St. Michael’s and Old River Community,
Salve!

In union with the universal Church, we come together in prayer and mourning for the passing of Pope Francis.

He served as our Holy Father for 12 years, during which he exemplified profound love for the poor, embraced a life of simplicity, preached with humility, and consistently called the Church to go out to the margins of society.

In this sacred time of mourning and prayer, we will observe the following:

1. Mass of the Octave of Easter – Wednesday, April 23 at 5:45 p.m. at St. Michael’s
   We will offer this Mass in honor of Pope Francis. At 5:40 p.m., we will ring the church bells 88 times, once for each year of his life.

2. Memorial Mass – Monday, April 28 at 5:45 p.m. at St. Michael’s
   Immediately following the Octave of Easter, we will celebrate a special Memorial Mass to give thanks for the life and ministry of our late Holy Father. All are encouraged to attend.

3. Prayer at the Sanctuary and Novena

This time of mourning is known as the novemdiales, the nine-days of formal mourning for a deceased Pope. Please find attached a Novena published by the USCCB, it is one way to prayerfully journey through the nine days of mourning. Also, throughout the week, a photo of Pope Francis will be displayed in the sanctuary. You are welcome to stop by, spend a moment in prayer, and commend his soul to God’s mercy.

This is a time to give thanks for his witness and legacy, to pray for the repose of his soul, and to intercede for the College of Cardinals as they prepare for the conclave, expected to begin around May 5, to elect the next Successor of St. Peter.

Paz y Bien,
Fr. Ignacio Llorente