Fr Satheesh
Dear Parishioners,
This weekend we celebrate the Feast of All Saints, giving thanks for all those holy men and women who have gone before us and now share in the glory of God. Some saints are well known and remembered throughout the Church, while many others lived quietly and faithfully, known only to God and those around them.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us the Beatitudes. He reminds us that holiness is not about being perfect or famous, but about the way we live each day, with humility, gentleness, mercy, compassion, purity of heart and a desire for peace and justice. These are the qualities we see reflected in the lives of the saints.
The saints show us that holiness is possible for every one of us. They were ordinary people who faced difficulties, made sacrifices, loved others and placed their trust in God. Their lives remind us that we do not have to do extraordinary things to become holy. Often, holiness is found in the simple things: caring for someone who is struggling, forgiving when it is difficult, offering encouragement, praying for others, or quietly doing what is right.
The first reading gives us a beautiful image of a great multitude of people from every nation, culture and language standing before God. It reminds us that God's invitation to holiness is for everyone.
As we celebrate All Saints Day, may we be inspired by those who have gone before us and ask ourselves: What small acts of love, kindness and faith can I offer today? May we strive to live the Beatitudes in our own lives and, with God's grace, become saints in the ordinary circumstances of our daily lives.
We celebrate “All Souls Day” on Monday 2 November. There will be Masses celebrated in the morning in our three churches and at OLGC there will be a special Remembrance Mass at 7 pm. More details are in the bulletin. On this day, the Church remembers and prays for the souls of the faithful departed, especially for those still undergoing purification as they await their heavenly rewards. Offering a Mass intention is a beautiful way to honor a loved one’s memory and impart valuable graces on them even after death.
I warmly invite everyone to join us for the Blessing of the Graves on Sunday afternoon as we come together to remember and pray for our loved ones. We gather at St. Martin’s, Davidson for a liturgy at 2 pm and then follows the blessing of the graves. Please join for a cuppa before the 2 pm liturgy on Sunday 1 November.
I also encourage you to join us next Wednesday at 11am at St Martin’s for our Seniors and Parishioners Gathering. Come along, enjoy a lovely morning tea, and spend some time together while hearing from a diabetes and healthy living consultant. It will be a wonderful opportunity for friendship, conversation and learning.
It is always good to remind ourselves of the ways we can make our celebration of Mass more meaningful. I encourage everyone to participate fully and enthusiastically in the liturgy. One simple way we can do this is by responding clearly and confidently during the prayers and responses of the Mass. When we use a voice that can be heard, our participation becomes an important part of the celebration and helps create a more prayerful and engaged community.
I would also like to remind and encourage those who prefer to receive Holy Communion on the tongue to kindly join the Communion queue at the end. This helps the distribution of Communion to run smoothly and allows our Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to easily identify those who wish to receive in this way. Thank you for your understanding and for helping us to maintain a reverent and prayerful atmosphere during Communion.
We wish Fr Shiju a wonderful and safe journey as he travels home to India. Fr Shiju will be away from 3 November and will return on 5 December. We keep him in our prayers and hope he has a joyful and relaxing time with his family and loved ones.
I wish you a happy and peaceful week.
Fr Satheesh Antony OSH, PP
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us the Beatitudes. He reminds us that holiness is not about being perfect or famous, but about the way we live each day, with humility, gentleness, mercy, compassion, purity of heart and a desire for peace and justice. These are the qualities we see reflected in the lives of the saints.
The saints show us that holiness is possible for every one of us. They were ordinary people who faced difficulties, made sacrifices, loved others and placed their trust in God. Their lives remind us that we do not have to do extraordinary things to become holy. Often, holiness is found in the simple things: caring for someone who is struggling, forgiving when it is difficult, offering encouragement, praying for others, or quietly doing what is right.
The first reading gives us a beautiful image of a great multitude of people from every nation, culture and language standing before God. It reminds us that God's invitation to holiness is for everyone.
As we celebrate All Saints Day, may we be inspired by those who have gone before us and ask ourselves: What small acts of love, kindness and faith can I offer today? May we strive to live the Beatitudes in our own lives and, with God's grace, become saints in the ordinary circumstances of our daily lives.
We celebrate “All Souls Day” on Monday 2 November. There will be Masses celebrated in the morning in our three churches and at OLGC there will be a special Remembrance Mass at 7 pm. More details are in the bulletin. On this day, the Church remembers and prays for the souls of the faithful departed, especially for those still undergoing purification as they await their heavenly rewards. Offering a Mass intention is a beautiful way to honor a loved one’s memory and impart valuable graces on them even after death.
I warmly invite everyone to join us for the Blessing of the Graves on Sunday afternoon as we come together to remember and pray for our loved ones. We gather at St. Martin’s, Davidson for a liturgy at 2 pm and then follows the blessing of the graves. Please join for a cuppa before the 2 pm liturgy on Sunday 1 November.
I also encourage you to join us next Wednesday at 11am at St Martin’s for our Seniors and Parishioners Gathering. Come along, enjoy a lovely morning tea, and spend some time together while hearing from a diabetes and healthy living consultant. It will be a wonderful opportunity for friendship, conversation and learning.
It is always good to remind ourselves of the ways we can make our celebration of Mass more meaningful. I encourage everyone to participate fully and enthusiastically in the liturgy. One simple way we can do this is by responding clearly and confidently during the prayers and responses of the Mass. When we use a voice that can be heard, our participation becomes an important part of the celebration and helps create a more prayerful and engaged community.
I would also like to remind and encourage those who prefer to receive Holy Communion on the tongue to kindly join the Communion queue at the end. This helps the distribution of Communion to run smoothly and allows our Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to easily identify those who wish to receive in this way. Thank you for your understanding and for helping us to maintain a reverent and prayerful atmosphere during Communion.
We wish Fr Shiju a wonderful and safe journey as he travels home to India. Fr Shiju will be away from 3 November and will return on 5 December. We keep him in our prayers and hope he has a joyful and relaxing time with his family and loved ones.
I wish you a happy and peaceful week.
Fr Satheesh Antony OSH, PP
