Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, has called for a National Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities on September 9, the Feast of Saint Peter Claver.  After the tragic killings in Orlando, Dallas, Louisiana, Minnesota and other places and the racial tensions so pronounced across the country, as people of faith we are asked to unite our voices in prayer asking God for peace in our communities.

Our own parish of Saint Peter Claver in Lexington (410 Jefferson Street) invites the whole community to join our diocesan observance of this national day of prayer on their parish Feast Day.  Saint Peter Claver (1581-1654) was a Spanish Jesuit who ministered to the slaves in Cartagena, the largest slave market in the world at that time.  He has been invoked as the patron saint in many parishes and ministries in the Black Catholic community. Please join us in a 5:30 p.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv.