Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Sunday Mass Schedule Update
As you know the current Sunday Mass schedule is finishing our ten week trial period.  Having listened to people’s suggestions during this time, parish council met to discern our next steps.  We are deciding to continue offering an Extraordinary Form Mass at 9:30am on Sundays and making it a part of our regular schedule into the future. This leads to the question of how our holy day schedule will be affected.  Not only with the EF but due to covid we do not know what to expect for Dec. 8 Immaculate Conception, for Christmas Masses, and for January 1.  Next week we will be soliciting input so that we can put together a Mass schedule for these special days.  
The weekend schedule will remain the same through December, but, while the current schedule works, it is rather “tight” with only minimal buffer time between the Masses. We will seek your input on possible “tweaks” to the schedule.  But again no changes for now.  I will write more about our discernment process in the coming weeks.  Thank you for your patience and flexibility.  With the new Mass schedule, we have gained some new parishioners, and I foresee more registering and finding greater engagement with the parish at large once covid-19 subsides.  

Memento Mori in November
All Souls’ Day Masses - November 2
November is a month when we pray for our faithful departed in a particular way.
Book of the Names of Faithful Departed
At the Sacred Heart Shrine will be the Book of the Names of the Deceased.  Feel free to write in the book the names of loved ones who have died.  Unfortunately due to Covid regulations, we cannot put pens out for you to use, so please bring your own pen.  We will keep these people in prayer throughout the month.
Candle Memorial
This year we are adding another opportunity for a memorial of loved ones. This devotion was practiced here in the past and it was suggested to see if there would be interest again.  If you would like to purchase a memorial candle for $8, please fill out the ticket in the bulletin.  All the candles will be displayed and lit at the Sacred Heart Shrine the last week of November, ending on Friday’s 8:30am Mass on November 27. This Mass will be offered for those in whose memory the candle was given. 

Normally, Holy Cross Cemetery offers bereavement groups opportunity for prayer every month. Due to Covid, that may have changed. I suggest checking with them to see what they can offer.  However, even if individually or with family, it is still always appropriate to visit the cemetery this month. Make a trip and continue to pray for the faithful departed 

Special Indulgence Opportunity 
There is normally a plenary indulgence attached to visiting a cemetery and praying for the dead during the first week of November.  This year that indulgence has been extended to include the whole month of November. So to receive the plenary indulgence: have a sincere desire to be detached from sin, visit a cemetery and pray for the dead, recite an Apostles’ Creed and an Our Father for the intentions of the Holy Father, go to confession and receive Holy Communion at some point this month.  For those who are unable to go out and visit the cemetery or get to Mass, you can receive the indulgence by having detachment from sin, pray the Creed and Our Father for the intentions of the Holy Father, then pray for the dead with prayers of your choice (while praying with an image of Our Lord, the rosary, the Divine Chaplet, etc.), and you must have the desire to fulfill the other requirements (confession and Holy Communion) as soon as you are able.  Regarding the last two requirements, you can call the rectory to set up a pastoral visit from me.  I can hear your confession and bring you Holy Communion in order to help you receive the indulgence.

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Pfr.