We are beginning the restoration of Sacred Heart Church this week. Yesterday, was the last Sunday Mass in our building until February, 2018. I gathered folks after Mass at the doors of the church and prayed this litany in gratitude for these last 95 years and the hope for our future. (Photos: Fred Nelson)
Litany for Locking of the Doors for Restoration
Sunday June 25, 2017
Noon at Sacred Heart Church
Text: Ronald Raab, CSC
Response: Restore our hearts, O God
In gratitude for our 95 years of prayer in this building…
In gratitude for silent prayers and tears shed…
In gratitude for the generations of families who prayed…
In gratitude for the priests who stood at this altar…
In gratitude for baptisms, confirmations and weddings…
In gratitude for funerals and memories of our deceased…
In gratitude for mercy received in moments of confession…
In gratitude for the squeaky pews and the duck tape on the carpet…
In gratitude for the architect, engineers and construction workers…
In gratitude for our benefactors and believers…
In gratitude for patience and determination of our councils and committees…
In gratitude for all of our gifts and talents and songs of praise…
We close this door in love and memory…
We lock this door so something new may be revealed…
We lock this door in trust that you will restore our hearts in prayer…
We lock this door in preparation for a new generation of believers…
We lock this door trusting that the Heart of Jesus will thrive within us…
For tomorrow…
For tomorrow…
For tomorrow…
Nicely done Father. We miss you here in PDX!