Our new Church calendar lists January 23 as a "Day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life."  This day of penance and prayer has been decreed by our American Bishops on the day after the anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision in 1973 that legalized abortion in our country.  I ask you to be thoughtful about a penance you could do on January 23 and then make plans to participate in Mass that day at 9:00 a.m. and/or stop by the Church sometime that day and spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the Monstrance after Mass until benediction at 4:00 p.m.  Sign-up sheets are available in the Narthex to see that we have every hour covered during our day of prayer.  We will pray the patriotic rosary that day immediately after Mass.  Please also consider going to Little Rock for the Mass and March for Life on Sunday, January 22.  Sign-up sheets for a ride on a bus (provided free of charge) are in the Narthex.