Dear Sisters and Brothers,
The Solemnity of All Saints is one of my favorite feast days, because we celebrate how holiness is possible in ordinary circumstances, in suffering and struggle, in silence, and in boldness. There are many paths to walk with Jesus. Among the newest blesseds (those who have been beatified, the final step before canonization), are Blessed Carlo Acutis, the teenager who combined his tech skills with his love for the Eucharist to create a website to foster devotion to the Eucharist (and who died of leukemia in 2006 at age 15) and Blessed Fr. Michael McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus, who studied for the priesthood here in Baltimore at St. Mary’s Seminary. For those who might be counting, we now have two saints and two blesseds who have Baltimore connections, the others being St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. John Neumann, and Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, a Redemptorist priest who served in four different parishes in the Archdiocese. In short, saints come in all shapes and sizes, live their faith in many ways, and come from every time and place... even Baltimore, hon! Let us give thanks this weekend that God’s grace and the call to holiness are abundant.
On Monday we observe the Commemoration of All Souls, the day we set aside to pray in a special way for all who have died. We are joined together in a most unique way in our grief, for no one is immune to the pain of loss. This year has been a particularly difficult time for those who have lost a loved one, as grief has been exacerbated by the limitations of the pandemic... some could not gather for a funeral, others could not experience the consolation of an embrace because of physical distancing or a caring smile because it was hidden by a mask. Let us continue to pray for one another and for those who mourn. Due to the pandemic, we will not be having our annual Mass of Remembrance. However, at the 9:00am morning Mass on Monday, we will remember our parishioners who were buried from Seton Parish this past year. At the conclusion of the General Intercessions I will read their names. Please join us virtually or in person so that we may pray for our loved ones who have gone before us in faith.
Congratulations to Michael Rampulla who will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation at the 5:30pm Mass this Sunday!
So far we have received 156 bags for the Thanksgiving Food Drive. Christmas giving programs begin this weekend. Details and important dates for Gift Cards for Kids, Marian House, Adopt-A-Family, Saint Gregory’s and Christmas Dinners are in the bulletin and on the Parish website. Click on the link here for more information.
Don’t forget to submit your child’s art for the parish Christmas card before the November 8th deadline. The submission form is on the website and social media.
The 9:30 Mass is once again at full capacity this week. If you were planning to attend as a walk-in please attend a different Mass or watch the service online.
Here is this Sunday’s Worship Aid
A reminder....
I encourage you to sign up for weekend Masses through the parish website or FaceBook page. The link is available after the 9:30 Mass each Sunday UNTIL Wednesday evenings at 10:00pm. We are seeing an increase in walk-ins to Masses as of late. If you come to Mass without signing up, we cannot guarantee you a seat. Don’t forget to wear your mask, use hand sanitizers in the Narthex and keep your social distance as you approach the Main Entrance of the Church!
As usual, we will continue to live-stream Mass (Mon—Thurs at 9:00am and Sunday at 9:30am) on the parish Facebook (link) and uploaded on YouTube (link), and our parish website, https://www.seaseton.org/Resources/Media. If you do not have Facebook but wish to watch our livestream, click here for instructions.
Have a good week!
Fr. Paul