Today the Coming Home pro-life family lifts up in love and prayer Father Thomas Euteneuer and all affected by this chapter in his life. It is a very small chapter in a very large book that is filled with heroic love and self-sacrifice for the People of God, especially those in the womb. We pray for full restoration of all involved, and that this chapter be lost between all of the good that has come before, and all that is to follow.
Some Notes: First, for our non-Catholic brothers and sisters, novenas are nine days of intercessory prayer. We welcome you to join us in the novena prayers, or to pray along with us each night at 9 PM EST in any manner of prayer that you prefer.
Second, I’ve forwarded word of our gathering to Father Euteneuer. Please feel free to leave him any supportive message you wish.
Finally, Deacon Marcelino Hernandez of the Archdiocese of Chicago has graciously consented to lead us in prayer. What follows are the Divine Mercy Novena prayers with Deacon Hernandez’ adaptations for our special intentions and posted here. I link to the chaplet at the end of the prayers.
Thank you Deacon Hernandez.
And now, Deacon Hernandez leads us in prayer:
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As we begin this novena for Fr. Euteneuer let us keep in mind all the other souls who have, may or will fall to temptations and lose sight of what God has called us to be; witnesses to the Gospel. Let us also invoke the spiritual help of Pope John Paul II, who through his teachings on the Theology of the Body, has given the world a tool to help us to understand ourselves better and given us a tool to fight off evil and sin to embrace our giftedness to one another and our Creator. Let us ask St. Joseph, Mary’s most chaste spouse, to intercede for all of us and especially for Fr. Euteneuer as he rises up from his fall, to a greater appreciation and understanding of his gift of a renewed chastity. And let us pray to Mary, the Patroness of Priests, to cover her servant priests under her mantle as they seek a deeper love for Her Son and loving priestly service to His Church. In light of all that we have seen, we are called to be a people of mercy and are warned in Matthew Chapter 7 that we must always keep our lives in order (vs. 4) as we seek to enter the narrow gate (vs. 13). That the works that we do speak of how we follow Christ (vs 17) and in our fidelity to Him, what storms come, will not wash away what has been built on the Rock of our salvation (vs. 25).
Today bring to Me ALL MANKIND, ESPECIALLY ALL SINNERS, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me.
Let us pray for Thomas Euteneuer, as a man who is subject to the same weaknesses as all mankind due to the fall of our first parents, and for all who fall out of grace who are overcome by sin; That our trust in Jesus and his infinite mercy may raise us up to His splendor and a newness of life.
Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.
Coming Home 
Amen.
I have been praying for Father E ever since I became aware of the reason for his stepping down from HLI leadership.
I most gladly join in the Divne Mercy Novena for his, as well as the person involved, restoration to complete wellness in spirit, mind and body.
It also brought home to me how I failed my responsibility to pray for our priests, especially those in high profile.
May God have mercy on us all.
With great heartfelt love and admiration, I have also been praying before the Blessed Sacrament for my priest friend, Fr. Tom E…Thank you Fr. Tom for your humility in bearing this cross which is not different than all of us…I have full trust in your priesthood and know that Divine Mercy Jesus has great plans for you…
I will join you, I just don’t understand why you insist on focusing on his “indiscretion” as a sin of the flesh. He explicitly said it was not of a sexual nature. There are other sins that can be commited by a priest besides a sexual relationship with a woman. I believe him when he says it was not sexual and I believe HLI when they commented and presumed that it was not a sexual sin. Why is the focus of the Novena, sexual?
LisaG, What is said above spoke of chastity. Chastity does not only apply to carnal relations but also would include the various relations of the heart. We are called to love as Christ loved. His relationship with his bride, the Church, is the example of the priestly relationship. Chastity, even in marriage, is what we are all called to exercise. That is what the prayer was referring to. Thank you for pointing that out.
We should all thank Father for all his years of dedicated service to God’s people and His Church.
May God Bless and heal Fr. Euteneuer and all those affected.
Praying that Father will feel God’s infinite loving mercy and be strengthened and renewed so he can continue his mission.
Deacon Marcelino, thank you for your humble reply. I appreciate it immensley! God bless this effort for our Dear Fr. E and all Priests. AMEN!