May Jesus Christ our comforter and strength, be with you!

"There is an increasing tendency to deny the reality of death.  Undertakers do their utmost to pretty it up. Preachers try to cover it in soothing phrases and euphemisms.  The attempts to deny the reality of death is both dishonest and counterproductive.  People must be helped to confront death and to become reconciled with it.  The thing that best helps us to confront death is, of course, our Christian faith.  Faith enables us to face death with courage and hope, because we know we can conquer it because Jesus has died and rose again and He allows us to share in the victory of the cross.

Today, as a faithful community, we join together through our prayers, to assist those who lost a loved one through death.  During Mass and throughout the month of November, we remember those who passed away over the last year.

We pray this during funeral Masses, that those who suffer  a loss will be healed of the doubt that comes from grief.  Let us take the scriptures to heart today as we hear words that bring comfort to the sorrowing.  May any lingering doubts be scattered by the faith that surrounds us in this holy place.  Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life.  Those who believe in him will live.  This is our consolation.  This is our hope.

Finally, keep in mind our Memorial Shrine located in front of the Mary Altar.  Place a photo of your loved one who passed away, on the shrine.  During this month, we pray for all our deceased loved ones.  We do this as a community of faith, and as a community supportive of each other.

Peace,

Msgr. Britto