​Dear brothers and sisters,

                                   Out of Love, Let's Honor All Saints, and Pray for All Souls
 
 All SAINTS falls on Monday this year, so it is not observed as a holy day of obligation. There is no obligation to attend All Saints mass this year but we nevertheless celebrate it by offering masses at 7 am (in the historic church) and 6 pm. As a church, we remember and honor all saints who intercede on our behalf before God, especially many saints and martyrs whose names are not inscribed in the canon of saints. Relic of St. Peter, our parish patron saint, will be carried in the opening procession of Masses this Monday and exposed in the sanctuary afterward for public veneration.
 
Tuesday, November 2, is the commemoration of All the Faithful departed, otherwise known as All Souls’ Day. The month of November is a traditional time in the church for visiting graves of loved ones and offering suffrages for the dead. Let our prayers for the dead, especially throughout November, echo the church’s prayer: “Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of resurrection, and all who have died in your mercy; welcome them to the light of your face” (Eucharistic Prayer II).
 
We have a number of our parishioners who passed away this year that we shall pray for on All Souls' day and in a more elaborate way, at 4:00pm Mass on Saturday, November 6. As a parish, we will also have a solemn commemoration of our departed brothers and sisters whose bodies lie in our cemetery after the morning mass on All Souls Day. The morning mass on All Souls' day on Tuesday will be followed by a visit to the cemetery where we shall have a short service in their honor. All are encouraged to attend this brief ceremony.
 
Do you know you can gain a plenary indulgence under the usual condition when you visit the cemetery to pray for the dead during November? Jesus tells us in this Sunday’s Mass Gospel according to Mark, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mk. 12: 31). Praying for the dead, especially offering masses for the repose of their souls, is one way we can practically express our love for our brothers and sisters who have passed on.
 
In Christ, the Risen Lord,
 
Fr. Bernard Oniwe, OP

​Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, 
 
                                  Lord, That I May See (To see and follow Jesus on the way) 
 
My father lost his sight a couple of years before his death in 2006. The sight of him struggling to find his way around the house or being led by hand when he had to walk to the car still haunts my memory to this day. I dread the possibility of losing my own sight. I can imagine the dire situation the blind man in this Sunday’s Gospel according to Mark 10: 46-52 found himself, not able to see his way through life. But the lack of sight in today’s Gospel, like the blind man Jesus cured at Bethsaida in Mk 8:22-26, can also be read as spiritual blindness. Blindness in this case is an allegory for our journey of faith. On our journey of faith with Jesus, we are often in a state of spiritual blindness that calls for a cure by Christ. I dread spiritual blindness more than physical blindness. 
 
We don’t always see. Our perceptions of life are often occluded. Sin is often a cause of concealment of reality. Lack of faith is another cause of the poor spiritual perception of life. Bartimaeus approached his blindness with faith. He was courageous and persistent in prayer. He had absolute trust and confidence in the power and compassion of Jesus: “Son of David, have mercy on me” (Mk. 10: 48). He knew Jesus was his last resort to get his sight restored. His faith guided him to Jesus who rewards his faith by restoring his sight. Now cured, Bartimeus can see the face of Jesus and walk with him on the way. 
 
We too need our spiritual sight restored so we can see the face of Jesus, the source of clarity-”in your light we see the light” (Ps. 36:9).  With our sight restored we can see Jesus in all circumstances and events of our daily life. When we get our spiritual sight back, we will see that Jesus is never absent in our human life and experiences. When we see with our spiritual eyes, then we can follow Jesus along the way to life. So let us pray for faith and persistence in praying, like Bartimaeus, "Lord Jesus, let me receive my sight."
 
NB: On this World Mission Sunday, let us see the needs of the missions all over the world. Let us see the efforts and sacrifices of our brothers and sisters who leave comfort of home to serve the mission of spreading the Good News to others. Let us pray for the mission of Christ and support it materially. 
 
In Christ our Light,
 
Fr. Bernard Oniwe, OP

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, 
 
                                                Our Suffering as Christians is not Meaningless 
 
Jesus responds to the request of James and John, the sons of Zebedee: "The chalice  that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized” (Mk 10:39).  James and John request to sit one on the right and the other on the left of Christ in his glory. They still have not understood the implication of the call to discipleship. They are not getting the point Christ is making about his mission in Jerusalem. They misunderstand the glory of Christ for the glory of an earthly kingdom.  


Christ is indeed telling them that his glory is that of a suffering servant who Isaiah prophesied would be crushed, due to God’s permission and of his own volition (Is. 53: 10-11). By his drinking of the chalice of wrath and baptism of blood, he will pay the ransom for our sins. This suffering and trial of Jesus is the path his disciples should expect to follow. In the world, they shall know troubles (John 16:33) on account of following in the way of Jesus. As the letter to the Hebrew (4:14-16) reminds us, Jesus is the high priest who experienced our human condition, one filled with pains and suffering. He was tested and tried, he is aware of the temptations and suffering that we are going through right now. But he does not live us without help; and here is the good news.  


In our human suffering, we shall experience grace, mercy, and kindness as well from God. If we persevere in hope and prayers to God of mercy and kindness, He will answer us in our times of need as Psalm 33 assures us. We can rely on the covenantal love and faithfulness of God. We will drink the chalice, but it shall become a channel of grace. This is called redemptive suffering. Our suffering in Christ and with Christ is transformative, not a meaningless one. 


Next Sunday is World Mission Sunday. Part of the call to drink the chalice that Jesus drank is the response to the mission. Jesus calls us all to the mission. Some people respond to that call in a very radical way, making big sacrifices to spread the Good News of Christ's redemption beyond their home environment. Please let us support them spiritually and materially when called upon to do so. Thanks. 
 
In the Suffering Christ, 
 
Fr. Bernard Oniwe, OP 
 

                                                       Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann
           Chairman, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities

The month of October brings with it our annual observance of Respect Life Month. As part of the Year of St. Joseph declared by Pope Francis, this year’s celebration highlights the example of that great saint.
As the faithful protector of both Jesus and Mary, we find in St. Joseph a profound reminder of our own call to welcome, safeguard, and defend God’s precious gift of human life.
Despite the mysterious circumstances surrounding Mary’s pregnancy, St. Joseph took her into his home at the word of the angel. He guided their journey to Bethlehem, found shelter, and welcomed the infant Jesus as his son. When Herod threatened the life of the Christ Child, St. Joseph left his homeland behind and fled with Jesus and Mary to Egypt.
Like St. Joseph, we are also called to care for those God has entrusted to us–especially vulnerable mothers and children. We can follow in the footsteps of St. Joseph as protector by advocating against taxpayer-funded abortion, which targets the lives of millions of poor children and their mothers here in the United States. We can imitate his care and provision by helping to start Walking with Moms in Need at our parishes, "walking in the shoes" of mothers experiencing a difficult pregnancy, especially low-income mothers in our communities.
At times, we may feel uncertain of our ability to answer the Lord’s call. But He invites us to faithfully respond, despite our own fears or weaknesses: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). 
May we imitate St. Joseph’s faithful trust and courage as we work to uphold the dignity of every human life. St. Joseph, defender of life, pray for us!