Dear Parishioners,

      Last week I mentioned that November is the month in which we Catholics reflect upon those things concerning the end of life and what awaits us in life after death. In keeping with that theme, I would like to turn our minds to our Catholic focus on the faithful departed. Unfortunately, devotion to the faithful departed seems to have fallen by the wayside in recent times in the Church, so this November let’s start to change that.

      From the beginning of the Church, in the time of the Apostles, we as a Church have had a great reverence for those who have gone before us in death. The earliest Christians would clandestinely go to the catacombs, where the martyrs were buried, to pray and offer Mass so that they could be close to the saints. The practices of seeking the intercession of the saints and of praying for the poor souls in purgatory go all the way back to those times and they continue today.

      First among our many practices related to the faithful departed is the offering of Masses for the deceased. Every day throughout the whole Church, every Mass is offered for someone and usually for the repose of that person’s soul. When someone dies, we offer their funeral Mass for the repose of their soul. The offering of Masses and prayers for the repose of someone’s soul is our way of helping lift that person from the burdens of earthly life to the ultimate freedom of eternal life in heaven.

      Another beautiful practice, which is especially encouraged in November, is the devout visiting of a cemetery to pray for the deceased. This practice mirrors that of the early Church gathering to pray at the catacombs and is both a powerful connection to our deceased loved ones and an opportunity to intentionally pray for all the deceased.

      So, this November, perhaps it would be good for all of us to find some small ways to pray for the deceased. Make a list of deceased family and friends and say a prayer for them every day. Make plans to visit a cemetery for just a little while simply to pray for loved ones buried there as well as for the other souls buried there. These are simple ways to strengthen this great tradition of our faith.

 
      On another note, you may remember that every year the Archdiocese sends missionary priests to every parish to preach on behalf of the missions. Next weekend, we will welcome Fr. Sunny Joseph and Fr. Jesuraj Samynathan of the Missionaries of St. Francis to preach at our parishes. Please welcome them and support them in the work of charity and evangelization throughout the world.

Have a blessed week!

Fr. Jim Theby