The Apostolic Nuncio for the US, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, has asked the Contemplative Communities in the US (that's us!), "Please take one of the activities of the Holy Father and make it the object of your adoration, of your prayers, of your consecration, of your suffering and self-offering. Invoke the wind of a new Pentecost on the Church in the USA; the joy of belonging to Christ and His Church, for individuals, for families, for communities; the pastoral creativity needed to bring Jesus Christ to all those who are thirsting for Him. Pray that the visit of the Successor of Peter may bring certainty also to those who have left the Church and constitute a warm and convincing invitation to come home. The Church of Jesus Christ is the Church built on the Rock of Peter."

        And so in a spirit of joy and loving obedience our Community has chosen Saturday the 19th of April, as a day of special prayer and retreat - that on this 3rd Anniversary of our Holy Father's election to the Supreme Pontificate, all the bishops, priests, seminarians, and young people from across the USA will be inflamed with the Spirit of Christ in His total and unreserved self-offering to the Father.

        Together let us all pray that "the visit of the Pope will not be a folkloric event, but a blessed occasion for the renewal of the faith, hope and charity of the Church in America!"