They Made it!: Happy Solemnity of All Saints! The Saints are cheering us on, interceding for us so that we may be where they are—with God forever. May we remember who we are, beloved sons and daughters of God called to be saints.
Saints II: Fr. Frank Coady received some letters from a parishioner who had corresponded with Mother Teresa decades ago. They are considered 3rd class relics. We are going to put these letters in a frame and make them available for people to see. Additionally, St. John’s Parish in Beloit has relics of St. Padre Pio, St. John Paul II and St. Teresa of Calcutta on display for veneration during this month.
Saints III: It’s a great time to be a saint. Church historian Christopher Dawson said that the history of the Church usually goes through cycles—trouble, crisis, decline, and then renewal. Pope Francis quoted Pope Benedicts XVI of what he told him, “This is the age of sin against God the Creator.” People are rebelling against God. Our response is to be a saint. Dorothy Day, the 20th century American advocate for the poor, said, “It is the saints that keep appearing all thru history who keep things going.”
Saints IV: One of my favorite saint stories is St. Martin of Tours. A converted soldier, Martin met a beggar who was cold. He cut his cloak in half to give it to the beggar. That night in a dream he saw Jesus in the cloak he gave to the beggar. This challenges us to always look for Jesus in the people we encounter, especially the poor and distressed. In fact, I recently read a story of a saint who was a doorkeeper at a monastery. Every time someone knocked on the door, he would say, “I am coming Lord.”
Saints V: Pope Francis recently canonized 14 new saints, including a father of eight and Franciscan friars killed in Syria for refusing to renounce their faith and convert to Islam. Lord, help us be saints by remaining faithful to you even in difficult times!
Our Beloved: Tomorrow is the Commemoration of All Souls also known as All Souls Day, a day which we pray and remember those who have gone before us. It’s a day of hope as well.
Souls II: Fr. Damian and the parish DRE at St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in Hays are having their Parish Religion Education program meet at a local cemetery to pray for the dead. What an awesome example for the students. Burying and praying for the dead is an important corporal work of mercy.
Rest in Peace: Speaking of the deceased, a memorial Mass for deceased priests of the diocese will be held at noon, November 7, at Sacred Heart Cathedral. All are invited to attend. We will read the names of our deceased priests beginning at noon followed by Mass.
Election Day: Please remember to vote on November 5th. Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship is a resource published by the USCCB for the Catholic faithful. You can read the entire document and 6 smaller bulletin inserts online or download a PDF to print in English or Spanish HERE. You can also read a summary of the document in two parts: Part 1 – Part 2, all excellent resources!
CYO Convention: The annual diocesan CYO convention will be held at St. Mary Queen of the Universe Parish, Salina, November 8-10. Please pray for the youth of our diocese as they gather to pray and grow in the Faith together as Disciples on Mission.
Mother’s Heart: The annual diocesan Adoption Mass, which is sponsored by Catholic Charities, will be held at 5 pm, November 8, at Sacred Heart Cathedral. November is National Adoption Month. Anyone is invited to attend the Mass. When I think of adoption, I remember the phrase: ‘you weren’t born in my womb but in my heart.’
Honor: God bless our veterans who fought and died for our country and the freedom of other countries. Please remember them in your prayers on Veteran’s Day, November 11.
Giving: The annual #iGiveCatholic campaign is a great way to donate to our Catholic schools and parishes. This year, GivingTuesday is December 3, 2024, however, the advanced giving phase starts November 18! Thank you for taking advantage of this opportunity.
Drive: Please consider donating to the Annual Communications and Publications Drive. This year, along with the drive, people are also invited to join the St. Gabriel Society, an online group of monthly donors who help our team share the Good News. Please join me in this endeavor. Click HERE to make a one-time gift or join the St. Gabriel Society with a monthly contribution. Thank you for your generous support!
Dilexit Nos: Each morning, I read a few paragraphs on the Holy Father’s latest encyclical, He Loved Us (Dilexit Nos). It is on the human and divine love of the Heart of Jesus. I encourage you to read it and meditate on it. The following is from paragraph #8:
Instead of running after superficial satisfactions and playing a role for the benefit of others, we would do better to think about the really important questions in life. Who am I, really? What am I looking for? What direction do I want to give to my life, my decisions and my actions? Why and for what purpose am I in this world? How do I want to look back on my life once it ends? What meaning do I want to give to all my experiences? Who do I want to be for others? Who am I for God? All these questions lead us back to the heart.
Equal: Pope Frances approved the final document of the Synod on Synodality on October 26,
as members completed the last meeting of the Synod which began on October 2. The official document presents synodality as a style of Christian life and ministry based on the “equal dignity of all the baptized” and a recognition that they all have something to offer to the mission of proclaiming salvation in Christ.
ACTS XXIX: Speaking of our baptism and mission, I am very excited about implementing The Advent of Rescue based on the ACTS XXIX Rescue Project for our diocese that will begin in all the parishes on the First Sunday of Advent, which is on December 1. More information will follow.
25,000: A month or so ago, I blessed the image of Mary, Shield of Peace, which is located at St. Isidore’s in Manhattan. There is a prayer that goes with it. Thus far, there have been more than 25,000 prayer cards distributed throughout the world.
Preparing: We are entering a time of year where the Church, the secular world, and even nature around us is focused on preparing. Preparing for the culmination of the liturgical year with the Solemnity of Christ the King, preparing for the coming of the infant Jesus at Christmas, preparing for family gatherings, preparing for winter, etc. It’s also a time of year when we think about those who have died and gone before us. All this preparation and prayer
for the deceased is also a great reminder to prepare or update your will to ensure your wishes are honored and your loved ones are cared for. A will provides peace of mind and allows you to make a lasting impact on the people and causes you value. You can create a free online will at https://www.mycatholicwill.com/givecfds and take this important step in securing your legacy.
USCCB: My fellow bishops and I will be attending the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) General Meeting in Baltimore November 10 – 14. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to pour out his grace upon our gathering.
Thanksgiving Day: I want to wish you all a blessed and happy Thanksgiving Day. Please pray about attending Mass that day in thanksgiving.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary: Please remember that this Solemnity has been transferred from Sunday, December 8, to Monday, December 9, and that the USCCB issued a statement to all bishops after receiving a clarification from the Holy See that it remains a Holy Day of Obligation on Monday. As a result, many of the Catholic calendars and even the Ordo have it incorrectly published as not a Holy Day of Obligation.
Change: Please don’t forget to change your clocks this weekend as we gain an hour. An extra hour of sleep sounds great!
With my love and prayers,
Bishop Vincke
Inspriation from the Church:
The following are some quotes from Pope Francis in his new encyclical Dilexit Nos on the divine and human love of the heart of Jesus Christ:
“If we find it hard to trust others because we have been hurt by lies, injuries, and disappointments, the Lord whispers in our ear: ‘Take heart, son!’ (Mt 9:2), ‘Take heart, daughter!’ (Mt 9:22). He encourages us to overcome our fear and to realize that, with him at our side, we have nothing to lose” (No. 37).
“Whenever we feel that everyone ignores us, that no one cares what becomes of us, that we are of no importance to anyone, he remains concerned for us” (No. 40).
“Christ asks you never to be ashamed to tell others, with all due discretion and respect, about your friendship with him. He asks that you dare to tell others how good and beautiful it is that you found him” (No. 211).
“In a world where everything is bought and sold, people’s sense of their worth appears increasingly to depend on what they can accumulate with the power of money. We are constantly being pushed to keep buying, consuming, and distracting ourselves, held captive to a demeaning system that prevents us from looking beyond our immediate and petty needs. The love of Christ has no place in this perverse mechanism, yet only that love can set us free from a mad pursuit that no longer has room for a gratuitous love. Christ’s love can give a heart to our world and revive love wherever we think that the ability to love has been definitively lost” (No. 218).
“The wounded side of Christ continues to pour forth that stream which is never exhausted, never passes away, but offers itself time and time again to all those who wish to love as he did. For his love alone can bring about a new humanity” (No. 219).
