Most Catholics know that Halloween is the vigil of the feast of All Saints which is on November 1. Halloween means “All Hallows Eve”, the word hallow being an old form of the word holy. When we pray the Our Father, we say “Hallowed by Thy name”, “Holy be Your name”.

November 2 is the feast of All Souls, a day to pray for the dead who are saved but who are not yet in heaven; they are in purgatory being purified of sin to prepare for heaven.

November is the month of the dead, a time to ponder our eternal destiny and to hope and pray for eternal salvation for ourselves and our loved ones.

November 1, the feast of All Saints, a holy day of obligation for Catholics, is an affirmation that all of us are called to holiness, not just famous canonized saints, but all of us. This feast teaches us that holiness is not only for a few, but that ordinary people are capable of true holiness.

There are holy mothers and fathers, holy priests and nuns, holy lawyers and carpenters, holy fast food restaurant workers and holy truck drivers. No matter our state in life or our jobs, holiness is possible for all of us. We are inspired by the stories of the canonized saints, but the presentation of these stories can sometimes make it seem that holiness is only for a few, not for all of us. Sainthood is possible for everyone because Jesus came to call all of us to salvation.

I like the feast of All Souls even more than the feast of All Saints. While All Saints demonstrates the universal call to holiness, All Souls consoles us that even saints need the forgiveness of sins.

The feast of All Souls assures us that even when we miss the mark of complete holiness because of our sins, God forgives, and even beyond the grave, God purifies us and readies us for heaven.

Both feasts are reassuring because both feasts are about our destiny for heaven. God saves us from our sins, so that we can be truly holy; God also saves us despite our sins, forgiving us when we fail to be completely holy.

As October turns to November, give thanks to God for his saving love for your deceased relatives and friends and for you!

November 1, Feast of All Saints

The Feast of All Saints is a holy day of obligation, and Catholics are expected to attend Mass. Saint Johns will offer our usual three daily Masses: 7:45, 12:05 and 5:15.

Hong Kong

I was invited to preach the annual retreat for the priests and bishops of Hong Kong from November 4- 8. I am honored to have been asked. I have worked with Chinese Catholics in the USA since my ordination in 1991 and this is my first opportunity to offer ministry to Chinese Catholics in Asia. I will leave for Hong Kong on November 1.

Christ in the City

For the past two and a half years, Catholic young adult missionaries have been working among homeless people in our neighborhood. There are many social service agencies which provide food, clothing and shelter, but these young missionaries simply meet people living on the street and befriend them. They learn their names and offer to pray with them. They listen to their stories. Christ in the City affirms the dignity of people living on the street. Noah, one of the missionaries who visits homeless people in the Saint John’s neighborhood will speak at all of our Masses this weekend, October 26- 27. There will be no second collection, but Noah will invite us to offer ongoing direct support to Christ in the City.

Gospel of Luke Zoom Class

Begins December 4, 7- 8:30 PM. Last year, retired Villanova Scripture Professor Paul Danove, offered a weekly class on the Gospel of Mark. The class was well received. This year, beginning December 4, he will teach the Gospel of Luke. If you wish to receive zoom invitations each week to the class, please email Fr. Tom below.

A long time and beloved member of Saint John the Evangelist, Marc Hoyer, died recently. 

Services will be held on Saturday, November 2nd at Saint Matthias Church, 128 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 Visitation/Viewing from 9 am to 10:45 Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am Please keep Marc and his family in your prayers. Marc was active at Saint John’s and he truly loved our parish.

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