31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
With Halloween on Monday, I am wondering how many Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton’s there will be showing up at my door??
You may have been discouraged this election year, you may even be considering not going out to vote at all. Please keep in mind that
there is a lot at stake. There is more than the presidency on the ballot. We as Catholic’s need to show up and be heard by our vote. We
have given you a few pamphlets to read, in forming your conscience, in the bulletin over the last month, I am hoping you took the time
to read them. At this time in our country’s history, we need to be praying that the Lord will lay his hand on our nation, that it will turn
back to Him.
Secondly with Halloween on Monday, I want to remind you, even if the stores have had Halloween stuff out for months now. Even if
your kids have changed what they want to be for Halloween for the 4th time.; Halloween is not what we as Catholic’s should think of
first. Halloween is All “Hollows’ Eve” , the night before the Holy Day of Obligation ,”All Saints Day” which is November 1st.
We first remember ALL saints in Heaven. Not just those who have a day on the Church Calendar, but all those who have been declared
a Saint, even those who are Saints but may never have been formally declared so by the Church. Saints are those who are in Heaven,
those we can ask to intercede for us. If you have a Saint that you pray to, maybe you are named after a Saint or share a name with one,
there may be a patron saint for your career. If you have not checked, what a wonderful thing to do on All Saint’s day. Do some research
and find about them and what their history is. I know I have done this for St Denis (he only used 1 ‘n’) about 15 years ago.
We will be having both a morning Mass at 8:00 am and an evening Mass at 7:00 pm to honor all the Saints on Nov 1st.
After we honor all the Saints, we remember ALL Souls on Nov 2nd. On All Souls, we remember all of those who have gone before us.
Our Grandparents, our parents, for some a spouse and for some their children. I know I will be remembering my parents (Elmer and Do)
and my grandparents in a very special way on Wednesday. I would like to apologize to you, with these wonderful days of remembrance
falling on the weekend in recent years, there has been some confusion about how things have happened in the past.
Please NOTE: there will be both a morning Mass at 8:00 am for All Souls and a 7:00 pm Mass for All Souls. The reading of the names
will take place at the 7:00 pm Mass on All Souls day.
Blessings,
Fr Backer