Dear friends,
A very special thanks to all of you for your generosity in supporting the Hurricane Ian Disaster Relief Collection to aid in the restoration and rebuilding projects throughout our state.
This weekend, we are honored to have with us Fr. Selva Raj from the Diocese of Kumbakonam in South India. A hearty WELCOME, dear Fr. Selva! Fr. Selva will speak to us about the valiant missionary efforts in a nation that is 80 percent Hindu. Your prayers and monetary assistance will ensure that their good works continue. Checks can be made out to St. John the Evangelist with a note in the memo line stating: Mission Co-op. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
The streets and homes in our neighborhoods are adorned with the colorful decorations that celebrate Halloween. Sadly, most people have no clue as to what they are celebrating. I sincerely hope that we at SJE know the significance of All Hallows Eve, the vigil of All SAINTS Day. I do want to thank all who participated in the “Trunk or Treat” festivities on Friday, 28 October, along with those who donated candies and other goodies to entertain our children. I was most happy to see some of our children and adults dressed as angels and saints.
We will be celebrating the Solemnity of All Saints (a Day of Obligation) on Tuesday, the 1st of November, and the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day) on the 2nd of November. Since both of these feasts are so important to our Catholic faith, we will be offering 3 Masses on each of these feast days. Please note the timing of the Masses:
Tuesday, 1 November: All Saints Mass times – 8 a.m., 12:05 p.m., and 7 p.m.
Wednesday, 2 November: All Souls’ Mass times – 8 a.m., 12:05 p.m., & 6 p.m.
We are making progress with our grotto project. Bishop John Noonan will grace us with his presence on 6 November, presiding at the 11 a.m. Mass. Afterwards, he will bless the completed works of Phase 1 and follow with a blessing of the grounds for Phase 2, the grotto. Please come and celebrate.
This weekend, we celebrate the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, and the Scripture readings invite us to reflect on God’s deepest desire to have us all believe in him. Despite his power and glory, he has mercy on us all. The Book of Wisdom (11: 24-26) says, “For you love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made; for what you hated, you would not have fashioned. And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it; or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?” As we end this month of October dedicated to life, we continue to remember that we are people who belong to a God who creates, loves, and preserves life and to commit ourselves to protecting life from conception to natural death. The story of Jesus reaching out to Zacchaeus is a clear demonstration of his desire to include everyone into his kingdom regardless of our sins. Jesus says to Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19: 9). He offers us the same words, extending to us the offer of salvation. Will our hearts, like that of Zacchaeus, be radically changed?
Have a blessed week!
With love,
Fr. John