Last Saturday a real tragedy occurred to a family at the parish where I am DM (I am also a parishioner): a loyal and good family lost five of their members--a mother and four children--in a horrendous house fire. (Those of you in Mass. may be following the story in the news.) The father and his sole surviving daughter, seem to be doing well, but I don't think that the whole of the ghastly situation has really struck yet, as they have been busy with funeral arrangements. They were very active in the parish and in the town where they lived.

Please, first and foremost, pray for the repose of their souls and the consolation of their family during this tremendously difficult time.

Second, if you could send up a few prayers for those of us involved in the liturgy: myself, my choirs, the celebrant (the Abbot of St. Benedict Abbey, Still River), the Pastor (who is the homilist), the Pastor Emeritus, the funeral directors, and the Altar Boys; as this will be a difficult time for all of us.

Third, for the Parish of [ ]and the wider community, as we struggle to come to grips with this tragedy, that we may all be able to help this family in their need, spiritual, material, and financial.

Thank you all