In support of the calls for prayer and special Masses issued by Pope Francis and echoed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. has written to all priests of the Diocese of Trenton encouraging them to celebrate a Mass for Peace on the weekend of Aug. 16 and 17.

To read Bishop O'Connell's special message on peace, click here.

In his message sent Aug. 10, Bishop O’Connell wrote: “In the face of escalating conflicts in the Middle East and Iraq as well as the displacement of so many Christians there, and in light of the request of Our Holy Father that the Church throughout the world pray earnestly for peace on the weekend of Aug. 16-17, I am giving permission for all parishes, institutions and organizations in the Diocese of Trenton to use the prayers for the Mass for Justice and Peace . . . in their weekend Eucharistic celebrations.” 

Bishop O’Connell requested parish Masses should include the special intention of peace in the Prayer of the Faithful, and encouraged his priests to reference the violence in Iraq and elsewhere in their homilies.

At the invitation of Father Jeffrey Lee, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck, Bishop O’Connell will celebrate a Mass for Peace in the Monmouth County church Aug. 16 at 5 p.m. 

Any parish that wishes to hold a special collection for the Iraqi refugees, may send proceeds directly to Catholic Relief Services, which is working with Caritas Iraq, Bishop O’Connell reported.

The Bishop’s most recent request for prayer was the second in as many weeks in response to the escalating threats to peace in Iraq, Gaza and Ukraine.  On July 29, he called upon the faithful of the Diocese, and all people of good will, to pray daily for a return to peace.

Dioceses across the nation will be joining in the prayer effort, following an Aug. 6 appeal from Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, chairman of the bishops’ Committee of International Justice and Peace, made the prayer request Aug. 6.

He sent the bishops the text of a prayer written by Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad, who said Aug. 7 that the Christians were facing “a human catastrophe and risk a real genocide.”

In his request for prayers, Bishop Pates noted Pope Francis’ calls for peace in Iraq and his observation that “violence generates more violence; dialogue is the only path to peace.”

The Iowa bishop also urged Catholics to let their elected representatives know of their concern that humanitarian assistance reach Christians and other religious minorities who are suffering in Iraq, Syria and other countries.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued the text of Patriarch Sako’s prayer: “Lord, the plight of our country is deep and the suffering of Christians is severe and frightening. Therefore, we ask you Lord to spare our lives, and to grant us patience, and courage to continue our witness of Christian values with trust and hope. Lord, peace is the foundation of life; Grant us the peace and stability that will enable us to live with each other without fear and anxiety, and with dignity and joy. Glory be to you forever.”

In a strongly worded July 25 letter to U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice July 25, Bishop Pates said that U.S. humanitarian assistance “was urgently needed to help these beleaguered people (of Iraq), especially Christians.”

“This aid should go directly to the minority communities through trusted NGOs, otherwise past experience has shown that aid is diverted,” he said.

He asked that the U.S. government “do all that it can to provide this critical assistance to those in desperate straits and to work with other governments in an effort to stop the violence.”