Solemnity of All Saints
Tuesday, November 1st
Mass times are 8a, noon, and 6p
It is quite easy to think of this as ‘their’ feast day. You know, other people, all those “holy people” who went before us. And of course that is in part true. That is the initial and primary purpose of this day. To remember and rejoice in all those persons who have cooperated with God’s grace and goodness and allowed Him to do great and amazing things in them. The first, and most important “thing” being the development and fostering of personal holiness. The openness to receive and reciprocate God’s Love, Joy, Peace, and Mercy. What a wonderful and amazing experience. But most of the saints were not just personally holy, they allowed their holiness to sanctify others. They often utilized their head, heart, and hands to serve, better, build-up those around them in real and tangible ways. They are the living embodiment of St James Scriptural teaching: “Indeed someone may say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works” (James 2:18).
Holy Family exists so that we can gather together in prayer and right worship of God as God has asked, taught, and commanded – Do this in Memory of Me. We must pray and our prayer opens us and adds to our personal holiness, just like the saints. They too were rooted in the Eucharist – the Mass – the Sacraments – the Scriptures. Yet, we must also express the Gospel. We must embody Christ’s in the world. We must exemplify His Sacrificial Cross. This requires action and activity. Where, specifically, are you engaging in that lived word? It is a worthwhile reflection and self-examination. You see, All Saints Day is meant for us! It meant to be our day, if not already, soon. As we too intentionally cooperate with God’s Grace in Word and Deed.
Perhaps you noticed a tag line that has been at the of my Pastor’s Notes recently. “Nothing Less than saints for the Holy Family of God.” That is my hope and prayer for you, for me, for each and every one of us. That is the mission, the purpose, the goal behind our parish, behind Christ’s gift of the Church. To be saints and nothing less. To give of ourselves in selfless sacrifice after the Love of the Lord. Nothing less than being and becoming a saint will do. How will you become more a saint this week? What will you do with your head, heart, and hands?
Holy Family will once again greet the Advent Season of Preparation with 40 Hours with Mary. So many folks acknowledged what a simple, beautiful, and peaceful way to enter in to what so often a frantic time of year. To intentionally consecrate the Advent Season with encounter of the Eucharistic Jesus who was Made Flesh in the womb of Mother Mary. This so beautifully aligns with the bishops’ call for a Eucharistic Renewal. We will host a 40-Hours Devotion from Friday December 2 through Sunday December 4. It will be 40 hours of continuous Adoration and Exposition of the Eucharist. Mary was continuously pregnant with Jesus for 40 weeks, we will offer 40 hours of continuous prayer and presence. I bring this up, because the parish will begin sign-ups in early November. Unlike our HF Lenten Adoration, sign-ups will be for just a single hour – this is a ‘one and done’.
November 12-13 will be the Pledge Weekend for the United Catholic Appeal – United in the Eucharist Archdiocesan Campaign. This annual appeal helps to support a number of ministries and mission outreach that is larger than any single parish or deanery, including the education of our seminarians. Of which Holy Family is happy to be hosting one from the Archdiocese for weekly ministry – Deacon Jose Neri. All registered members of Holy Family Parish should be receiving information in the mail in the next few weeks. More information will be here in the bulletin and our multimedia.
+ Nothing Less than saints for the Holy Family of God. +
Holy Family, Saintly Father, Blessed Mother, Divine Son, Pray for us.
~ Fr Jeremy M. Gries