PASTOR'S PAGE
Very Reverend John D. Byrnes, JV, JCL
ALL SAINTS / ALL SOULS All Saints Day falls on a Sunday this year….next Sunday! During November, the Church will invite us in a special way to remember “our brothers and sisters who have gone to their rest” (Eucharistic Prayer II). November begins with the celebration of All Saints and All Souls, and throughout the entire month we remember all the faithful departed (all souls being purified in purgatory), including the deceased members of our families. There is an envelope in your packet to list your deceased loved ones for All Souls Day. Although a donation is appreciated, it is not necessary, and all donations will be used for our parish cemetery.
On All Souls Day (Monday Nov 2), Mass will be celebrated at 7:00 PM. At Mass we welcome all parish families who have lost a loved one this year. A candle will be lit for each parishioner who has died and been buried from our parish since November 2019 and placed by the Shrine of Our Lady of Loretto. Due to the Covid -19 restrictions, we are unable to offer a light social this year. All are encouraged to attend this special Mass.
Stewardship projects! This year we have decided not to send our annual 12 Days of Christmas Tickets. I encourage parishioners to help our school by purchasing “The Cougar Cash Calendar” Calendars for $25 which will be available (from any student or at the school) and at the basilica office for your convenience. The calendar will be for the entire 2021 year. A chance to win $20,000.00 in cash prizes. They will make great Christmas gifts!
Special Project - As we move forward, we are still faced with a few technological challenges. During the early days of the pandemic, when the basilica was closed, many appreciated the Sunday Mass which I celebrated, shown on our parish website and on Facebook. This was via Vimeo technology. We are working to enhance our Wi-Fi connection in the basilica (so that we may live-stream Mass and events via Vimeo and upgrade our account to use as our platform to reach our parishioners, students, and community. We are trying to save and set aside money to achieve these goals. Any financial -stewardship help for this is appreciated.
Parents- Now more than ever, you are the primary teachers and examples of the Faith for your children. It is important to get them to Mass on Sundays. I encourage you to do your job…pray with your children, teach them about forgiveness, teach the little ones to memorize their act of contrition. Complete religious education assignments. Things will not be the same for quite awhile…but a reliance on God’s grace and personal determination can bring good things.
A GUIDE FOR VOTERS: Your Role as a Catholic Voter: As I mentioned in last week’s homily, Catholics have a moral obligation to promote the common good through the exercise of their voting privileges (CCC 2240). It is not just civil authorities who have responsibility for a country, “service of the common good requires citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community” (CCC 2239). This means citizens should participate in the political process at the ballot box. But voting cannot be arbitrary. “A well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program of an individual law that contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals” (CPL 4). Some things always are wrong, and no one may vote in favor of them, directly or indirectly. Citizens vote in favor of these evils if they vote in favor of candidates who propose to advance them. Thus, Catholics should not vote for anyone who intends to push programs of laws that are intrinsically evil.
We will have a Parish Council Meeting on Sunday evening November 1 at 6:30 PM
Please offer the following prayer each day…..
Prayer Against Coronavirus - Lord Jesus Christ, our Divine physician, we ask you to guard and protect us from Coronavirus COVID-19 and all serious illness. For all that have died from it, have mercy; for those that are ill now, bring healing. For those searching for a remedy, enlighten them; for medical caregivers helping the sick, strengthen and shield them. For those working to contain the spread, grant them success; for the afraid, grant peace. May your precious blood be our defense and salvation. By your grace, may you turn the evil of disease into moments of consolation and hope. May we always fear the contagion of sin more than any illness. We abandon ourselves to your infinite mercy. Amen
by Pedro de la Cruz
The BASILICA IS OPEN - for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Those who come to Mass or church for personal prayer need to recognize the risk of possible unintended exposure to the coronavirus and refrain if they are sick or at a greater risk of susceptibility to COVID-19.
On All Souls Day (Monday Nov 2), Mass will be celebrated at 7:00 PM. At Mass we welcome all parish families who have lost a loved one this year. A candle will be lit for each parishioner who has died and been buried from our parish since November 2019 and placed by the Shrine of Our Lady of Loretto. Due to the Covid -19 restrictions, we are unable to offer a light social this year. All are encouraged to attend this special Mass.
Stewardship projects! This year we have decided not to send our annual 12 Days of Christmas Tickets. I encourage parishioners to help our school by purchasing “The Cougar Cash Calendar” Calendars for $25 which will be available (from any student or at the school) and at the basilica office for your convenience. The calendar will be for the entire 2021 year. A chance to win $20,000.00 in cash prizes. They will make great Christmas gifts!
Special Project - As we move forward, we are still faced with a few technological challenges. During the early days of the pandemic, when the basilica was closed, many appreciated the Sunday Mass which I celebrated, shown on our parish website and on Facebook. This was via Vimeo technology. We are working to enhance our Wi-Fi connection in the basilica (so that we may live-stream Mass and events via Vimeo and upgrade our account to use as our platform to reach our parishioners, students, and community. We are trying to save and set aside money to achieve these goals. Any financial -stewardship help for this is appreciated.
Parents- Now more than ever, you are the primary teachers and examples of the Faith for your children. It is important to get them to Mass on Sundays. I encourage you to do your job…pray with your children, teach them about forgiveness, teach the little ones to memorize their act of contrition. Complete religious education assignments. Things will not be the same for quite awhile…but a reliance on God’s grace and personal determination can bring good things.
A GUIDE FOR VOTERS: Your Role as a Catholic Voter: As I mentioned in last week’s homily, Catholics have a moral obligation to promote the common good through the exercise of their voting privileges (CCC 2240). It is not just civil authorities who have responsibility for a country, “service of the common good requires citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community” (CCC 2239). This means citizens should participate in the political process at the ballot box. But voting cannot be arbitrary. “A well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program of an individual law that contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals” (CPL 4). Some things always are wrong, and no one may vote in favor of them, directly or indirectly. Citizens vote in favor of these evils if they vote in favor of candidates who propose to advance them. Thus, Catholics should not vote for anyone who intends to push programs of laws that are intrinsically evil.
We will have a Parish Council Meeting on Sunday evening November 1 at 6:30 PM
Please offer the following prayer each day…..
Prayer Against Coronavirus - Lord Jesus Christ, our Divine physician, we ask you to guard and protect us from Coronavirus COVID-19 and all serious illness. For all that have died from it, have mercy; for those that are ill now, bring healing. For those searching for a remedy, enlighten them; for medical caregivers helping the sick, strengthen and shield them. For those working to contain the spread, grant them success; for the afraid, grant peace. May your precious blood be our defense and salvation. By your grace, may you turn the evil of disease into moments of consolation and hope. May we always fear the contagion of sin more than any illness. We abandon ourselves to your infinite mercy. Amen
by Pedro de la Cruz
The BASILICA IS OPEN - for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Those who come to Mass or church for personal prayer need to recognize the risk of possible unintended exposure to the coronavirus and refrain if they are sick or at a greater risk of susceptibility to COVID-19.