“May the Lord open to them the gates of Paradise, that they may return to that homeland, where there is no death, where eternal joy endures.”
(A funeral antiphon)
This past week we celebrated the commemoration of all the Faithful Departed/All Souls Day. November is a month that we call to mind our beloved dead. It is a great opportunity to pray for all the deceased or make a visit to a cemetery. We all have family or friends that are gone but
not forgotten and the call is not to forget to pray for them as an act of charity. Such a day is also a reminder that we will all face our last day here on earth. November can be a time to look ahead and ask ourselves, are we ready for that moment? Spiritually? Emotionally? Also on the material side of things, have we prepared for all the end of life decisions? Funerals can be a great struggle for families with so much to consider in a short period of time. Looking ahead and making decisions and preparations can lift such a burden from other family members as they mourn.
The cemetery Association of Stevens Point is meeting this month. They do a great job caring for the final resting place of so many families. Cemeteries are a place of prayer, a sacred place and a place of closure for those who mourn. Cremation has grown in popularity and for most of us in the USA it is not attached to a non-christian mindset. Ashes are to be buried or interred, not kept in someone’s residence. Burial or interment is a help in the journey of grief and mourning. I encourage you to consider this year’s diocesan Annual Appeal, the manner and level that you can participate in. Pray over your role as a co-worker of the Gospel and how you can support its works here in our diocese.
I make a pitch for you to plan to stop out next week at St. Casimir for the annual Pancake Breakfast that will start at 8:30 am. Since I am not doing the cooking, it will be great!
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