March 25, Friday @ 11:00 am Prayer Service
At the beginning of the recent war on Ukraine, the Latin Rite Bishops of Ukraine asked Pope Francis, on Ash Wednesday, to consecrate Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On March 15, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis would do so on March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, which is this Friday.
The decision to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is linked to the apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Fatima in 1917. It was one of these apparitions that called for the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Such a consecration of the entire world and the human race to the Immaculate Heart was the desire of Roman Pontiffs in 1942, 1952, 1964, 1982, 2000 and 2013. Pope Francis is inviting all bishops, together with their priests and the faithful, to join in this Act of Consecration, at an hour corresponding to 5:00 p.m. Rome time, which is 11:00 a.m. our time.
Consequently, we will have a prayer service at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 25th, in our church. This prayer service will consist of The Angelus, the First Joyful Mystery of the Rosary: The Annunciation of the Lord, a Gospel reading from St. Matthew, Intercessions & the Prayer of Consecration.
If you are not able to make the 11:00 a.m. prayer service, you can pray the rosary at home and conclude with the Prayer of Consecration. You are requested to pray your rosary and the Prayer of Consecration after 11:00 a.m. on Friday
.The Prayer of Consecration