Letter from the Pastor
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November 7, 2021The month of November is the month of transition. We leave behind the beautiful and colorful scenery of the falling leaves in October, and we get the first glimpses of the barrenness that awaits us in the winter, with a few cold days.
November also reminds us of our faith’s rich and beautiful teachings on eternity. We begin with the fact that we are sojourners, pilgrims on earth on the way to our final destiny or purpose: God and eternity. We ought to keep in front of our eyes our final goal as we live here on earth. November reminds us of our own personal transition from this life to eternal life.
November also celebrates the entire Church. We begin the month by celebrating those who shine in glory, the saints, those who fulfilled their destiny. They behold the glory of God, they are perfected and their entire being is filled with heavenly joy. It is the Church Triumphant.
The next day we remember our brothers and sisters who died yet not perfect, some stain or residue of sin clung to them and now they are to be purified by the fire of God’s love. The burning desire to be with the One you love the most. In this month we pray for the Holy Souls so that they quickly may enter into God’s Presence. They have been saved, so we rejoice with them, but we must help them with our prayers to attain Heaven. For this is the Church Suffering.
We, who are still on our journey, pray for the Holy Souls, as the Saints pray for us. We are the Church Militant, still fighting the good fight of faith and living out the Gospel in our daily struggles and life.
November also gives us a chance to think about our own death, not in a morbid way but by prudently planning for own death and entrance to eternity. Sadly today for some families, one has to ensure that your requests for Catholic burial and funeral Masses are known by your family, written in our will, or better pre-planned at the Funeral Home. As more and more of the younger generations live without their Catholic faith, they don’t give their parents the privilege of the Catholic Mass and burial. It is the privilege and the right of every Catholic to be honored with a Funeral Mass. However, to save the money for themselves, they directly cremate the deceased, no wake, no Mass, no burial. Perhaps, when they get around to it, they may take Mom off the shelf or mantel, or collect the ashes from the funeral home and bury the remains. How many urns are kept for months indeed years at funeral homes because the family doesn’t pick up the ashes? So it is important to let your wishes be known and written down for your Christian burial.
November is a beautiful time of the year. It helps us confront a reality of life, death. However, we know with the certainty of faith that death does not end our existence, nor does it destroy the bonds of love we have for those who have died. St. Paul rightly wrote: Love never dies.
The offertory collection is a very symbolic act. It is not just giving the envelope, but rather it has a rich history in the liturgy. What started as giving food and wine developed into giving money . The phrase, “passing the basket or plate” has changed because people are carrying less cash with them, online giving and Covid. Since we cannot exchange things, we haven’t been able to “pass the baskets”. We have one basket at the entrance of the Church, where you can leave your donation.
I like the idea of “giving” at the offertory time of the Liturgy. So we will need at least 4 ushers per Mass to help collect the offertory with baskets that will be held by the ushers. I hope to start this new procedure the First Sunday of Advent, November 28th. In the meantime, we will keep the basket at the entrance of the Church.
