USCCB: pray, fast that we may serve poor while living out fullness of faith
January 17, 2014
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is asking Catholics to pray, fast, and abstain from meat on Friday, January 17, for the following intention: “that we can continue to serve the poor and needy while living out the fullness of our faith.”
“Archbishop [Joseph] Kurtz, president of the USCCB, has explained how the HHS mandate threatens our ability to serve the poor and vulnerable and how ‘forcing our ministries to divert funds from serving their neighbors to paying government fines will have real consequences for real people,’” USCCB staff members noted. “Let us pray that the administration, Congress, and the courts will allow us to serve others while living out the fullness of the Catholic faith.”
In December 2012, the US bishops announced a call to prayer and penance whose “overall focus is to invite Catholics to pray for rebuilding a culture favorable to life and marriage and for increased protections of religious liberty. Campaign components include monthly Eucharistic holy hours in cathedrals and parishes, daily family rosary, special Prayers of the Faithful at all Masses, fasting and abstinence on Fridays, and the second observance of a Fortnight for Freedom.”
This campaign was originally scheduled to end with the conclusion of the Year of Faith, but at their November 2013 meeting, the bishops voted to extend it indefinitely.
The Friday prayer and fasting intentions change weekly; the link below describes how to receive the intentions in advance, typically on the afternoon of the previous day.
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