Church under siege

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marlap2

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I know that’s a pretty strong title, but in many ways it is the truth.
My parish is in a low income area where there are quite a few drug addicts, prostitution, crime in general going on. A man in our parish was beaten for his phone as he walked home. Women come in and steal money from the purses during Mass and panhandle during and after services. They even go into the Blessed Sacrament which is exposed 24-7 and ask for money from the adorers. Sometimes drug dealers drive in and do their dealing right in our parking lot during quiet times (no Masses) One of our religious was beaten up, and they have also gone into the rectory and stolen the priests computers, phones, cameras, etc. We do have a policeman on site (he has a suite) but believe it or not, they even broke into his place. The gentle women at morning Mass unfortunately were charitable one too many times, which has actually made things worse, as it’s now become a place for possible income (panhandling).

I’m going to morning Mass in an hour and the Lord has set it on my heart, if I see one of these women, to approach them and ask them if they want prayer and then with the help of the Holy Spirit, really pray hard for her right there. I’ve done this before, as I volunteered in a street ministry years ago, and spontaneous prayer is natural to me (only because of the grace of God, the help of the Holy Spirit and my guardian angel).

Please pray for these women and men, because I believe in my heart, although their intellect has been darkened by sin and bondage, their souls must be screaming in pain for God’s healing touch. I believe that if our approach to them is with a flooding love of prayer and not enabling money giving, the enemy will flee. If what is left is a penitent, then God be praised. If they simply flee, Then I pray that God plants a seed in their heart.

I need you all, good and worthy prayer warriors, to lift this parish up in prayer, its religious (4 priests, one sister, and one religious brother) and however the Holy Spirit guides you.

Blessings.
Marla
 
Holy Mary- Please help the people in this parish find the Love of Christ. Please help them to turn to the Lord with all their heart and to find purpose for their life. Please help those in this Church that aren’t burdened every day by sin to be patient with those whose souls are burdened. Please help them to be patient and to be peaceful prayer warriors and to always remember that the Lord loves each one of His children equally.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art though amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, prayer for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

God Bless my friend and keep praying. It is good that you care so much.
 
Dear God … Please help this Parish … Protect its Religious and those dedicated to prayer and assist those Prayer Warriors in their ministry … Lift these Souls who are in darkness into your loving light and scatter the Enemy!!

Jesus, Mary I love You… Save Souls!!
St Michael Pray for them

Arise O Lord and let Thine enemies be scattered!!
 
Joining in prayer with you. Please keep us posted.

Blessings,

Loren C
 
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art though amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, prayer for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
 
Nimzovik said:
Of course I am curious…where are the Police in this matter?
Click to expand...
This is in western Canada. I don’t want to get too political, but having lived here all my life, and knowing the freedom that actively practicing addicts have here, without persecution, I can only shake my head. We have a police presence living on parish property and even then nothing happens. A policeman friend of mine who works in Vancouver in an area with 10,000 active using drug addicts only arrested 20 in one year. The grow-op across the street had a 24 hour notice before police were allowed to enter. Of course we watched the Escalades show up and clean the place out, and you can phone the police and nothing happens. No one will show up for hours, and then there is no evidence. Things that make you go “hmmm”. This is in a neighbourhood where the average house is over $500,000.

The religious who was beaten, well, that ended up in the local weekly newspaper. It’s “politically incorrect” to speak harshly about the drug use. The “four pillars” of drug intervention (prevention, harm reduction, treatment and enforcement) only has two active pillars, harm reduction and treatment (methadone and needle supply and injection centres, with an upcoming “drug trial” where free heroin will be dispensed.)

Despite all this, I am actively involved in ministry to women in active addiction and on the street. I see a beautiful woman, loved by our Lord, who is wearing a cloak of bondage, which only Jesus can remove to reveal the broken child within. It’s the bondage that causes the bad behavior, but there’s a core hurt that the addiction covers.

Thank you all for your prayers and please keep us in prayer. I travel in the States a lot and never see the extent of what we have there (although I know, of course, that addiction is a world-wide problem).

Bless you all
In Christ
Marla
 
Hail Mary, full of grace, our Lord is with thee. Blessed art though amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

:signofcross:
 
Father Almighty, I pray that You send Your angels to guard and protect Your church, its clergy, its religious, its staff, and its congregants. Kindly pour Your graces upon this community and its law enforcement force so that they can adequately protect the faithful from harm and violence as they practice their faith. May the hearts of those who seek to disrupt and harm others be cleansed and be compelled to change their ways. All these I ask in the mighty name of Jesus’, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Michael the protector, AMEN.
 
St. Michael the Archangel, defend them in battle
be their protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him we humbly pray
and may you Prince of the heavenly Host cast into hell satan
and the other evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.

Mother Mary, please make your intentions in this matter come true. Please protect this parish from every evil coming against them. Amen.
 
God, please protect all of the people in marlaps’s church. Help the people who are causing the problems come to have faith and love in You. St. Michael the Archangel, please pray for them. Hail Mary…
 
Memorare (Prayer to Our Lady)
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer me.

Amen
 
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