A Month of Memory and Gratitude
Dear Parish Family,
As we turn the calendar to November, the Church invites us to slow down and look at our lives with a different perspective. If October was about holding Mary’s hand, November is about looking across the table at our family—both the family sitting right beside us and the family that has gone before us.
This month begins with the beautiful days of All Saints and All Souls. In our Catholic tradition, we do not say "goodbye" to those who have died; instead, we say that they have "changed life, not ended it."
I know that for many of you, the holidays approaching can bring a mix of emotions. We miss the voices of parents, spouses, and children who used to fill our homes. But during November, the veil between Heaven and Earth feels very thin. When we come to Mass, we are not just praying with the people in the pews next to us; we are praying with the entire Communion of Saints. We are united with our loved ones in the Eucharist.
I encourage you this month to visit the cemetery, perhaps light a candle, or simply speak the names of your loved ones in prayer. It is not an act of sadness, but an act of hope. We pray for them, and we trust that they are praying for us.
As we move toward the end of the month, our focus shifts to Thanksgiving. It is fitting that we begin the month remembering our ancestors and end it by giving thanks for the fruit of the earth and the gift of life. Gratitude is the hallmark of a Christian. Even in difficult times, we always have the love of God, the support of our parish community, and the promise of eternal life.
Let us make this November a time of "holy memory." Let us remember those we have lost with love, and let us cherish those who are still with us with gratitude.
You remain in my daily prayers, especially those of you who are grieving this season.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Fidele
P.S. Throughout the month of November, we will have our Book of Remembrance placed near the altar. I invite you to write the names of your departed loved ones in this book so that we may offer up our collective prayers for them at every Mass this month.
