My Dear Parish Family:

Obviously, Cardinal Dolan and I are on the same page although we did not talk with each other prior to my suggesting last week to begin a nine day Novena and the Cardinal announcing a nine day Novena in the Catholic New York. Both the Cardinal's call for a novena, as well as our parish Novena, began this past Friday, September 21st (the feast of St. Matthew). Please join in the prayer for a holy priesthood beginning today if you did not start last Friday. It is the prayer that is most important as is evident by both Cardinal Dolan and myself calling for prayer. We, as Catholics, must never doubt or lose hope in the power of prayer. Jesus desires to have a holy Church here on earth and to have holy men leading the faithful to His Sacred Heart and into Heaven.

So, please join me (and Cardinal Dolan) in prayer! Please find two prayers in the back of the Church, on yellow paper, that can be prayed at home each day for the Catholic priests to be holy and protected. Thank you for all your love and support and especially for your prayers.

Until next week, St. Benedict and Cardinal Cooke, Servant of God, pray for us!

Fr. Stephen P. Norton