From the Pastor’s Desk…
All Saints Day and all Souls Day
Sunday, November 1st is All Saints Day. A day in which we celebrate all those countless persons who are in heaven, but do not have a special “feast day.” They are of all kinds and varieties: young and old, jolly and reserved, introverted and extroverted, active and contemplative, slim and not-so slim, and so on. They have one thing in common: They loved God above all things, and tried to serve Him in every aspect of their lives.
This is our calling as well. All of us are called to be saints. So then, let us pledge that we shall be loyal to the Lord at all times in order that we may join all the saints in heaven.
Monday, November 2nd, is the Feast of All Souls, the day the whole church throughout the entire world honors its beloved dead. We pray for the souls in Purgatory who will one day pray for our souls when they are in heaven and we are in Purgatory.
There is a long-standing (and honorable) practice of submitting the names of your beloved deceased to be included in the masses of that day. I take that one step further and keep them on the altar during the entire month of November. Envelopes by the doors are available upon which to write their names.
Some of you might wish to include an offering in the envelope, but that is not necessary, but please still do submit the names of deceased family and friends you wish included on our list. That is what is most important to me so I can pray for them by name. You can use the envelopes provided or one of your own.
Please put the envelopes in the basket in front of the altar or in the collection basket with your weekly offering, or drop them by the office. You can submit names any time this coming month, either at Mass or by dropping your envelope by the office or in the office mail slot.
As happens every year, some of the names on this year’s list, were people who wrote names on last year’s list. Let us remember them.
OCIA – November 2nd at 7 pm – What are the Sacraments?
I mean we can name them, but what are they really and how do they really work?
To begin with, Sacramental Reality is a mystery. It is not a mystery in the sense that we cannot understand it, but, rather, a TRUTH about which we cannot know everything.
Like all articles of faith – our understanding is unfolding.
In our ever-expanding understanding of the mysteries of our faith we have come to ways to explain, at least, parts of this reality.
This Tuesday evening, we will delve into that mystery a well as look at each of The Seven as far as their institution and development over the centuries, and how we ‘celebrate’ them today. And how we might…tomorrow. We meet on Tuesday, November 2nd in Church.
Come journey with us. All are welcome.
Grace and Blessings,
Father Ron
