Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus our Lord,

Christ’s Blessings to everyone. Here comes the month of November in the middle of the fall season. The first week of November we start the new liturgical year with the Advent Season, right after the All Saints and All Souls remembrance. This Season prepares us for Christmas and the Nativity of the Lord Jesus. This season of hope and waiting for the Christ, the Savior awaited by all generations to come and save the World from sin and slavery and bestow his peace on Earth. This is how the Gospels described the coming of Jesus. Incarnated and born of the Virgin Mary’s womb in total humbleness and poverty to teach us forgiveness and repentance, purification and care. Let us take this example in our lives. Let our lives and souls prepare a place in our hearts for the Child of the Nativity and seek his peace and salvation.

I proudly continue to say that Holy Family parish is an exceptionally blessed community because of its so many dedicated and committed members and friends. Thank you all for your support and assistance to my service as pastor during the past seven years of my appointment to this beautiful parish.

The last Saturday of October, a Halloween party was held and attended by a large number of our children. The children enjoyed everything about from the food to the activities to the treats prepared by the sponsors. Thank you sponsors, for a job well done. The Halloween for Christian Faith is the feast of Holy souls of the Saints. We pray to them to intercede for us against the evil spirits that threaten our souls and our salvation.

November starts with two major feasts that mark the beginning of the new Liturgical year, which begins with Advent from the beginning of November until Christmas. The first Feast is All Saints Day on Monday, November 1. The second event is All Souls remembrance on Tuesday, November 2. On November 2, All Souls Remembrance, Catholic Cemeteries open their doors and gates, and Christians, during the day, make their annual visits to the tombs of their departed beloved ones, placing flowers, roses and candles on their memorial stones, and offering prayers for the repose of their souls.

The parish remembers her departed family members around the year by offering masses that are celebrated on the church altar on daily basis. The list of Memorial masses is printed in the monthly bulletin. (If you or somebody you know is not receiving the bulletin please contact the church office.)

Thank you to all of our generous donors. Their good work continues to make a difference in the community, in the spirituality and souls, through educational and spiritual programs. It makes a difference in social assistance and by indirectly covering the church maintenance and upgrading.

May God bless your work and after a long life, may our Lord Jesus bless you and tell you these beautiful words of salvation and reward: "Come, you, the Blessed ones of my Father and inherit the eternal Kingdom of Heaven prepared for the chosen ones before all ages" (Matthew 25, 32).

Although our liturgies are still being broadcast, please be aware of the actions of the Conference of the Catholic Bishops. A few months ago the dispensation from physical church attendance for Sunday Liturgy and east days was limited to the sick and elderly, only. Logically speaking, if you are already going out at least once a week for shopping or social activities, there is no reason or excuse to not respect the day of the Lord.

As always, thank you for the constant efforts of the Faith Formation and MYO teachers and leaders who never stop. Our Faith Formation teachers spend much time and effort trying their best to formulate new ways to keep on with the programs for our children. Hopefully, their efforts are matched by the parents’ commitment and encouragement.

Don’t miss the opportunity to follow the Annual Advent Retreat preparing for Christmas on Saturdays in November and December. I wish you a blessed month of November, thanking the Lord for all the gifts and graces He always bestows upon us.

Yours,

Abouna Emmanuel Nakhle-Ghorr +

Copyright (c) 2021 Holy Family Maronite Church, St Paul. (v2111.01)