Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As your pastor, I am deeply aware of the challenges we face as Catholics striving to live faithfully in an increasingly divided world. Many of us sense a growing polarization within our society, and perhaps even more painfully, within the Church herself. We see differing attitudes toward the truths of our faith, the reality of sin, and the importance of remaining faithful to God's commandments.

Our Lord reminds us that although we live in the world, we are not of the world (cf. John 17:16). As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to remain steadfast in His truth while bearing witness to His infinite love and mercy. Yet, we also recognize that many of our brothers and sisters have drifted away from the practice of their Catholic faith. For some, this separation has lasted years or even decades.

For many of us here at St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish, this reality is not simply a concern about the world around us. It is deeply personal.

It may be a son or daughter who no longer attends Mass, a spouse who has grown distant from the Church, a sibling who has rejected the faith, or a dear friend who no longer recognizes the importance of a relationship with Christ. We carry these loved ones in our hearts, often with a mixture of sorrow, concern, and longing for their return.

At times, we may wonder whether anything we say or do will make a difference. We may have tried inviting, encouraging, reasoning, or simply offering a loving example, only to find that our efforts seem to bear little fruit.

But, dear friends, we must never lose hope in the power of God's grace.

The Gospel assures us that no soul is beyond the reach of God's mercy. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, we encounter a father whose love never diminishes, even when his son has wandered far from home. In the conversion of the Good Thief, we witness the extraordinary power of divine mercy reaching a repentant heart in the final moments of life.

These sacred accounts remind us that conversion is ultimately the work of God. While our words and actions can serve as instruments of His grace, it is the Holy Spirit who softens hardened hearts, awakens faith, and draws souls back into communion with Christ and His Church.

And so, when our human efforts seem insufficient, we must turn with renewed confidence to the spiritual gifts entrusted to us by the Church: prayer, fasting, and loving intercession.

With this intention in mind, I would like to invite every household in our St. Anne parish family to join me in a special Nine-Day Novena for Those Who Have Wandered from the Catholic Faith.

Fr. Larry Merta, Pastor of Holy Cross Parish, has prayerfully brought together passages from Sacred Scripture, spiritual reflections, and teachings from the Catechism of the Catholic Church to guide us in praying for the conversion and return of our loved ones. Through these prayers, we will entrust to the Sacred Heart of Jesus those who have become distant from the sacramental life of the Church, asking our merciful Lord to renew their faith and lead them home.

Our novena will begin on Friday, November 13, 2026, and conclude on Saturday, November 21, 2026, culminating in the celebration of the Solemnity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, on Sunday, November 22.

How fitting it is that we conclude these nine days of prayer as the Church prepares to celebrate the Kingship of Christ! On this great solemnity, we proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord of all creation and that His Kingdom is one of truth, life, holiness, grace, justice, love, and peace. We entrust to His sovereign and merciful Heart those who have wandered from His Church, praying that they may once again recognize His voice, embrace His love, and joyfully return to His fold.

I encourage you to pray this novena daily in your homes, whether individually or together as a family. If possible, consider accompanying your prayers with a personal act of fasting or sacrifice, offering it for someone you love who has wandered from the faith.

As we pray for others, let us also recognize our own need for ongoing conversion. Each of us, in different ways, must continually return to the Father's embrace. May this novena deepen our own trust in God's providence, strengthen our commitment to the Catholic faith, and awaken within us a greater appreciation for the boundless mercy of Jesus Christ.

I also invite you to consider this novena as an opportunity to sanctify your home and renew your family's spiritual life. Let our homes become places where faith is nourished, hope is restored, and the love of Christ is made present through daily prayer.

It is my sincere hope that this shared spiritual effort will bear abundant fruit throughout our parish community. I would be grateful to hear how these days of prayer may bring you comfort, renewed hope, or a deeper awareness of Christ's merciful love. Members of our Respect Life Ministry will be in the courtyard to hand out novena booklets and prayer cards at all of the Masses on the weekends of October 31^st and November 7^th. You will also have an opportunity to write the names of your loved ones who have left the faith on a prayer intention card which will be placed in a box with all of the other names and placed before the image of our Lord in the arms of our Blessed Mother (the Pieta) for the duration of the novena. 

Above all, I ask you to remember this: Never stop praying for those you love. Never presume that a heart is beyond conversion. And never underestimate what God can accomplish through the faithful prayers of His people.

May St. Anne, the beloved grandmother of our Lord Jesus Christ and patroness of our parish, intercede especially for our families, our children, and all those who have wandered from the household of faith. Through her prayers and the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may those who have strayed rediscover the joy of belonging to Christ and His Church.

Together, as one parish family, let us entrust our loved ones to the Good Shepherd, who never ceases to seek His lost sheep and rejoices when they are brought safely home.

May the Lord bless you and your families, strengthen you in faith, and fill your hearts with His peace.

In the Merciful Heart of Jesus,

Rev. Keith Kenney
Pastor
St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish

Event Location:

St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish
440 E. Elliot Rd
Gilbert, AZ 85234