Today is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and we are having a day of prayer here just as we would back in the seminary. It’s a little different here because Friday is also the weekly Muslim holy day. We have gotten use to the loud “call to prayer” being broadcast over the loud speakers at all the Mosques five time a day. However, we learned today that on Friday’s they also broadcast the entire religious service over the speakers. This includes about an hour of the leader yelling at the top of his lungs what would appear to be his weekly homily. Now picture all the Mosques in the city doing this at the same time. I’m not sure what they were saying, but they didn’t sound very happy. We have been told that the Muslims have a great devotion to Mary, but I wonder if they know it’s the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Maybe I’ll just take a little trip down to the Mosque where the guy is doing all the yelling and let them know. Then again, this could end up being my last entry, so maybe I won’t. I hope you have a great feast day. Mary Immaculate, pray for us.