Vigil for the Fallen Away: A Parish United in Prayer
This week our parish will enter into something very special: The Vigil for the Fallen Away. From Monday evening through Wednesday evening, Mary, Mother of Our Savior Parish will spend 48 hours united in prayer for loved ones who have drifted from the Church or from the practice of the Faith.
Many families quietly carry this concern in their hearts. A son or daughter who no longer attends Mass. A grandchild who has grown distant from the Church. A friend or family member who once believed but has wandered away. Rather than carrying these intentions alone, we are choosing to bring them together before the Lord.
This vigil is a beautiful and concrete expression of our parish’s growing commitment to evangelization and missionary discipleship. At its heart, this is not about programs or strategies. It is about prayer trusting that God’s grace is always at work in ways we cannot see.
The vigil begins with the Opening Mass for the Fallen Away on Monday evening at 6:30 PM. Following Mass, parishioners will be invited to come forward and light votive candles that will be placed around the altar as a visible sign of the loved ones we entrust to Christ. Volunteers will assist with placing the candles reverently around the sanctuary.
Another especially beautiful opportunity to participate will be the Holy Hour for the Fallen Away on Tuesday evening at 6:30 PM, preached by Father Pawel Zmija. Following this time of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, candles will again be lit and placed around the altar.
Throughout the vigil, the church will remain open from 6:00 AM until 9:00 PM for extended prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Parishioners are welcome to stop in at any time. Even ten quiet minutes of prayer before the Lord can have a profound impact when offered with faith and love.
There are also several natural moments throughout the day to participate. At noon, we will pray the Angelus followed by the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady, a particularly meaningful devotion for parents and grandparents carrying this intention. At 3:00 PM, we will pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, entrusting our loved ones to the mercy of Christ.
Some parishioners will come for Mass. Others may stop in during their lunch break. Families may come after school for the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Still others will sign up for an hour of Eucharistic Adoration.
However you are able to participate, you are warmly invited to take part in this powerful moment in the life of our parish.
Together, let us bring these intentions before the Sacred Heart of Jesus and trust in the power of prayer.
Let us fill the church with light. Let us pray them home.
Your Servant in Christ,
Father Jason C. Hage, Pastor
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!
Mary, Mother of Our Savior, pray for us!