All Saints
After the closing 40 Hours procession with the Blessed Sacrament, in which the children lined the path with rose pedals, Fr. McGuire places the Host back into the tabernacle.
50 souls, walking and praying with candles, attended our final public Fatima Rosary procession for the year.
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Daily Sermons
October 26 – Fr. Lehtoranta – Sts. Lucian and Marcian
October 27 – Fr. Lehtoranta – The Little Nut Tree
October 28 – Bp. Dolan – Saints Simon & Jude
October 29 – Bp. Dolan – St. Narcissus
October 30 – Fr. Lehtoranta – A Soul Saved Through Mary
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✠ The Bishop’s Corner ✠
Once the glories of our Forty Hours Devotion closed last Sunday evening with a final loving procession, it seems that nature itself took a chill, and gave us a foretaste of cold, wet winter. The sun of the monstrance is all of our warmth and joy and hope. But the sun always returns in God’s mercy, and seems to be with us now as we do the great work of All Saints, All Souls. Many thanks to careful parents who decked their children out as fine saints, and to our school staff for continued help this Sunday as well, including an enjoyable party. I note that last Sunday’s closing refreshments were very well attended, which is always nice to see, friends lingering at church.
The Holy Day coincides with the Sunday this year, but how about “making up” for the missed extra Mass tomorrow? Come for one of the many Masses for the Poor Souls, offered all day long, and say the prayers as well to gain them an indulgence or two. There are also Rosary Cemetery Processions this Thursday and next Sunday. Oh, be sure to give us your All Souls envelope to be placed on the altar today for the month of November. Everything starts this afternoon with the Vespers of All Souls after we honor All Saints with their High Mass and Vespers.
All of Forty Hours went very well this year, with a pretty good attendance throughout. One of my favorite times is Sunday afternoon. Even though I usually forget to schedule adorers and to figure out when we could have lunch, it is a very prayerful, quiet time. One or two devout souls from the 11:30 linger in the sunshine to stay with Our Lord, almost alone now with only flowers, candles, and angels. Eventually the clergy get fed, and organized to adore from the sanctuary. It is a bittersweet moment as we take our watch. We are tired, but know that these are the last hours of the great prayer, and silently, gratefully we take our place before the altar. Soon it will be time for Vespers, but now we may each of us whisper our own hearts’ prayer…
There will be no All Night Adoration this week, due to Forty Hours. But why not come to Mass and Holy Communion of Reparation, and offer it all for the Poor Souls? Let us make this month really count for them.
Fr. McKenna was up to see our prisoners in Northern Ohio last week. He makes another Minnesota/North Dakota visit this week. I’m visiting Louisiana next Sunday, but Fr. McGuire and Fr. Lehtoranta will be here to lead the Cemetery Rosary Procession.
Happy All Saints Day! Be happy, be holy, be a saint!
— Bishop Dolan