October 25 - November 1, 2026

 

Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, November 1 - Set your clock BACK one hour!

 

Hello and Blessings to all!  This week we are closing out the month of October--Hard to believe!

The Scripture readings for the 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time this weekend are preempted by the Feast of All Saints which are Revelations 7: 2-14; Psalm 24;  1 John 3: 1-3 and Matthew 5: 1-12.  The gospel we reflect on is that of the beatitudes--i.e. how we cooperate with grace to become a saint.  The first reading from Revelation 7 speaks of quite the family picture--a great multitude of God's redeemed People.  And we must ask ourselves if we are in that big family picture??   And the section of 1 John  delights to tell us of God's love for us and asks 'Do we recognize that we are beloved redeemed children of our Creator?             "Oh, when the Saints go marching in...., I do want to be in that number!!!"

Chapel Schedule
Noon Tuesday Eucharist (October 27), Fr. John presiding
Noon Thursday Eucharist (October 29), Fr. Jim presiding
5 pm Saturday  Eucharist (October 31)  ALL HALLOW'S EVE, Fr. Jim presiding
        (I understand that Micah and Shannon's guild have something Halloween-ish happening directly afterwards)

SAYINGS OF THE SAINTS

This saying speaks to me of the need for centering and meditative prayer from St Teresa of Avila from her INTERIOR CASTLE:  "I came to realize by experience that thinking is not the same thing as mindfulness....I had not been able to understand why, if the mind is one of the faculties of the soul, it is sometimes so restless.  Thoughts fly around so fast that only God can anchor them.... It was driving me crazy to see the faculties of my soul calmly absorbed in remembrance of God while my thoughts, on the other hand, were wildly agitated."

In the solitude and silence of the wilderness...for their labor in the contest, God gives his athletes the reward they desire: a peace that the world does not know and joy in the Holy Spirit.'  St Bruno, founder of the Carthusian order.

" I live, but my life is that of Christ.  And in possessing me, my poor Lord possesses nothing.  And I, in possessing Him, possess everything."  St Anthony Mary Claret, founder of the Claretian order.

Have a wonderful Fall week!  Love to all! 

Fr. John, OFP

 

 

Pontifications by Fr. Jim McNeely