According to the calendar of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, January 24, 2016, is the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. But it is also one of the days that commemorates Our Lady of Peace in Hawaii and other churches in the United States. Although parishioners of the church made a fourth formal request that a Mass be celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, they were denied. They received a letter from Msgr. Douglas Mathers, who informed them that January 24 was the feast day of St. Frances de Sales, and for that reason, their request was rejected. Download Letter from Msgr. Mathers, 13 January 2016
A year ago Sunday, parishioners were preparing to celebrate New York City Mass Mob IV, in the hope of changing the hearts and minds of the decision makers who wanted to close the landmarked church on East 62nd Street. The church was filled to capacity with a standing room crowd, as it was on numerous occasions. The next day, a snow storm snarled the metropolitan region.
Now in the middle of one of the most intense blizzards, the Friends of Our Lady of Peace are summoning technology to their aid. They are offering a telephonic prayer service, Walk with Mary, to commemorate Our Lady of Peace. Prayer services, unlike Masses, can be offered by the laity without clergy. Since the church was shuttered on July 31, 2015, prayer services have been offered for the Vigil of the Assumption, the Assumption, September 11 Memorial, Service for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Festival of Lessons and Carols, and daily rosaries and candlelight vigils.
The attached program below contains all the readings and instructions on how to participate in the teleconference:
Download Prayer Service for Our Lady of Peace