June 21 to July 4, 2012: Fortnight For Freedom at St. Joseph Parish in Del Rio, Texas


In April, the Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a document, “Our First Most Cherished Liberty”, outlining the Bishops’ concerns over threats to religious freedom and explaining that religious liberty; “is the first freedom because if we are not free in our conscience and our practice of religion, all other freedoms are fragile. If citizens are not free in their own consciences, how can they be free in relation to others, or to the state? If our obligations and duties to God are impeded, or even worse, contradicted by the government, then we can no longer claim to be a land of the free, and a beacon of hope for the world.”

The Bishops have called for a “Fortnight for Freedom,” a 14-day period of prayer, education and action in support of religious freedom, from June 21-July 4. 

Listed below are the events for the “Fortnight for Freedom” in the Parish of St. Joseph; Let us pray that this Fortnight brings true awareness to our nation’s first most cherished liberty.  All are invited to participate in these events:
v Friday, June 22nd, we ask the community to fast on bread and water this day.
6:30 p.m. – Fortnight for Freedom Mass (St. Joseph Church)
7:45 p.m.  - Eucharistic Adoration for One Holy Hour
v Saturday,  June 23rd
5:30 p.m. – Prayer of the Holy Rosary for intentions of the reversal of HHS Mandate 
6:30 p.m. – Fortnight for Freedom Mass (St. Joseph Church)
v Sunday, June 24th – Feast day of John the Baptist
3:00 p.m. – Meet us at Governor’s Landing for prayer and picnic family fun – (pro-family/pro-faith/pro-life) – please bring your swimsuit, your family and friends and a sack lunch
v Monday, June 25th
5:30 – Prayer of the Rosary for intentions of reversal of the HHS Mandate
6:30 – Fortnight for Freedom Mass (St. Joseph Church)
7:45 – Prayer Vigil – Stations of the Cross in the Church
v Tuesday, June 26th
7:00 p.m. Fortnight for Freedom Mass at Amphitheatre
8:15 p.m. – 3 Keynote Speakers
v Wednesday, June 27th
12:00 Noon – Meet across the street from HHS office near Ram Stadium for prayer
v Thursday,  June 28th
5:30 p.m. – Prayer of the Rosary for intentions of reversal of HHS Mandate
6:30 p.m. – Fortnight for Freedom Mass (St. Joseph Church)
After Mass Father will be hearing confessions that the Lord may purify us of our sins.
Also, on this day we ask each person on their own time to please contact your Congressman/woman asking for reversal of the HHS Mandate.
v Friday, June 29th, Feast day of Saints Peter and Paul - we ask the community to fast on bread and water this day.
6:30 p.m. – Fortnight for Freedom Mass (St. Joseph Church) - invoke intercession of Saints Peter and Paul to help us strive to defend the first freedoms of our great nation.
10:00 p.m. – Meet across the street from HHS – bring candle for prayer vigil.
v Saturday, June 30th
8:00 a.m. – Our Lady’s Mass (St. Joseph Church) - prayer asking our Blessed Mother for reversal of HHS mandate
v Sunday,  July 1st
3:00 p.m. – Divine Mercy – Holy Hour in St. Joseph Church
v Monday, July 2nd
8:00 p.m. – Walk  1&2 miles for the Lord at Buena Vista Park in prayer, meet us at the Del Rio Host Lion’s Hut
v Tuesday, July  3rd
6:30 p.m.  – Fortnight for Freedom Mass (St. Joseph Church)
7:45 p.m. – Eucharistic Adoration for One Holy Hour
v Wednesday, July 4th – Independence day
12:00p.m. – Prayer – ringing of the Bells at St. Joseph Church in union with all the Catholic Churches all over the United States