Responding to the Spirit,

We are called to Renew our Church:

Join FOSIL and VOTF for a prayer vigil at the Cathedrals on Pentecost Sunday 2010 (May 23rd ): St. Louis at 1:00 P.M.; Belleville, 3:00 P.M.
As Catholics we struggle with feelings of betrayal and mistrust because of the despicable behavior of churchmen complicit in the sexual abuse of minors, now witnessed worldwide. \

So on Pentecost we will pray very simply, asking the Spirit to renew the face of our Church.
Our prayer will also be one of thanksgiving for all those who continue to serve as faithful ministers of the gospel, priests and religious men and women of integrity; we support them fully and join them as co-workers in faith.
We gather together in prayer, seeking a new perspective of church for the future, and we encourage area clergy, religious and laity to join us on this Pentecost Sunday as we listen to the Spirit within each of us. We cannot simply cower in the face of today’s scandalous headlines, but like the early disciples, must listen to the voice of the Spirit calling us to speak out with the openness, honesty and integrity so needed in our Church today. Our common prayer offers hope for a renewal of our church. The prayer vigil, lasting approximately 30 minutes, will be a familiar service of the Word, to include an opening song, Scripture reading, a brief commentary, prayers of petition and a closing song.