November 30, 2025

Dear Friends, I was off to Maine last weekend to attend a wedding of good friends. While I was gone, I missed the wonderful Sarah Hart concert, which close to 300 attended. I want to thank the planning team, including Pam McInerney, Michelle Lindsay, Jeff Beckett, Char Merrill, Kenneth Piazza and Laurie Cook, and the many other parishioners and staff members that helped make this a success. I am told it was a wonderful evening, and you did a superb job organizing this event. Fortunately, I was in town earlier in the week for a team building morning for our Staff. As most staff members now support both churches, our team dynamics and responsibilities have changed, and good teamwork and communication makes things run smoothly. We had fun getting to know each other better, strengthening our bonds, and creating our Halloween pumpkins. One of the blessings of travel is seeing the bulletins of other churches. Honor your departed loved ones with these November prayers, which were shared by the parish I visited this weekend. Blessings to all, Father Rob The month of November: A traditional time of prayer for our beloved dead. I believe in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. (The Apostles’ Creed) We Catholics pray for our beloved dead, and for all the faithful departed, in the confident assurance that we are commending them to God’s merciful love for the forgiveness of their sins, so that they may be called home to the fullness of life in heaven. “And if I go prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” (John 14:3) “To you, O God, the dead do not die, and in death our life is changed, not ended. Hear your prayers and command the soul of your servant to dwell, with Abraham, your friend, and be raised at last on the great day of judgement. In your mercy cleanse him/her of any sin which he/she may have committed through human frailty. We ask this through Christ our Lord.” (Order of Christian Funerals) A prayer for visiting a cemetery (from The Book of Blessings) Almighty God and Father, it is our certain faith that your Son, who died on the cross, was raised from the dead, the first fruits of all who have fallen asleep. Grant that, through this mystery, your servant (Name), who has gone to his/her rest in Christ, may share in the joy of his resurrection. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen. Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him/her. May he/she rest in peace. Amen. May his/her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen