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Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 2, 2022

Dear friends,

The Staff, Fr. Vincent and I along with the core team for the picnic have been meeting for over 8 times on Monday and Tuesday (26 and 27 Sept) to decide on the impact of hurricane IAN as it kept tricking us with lots of changes on its path. It meant that we were almost changing decisions at every one of the meetings especially regarding the closure of the office and the week day Masses. Hurricane Ian proved to be quite unpredictable. Though the Masses had been cancelled for some days, I still celebrated the Masses for the intentions of the donors and for your intentions.

A very active and dedicated group of volunteers have been working for nearly two months in preparation for the festivities scheduled for this Sunday, 2 October, which included celebration of the Mass by Bishop John Noonan, a Eucharistic procession, and a parish picnic. Sadly, all those festivities had to be postponed. I want to thank all these wonderful people for their dedication to our parish. I’d also like to thank those who responded with intent to attend the celebrations and those who donated water, sodas, and cookies for the picnic. Thank you, again, for your time and efforts in planning to make this event a meaningful one. It seems God has other plans. All we can do is to say like Mother Mary: Let your will be done.

I was very much hoping to have a ground-breaking ceremony for the grotto on Sunday, October 2nd, but that was not possible due to hurricane Ian.   It looks like we may begin on 1 November, the Feast of All Saints which will be a great day. I will keep you posted on the progress after the meeting with all those involved in the construction project.

Congratulations are due to Joanne Fusco, the recipient of the Family of the Monty award for September sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Thank you, Joanne, for all you have done for our parish and will continue to do. May God walk with you and enable to serve Him with even more vigor and passion.

The month of October is known in the Catholic dioceses of USA as “Respect Life” month. Apart from praying every day of the year for the many unborn children, the month of October is a very special time to pray for life from the moment of conception to natural death. The number of abortions performed in the USA alone is mind boggling with some of the cities becoming the murder capitals of the country and perhaps the world. The Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the US bishops Conference invites Catholics to “practice radical solidarity and unconditional love” for pregnant and parenting mothers. Let us rededicate our efforts and prayers to building “a culture of life and civilization of love.”

Moving from law to culture, Archbishop Lori asks Catholics to “shift the paradigm to what Saint Pope John Paul II described as ‘radical solidarity,’ making the good of others our own good, including especially mothers, babies (born and unborn), and families throughout the entire human lifespan.” He reminds the faithful that “Our Church understands that parents, children, and families need help not just during pregnancy, but throughout the whole of life’s journey because millions of Catholics already accompany their neighbors in such circumstances.”

Let us build a culture of life and civilization of love! May St. Francis of Assisi intercede for us!

Have a blessed week!

With love,

Fr. John