FOREST CITY — A Day of Reflection at Immaculate Conception Church April 13 included a prayer service for persecuted Christians.
The program began with Mass, followed by presentations given by Deacon Dave Faunce and Benedictine Sister Gertrude Gillette. Deacon Faunce focused on God’s forgiveness, and referred to the parable of the Prodigal Son as depicted in Rembrandt’s painting. Sister Gertrude’s talk focused on Jesus’ Passion, and was based on Scripture, science (especially what has been learned from research on the Shroud of Turin), geography and history. Her second talk looked at the Passion from the perspective of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The program continued with a prayer service for persecuted Christians which was held in the chapel, in front of the image of Our Lady of Persecuted Christians, provided by the Knights of Columbus.
The Blessed Sacrament was exposed and Deacons Puscas and Faunce led the prayer service, which concluded with Benediction.
— Giuliana Polinari Riley, correspondent