The Pope has left the country! I really enjoyed listening to him last week, watching him in parades, blessing children, leading Mass, and speaking/preaching. I felt like he brought God up front and center for our country. Those of us who work in Catholic healthcare appreciate his great leadership, his urging to care for the poor and the sick, and all of God’s people.
We all saw the images on TV as he stopped his processional to bless a baby or kiss a child with a disability. He spoke about the importance of family, of service to God, and to care for all of God’s people. We need messages like that to remind us of why we are here and why we have been created at this time and in this place.
Throughout his trip here Pope Francis reminded all of us to pray for him! At his closing of the Mass Sunday evening for almost a million people he said, “Pray for me…..don’t forget….pray for me!” Here is, by all accounts, the most religious man in the world and he is asking for prayer. Let’s use that as a reminder to pray for the Pope and for all world leaders, especially leaders of our country.
And prayer is the lifeblood of our Via de Cristo movement. I call on all of us to pray daily for fall teams/pilgrims and for Christ to be made known in worship, fellowship, study, piety, action and in the breaking of bread for the good of all!
After 20 years of ministry I know people find prayer difficult. How do you do it? What words do I use? How do I know it does anything? All I can say is that prayer brings us in union with God in Christ. It does not matter how or when or what words you use. Our God promises in the Bible to hear our prayers so pray on, friend! “Pray without ceasing…” as the Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5: 17.
Pr. Doug
P. S. I personally serve on INKY Men’s weekend #73 this coming weekend, please pray for US!!
Pastor Doug Givan
Staff Chaplain
Clay, Brazil
Seton, Indy
dgivan@stvincent.org
Eric is our current Webmaster and works on the NLS Communications Team. Raised in Judaism, he found Christ and the New Testament at age 16 in a Southern Baptist Church. He searched many denominations for the real church, only to find the Holy Spirit is present in all of them. He's worked for One for Israel, a group of native Israeli believers who are sharing the gospel in the holy land in Hebrew and is part of the only Hebrew speaking seminary in Israel.
