Election vigil service and prayers on Election day to be held at Trinity Heights

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
October 26, 2006

An election vigil prayer service and prayers on the day of the election will be held at Trinity Heights in Sioux City.

"This is the second time that Trinity Heights has been praying on the eve of the election and all days during the national elections," noted Larry Walsh, a member of the spiritual committee at Queen of Peace, Trinity Heights. "The first time was two years ago."

He stressed the fact that these are exceedingly important times in the nation.

"We are praying that all people fulfill their obligation to vote first of all," said Walsh. "We are praying as well for honest elections. We especially pray that our Catholic voters recall the words of Pope John Paul II when he said that the call for human rights is false and illusory if the right to life - the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights - is not defended with the maximum determination."

He also referred to a statement made by Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix. The bishop said, "We have a duty to do more than just feel bad when unborn children have no legal protection from abortion or when the institution of marriage is being threatened. We have a duty to stand strong against euthanasia and embryonic stem-cell research."

These issues will be the focus of intentions offered at the vigil service and prayers the day of the election.

The vigil will be held Monday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. in the Marian Center at Trinity Heights.

"We will be petitioning the mother of Jesus with her prayer, the rosary," said Walsh. "It was our Blessed Mother at Fatima who said if we want peace in our land, if we want an end to war then we must pray and fast and do penance. This is an opportunity because this is a serious war against life and the unborn." At Fatima, Mary called herself the Lady of the Rosary.

Each of the mysteries will have a specific pro-life intention.

For the Joyful Mysteries, they will pray that all political leaders recognize that marriage is a union between one man and one woman for the purpose of creating new life to carryon the work of the creation.

The intention of the Luminous Mysteries is for Catholic politicians supporting a pro-choice position to repent their actions and return to the teachings of the church.

"For our Sorrowful Mysteries, we pray that fetal stem cell research never be funded by government since those embryos are alive," he said. "For the Glorious Mysteries, we are praying that Planned Parenthood and all abortion providers, profiting immorally from the distress of pregnant women will turn to healing and that federal funding for Planned Parenthood be stopped."

On the election day, Nov. 7, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. there will be adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel of St. Joseph Center at Trinity Heights. In addition to adoration, the rosary will be recited each hour. With that in mind, people are welcome to stop by the chapel at any time throughout the day.

The Stations of the Cross will be recited at 3 p.m. on election day. People will have the chance to meditate on Jesus' gift to the people at the hour of his mercy and there will be reflections and writings from St. Faustina.

Adoration will conclude at 7 p.m. with benediction.

"On this critical day of decision, we ask that everyone do their duty to vote and pray - if even for an hour - at home or in the church that our nation might make a change for life," said Walsh.

He pointed out that Queen of Peace opted to initiate prayers on election day two years ago because it ties into their mission, which is, "Evangelization by the laity in accordance with the magisterial proclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord and savoir, and embracing the special role of the Blessed Mother in salvation history. Our goal is to awaken faith through devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We are committed to assisting people on their journey of faith."