Pastor's Message
October 30, 2026
Friday of the 39th Week in Ordinary Time
Friday of the 39th Week in Ordinary Time
Almighty ever-living God, by whose gift we venerate in one celebration the merits of all the Saints, bestow on us, we pray, through the prayers of so many intercessors, an abundance of the reconciliation with you for which we earnestly long. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
Collect for the Mass on the Solemnity of All Saints (November 1)
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whom no living man can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those who will find Your most holy will,
for the second death shall do them no harm.
from whom no living man can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those who will find Your most holy will,
for the second death shall do them no harm.
St. Francis of Assisi
In this final stanza of his poem Canticle of the Sun, Fr. Francis of Assisi (d.1226) speaks of how the Christian is to face the reality of death. He refers to it as “Sister Bodily Death”. In this “First Death” our life in this world will come to an end. The body and soul will be separated to later be reunited at the Day of Judgement for all eternity.
St. Francis also speaks of the “Second Death”, meaning eternal separation from God (a.k.a. damnation). It is from this second death which Jesus, through His Cross and Resurrection, saves us. This is the promise of eternal life to become saints in Heaven that is offered to us through Him.
In recent years there has been a renewal among Catholics of the “Memento Mori” (Latin: Remember your death) image of a human skull. This expresses visually what St. Francis wrote in his poetry. Yes, we are mortal, but Jesus saves us from eternal death.
We also see this depicted in the observance of “El Dio de Los Muertos” (Spanish: Day of the Dead) in Mexican Catholicism. The images of skulls or whole skeletons are not about the macabre, ghouls or the demonic. It is a cultural expression of faith. Physical death is real but so is eternal life in Christ.
As we enter the month of November, a traditional time to remember and pray for the souls of the dead, it is also a time to ponder our own mortality. Do we see death as an interruption of life to be feared, or when one conversation with Jesus our Savior ends and another begins?
Are we open to the on-going call to repentance, contrition and conversion which requires humility, trust, faith and hope in our Savior? Do we see that the saints, our brothers and sisters in Christ who are now in Heaven, are more alive than we are? They are sharing in the eternal life with God. The “Second Death” has no claim on them. Nor does it have a claim us if we seek to conform our life to Christ.
God created us to become saints in Heaven and gave us the means to do so through Jesus our Savior. The saints are our friends in Heaven. They pray for us as we seek to live as faithful disciples of the Lord. May we ask them to intercede for us so that we can join them in the presence of God, who is Love Itself, for all eternity.
All Saints & All Souls Devotions
Since this year All Saints Day (November 1), takes place on a Sunday, the Mass prayers and Scriptures for All Saints Day will take the place of those with the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time.
There will be Mass at 8:30am on Monday, November 2 for All Souls Day.
Throughout the month of November, you are welcome to share photos of the faithfully departed members of your families and friends on the Ofrenda Table in the commons. You are also welcome to write their names and place them in the backet on the table.
The names of the members of our parish family who have died since November 1 of last year will also be displayed. Please keep them and their families in your prayers.
Adoratio Campaign Parish Mission - In His Presence: A powerful Eucharistic Encounter with Jesus through the heart of Mary
The Adoratio Campaign to promote perpetual Adoration continues. We have gained some one hundred new adorers since the campaign began in September. Our goal to being 24/7 Adoration starting in January 2027.
As part of this effort, at Mass this weekend at Mass Fr. Williams and I give a brief explanation of Lectio Divina, the prayerful reading of the Scriptures. This traditional practice is a wonderful way to spend a Holy Hour before the Lord in Eucharistic Adoration.
The next step in the Adoratio Campaign will be a Parish Mission on November 9, 10 & 11, from 7:00-8:30pm each night. Leading the mission team will be Fr. Andrew Marshall, chaplain to the Adoratio Foundation. Each night of the mission will include Eucharistic Adoration, devotional music, Lectio Divina and the Mission presentation.
Additional information on the Mission is the parish bulletin and social media pages. Reach out to those who have been away from the Church, as well as to those who have no church home, and personally invite them to the Parish Mission.
Our Parish
On Sunday, November 1, I will be substituting at the Masses at St. John Outside the Latin Gate Parish in Bartlesville. Fr. Williams will be here for all the Masses, as well as hearing confessions prior to each Mass.
Photos and brief bios of those who have been nominated to serve on the Parish Council will be on display in the church commons this weekend. The elections for the council will be held later this month.
The Parish Fall Carnival will be on Friday, November 6 from 5:00-8:00pm. Sponsored by the Women’s Club, the event is family-friendly and admission is free.
Becoming Catholic
Given the growing number of those who are wanting to become Catholic or are seeking to return to the active practice of the faith, we have a wonderful challenge. We need more parishioners to be sponsors and prayer partners with our catechumens and candidates. Please contact Viviana Surez at the parish office (918) 455-4451.
Banns of Marriage
Gio Trinidad and Xuan Ha are to be married at the Church of Saint Benedict on November 6, 2026.
God bless and keep you safe.
Fr. Bryan
Fr. Bryan