WILMINGTON — Bishop Malooly led the holy hour at St. John the Beloved Church last night for the success of Pope Francis’ trip to the United States. The service was one of the holy hours the bishop had asked for at all parishes in the Diocese of Wilmington.
Following exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, recitation of the rosary and Benediction, the bishop told about 250 participants at St. John the Beloved that he will greet Pope Francis in Washington on Wednesday at St. Matthew’s Cathedral where 274 U.S. bishops will gather for a prayer service and address by the pope.
Bishop Malooly said he will meet the pope with a smaller gathering of American cardinals and about 30 bishops who serve with him on the U.S. bishops’ administrative committee.
The bishop asked the holy hour congregation to pray for the pope, the World
Meeting of Families and “for our own families.”
Once Pope Francis arrives at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Washington, D.C., “Continue to walk with Francis during the week,” the bishop said.
“Continue to pray for him. His impact can be tremendous on a lot of people.
“There are a lot of people who look at his joy and his enthusiasm and ask, ‘What’s missing in my life?’
“Hopefully some of them, no matter what their faith, hopefully some of them, who will encounter him in D.C., in Philly or just simply on TV, will come to ask that question: ‘What do I need to draw closer to God and find joy and happiness in my life?’
“So I ask of you to continue to pray,” Bishop Malooly said.
