Year of the Dragon 2024
Year has come from a forest so deep
A friend of all humanmankind
With scales like precious gold
In a world so fine
He moves with a gentle and graceful might
And with a fiery breath in sight
He will share his wealth and genuine grace
To all with a happy face
A mythical beast in his own realm
Who can set his soul on fire
With confidence, power, resolution and high esteem
Welcome Year of the Dragon
Happy New Year
And thank God for the many blessings
(Michael Chan is a member of St. Wenceslaus Parish in Iowa City.)
Prayer of the faithful
To the Editor:
It’s my observation that petition prayers at Sunday Masses are too general. They are sort of glittering generalities, designed to sound good that offend no one. It wasn’t always that way. Years ago when I served Mass as an altar boy, I remember at the end of every “low” Mass we prayed for the conversion of Russia.
As Christians, we should publicly pray to the Almighty for a just and peaceful solution to both the Ukraine-Russia war as well as the conflict in Gaza. Innocent non-combatants are in need of our prayers. We ask God for provision of adequate food, water and shelter.
We need to pray for a just and Christian solution for all immigrants at our border seeking a better life for themselves and their families.
We also need to pray for acceptance of our gay brothers and sisters who are in same-sex unions.
Larry d’Autremont
Davenport
(Editor’s note: Many parishes in the Diocese of Davenport pray for a just and peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Gaza war.)
