Pastor's Weekly Message

Solemnity of All Saints, 1 NOV 2026

†

HS

              JMJ               

My Dear Fellow Saints-in-the-Making,

Greetings in Christ our Lord and God Who makes us holy!

A glorious Solemnity of All Saints! As we glorify God on this day for all His saints, those known to us and those unknown to us, we are encouraged by so great a cloud of witnesses (see Hebrews 12:1), who intercede unceasingly for us that one day, through God’s merciful Grace, we, too, might be in Heaven among all the saints, so that this Solemnity will be our very own as well. We are, after all, Saints-in-the-Making, and God has created us to be nothing less. Let us endeavor to live up to so noble a call as sanctity, for “we can do all things through Christ Who gives us strength” (Philippians 4:13). And may the saints of God help us on our pilgrim way to Heaven.

***

My heartfelt congratulations to both the coordinators of the annual Oktoberfest (held on October 18) and the newly-launched Asian Luncheon (held on October 25 in honor of St. Jude). Both events were sell-outs and unforgettable memories were made with our parish family members. I am very grateful to the organizers for bringing us even closer together as a parish family as we celebrate that the Catholic Church truly reaches all cultures throughout the world. God is good!

*** 

As we celebrate the Feast of All Souls on Monday, November 2, with both the 8am Mass and a special 6pm Mass remembering our beloved deceased by name from the past year, I must share with you that this year, All Souls Day will be meaningfully different for me, with my father’s recent passing on October 21. I shall be able to pray for the eternal repose of all of our loved ones who have gone before us, including both my parents. What a comfort and a consolation that Holy Mother Church offers the gift of the Mass to commend the deceased to the Mercy of God. As we join together in this spiritual work of mercy, we pray for all souls to be granted God’s clemency and grace for their everlasting rest.

***

My sincerest and most heartfelt gratitude to you, my parish family, for your spontaneous compassion and sympathies as I mourn the recent loss of my beloved Dad. Your thoughtful cards, Mass intentions, memorial candles and words of encouragement, prayer, and support mean so very much to my family and to me. I am exceedingly grateful to God for all of you. 

Let us remember that we are a people of hope and that the Lord has promised eternal life to those who eat of His Flesh and drink of His Blood. And the Lord always keeps His promises. I am profoundly comforted and trust with unwavering confidence that Dad and Mom, who were faithful Catholics their entire lives, received the Eucharist weekly, and received their Last Rites and the Apostolic Pardon, are now reunited before our loving and merciful God. This brings me immeasurable joy. For my parents are now, I trust wholeheartedly, more than my parents and more than my friends, as they were on earth; they are now among my most beloved patron saints, interceding for my family and me. May God be praised! They are interceding also for you my parish family, for you made them feel so very welcome and loved. I am so very grateful to you.

God love you! I do.

Fr. Lewis