Please remember the local pastor in your prayers. Here is the caption from the local news: "FAYETTEVILLE,Arkansas -- The Rev. Joseph Correnti, the pastor for St. Joseph Catholic Church in Tontitown, was found dead in the garage of a Fayetteville home Wednesday morning in an apparent suicide, police said.

A friend found Correnti, 56, sitting in a car next to a car with its engine running. He left a suicide note saying he had been depressed for years and felt isolated, Fayetteville police Lt. Greg Tabor said."
Thank you!
Silouan

Bless me a sinner, Fr. Silouan,

I pray for the soul of this poor priest!

A suicide is always a terrible thing to have to deal with and face.

But a suicide of a priest or a theologian is even more difficult.

I knew a theologian who committed suicide, someone who was once a theological advisor for the Canadian Catholic Bishops.

But the only protection against this terrible temptation is our dependence on God through Grace in prayer, the sacraments and the scriptures.

Sometimes I feel that the temptation to suicide is allowed in us by God so that we can learn to overcome our pride and dependence on self by getting out of ourselves and into Him.

Alex

[ 04-04-2002: Message edited by: Orthodox Catholic ]

How terribly, terribly sad. This just reminds us that priests are human and subject to the same struggles as us.

My prayers are offered for him - and his Parish who must be asking how they could and should have helped him

May God have mercy on his soul.

Angela

May the Lord, in His Mercy, receive his servant. May the Spirit console those who mourn his death.

How very sad.

Steve

How tragic it is!

May his soul find eternal peace in Christ's kingdom!

May Christ accept into His arms His priest, and console those he has left behind, and who mourn his loss.

Lord, I realize that many priests are being caught up in the current frenzy. While there are some who have transgressed and others who are stained by a general frenzy, I must always remember that we in the Church have to be forgiving of those who have transgressed, and non-judgemental to everyone else, may I receive Your grace to continue to live the faith of the Church and the Gospel and "not to judge my brother". But I pray that our Church will be strong enough to dismiss those who for various reasons cannot adequately serve.

Lord, have mercy upon all us sinners.

Christ is Risen from the dead and grants redemption to all who seek Him!!!!