DIOCESAN—Bishop David Malloy has announced that he will join his brother bishops in dedicating himself to seven days of “intensified prayer and sacrifice” for three specific intentions established by the USCCB:

 

♦ The healing and support of all victims of clergy sexual abuse.

 

♦ The conversion and just punishment of the perpetrators and concealers of sexual abuse.

 

♦ The strength of the bishops to be holy shepherds in protecting and leading their sheep from all harm.

 

The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) Administrative Committee invited all U.S. bishops to join together in acts of prayer and penance. 

 

Mass Intentions   When Bishop David Malloy offers Masses between Nov. 5-11, he will also be adding special intentions involving the sex abuse problems facing the Church in the U.S. and the world.   Suggested Special intentions Prayer of the Faithful:   For the healing and support of all victims and survivors of clergy abuse.   We pray to the Lord.   For a swift and just response to those who perpetrate and conceal clergy abuse and for the conversion of those who commit such crimes.   We pray to the Lord.   For the strength of the bishops to be holy shepherds in protecting and leading their sheep from all harm.   We pray to the Lord.   For the Holy Spirit’s guidance of our bishops in responding to the tragedy of clergy sexual abuse in the Church.   We pray to the Lord.

“This is a time of deep examination of conscience for each bishop,” the committee’s statement read. “We cannot content ourselves that our response to sexual assault within the Church has been sufficient. Scripture must be our guide forward, ‘be doers of the word and not hearers only’ (James 1:22).” 

 

“I wholeheartedly support such a nationwide, bishop-led effort of prayer and reparation,” said Bisop Malloy, “especially leading up to the upcoming bishops’ General Assembly.”

 

In an Oct. 30 letter to the faithful of the diocese, Bishop Malloy said that “with brother bishops across the nation, I will be dedicating myself to seven days of intensified prayer and sacrifice, from Nov. 5 to Nov. 11.”  

 

He also announced that he would offer these intentions at three previously scheduled Masses and four additional ones. (See box.)

 

Those Masses will be:

 

â–º Nov. 5 at 7 a.m. at St. Mary Parish, East Dubuque;

 

â–º Nov. 6 at 7 a.m. at St. Bridget Parish, Loves Park;

 

â–º Nov. 7 at 8:20 a.m. at Pope Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy, Aurora;

 

â–º Nov. 8 at 7:15 a.m. at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Maple Park;

 

â–º Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at St. Mary Parish, Morrison; 

 

â–º Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. at the confirmation Mass for St. Rita of Cascia Parish, Aurora, and

 

â–º Nov. 11 at 7:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rockford.

 

In his letter, Bishop Malloy said that “While our diocesan Catholics are most welcome to join in praying for these intentions, this is specifically an effort of prayer and reparation by the bishops. I would also appreciate your prayers for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all the bishops, especially during the upcoming General Assembly, where we will be making critical decisions in response to the clergy sexual abuse crisis.”

 

The USCCB General Assembly will take place in Baltimore Nov. 12-14. Public portions of the meeting will be livestreamed at USCCB.org.