Holy Hour for Religious Liberty & Freedom

Please join us in a Holy Hour for Religious Liberty & Freedom with Most Rev. Edward B. Scharfenberger, Bishop of Albany, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 7 p.m. 

 

The Catholic Bishops of the United States have called for a Fortnight for Freedom, a two-week period of prayer, study and action to address many current challenges to religious liberty both here and abroad. Taking place from June 21 – July 4, a time when our liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political powers, this year’s theme, “Freedom to Serve” focuses on the freedom to serve the poor and vulnerable in accord with human dignity and the Church’s teaching.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville, NY, is truly located on holy ground, being the site of the martyrdom of Sts. Isaac Jogues, Rene Goupil and John Lalande (1642-46) and the birthplace of St. Kateri Tekakwitha (1656). The Shrine’s Coliseum Church, built in 1930, was one of the first circular churches built in the United States and overlooks the historic Mohawk Valley which played such a vital role during the Revolutionary War.

Given its history the Shrine is a fitting location for the Albany Diocese’s celebration of this year’s Fortnight for Freedom and being near the geographic center of our fourteen counties it is a wonderful place to join Bishop Scharfenberger for a special Holy Hour for Religious Liberty and Freedom of Conscience.

 

The Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs (also known as the National Shrine of the North American Martyrs) is located on Route 5S, 4 miles east of Fultonville and 6 miles west of Amsterdam in Auriesville (136 Shrine Rd, Fultonville, NY 12072).