Last Sunday, we were given a glimpse of what the interior of the church will look like once the painting is completed. I am glad that most of you appreciated the change. Hopefully, in a few weeks, we will see the totality of its transformation and beauty.
On the aspect of formation, our three Sundays Forgiven series regarding the Sacrament of Reconciliation have already started. The parents of our children preparing for first reconciliation have attended the first series in which their role as parents were emphasized in catechizing their children and how to build a culture of mercy and reconciliation in the family. However, the second and third series will not only be for parents but for anyone who would like to deepen their understanding of the sacrament of reconciliation, how this sacrament can be liberating and can provide healing for hurts, guilt and shame caused by past sins and wrongdoings of others. Beth Macurdy offers this series on Sunday, between masses, from 9:45 to 10:45 A.M. in the Fellowship Hall.
On a pastoral note, our neighborhood listening sessions are about to end. I would like to thank those who hosted and those who participated. Your time, your presence and your thoughts are appreciated as we prepare for our parish strategic planning next year. Those who missed it, we have the last neighborhood listening session at Renshaw Farms on November 5th, at 2:00 P.M.
Finally, this coming November 1st and 2nd is All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. I know that on the eve of All Saints’ Day, many of us celebrate Halloween, especially with children going trick or treat, wearing masks and other holiday traditions, but let us not forget that Halloween has a connection to the celebration of All Saints. Halloween comes from the word All Hallow Eve meaning the eve of All Saints’ Day. Therefore, it will be more meaningful if we also attend mass on All Saints’ Day, which is actually a holy day to celebrate the feast of all saints in heaven and all those holy people who have gone ahead of us. On the other hand, All Souls’ Day is the day that we pray for all souls who have died and have not yet reached heaven.
Our masses for All Souls’ Day on November 1st, being a holy day, will be at 8:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. The following day, November 2nd, we will have the Mass of Remembrance for all our departed loved ones at 7:00 P.M.
Let us give praise and thanksgiving for the saints who showed us the way to heaven by being holy; and for our departed loved ones, let us remember them in our prayers. We can do all of this in the celebration of the mass.