The second full month of autumn begins with the Solemnity in honor of All Saints: those we know through the church’s official process of canonization, and those who may be known only to God who lived lives of great faith, hope, and love. 

The earliest saints were more or less universally acclaimed, particularly those who were martyred. The formal process that is observed today goes back only to about the 10th century.  Since the Church formally recognizes only a fraction of those who are truly saints in eternity, All Saints’ Day gives us the opportunity to honor those who do not have an official day on the Church’s calendar. (Read more…)

In addition to “transitional deacons” who are in formation for the priesthood, the Catholic Church provides an opportunity for men to serve as Permanent Deacons. Those men who are called to the Permanent Deaconate can be married, and they are ordained usually after a period of five years of training and formation. Many permanent deacons have secular jobs to support their families, and strive to balance family, Church, work, and other responsibilities.

Deacons can: Preside at baptisms and marriages. (Read more…)

From the Pastor’s Desk

Praying the Rosary

Traditionally, October is the month when praying the rosary is emphasized. The Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous mysteries of the rosary shed light upon the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and the key role of Mary, His mother, in the story of salvation history.

The rosary is traditionally credited to St. Dominic (1170-1221 AD). According to legend, the Blessed Mother appeared to Dominic in a vision, handed him the rosary and asked him to spread the devotion. (Read more…)

Catholics throughout the world are invited to recommit themselves to the Church’s missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice by observing World Mission Sunday on October 19th. Instituted for the whole Church by Pope Pius XI in 1926, it is traditionally celebrated on the next-to-last Sunday each October.

Today, let us join our brothers and sisters around the world who gather at the Lord’s Table to celebrate, with great joy, our common vocation as missionaries. Our prayers and concrete gestures of solidarity will help build local churches across the globe. (Read more…)

Traditionally, October is the month when praying the rosary is emphasized. The Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous mysteries of the rosary shed light upon the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and the key role of Mary, His mother, in the story of salvation history.

The rosary is traditionally credited to St. Dominic (1170-1221 AD). According to legend, the Blessed Mother appeared to Dominic in a vision, handed him the rosary and asked him to spread the devotion. (Read more…)

This Sunday, October 5th, we celebrate Respect Life Sunday. As Catholics, we are encouraged to promote the dignity of all human life from conception until natural death. We are called to promote the Gospel of Life, and protect and cherish the lives of the elderly, the physically and mentally challenged, and the unborn.  We should never forget that God is the Creator of all life, and all life is precious in His sight.

Pope Francis strongly criticized a “throwaway culture” that places too little value on human life. (Read more…)