once or twice a year on the major holidays of Christmas or Easter. For others, this may be the first time you have been in a church for years or maybe even for the first time. To all of you, I say, “Welcome and merry Christmas.” Whatever your relationship with the Church may be, I invite you to c...

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Finding the Manger

Posted on December 19, 2024 in: Reflections

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The days leading up to Christmas are a blur of to-do lists scribbled on sticky notes, Amazon packages arriving at odd hours, and gifts yet to be wrapped. It's easy for December to feel more like a chaotic sprint than a peaceful journey to Bethlehem. As a mom, I know the pressure to create a “perfect Christmas.” But somewhere between decorating the tree and tackling the next laundry mountain, I feel that tug on my heart reminding me: Slow down. He’s coming. Advent is a gift, a quiet invitation amidst the noise. In these weeks, ...

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