Dear Friends:
As we come to the end of the month of October, we see all around us signs of the dying of nature. The Church echoes this in her liturgy during the month of November as we come to the end of the liturgical year and prepare to launch into Advent. It is no accident that the month of November begins with two liturgical celebrations focused on the “after-life” or what follows death. On November 1, we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints when we remember “holy men and women of every time and place” as the opening prayer for this feast once prayed. In celebrating the saints, we rejoice in the lives of holiness and fidelity that they lived, lives that serve as models and encouragement to us as we make our pilgrim journey through life. We remember that they are friends of God and our friends who can pray for us even now. On November 2, we remember All Souls, our beloved dead, who, undergoing final purification before entering into the life of heaven, are in need of our prayers. The entire month of November is dedicated to commemorating the faithful departed, and all of us have loved ones numbered among them. I, for one, make it the practice that whenever there is no obligatory celebration for a given day, I celebrate the Mass for all the deceased. Know that your loved ones will be included in my prayers.
By way of reminder, this Friday, November 1, is the Solemnity of All Saints and a holy day of obligation. There will be four Masses on that day: at 7:00 AM and 12:05 PM at St. Mary’s and at 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM at St. Agnes’.
I have received a few complaints about the impending change in the Mass schedule that will be implemented on January 2. I will say again in response to these complaints that the changes are being made at the direction of the Archbishop. I am not trying “to close” St. Agnes’ (as anyone would note seeing that the new schedule eliminates a Mass both at St. Agnes’ and St. Mary’s). Finally, the schedule is designed to be able to be covered by a single priest if ever necessary. I should also say that, under Canon Law, the pastor has sole authority over the parish schedule and that he can set it as he sees fit. In my defense, I did consult with both the parish clergy and the parish council before deciding to make the changes that I did.
One more thing needs to be said. We are now nearly seven and half years into the life of our merged parish. Everyone needs to think less of churches and more of the parish as a whole. Flexibility and openness is what is called for on the part of everyone. If your preferred Mass is being eliminated in January, choose another Mass even if it is in the “other church.” While churches are important nostalgically, our faith is grounded in Jesus Christ, not in a particular building. By way of some perspective, my home parish in Waterbury when I was a child was one of the five largest parishes in the Archdiocese of Hartford. That church is now closed, with no Masses being celebrated there at all. Yes, that is sad, very sad, but the Church, the Faith, lives on.
The practice of praying for vocations to the priesthood has been bearing fruit. This fall five men entered the seminary, and next fall, eleven are being admitted. We must thank God for the blessing of vocations, be they to the priesthood, the diaconate, the religious life, married life, or the single life. All are vocations. All are God’s chosen paths for those whom he calls to holiness and fulfillment.
Finally, it is that time again. Next Saturday evening, before retiring, set your clocks back one hour as Eastern Standard Time begins.
Have a good week!