Mary Chalupsky <chalups@attglobal.net>

POPE JOHN PAUL II WHOLEHEARTEDLY ENDORSES INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER 
AND
FASTING: WORLD EVENTS CREATE URGENCY FOR OCTOBER 7- 16, 2001

Spiritual Weapons of Prayer and Fasting Can Stop Wars

Washington, DC (October 4, 2001) -- In the wake of recent world events,
people from around the world are being urged to unite during the 9th 
Annual
International Week of Prayer and Fasting, October 7 to 17, 2001, in an
urgent call for world peace, an end to abortion and the conversion of
nations.

In a blessing to organizers and participants in this event, Pope John 
Paul
II proclaimed:

"I hereby wholeheartedly commend your noble initiative and purpose to 
offer
your times of the Eucharistic Sacrifice and Eucharistic Adoration, Holy
Hours, Vigils, Rosaries, Fasting and in particular, the frequent 
offering of
The Divine Mercy Chaplet for world peace, the conversion of hearts and 
for
the end of the scourge of abortion and the culture of death in the 
world."

During the week, people of all faiths are encouraged to set aside time 
to
offer prayers and sacrifices, asking God's help to change the course of
world events that have accelerated to a new level of violence and 
terror.
Cardinal Francis George of Chicago has also issued an endorsement of 
this
prayerful event.

At Fatima, an approved apparition site in Portugal, the Blessed Mother
requested prayer for peace and conversion of souls. The Blessed Mother
warned that if people did not amend their sinful lives, that another 
World
War would erupt in the reign of Pope Pius XI. People failed to listen 
to her
messages and World War II erupted as prophesied. Now, Christian again 
have
the supernatural power to stop a potential World War III by turning to 
the
spiritual weapons of prayer and fasting.

Even Mother Teresa, who accepted an invitation to speak at a prayer 
vigil
held during the Week, stated emphatically, "This must happen - prayer 
is the
answer to all the world's problems." On another occasion she warned, 
"the
fruit of abortion is nuclear war."

Signs of what Pope John Paul II has called the "culture of death" 
abound.
World violence, fratricidal wars, international terrorism, widespread
abortion, stem cell research, the threat of human cloning, assisted 
suicide,
euthanasia, pornography, a pervasive drug culture, sexual slavery, and
anti-family agendas are among today's accepted practices that are
dehumanizing and degrading the dignity and integrity of life.

Specifically, Catholics are encouraged to join together in a united 
effort
to fast, attend daily Mass and pray the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine 
Mercy;
as well as organize prayer groups, parishes and cathedrals with Rosary
Rallies, Eucharistic Adoration, prayer chains, and other prayer events.

An All-Day Eucharistic Prayer Vigil, that last year drew 7,000 people, 
is
scheduled for Monday, October 8th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Basilica 
of
the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. 
The
Vigil includes Eucharistic Adoration, a noon Mass, confessions, the 
Rosary
and Divine Mercy Chaplet. There is no charge for the Vigil.

Keynote speaker is Fr. Zlatko Sudac, a young priest from Croatia who 
bears
the stigmata (the wounds of Christ). Fr. Sudac is a priest in good 
standing
from the diocese of Krk in Croatia. He has been examined thoroughly by 
the
Gemelli Polyclinic hospital in Rome, and all investigations have shown 
his
stigmata to be "not of human origin."

Other speakers are Bud Macfarlane, Sr. of the Mary Foundation; 
Congressman
Christopher Smith (NJ); Michael Brown, speaker and author of the "Final
Hour"; Joan Appleton, a former abortion clinic nurse; Fr. Thomas 
Euteneuer,
president of Human Life International; Mother Nadine Brown, Foundress 
of the
Sisters of the Intercessors of the Lamb; Fr. Bill McCarthy, director of 
My
Father's House Retreat Center; Paul Regan of the Eucharistic Apostles 
of
Divine Mercy; Fr. Joseph Roesch, vice provincial of the Marian Fathers;
author and speaker Ted Flynn; Joan Ulicny, who will give her powerful
testimony, and Fr. Paul Marie Sigl, who will speak about our Lady of 
All
Nations.

Sponsored by a coalition of lay Catholic organizations, the Week is 
held
each year to ask people around the globe to pray and fast for just one 
week
in a united effort to end abortion and bring people back to God.
Non-Catholics and non-Christians similarly are encouraged to pray and 
fast
according to their convictions. More than 60 countries have 
participated in
the past including Australia, Great Britain, the Philippines, and 
Singapore.

Individuals, pastors, bishops are encouraged to organize prayer groups,
schools, parishes and their diocese with Rosary rally's, Eucharistic
Adoration and other pro-life prayer events; and encourage participation 
by
publicizing the Week in parish bulletins and diocesan newsletters.

The Week coincides with Respect Life Sunday and the Feast of Our Lady 
of the
Rosary on October 7, and ends with a special day added this year to 
honor
and pray for Pope John Paul II on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary 
of
his pontificate.

Coalition steering committee members for the 9th Annual International 
Week
of Prayer and Fasting are: Darrell Bennett, president, Miracle of the 
Rosary
Mission; Rev. Daniel Papineau, rector, National Shrine of Divine Mercy;
Laurence Behr, president of the Western New York Lawyers for Life; Rev.
Frank Pavone, former president of Priests for Life; Mother Agnes Mary
Donovan, superior of Sisters for Life; Tom Petrisko, president, 
Pittsburgh
Center for Peace; Maureen Flynn, president, Signs of the Times 
Apostolate,
Inc.; Missy Smith, president, W.A.K.E.U.P.; Ted Flynn, president, 
MaxKol
Institute; Dan Lynch, president, Missionary Image of Our Lady of 
Guadalupe;
Rev. Bill McCarthy and Sr. Bernadette Sheldon, co-founders, My Father's
House Retreat Center; Rev. Albert Roux, president, Marian Movement for
Priests; Bud Macfarlane Jr., president, Mary Foundation; Harold 
Cassidy,
president, National Foundation for Life; Dr. Mark Miravalle, president, 
Vox
Populi Mariae Mediatrici; Anatol Kascuk, Russia Rosary Crusade; Drew
Mariani, president, Marian Communications, Inc.; June Keithly Castro, 
Asian
Center for Peace; Brian Miller, president, Queen of Peace Ministries; 
Kevin
Morley, Marian Lodge of Australia; Rev. Thomas Euteneuer, president, 
Human
Life International; and Dr. Bryan Thatcher, president, Eucharistic 
Apostles
of Mercy.

Materials for domestic and international parish and diocesan 
coordinators
are available by contacting the office of the International Week of 
Prayer
and Fasting, 703-327-2277.

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