Dear Parishioners,

The leaves are almost off the trees and the first snow will be here soon, November begins this week. As nature goes to sleep we have two dates in November in which we mark those who have passed from this earth: Nov. 1, All Saints Day and Nov. 2, All Souls Day.

These first days of November we look beyond this world and remember those who have passed from it. In the Church’s funeral liturgy, we pray, “In death life is changed, not ended.” We believe in eternal life, death is when the immortal soul departs the body and enters eternal life to be with God.

We should long to be with God, to go to heaven, because it will be a rest in peace which we do not always experience in this life. St. Augustine says we should “desire unceasingly that life of happiness which is nothing if not eternal, and ask it of him who alone is able to give it.”

On Nov. 1, which is a Holy Day of Obligation, we celebrate the Feast of All Saints. We remember and honor all the souls that have passed from this world who now enjoy the fullness of happiness and see the face of God. These are the saints in heaven who are Canonized by the Church or not. We look to them for strength and intercession. They long for us to be with them in the halls of heaven. We honor them because of their holy lives and seek to imitate their virtue, that is their love for God and others. The saints journeyed on this earth like us and attained the reward of the joys of heaven. May we long to be where they are now. We are offering two masses for the Feast of All Saints, with mass at 9 am and at 5:30 pm at St. Mary’s. We also celebrating another Saint of the Month at Faith Night this Wednesday and presenting on St. Therese, who’s Feast Day is in October and a saint close to my heart.

Nov. 2 is All Souls Day. This is a day in which we remember those who are in purgatory and still being purified before they can see the face of God. Our Lord says that only the pure of heart and the childlike will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Pope Benedict XVI was of the opinion that most of the faithful departed pass through purgatory before going to heaven. The church has always taught that it is a good and noble thing to pray and have masses offered for the souls of the faithful departed, especially those of our family and friends. Our prayers help and hasten their process of purification and their entrance into heaven. All Souls Day is a good day to make a visit to a cemetery and pray for the souls of the departed. “May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in Peace. Amen.” This month everyone’s invited to add their loved ones to a list in the back of the each church location. The list will be set on the altar during the month of November as we honor all souls this month.

This Sunday is a special day for five members of our parish community. They will be accepted formally into the process of full sacramental initiation into the Catholic Church with the Rite of Acceptance taking place during the 10 am Sunday mass. They will be journeying to the Easter Vigil where two will be baptized and all receive Confirmation and Eucharist. Rin Parsons, Paul Schott Jr., Paul Schott, Sr., Cassandra Hagen and Tammy Ward. We congratulate them for making this journey and preparing themselves for Easter Sacraments. Please keep them in your prayers.