And in Austin, Texas, Bishop Joe Vásquez asked for “prayers for an end to this warfare,” calling on Our Lady of the Holy Rosary to “intercede for the people in the Holy Land and bring them comfort and strength during this time of uncertainty and great pain.”
Speaking from Rome where he was participating in Pope Francis’ Synod on Synodality, Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark encouraged his people to heed Pizzaballa’s request.
“Let us join with our sisters and brothers in the Holy Land and throughout the world in fervent, heartfelt prayer for peace, justice, and reconciliation. Let us work tirelessly to make peace with justice a reality in our hearts, our communities, and among all nations and peoples,” Tobin said Oct. 13.
The Archdiocese of Denver, led by Archbishop Samuel Aquila, urged the faithful to join in prayer for Israel as well as and all innocent people harmed in the ongoing war.
“Violence is not a religious act and cannot be claimed as Godly,” the archdiocese said in an Oct. 13 statement. “As Hamas hides behind their atrocities, innocent men, women, and children are dying. This profound evil affects every corner of their homeland, touching all its people, including the Christian community in both Israel and Palestine. And in the wake of these attacks, politics must be put aside.”
The archdiocese urged the faithful to “humbly pray that the love and peace of Jesus comfort all who are living with the atrocities of the pure evil occurring. May his perpetual light shine within the hearts of those who are afraid, those who are grieving, and all those who still suffer from the wrath of unthinkable darkness that has plagued their lands.”
In Wisconsin, Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay said in a letter that he was encouraging individuals, families, and parishes to unite with Christians around the world in prayer for peace.
“After viewing the evil and horrific actions committed against the people of Israel, I am deeply disturbed and grieve the loss of innocent life,” he said. “I also feel compelled to speak out against and strongly condemn the violent attacks against vulnerable and innocent people that unfolded before our eyes.”
“I am particularly grieved that these acts of violence come against our elder brothers and sisters in the faith, the Jewish people,” the bishop said. “Scripture is clear that the Lord chose to walk closely with the Jewish people, the Chosen People of Israel. Yet throughout history, they have repeatedly been the object of violence, attack, even genocide. This hatred for the Jewish people must come to an end.”
Bishop David M. O’Connell of Trenton, New Jersey, similarly urged the faithful to organize themselves to make prayer a priority on Oct. 17.
O’Connell quoted Pizzaballa’s request for the faithful to “organize prayer times with Eucharistic adoration and with the recitation of the rosary to Our Blessed Virgin Mary.”
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The bishop also encouraged readers to donate to Catholic Relief Services’ humanitarian efforts.
Jonah McKeown is a staff writer and podcast producer for Catholic News Agency. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has worked as a writer, as a producer for public radio, and as a videographer. He is based in St. Louis.
