The Gospel for the Solemnity of All Saints is the Beatitudes from Matthew’s narrative. In eight great statements, Jesus declares blessed the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, the merciful – so many of those whom the world holds in contempt. Each of them will receive the kingdom, expressed in a wonderful variety of ways: they will be comforted, satisfied, shown mercy; they will inherit the land, they will see God, they will be children of God. The Beatitudes show us the way to holiness in an incredibly simple yet challenging way. The last of the Beatitudes is perhaps the most challenging of all. “Blessed are you,” Jesus says at last, when you are persecuted and falsely accused. Rejoice and be glad. For then, you most closely resemble the saints. Today’s solemnity reminds us that the saints are beyond all counting: God is generous. Among them are surely members of our families and friends who have helped us on our way to faith. Let us remember them today and always. Saints of God, pray for us.
On Monday, November 2, the Church celebrates the Commemoration of all the faithful departed. This feast, as we know it, can be traced to Abbot Odo of Cluny (France) in the tenth century, but prayer for the dead has been our custom from the earliest days of the Church. The belief that our prayers can be of assistance to the dead is a treasured tenet of our Catholic faith. All Souls Day commemorates all those who have died, who, we pray, may one day join the saints in the heavenly kingdom. These are the faithful departed who, we pray to God, in his great love and mercy, takes to himself. On this day we pray for all the dead. We pray that they be admitted to the banquet of heaven with all the saints in glory.
Our annual Parish Memorial Mass will be offered at 7:00p.m. on Monday, November 2 - all are welcome to join us.
Now for a few pictures of our Parish Centre
