Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus our Lord, 

Christ’s Blessings to everyone. Here comes the month of November in the middle of the fall season. The first week of November we start the new liturgical year with the Advent Season, right after the All Saints and All Souls remembrance. This Season prepares us for Christmas and the Nativity of the Lord Jesus. This season of hope and announcements and waiting for the coming Christ, the Savior who was awaited by all generations to come and save the World from sin and slavery and bestow his peace on Earth. This is how the Gospels described the coming of Jesus. Incarnated and born of the Virgin Mary’s womb in total humbleness and poverty to teach us forgiveness and repentance, purification and care. Let us take this example in our lives. Let our lives and souls prepare a place in our hearts for the Child of the Nativity and seek his peace and salvation.

The last Wednesday of October, a Halloween party was held and attended by a large number of our children. The children enjoyed everything about it, from the delicious food to the activities to the treats prepared by the sponsors, Carolyn and Jack Marker and their Halloween team! Thank you sponsors, for a job well done. Halloween for the Christian Faith is the feast of Holy souls of the Saints. We pray to them to intercede for us against the evil spirits that threaten our souls and our salvation.

November starts with two major feasts that mark the beginning of the new Liturgical year. This Season of Advent and Announcements starts from the beginning of November until Christmas. The first Feast is All Saints Day on Friday, November 1. The second event is All Souls remembrance on Saturday, November 2. On November 2, All Souls Remembrance, Catholic Cemeteries open their doors and gates during the day so that Christians can make their annual visits to the tombs of their departed loved ones, placing flowers, roses and candles on their memorial stones, and offering prayers for the repose of their souls. The parish remembers her departed family members around the year by offering masses that are celebrated on the church altar on a daily basis. We ask that you please remember Holy Family Church in your will, so after a long and healthy life, your memory and that of your loved ones will stay remembered in your Church. The list of Memorial masses is printed in the monthly bulletin. (If you or somebody you know is not receiving the bulletin please contact the church office.) Liturgy for All Saints will be held Friday, November 1, at 9:00 am, which is also All Souls Remembrance Eve. One of the most famous verses in the Maronite office hours prayers says: ‘al Madebhokh Mor netdakhroun Abohayn w ahayn w rabonayn. The literal meaning is: On your Altar O Lord, are remembered, our fathers, our brothers and our ancestors.

Thank you to all of our generous donors. Their good work continues to make a difference in the community, in the spirituality and souls, through educational and spiritual programs. It makes a difference in social assistance and by indirectly covering the church maintenance and upgrading. May God bless your work and after a long life, may our Lord Jesus bless you and tell you these beautiful words of salvation and reward: "Come, you, the Blessed ones of my Father and inherit the eternal Kingdom of Heaven prepared for the chosen ones before all ages" (Matthew 25, 32).

As always, thank you to the Faith Formation and MYO leaders who never stop. All youth, ages 6 to 12 for Faith Formation and ages 12 to 17 for MYO, are encouraged to join and participate in these wonderful programs. Please contact John Corey for MYO youth activities and gatherings, and Nikki Abbott and Michelle Kloncz for Faith Formation and Grade 2 First Communion programs. We thank Carolyn Marker and teams for organizing the Halloween kids gathering.

On behalf of all the community of the church, we wish you a blessed month of November thanking the Lord for all of His gifts and graces that He always bestows upon us.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Father Emmanuel Nakhlé-Ghorr, Pastor +

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