Dear People of Our Lady of Mercy:

As so many concerned people throughout the world gather for peace rallies, as so many here in our own neighborhood express concern for the devastation of another war, we invite you to bring your prayers to the Lord each time we gather for Mass, private devotions, and our Friday Eucharistic Adoration. Many of the people worshipping with you on Sunday have family members and friends back in the Holy Land, in other parts of the Middle East, and of course in our own U.S. military forces.

Our American Bishops encourage as as residents and citizens of the United States to look seriously at this frightening issue, and to do our part to make our voices heard.

Please visit the web site of the UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS at

http://www.usccb.org/

to learn more about what we, as Catholic Christians, can do to make our world a safer and more humane place.

In particular, you may want to keep updating yourselves on the ongoing crisis by reading the Bishops' statements about the "just war theory" and the particulars in Iraq by visit the page at:

http://www.nccbuscc.org/sdwp/international/iraq203.htm

The Bishops of the United States encourage us to keep the peoples of the Middle East, including the Chaldean Catholics in Iraq, in our thoughts and prayers during these troubled times. You may find ongoing updates about the situation in the Middle East by visiting:

http://www.nccbuscc.org/sdwp/international/mideast.htm

Let us pray for, and work for, peace.

Fr. Brown

Sunday, February 16, 2003