This week we will celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints (a holy day of obligation) on Wednesday, November 1, when we are reminded of the importance of the Communion of Saints to which we belong. By our faith and baptism, we are connected with all Catholics and other Christians throughout the world and throughout time as fellow members of the mystical Body of Christ. Just as we pray for one another here on earth, we pray for the salvation of our loved ones who have gone before us and ask the saints in heaven to pray for us, too (it’s nice to have friends in high places)! In fact, St. Paul reminds us that we are all called to be saints, since we want to be with God forever in heaven. The saints are not super-humans who never sin, but people like us who strive to grow in faith and seek God’s mercy in Christ. We are all in this together!
On November 2, we celebrate the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day). On that day, and throughout the month of November, the Church has the tradition of praying for all of our beloved deceased and for "all whose faith is known to God alone." As we near the end of the liturgical year (before the start of Advent), our readings often focus on the final days of this life and this world - a reality check for sure, but also a reminder of our belief that this is not the end of the story! Our collaborative parishes have a custom of celebrating a Mass of Remembrance for those who have lost loved ones, especially over the past year or so. While we never stop missing our loved ones, the first year after someone passes to the Lord can be particularly hard for family and friends as we go through a “year of firsts”. This year we will offer the option of one such Mass on a weekday evening (Thursday, Nov. 2, 7pm at St. Martha) and one at a Lord’s Day Mass (Sunday, Nov. 5, 12 Noon at St. Mary). The names of those who had funeral rites in either of our parishes since last year’s Masses of Remembrance will be read at both churches. We will also continue the custom of placing a "Book of Names"near the front of the church as a visible way for us to remember our loved ones who have gone before us. The book is placed in front of the Pascal Candle which, lit for the first time at Easter, symbolizes the Resurrection of Christ in which we and our loved ones hope to share when Christ comes back in glory! These are the same books of remembrance we used last year, so if there are any new names you wish to add to those inscribed you are invited to do so. These books will remain in place through Thanksgiving weekend and the feast of Christ the King, then be put away as we prepare for the beginning of Advent.
And the other highlight of this week is the joyful celebration of the St. Martha Holiday Fair, this Friday 3pm-7pm and Saturday 9am-3pm. As you can see from the cover of this week’s bulletin, there is always an abundance of great food, crafts, and gently used toys and household items, as well as the raffles – including the HUGE themed baskets St. Martha is famous for – with something that is sure to entice everyone’s interests. Thank you to all who donated their time or resources to make this big event possible! We look forward to seeing you there, as people from both parishes and neighbors from all the towns in our area come to enjoy this fun event, which is the primary fundraiser for St. Martha Parish each year and showcases the parish for all who visit.