"The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. The Church commemorates all her faithful children who have departed from this life but have not yet attained the joys of heaven. St. Paul warns us that we must not be ignorant concerning the dead, nor sorrowful, "even as others who have no hope … For the Lord Himself shall come down from heaven … and the dead who are in Christ shall rise.
The Church has always taught us to pray for those who have gone into eternity. Even in the Old Testament prayers and alms were offered for the souls of the dead by those who thought "well and religiously concerning the resurrection." It was believed that "they who had fallen asleep with godliness had great grace laid up for them" and that "it is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins." We know that a defiled soul cannot enter into heaven".
Excerpted from Liturgical Meditations, The Sisters of St. Dominic
I'm praying for you.
Carlo Stebbings
Director of Faith Formation
Faith Formation News for November
Mark your Calendars!
Monthly/Summer
No Monthly Session in November!
Next Monthly/Family Session is Saturday December 1 starting at 4:30pm at St. Mary's!
***Students in grades 6-8 who are registered for the monthly/summer program can attend an EDGE gathering in place of the Saturday gathering.
FAMLY OF FAITH
Our November meeting is Sunday November 18th, starting at 11am at St. Mary's church. We will go to the noon mass together!
Weekly Programs (K-5th)
No Classes on Sundays 11th and 25th OR Monday 12th.
EDGE Middle School Youth Group (6th-8th grade)
Sunday morning 8:45am-10:00am OR Monday 6:30pm-8:00pm at St. Joseph School
4/5- The Branches!
11/12- No Meeting. Veterans Day Weekend.
18/ 19- Uprooted! and Chosen: How do I know God is real?
25- No Meeting! Happy Thanksgiving!
26- Oxygen!
EMMAUS High School Youth Group (9th-12th)
Sundays from 6:30pm-8:00pm in Youth Room at St. Joseph School
4- Politics
11- No Meeting. Chosen Session
18-Divine Revelation
25- No Meeting! Happy Thanksgiving!
SACRAMENTAL FORMATION
Confirmation
Year 1- Retreat, Saturday Nov 3 from 12:30-5:30pm at Holy Family;
Session 4 Monday Nov 19
Year 2- Sunday November 11th
1st Penance
Large Group, Lesson 5 on November 15th or 17th
Lesson 6 at home.
Retreat on Saturday December 8