Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I cannot thank you all enough for the blessing of last week’s Installation Mass. I think more than anything it is a testament to the spirit of this parish that so many would come out and celebrate as a community this new chapter of our history. It was beautiful to see representation from all the different organizations in the parish: school families, scouts, the Knights of Columbus, the Knights and Dames of Malta and the Holy Sepulchre, the choir, the many councils and committees. Moreover, so many not only came, but also offered their time and talent in preparing and cleaning up. A special thank you to the priests who joined as well, and to our Deacons Frank and Tom who are certainly an incredible blessing to this parish.
Looking ahead, a few things to take note of. The response to the Prayer of St. Michael was overwhelmingly in support. I understand not all were in favor, but particularly in light of Pope Francis’ encouragement, I believe there will be a great benefit in invoking his protection at each daily and Sunday Mass. There’s a great quote: “The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world he doesn’t exist.” One of the terrible dangers of the spiritual life is forgetting that the devil is real and trying to corrupt souls and pull the world away from God. St. Michael’s particular mission is to prevent that, so in these times it seems especially appropriate that we call on him.
This coming week, we celebrate All Saints’ Day on November 1st and All Souls’ Day on November 2nd. All Saints’ Day is a Holy Day of Obligation. It’s a beautiful day where we have an opportunity to give thanks to the many saints who intercede on our behalf and we celebrate the model of holiness they give us. All Souls’ Day, while not being a day of obligation, is an opportunity to come to the Church and pray for those souls making their journey to heaven through purgatory. Especially when it comes to our departed loved ones, the greatest gift we can give them is our prayers, through which they feel our love and are sped on their way. So I hope to see everyone at Mass on both of these feasts, where we begin our reflection on eternity which will wind up our year and prepare us for a new year in Advent. Thank you again, and have a blessed week!
Yours in Christ,
Father Scolaro
