Deacon Dennis will be meeting with Archbishop Etienne and Bishop Mueggenborg on July 13 to talk about our request to remain in partnership with Christ Our Hope for the next 3 years. An idea surfaced that we pray a novena in support of a positive response to our deep desire to continue as a faith community. Our Advocates have embraced this idea as they continue their work on behalf of our beloved parish.
A novena prayer is a traditionally prayed over a period of nine days successively for a specific intention or to ask for God’s favor and grace. In this case our faith community would begin this novena on Sunday, July 4 at mass. The novena would continue until July 12 which is the day before Dennis’ morning meeting at the Chancery. We invite you to consider praying this prayer each day, beginning with our mass on July 4. Afterwards, consider doing the prayer at noon (so we can be in solidarity with one another) or at a time that works best for you.
Also, if you haven’t written a letter to the Archbishop sharing your hopes for St. Patrick, perhaps you can consider writing one during this nine day prayer experience. Our voices are important and must be heard. Archbishop Etienne’s address at the Chancery is: Archdiocese of Seattle, 710 9th Avenue Seattle, WA 98104.
Novena Prayer for St. Patrick Church :
Good and Gracious God, in this time of peril to the existence of our parish, let Your light of Wisdom shine on us. We call on all the past parishioners of St. Patrick’s, who are now with the Communion of Saints, to implore our loving God to protect our community and to find a creative path for us to continue to thrive as a parish.
As a Vatican II parish, we also invoke the intercession of Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen, who as a participant in Vatican II, brought the Council’s vision and hope for a renewed church to the Archdiocese of Seattle.
We know Your love never leaves us and we trust that You journey beside us during this difficult time. Help us to recognize and respond to the Presence and activity of the Holy Spirit in our midst. Alleviate our fears, give us clarity of thought, purpose of action and continued love for our community.
We ask this in Your Son's name. Amen
(optional additional prayer: One decade of the Rosary)