
The fourteen days from June 21 — the vigil of the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More — to July 4, Independence Day, were dedicated to “fortnight for freedom” — a great hymn of prayer for our country. During those days our liturgical calendar celebrated a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power. Culminating on Independence Day, this special period of prayer, study, and public action emphasized both our Christian and American heritage of liberty.
A group of Residents and Sisters attended the diocesan “kick off” for the Fortnight by assisting at a Vespers service and talk on June 21 at St. Mary’s Church. On June 29, the Sisters led a discussion with the Residents on religious freedom using the movie, Man for all Seasons. After watching the movie, they discussed how they value religious freedom, and why we must assure that our 1st Amendment rights remain intact.
In honor of the Fortnight for Freedom, the home had a daily recitation of the rosary in the chapel, during which we prayed for each State by name. We also had a public recitation of the rosary on the corner of our property on Three Chopt each day at 4 p.m., where we had a banner inviting people to pray for this intention.