This week let us include in our prayers….. 

• The people of the world who dedicate their lives to the service of others, may they have the strength and courage to carry out their life work.   

• For all of those who have gone before us, may their souls find peace in the Kingdom of Heaven; 

May these prayers and all those we hold in our hearts, be felt by those who need them most.  

Sunday’s Gospel- All Saints Day 

Please find shared in this week’s newsletter: the Sunday prayer at home which has some wonderful resources to unpack this week’s readings in a family friendly way.    

This Sunday we celebrated the feast of All Saints. This feast originates in the East early in the fifth century as a way of commemoration of all martyrs.  The spirit of the feast is captured in the Preface for this week: 

“For Today by your gift we celebrate the festival of your city, the heavenly Jerusalem, our mother, where the great array of our brothers and sisters already give you eternal praise… Today’s Solemnity goes hand in hand with tomorrow’s commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. On All Saints Day we celebrate the glory of God’s holy ones; on All Souls’ Day we intercede with trust and confidence for those who have gone before us but whose fate we do not know.”  

This week’s Gospel reading of the beatitudes is one that we are all very familiar with and have often heard repeated over the years, especially at funerals. I remember it quite distinctly being read at my Grandmother’s funeral. Despite its familiarity, the challenge to read it with a new lens, as if one has never heard it before. The beatitudes are steeped in Jewish tradition. This scripture can bring great comfort.  

All Souls Day – 2nd November 2020 

All Souls Day (2nd November) is an intensely personal celebration. When we die, we die alone, and the day reminds us of our own mortality. It also calls to mind the members of our own families and our friends who have died. For many people it is a day for visiting the graves of people whom we love. As we remember the people who have gone before us, we affirm their value. The respect we show them also encourages us to show equal respect to the people still living.  All Souls Day asserts that the value of human beings is not cancelled in their death, and that the value of the living cannot be measured by their wealth or success, but by their simple humanity. The memory of those we love who have died leads us to gratitude for the way in which they have shaped our lives and possibilities. It also encourages gratitude for the world in which we are part.  

You are welcome to join the parish who will be having a Liturgy of the Word with Communion on Monday 2nd November at 7pm in the church.  

Mission Day 

On Friday we acknowledge Mission Day and learn more about the social teachings of our church. Each day this week we will unpack a different element of social teaching, as the students learn more about what it means to be a Catholic. The key messages this week are to give, support and help those who are in need. The lessons throughout the week have been designed to engage the students head, heart and hands in issues of mission and social justice. These lessons will be accumulated on Friday 6th November when they are invited to wear crazy/odd socks to school. Students will be expected to still wear their school uniform. In the middle session on Friday the students will be participating in a JOY Activity. Joy stands for Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last. The teachers will lead the activities to allow the students have JOY!  Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, not a special gift only given to a select few. If we follow the example of our Pope Francis, his very countenance radiates authenticity, kindness, joy and the love of God.  

May St Joseph smile on you,  

Meg Newell 

APRE/CST