Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

November is a special month in the life of the Church, which invites us to pause and contemplate our life and death in the Lord Jesus. November is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory, and reminds us to pray for all those who have died. As nature begins to die in preparation for winter, and the liturgical year enters its final weeks, the Church calls us to contemplate the end of our own life. In contemplating our meeting with the Lord one day, we are challenged to follow Christ more faithfully. For us, this is not some macabre exercise, but rather a realization that with death, life is changed not ended. Death has been overcome in the Resurrection of Christ, and is not a thing to be feared by a Christian as long as we live and die in the Lord.

This November in particular is one full of liturgical richness as we begin with a bang in the glorious Solemnity of All Saints. However, due to the calendar falling the way it does, we get to say goodbye to the green vestments of Ordinary Time a little early, because the rest of the Sundays of November this year are special. On the first Sunday we will celebrate All Souls Day, the second the Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran in Rome, the third the Solemnity of the Dedication Anniversary of CtR(!), the fourth the Solemnity of Christ the King, and the fifth the First Sunday of Advent. As we gather to remember those who have gone before us, and now sleep in the peace of Christ, we pray they might see the Lord face to face. I encourage everyone to take the time to visit the graves of their loved ones, clean them up, and say a prayer for them. Cemeteries are not places to be feared. Those who are there are not really gone, they are simply asleep waiting for the blast of the trumpet announcing that the Lord is coming in glory.

There are many wonderful opportunities to gather and celebrate together at CtR this month. We are honored to host the Archdiocesan DisAbility Conference on Saturday, November 8, welcoming ministry leads, clergy, catechetical leaders, families, and educators from across the diocese for engaging sessions and practical resources to ensure our parishes are a welcoming home for all. The next weekend, on Saturday, November 15, our CtR Catholic School will host its 12th annual Chili Cook-Off - its biggest fundraiser of the year. All are invited to join us for this fun, family-friendly event filled with great food, fellowship, and community spirit. On Wednesday, November 19, we will gather for our Volunteer Appreciation Mass and Reception to express our heartfelt gratitude to all who share their time and talents in service throughout the year to make our parish family so vibrant and faith-filled.

Lastly, we will celebrate the great American holiday of Thanksgiving. In our culture Thanksgiving gets forgotten more and more each year in favor of jumping to Christmas. Nevertheless, as Catholics we should glory in this national tradition because it is deeply Catholic. At the heart of Catholic Christianity are the actions of gratitude and thanksgiving. The Holy Mass is THE Banquet of Thanksgiving. We are called to remember that everything we have, even our life, is a gift from God. Without His generosity we would not be here, much less have all the good things of life and family. If you ever wondered what Christianity really is about, just remember the dialogue we say every day in Mass. “Lift up your hearts…we lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God…it is right and just.” Let us remember to cultivate that kind of thanksgiving in our lives, eat some turkey, and have a spirit-filled beverage for Father!

May the Souls of all the Faithful Departed, Through the Mercy of God, Rest in Peace. Amen.

P.S. On the weekend of November 22nd and 23rd I will be away from the parish presiding at the wedding of my first cousin in Louisiana. She is the last of my first cousins to be married, and as the family priest/cousin, the job falls to me with great joy. So, if you can, please say a prayer for Kelli and Zachary as they start their new lives together as husband and wife. They are two peas in a pod.

Fr. Mark.