First of all, I want to wish all our Mothers living and deceased a Holy and Joyful Mother’s Day! These indeed have been trying times for all of us, but there is light at the end of this horrible tunnel. Hang in there with Our Lord, and He will see us through this, and we can come back again as an assembly to worship at Holy Mass.

Greetings to all and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you a Healthy, Happy and Holy New Year! Many people over the years, since I’ve been a Deacon, have asked me, why do we suffer at times?” Why does God allow it? Am I being punished? Does suffering have a purpose?

In November, or anytime, when we talk of the holy souls in Purgatory, we could say that they aren’t wholly holy. they’re more….holey holy. Here’s how the glossary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church defines Purgatory: “A state of final purification after death and before entrance into Heaven for those who died in God’s friendship, but were only imperfectly purified, a final cleansing of human imperfection before one is able to enter the joy of Heaven”.

My how the year is flying! It seems like we just celebrated Easter. Anyway in the month of November, we especially remember the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Why should we pray for the souls in Purgatory? We pray for them just as we’re called to pray for those still living on earth. And we pray for them because we’re part of the Communion of Saints.

Each year during the month of October, we recommit ourselves to the establishment of a culture of Life and to do all we can in prayer (especially the Rosary), in word and in action to protect and defend the lives of all, especially the most vulnerable among us.