CHARLOTTE — An unexpectedly large summer crowd of more than 90 people attended the August Vigil of the Two Hearts devotion at St. Patrick Cathedral Aug. 2. Father Peter Ascik, parochial vicar at St. Matthew Parish, who offered the first vigil in 2017, returned to offer the First Friday Mass. After Mass Deacon Paul Bruck from the cathedral led the faithful in a Holy Hour of Reparation for the sins of abortion.
Joining the attendees were several pilgrims from the Crossroads Pro-Life ministry, a national pilgrimage of young adults who walk from coast to coast to promote a culture of life, covering nearly 10,000 miles. The pilgrims, who visited several area parishes during the weekend, were on their last leg of their three-month pilgrimage, which ended in Washington, D.C., Aug. 8-9.
The Vigil of the Two Hearts, which begins its third year, is sponsored by the Carolina Pro-Life Action Network (C-PLAN) and is to honor the First Friday Sacred Heart of Jesus and First Saturday Immaculate Heart of Mary devotions. The vigil also prays for an end to abortion, strengthening of families, and the conversion of the country all while offering penance for sins.
Because of the Eucharistic Congress the first weekend in September, the next vigil will be held Friday, Oct. 4. For more information, go online to www.prolifecharlotte.org/two-hearts.
— Mike FitzGerald, correspondent