Newly-installed Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York mentioned Servant of God Issac Hecker in his opening homily today.
Rocco has the full-text on his website.
Let us pray:
Gracious God, we know that you are present today as you were at our founding. We thank you for the pastoral vision of Servant of God, Fr. Isaac Thomas Hecker and the missionary zeal of his companions.
We ask that you bless our Paulist family. Inspire us to use our gifts to serve the people of North America. Enkindle a fire within us to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Challenge us to reconcile all who have been hurt or alienated. Encourage us to unify the Body of Christ and to pursue dialogue with people of all faiths.
By the grace of your Holy Spirit and through the intercession of St. Paul the Apostle, lead us in wisdom’s ways into a future not our own; strengthen us to be the servants of your Word. May we strive to help all men and women to discover Christ in our age so that together we might build up your kingdom of Earth.
We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pope Bendict XVI is going to announce the first Pauline year. The Church is known for dedicating years toward various themes; we’ve had many Marian years, years dedicated to the Eucharist or the Rosary, but now, to the Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul.
St. Paul, who is turning the ripe old age of 2,000, will be the focus of a year starting June 29, 2008, the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul and ending on the same feast in 2009. No information has been released on what type of events the Vatican will be hosting for the year.
The Paulist Fathers, who look to St. Paul as their patron, will be the midst of celebrating their 150th anniversary.
I like it when things work together.
