Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
Church Dedication Anniversary and Time Capsule
This Saturday is another anniversary.  October 26 honors the dedication of our parish’s new church.  At the Mass will be special prayers and readings. The Priest and Deacon will be wearing the new Anniversary vestments.  Immediately after the Vigil Mass will be a gathering at Mary’s grotto for the ceremonial digging up of the time capsule from 25 years ago.  Then we will walk to the PAC to unveil its contents and see a historical display of our Parish.  There will be a light reception and time for sharing and fellowship.  On Sunday morning all are invited to the PAC to view the display and please stay with us for Coffee, Donuts, and Faith Formation. Thank you to all our volunteers who helped put the display together!
 
November 1 Holy Day Masses
This year All Saints Day falls on a Friday and is a Holy Day of Obligation.  Our normal schedule for holy day Masses is 7pm Vigil, 8:30am and 5:30pm.  We normally have a regular 5:30 Mass on Fridays in the Extraordinary Form (the Traditional Latin Mass).  This year the schedule will remain the same, and the 5:30 will also remain an Extraordinary Form Mass.  Since it is a solemnity it will be a High Mass (meaning singing and incense).  So if you are planning on participating at the 5:30 and are unfamiliar with the EF Mass, do not be surprised if it looks slightly different.  There are booklets available that can help a person follow the Mass parts. But do not worry it is still the same sacrifice of the Lord, still the same Lord received in Holy Communion, still all the same Catholic saints we honor.
 
“4th Journey” Evangelization Volunteers -
As I mentioned last week, we are in need of volunteers to help reach out to fellow parishioners.  The goal is to reach ALL of them as best we can, including those that we have not seen in a while.  In part this is a practical matter of verifying our records and to know just how many parishioners we have.  This is difficult since the church is not “big-brother” keeping tabs on everyone, and not everyone thinks to stay in contact with the parish if things change. Perhaps people move away, or some become sick or home bound without our knowing.  Sometimes people fall away from the faith and think its too hard to come back.  Well, Jesus calls us to reach out!  This is what St. Paul’s life in Christ was all about! So we want to follow his example.  We are calling this “St. Paul’s 4th Journey.”  From St. Paul’s Letters scholars say that St. Paul took three separate missionary journeys as he spread the Gospel among the Gentiles.  We are under his patronage and we can embody a “4th journey” as we proclaim the Gospel. 
Volunteers would be expected to attend a short training to familiarize them with our goals and then to make 5-7 phone calls per week for about 8-10 weeks. Please the rectory know if you want to help!
 
Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick after Masses
On the weekend of November 23,24 we will offer the sacrament of anointing of the sick for those who desire it immediately following all three Masses.  This sacrament celebrates the sanctifying grace God gives to bring us healing and the strength to unite our sufferings more with His Son’s Passion.  This sacrament, like all the sacraments, offer particular graces, thus one must be disposed well to receive them.  One may receive this sacrament if one is actively dying, but it is not limited to that circumstance.  One who truly suffers “under the burden of years” may also receive it.  Finally, as the name shows, one who is truly suffering with sickness.  While the sickness may not be mortal, the church assumes it is serious in nature or truly debilitating.  Someone with a cold or a broken arm or just “feeling down” should not receive it.  While we hope offering the sacrament on a weekend will be helpful for people to receive it, this is not the only opportunity.  If you or someone you know are in need of this sacrament, but cannot come that weekend, please call the rectory.  
 
 
Sincerely in Christ,
 
Fr. Pfr