WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 6-7, 2021

Dear Friends,

By now you should have received the mailing for our annual census/block collection (if you have not received it, please call the rectory and let us know). Please remember that the census information is very important in order for us to update our records and to keep our data accurate. The block collection is equally important for us, since it is one of the single largest sources of income we receive in the course of the year. I ask that wage earners be as generous as possible in this annual collection, if possible donating $200. Your generosity in this collection is especially important as we face the winter months and the inevitably high utility bills. It is also important given the fact that our collections are becoming increasingly less, especially due to the continued deaths of some of our most faithful givers. Of course, in light of this, our bills NEVER decrease, but on the contrary continue to rise! Your generosity is always humbling to me, and so I thank you in advance for your goodness to your parish.

I remind you that, during this month of November, the Archdiocese is beginning our annual seminary appeal, for the benefit of our present seminarians, as well as to ensure the future of our great seminary of Saint Charles Borromeo at Overbrook. This year’s appeal’s theme is Saint Charles Seminary: For today. For tomorrow. For all of us.  We are reminded, especially in this theme, that the seminary exists not just to prepare future priests, but to also prepare future permanent deacons and their wives for ministry, and to educate lay women and men in theological studies, especially for their work in Church ministries, such as teaching or other forms of pastoral service. You should have received a direct mailing from the seminary for this annual appeal, and may use the envelope enclosed in your mailing to send your contribution directly to the seminary, which is the preferred method. For those of you who didn’t receive this mailing from the seminary, or misplaced it, there are extra envelopes available in the vestibule of the church for your convenience. Mr. Edward Town, our seminarian who was assigned to us this past summer and is with us during this school year on Thursdays, will be speaking to us about the seminary at all the Masses next weekend, November 13-14. I ask you, as always, to be as generous as possible in this important annual appeal. Thank you in advance for your generous sacrificial gift.

Next Sunday, November 14, at the 9:15 Mass, our Confirmation candidates will officially begin their journey to this great sacrament with the Rite of Acceptance as candidates for Confirmation. Our young people will receive this Sacrament of Initiation next spring at the hands of Bishop Senior. Please pray for them as they begin in earnest their preparation to be confirmed.

Our Book of the Names of the Dead is now open. The book is placed by the baptismal font in the upper church, and at the break in the middle of the lower church. You are invited to write the names of your beloved dead in this book so that all of us may pray for all the faithful departed. This book will be enshrined in our church throughout the month of November.

The All Souls envelopes, upon which you are able to write the names of your beloved deceased, have been placed next to the tabernacles in both the upper and lower churches, and will remain there throughout the month of November, as a reminder that we remember all the faithful departed, especially in the Eucharistic Sacrifice. There are extra envelopes available at all the doors of the church.

            Know that you and those you love are daily remembered in my Mass and my prayers.

                                                                                    Love and prayers,
                                                                                    Father Olivere