30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

All Souls' Day

By Jakub Schikaneder

1888

National Gallery in Prague

In the coming weeks, we have a number of Holy Days to observe that will alter the normal flow of readings and celebrations. To offer some clarity regarding upcoming feasts in the Latin Rite, and how they interact with the choices of which Mass to celebrate as well as the obligation of the faithful to attend:

+ Saturday, November 1: Solemnity of All Saints. There is no obligation for the faithful to attend this year in 2025. Holy Family will host an All Saints Mass on Saturday morning at 8a. [The US Bishops have a quasi-cryptic rule about the obligatory nature of Holydays for the faithful in the USA. The obligation to attend Mass is lifted when the Holy Days fall on a Saturday or a Monday, except for the Solemnities of Christmas and the Immaculate Conception (Patroness Title of the USA).

+Sunday, November 2: Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day). This day has enjoyed great devotion among the faithful since ancient times, and so is accorded a high place on the Table of Precedence of Liturgical Days in the General Roman Calendar. Because of this, All Souls is celebrated for the Sunday Masses instead of the 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time. Also, because of its importance, the anticipatory Masses on Saturday evening (our 5p Mass here at HF) is also a celebration of All Souls. Readings for this Mass can be chosen from any readings for the Mass for the Dead in the Lectionary. Please also note that, as in other Masses for the Dead, Gloria is omitted.

+Monday, December 8: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. This is a Holyday of Obligation even when it falls on a Monday, so the obligation for the faithful to attend Mass on this day is still retained. Holy Family will have an 8a Mass (with the HF School), Noon, and 6p Mass.

+Sunday, November 9: Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. Though this is only a Feast and not a Solemnity, it takes precedence over the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time because of its importance, due to the Archbasilica Cathedral of St. John Lateran being the “Mother church of all the churches in the city [Rome] and the world” (the inscription over the formal entrance of the Archbasilica).

Also worth noting. Changes to the weekly Saturday 8a morning Mass. There will be no Mass on Nov 8 (Fr Gries will be away on Pilgrimage to France). And the weekly 8a Saturday Mass will be discontinued starting Dec 13. St John Paul II has decided to add a weekly Saturday 8:30a Mass to their schedule. With the arrival of two sisters from the Catholic religious community of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth, they required a daily Mass. The area does not need multiple Saturday morning Masses.

Nothing Less than saints for the Holy Family of God.

Holy Family, Rooted in Worship of Almighty God, Pray for us.

~ Fr Jeremy M. Gries