As part of our parish’s weekly Holy Hour for Vocations, we pray the “Mother of Perpetual Help Devotions,” commonly known as the “Mother of Perpetual Help Novena,” or, “the Novena” at our parish. This “novena” has been prayed weekly at our parish since World War II. There are only a few of us who come and pray the novena during Thursday evening’s exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, sadly. But we have heard that, during WWII, the church was regularly packed with people coming to adore, and to pray to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The devotions are beautifully written, and on the back of the laminated cards that we use, it says: Obtain supplies at: PERPETUAL HELP * Redemptorist Fathers* Liguori, Missouri. Especially during this year for the Priest, we need to take time to pray for our shepherds, our priests, as we do in our weekly holy hour for vocations. We also need to pray for families, since vocations are formed in the hearts of the family.
Part of the "novena" prayer particularly touches me, as it encompasses so much of what I desire for my family, and for everyone else’s as well. It is written below.

The priest prays: Let us ask Mary to watch over all families.

We respond: Mother of Perpetual Help, bless our families with your tender, motherly love. May the sacrament of Marriage bring husbands and wives ever closer together, that they may always be faithful, and love each other as Christ loves us. Help all Mothers and Fathers love and cherish the children God has entrusted to them. May they always be models of a truly Christian life. Help all children, that they may love and respect their parents. Inspire all people to value Christian marriage and family life. Give us a sense of responsibility, that we may do our part in making our homes havens of love and peace. Mary, our model, help every family grow daily, in genuine love for God and neighbor, so that justice and peace will flourish everywhere in the human family.

As we begin our new school year, this is my prayer for all of you. I invite you all to join me in offering this prayer for all families, that we may become what we are called to be, and bring glory to God, our Father, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

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