It is November and we had our first freeze. Time really flies when we are tied down by the Covid 19. As I wrote before we are still putting names of our beloved dead by the altar for the month of November in honor of All Souls Day, November 2, Dia de los Muertos. You can still fill out the papers at church or email me the names at [email protected] and I'll put them by the altar. May they rest in peace!
We received two additional pledges for the Annual Bishop's Appeal for $300.00 more. Thank you to all who have made pledges. The Appeal runs for a few more weeks, If you haven't pledged, please consider doing so. We are still about $4,000.00 short of our goal.
We are still holding our two Sunday Masses, 8:15 and 10:30 AM. There are usually 15 people at each Mass. We are all masked and keeping social distance from one another. Remember to stay home if you don't feel well. Our Soup Kitchen is still open MWF. Here too all are masked and distance is observed. Our wonderful volunteers continue to come. Please say a prayer for them and their dedication. Our Vincent de Paul Society continues to bring food and aid to shut ins. A prayer for them would help, too. Deacon Mel has started a Confirmation Class and our Good Shepherd group is now emailing the families involved. Cheryl Ashe continues to try to video our 10:30 Mass, sometimes with more success than others. Our Tolton Society has recently sent a donation of $800.00 for the beatification of Father Tolton. Now that the cause is in Rome, more money is needed. Faith in St. Joe County and here in the parish continues to meet via zoom. Of late the group has been calling people and urging them to vote. If you haven't voted yet, please do.
Today, November 1, is the Solemnity of All Saints. Tomorrow, November 2, is the Feast of All Souls. It is good that the Church has put these commemorations back to back. It reminds us that we are all in this together, we the living and the dead. We are all part of the Church and can pray for one another. All Saints celebrates all those who are saints in heaven. All Souls celebrates all those who are in heaven who have not officially been declared saints and those who have died and are waiting to get there.
Our first reading is from the Book of Revelation and gives us John's vision of heaven. "After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people and tongue." Jesus has offered his invitation to heaven to all. In our second reading we hear from John again. "Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are." As God's children, if we live the way he wants us to, heaven is his gift to us. In today's Gospel, Matthew gives us the beatitudes, a path to glory. Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers, the persecuted for the sake of righteousness. "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven." As Church, we are part of this great adventure. We are asked to help build God's kingdom here and now by loving God and each other.