“Novembering” a Time to Remember all the Faithful Departed

Novembering refers to the experience of grief and mourning when we remember and celebrate the memory of loved ones—family and friends who are no longer with us and have gone HOME to be with the Lord. November is a month to pray for the faithful departed and contemplate the body of Christ and the life of the world to come. The month of November is a little like its own liturgical season. This is the month when the Catholic faithful especially pray at cemeteries and in general for the faithful departed. But November is flavored too by its inclusion of All Saints Day and the Solemnity of Christ the King, which make it also a month for contemplating the body of Christ in its members, the saints, whether they are part of the earthly kingdom of God or its heavenly fulfillment. The distinctions in the body of Christ, “Church militant” on earth, “Church suffering” in Purgatory and “Church triumphant” in heaven should not obscure this reality that all three “churches” are one in their activity of prayer and virtue and, above all, in their Head. Christ has only one mystical body, and its unity is more real than we sometimes realize. This dedication of an entire month for the dead is a wonderful vestige of a tradition that recognizes the unbreakable bond with those who are our forefathers in faith, our deceased parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, our miscarried and aborted children. The month of November is so close to my heart and life. Life can hurt those who have lost a loved one, and during the holidays that pain can seem overwhelming at times. I do believe, however, that we will be reunited in Heaven one day, but in the meantime, I hold their memories close to me in my mind and they will always be in my heart and prayers.

Let us remember to keep all the souls of the faithfully departed in our prayers, especially during this month of November. The” Book of Life–” Remembrance book will be on display in the Sanctuary in each of our four churches for the entire month. This book will be for you to list the names of those you wish to remember. Praying for them, we affirm our faith and hope in the God who creates us all, who loves us all and who wills to redeem us all. What shall we do in Holy Family Catholic Community so that we may remain connected in love and prayers with our departed sisters and brothers in this month of “Novembering”? Commencing this weekend (October 24/25), we invite you to sign the names of your beloved deceased relatives in our commemoration books— “the book of Life.” We will remember all those who are entered into our Book of Life (Remembrance) in every mass celebrated in the month of November. In these Masses the “Book of Life” will be brought in procession and presented with the offertory Gifts and placed on the altar! The lives of the people that we shall remember are a gift not only to their families but also to our community. We just want everyone to know that the faithful departed are always in our minds, our hearts, our prayers. We remember their good lives! We rely on the mercy and compassion of God! We trust that having been faithful to God here, we will join them one day in the Kingdom.

This year, All Soul Day, fall on a Monday, Nov 2: a day dedicated towards the commemoration of all the faithful departed, we shall celebrate the Eucharist at St. Mary’s, Dansville, 9.00 AM. During this mass we shall provide the entire community a special opportunity to remember your deceased family members and friends, members of the Holy Family Catholic Community, and all those who share eternal life with God. The Christian holiday of All Soul’s Day, which falls on November 2 every year, pays respect and remembers the souls of all friends and loved ones who have died and gone to heaven. The living prays on behalf of Christians who are in

purgatory, the state in the afterlife where souls are purified before proceeding to heaven. November opens with All Saints Day, then All Souls. The Church tells us that our prayers and sacrifices are beneficial to those who have died in God’s grace and yet still need to be purified from the effects of sin.

During the Eucharistic celebration for the “Feast of All Saints” on the weekend of October 31st/November 1st there will be a memory candles in each of our four churches on the Sanctuary dedicated to each of those souls who were buried from Holy Family Catholic Community this past year [October 31, 2025-November 1, 2026) and their names will be read during ALL THE WEEKEND MASSES IN ALL OUR FOUR CHURCHES. In addition, there will be three more candles dedicated as follows: First Candle for all deceased Veterans; Second candles for all deceased First-Responders; and third for all aborted and miscarried children. If you have had a significant loss this year and your loved one was not buried from our church their name could be added if you would like to join us in any of these Masses. Call the Office at 585-728-2228

“Also, you can schedule a Mass-intention so that an offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the repose of souls your loved son, daughter, parents, grandparents or a friend may be celebrated in our Church. Having Masses offered for our deceased loved ones is an expression of the love and prayer we give to those dear to us, as they journey into the eternal love of God. The celebration of Mass is the highest means the Church can provide for charity for the dead. Again, let us also remember all the families in our parish who are grieving the loss of a loved one at this time. Eternal Rest grant unto all those who have died in our parish, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace, Amen! I promise to remember all your deceased members of your family as they are close to my thought and prayers especially in this month of “Novembering”. Fr. John

Mission Statement

To live the Great Commandment
Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  And
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Matthew 22: 37-38