Prayers for Obama

Mesa parish holds vigil during president's high school visit

By J.D. Long-García | February 19, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

MESA — Hundreds of protestors lined up along Guadalupe Road, waiting to give President Barack Obama a piece of their mind.

The president unveiled his $75 billion “Homeowner Stability Initiative” at Dobson High School later that morning. But the protestors weren’t interested.

Some held light-hearted signs — like “I’ll keep my freedom, you keep the change” and “Give me $” — and others held more serious signs like “Abortion kills children.”

Meanwhile, across the street, St. Timothy parishioners came together in a far different way. More than 200 gathered for an 8:30 a.m. Mass and a 45-minute prayer service before the president’s address.

“We are here to pray for our president. We are not here to protest anything,” said Fr. Jack Spaulding, pastor of St. Timothy, during his homily.

“Yes, we don’t agree with a lot of the things he’s going to do or even the things he’s doing now,” he said, referring to pro-abortion legislation. “But he’s our president and we need to pray for him.”

Fr. Spaulding said that “a prayer for the president of the United States” would become a regular prayer of petition during weekend Masses. He also called parishioners to pray a chaplet of Divine Mercy for the Obama administration.

“More than any protest or sign that we carry, prayer can change hearts,” he said, “even ours.”

Mike Phelan, director of the diocesan Office of Marriage and Family Life, said Catholics should pray for those in authority.

“We know that we face ideological problems with a lot of our leadership,” he said. “But this is the Year of St. Paul. It’s the year of conversion.”

While having his reservations about Obama’s stance on abortion, Deacon Dick Peterson, marriage preparation coordinator for St. Timothy, also expressed support.

“He’s a son of God like we all are,” he said. “Hopefully we can work with him to change things for the better, as he keeps promising.”

Arizona Right to Life’s Melanie Pritchard noted Obama’s positions on embryonic stem cell research and euthanasia.

“We hope he has a change of heart and a change of mind,” she said.

Pritchard said that, in addition to prayer, the pro-life movement can focus on educating the community about abortion so that women “don’t even walk in the front door of an abortion clinic.”

“If we can do that,” she said, “then Obama’s pro-abortion policies won’t matter.”

Hours before the prayer vigil, Obama supporters lined up to hear the president’s address at the high school gymnasium.

“It’s part of history. I want to show my support,” Surprise resident Jerry Blake said. “This is a time to witness and be a part of it.”

The housing market and the nation in general need to go in a different direction, Blake said.

Obama’s plan will make it possible for 4 million homeowners at risk of losing their houses to reduce their mortgage payment. Payments should be no more than 31 percent of a homeowner’s income.

Millions of other Americans are facing foreclosure or owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. With the president’s plan, they could have a chance to refinance.

“A lot of people are curious as to what the stimulus plan will be,” Phoenix resident Teresa D’asmaro said. “[Obama] picked this area because it’s been very devastated. It will take some time, but he gives us hope.”

Fr. Spaulding, recognizing the challenges facing the president, asked parishioners to “pray for his enlightenment, for God’s mercy, and for wisdom.”

“Nobody knows the burdens that are being brought to bear on him,” he said.