Dear Parishioners:
Confirmation was a great celebration and joyous occasion for our parish family last Sunday. Fifty-five young adults are now confirmed in their Catholic Faith and received the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We rejoice with them as they mark this milestone in their faith lives! We thank Bishop Byrne of Springfield for celebrating the Confirmation Mass. His sermon to our young parishioners was outstanding! We also thank everyone who made this day possible for our Confirmation Class, especially their parents and sponsors. We are grateful to our Confirmation Director, Mr. Doug Green, and our Religious Education Directress, Mrs. Mickey St. Jean, for their hard work in forming our Confirmation Class in the Faith and preparing for Confirmation.
We also thank our OLM Music Director, Mr. Henri St. Louis, the OLM Choir, and the guest musicians who provided such beautiful music for the Confirmation Mass. We must thank our OLM Altar Servers for their fine job in serving the Mass with reverence. Our ushers are also to be thanked for assisting with welcoming the many guests and family members at the Confirmation Mass. It was a beautiful Mass, and we thank everyone who helped prepare for it.
Let us continue praying for our newly Confirmed that they might grow in their Faith and relationship with the Lord. In speaking to young people last year, Pope Francis said: "I am reminded of the words which God spoke to Abraham: 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.' (Gen 12.1). These words are now also addressed to you. They are words of a Father who invites you to 'go,' to set out towards an unknown future but one which will surely lead to fulfillment, a future towards which He accompanies you. I invite you to hear God's voice resounding in your heart through the breath of the Holy Spirit."
This week the month of November begins! It begins with the All Saints Holy Day on Tuesday, November 1. It is the day dedicated to the saints of the Church, that is, all those who have attained heaven. It should not be confused with All Souls' Day, observed on November 2 and dedicated to those who have died and not yet reached heaven. November is a special month on the Church Calendar as it is All Souls Month. A time for us to remember our beloved dead in our prayers and Masses, especially the souls in Purgatory. St. Padre Pio once said, "We must empty Purgatory with our prayers." He was convinced that prayers worked, as we should, too.
Take a moment and recite this prayer given to us by Jesus through St. Gertrude: "Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen."
All Souls Day will have three Masses. Following the 9:00 am School Mass on All Souls, the students will process to St. Patrick Cemetery to pray for all the souls buried in that sacred ground. Please join us on All Souls Day as we pray for all those souls and help empty Purgatory!
In a very special way, we will remember and pray for all those who have died over the last year. Next Sunday at 10:30 am, we offer Mass for the OLM Parishioners who have died since last November. Their families are invited to join us as we pray for the repose of the souls of their deceased relatives. Please also pray for the healing and consolation of all those who mourn the death of a loved one. St. John Chrysostom said: “Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.”
Saturday, November 5, is Daylight Saving Time, and we turn our clocks back one hour. Also, next Saturday, the 5:00 pm Mass will move back to 4:00 pm until April, and Saturday Confessions will move back to 3:00 pm until April. Be sure to set your clock back one hour next Saturday night. You'll get an extra hour of sleep and won't arrive an hour early for Sunday Mass!
Please join us for the Final October Devotions on Monday and pray the Rosary! Be well. Stay safe. Do good. God Bless. Go Pats! Pray for the poor souls in Purgatory!