Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
La Paz (Agenzia Fides) – “We wish to reunite all the faithful for a National Day of Prayer for Peace on Friday, September 19, in which each community is called to pray and carry out a public activity, pilgrimage, community celebration, etc, in lifting our prayers to the Lord of Life and Our Lady Queen of Peace, so that they may guide us on the way to reconciliation, the common good, dignity, and freedom.” With these words, the Bishops of Bolivia have announced the National Day of Prayer for Peace on Friday, September 19, as they show their concern for the critical situation of the country (see Fides 12/9/2008).
All the dioceses in the country are preparing for the Day. All of Bolivia’s parishes will hold Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Adoration from noon until 1pm.
The main celebration will take place in Santa Cruz, with a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Julio Terrazas, in the Cathedral at 7:30pm. The parishes and various downtown communities will make a pilgrimage to the city square with torches, as a sign of light.
Archbishop Tito Solari of Cochabamba explains: “There will be two important moments. One, at noon, when we will toll the bells of the Churches and we encourage all those who can to go to their local church or religious houses. Wherever the Eucharist is present, we will have an hour of adoration. The Lord is with us. He will help us to live in peace and unity with our brothers.” Archbishop Solari has also arranged for the reception of the image of Our Lady of Urkupiña, which will arrive at 5:00pm, and will enter in a procession, for the Mass which will be celebrated at 6:00pm. The Archbishop invited all the faithful to participate in this event, “with the purpose of praying to God our Father that He may maintain us united, in His Son Jesus Christ, through the intercession of Our Lady of Urkupiña, Patroness of National Unity.”
There will also be a Eucharistic Procession at the Cathedral in the Apostolic Vicariate of Reyes, as its Bishop Carlos Buger has announced. There will be Exposition of Blessed Sacrament in the Cathedral so that schools and parishes can come to pray at each hour. At 7pm will be the Procession outside the Cathedral, later entering inside for the Mass. The Bishops hopes that all people will participate in the day of prayer, so the problems can be resolved and tranquility can return to the country.
The 9 vicariate of the Archdiocese of La Paz have prepared Masses, most of them beginning at 7pm in various parishes in the city. Some have organized pilgrimages to pray for peace, as Auxiliar Bishop Oscar Aparicio confirmed. Bishop Cristobal Bialasik of Oruro said that his diocese will also be making preparations for the Day of Prayer. “This invitation is extended to all state authorities. There is no way apart from dialogue and reconciliation,” the Bishop of Oruro explained. Some parish pastors of Riberalta have organized a peace march on this day, in coordination with the Evangelical Protestants. “We hope that sadness and pain will cease to afflict our people and our nation,” the priests say. They have also encouraged the people to place white flags in their buildings as a sign of their prayer for peace. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 18/9/2008)
