Today as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, we also rejoice in the gift of Fr. Keith on his anniversary of ordination. We invite all parishioners and friends to take a moment to send him a message of support to let him know that even though many miles separate us, we remain united in prayer and in the Eucharist.

There is a basket in the narthex located by the Blue Star Wall where you may drop a card at anytime and it will be mailed to Fr. Keith. For information on how to send him mail directly visit: https://stjamesge.org/sending-mail-to-fr-keith/

Together Let Us Pray,

O Jesus, our great High Priest, hear our humble prayers on behalf of your priest Father Keith. Give him a deep faith, a bright and firm hope, and a burning love which will ever increase in the course of his priestly life.

In his loneliness, comfort him; in his sorrows, strengthen him; in his frustrations, point out to him that it is through suffering that the soul is purified. Show him that he is needed by the Church, he is needed by souls, he is needed for the work of redemption.

O loving Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, take to your heart your son who is close to you because of his priestly ordination, and because of the power which he has received to carry on the work of Christ in a world which needs him so much. Be his comfort, be his joy, be his strength, and especially help him to live and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy. Amen.

—personalized from “Prayer for a Newly Ordained Priest” by Cardinal John J. Carberry