November 3.  Sunday All Saints. Fr Teddy asked the congregation, “Why do you suppose the gospel for this feast is the Beatitudes?  I thought about that and realised that the qualities of those mentioned there are in fact the qualities of saints. You know that St Paul called his people saints while they were still alive, but we tend to think of saints only after death and a process of canonisation.  But our task is to try to be saints in the way Paul saw it and live the beatitudes in our lives, our family lives.  Reflecting on the lives of the saints in heaven is using them as models to imitate and relate to. Who is your favourite?  Mine is….. Pope Francis has just published a new encyclical Dilexit Nos/He loved us highlighting the love of Jesus through his Sacred Heart.

Reflect, share, act. Scripture:  Blessed are the poor in Spirit.   Blessed are the merciful, those that mourn, those that hunger and thirst for justice.  Blessed are the peacemakers and the pure in heart. Matthew 5.Pope Francis: “I ask our Lord Jesus Christ to grant that his Sacred Heart may continue to pour forth the streams of living water that can heal the hurt we have caused, strengthen our ability to love and serve others, and inspire us to journey together towards a just, solidary and fraternal world. Until that day when we will rejoice in celebrating together the banquet of the heavenly kingdom in the presence of the risen Lord, who harmonizes all our differences in the light that radiates perpetually from his open heart. May he be blessed forever.“ “ From Dilexit Nos/HE LOVED US. 2024 October.   “These new saints lived Jesus’ way: service,” Pope Francis said on canonisation day. “They made themselves servants of their brothers and sisters, creative in doing good, steadfast in difficulties, and generous to the end.”  Eco-tip and prayer:  No one is excluded from the Father’s heart, for in his eyes, we are all poor and needy.” World Day of the Poor Message 2024.   Creator God in this month of commemoration of loss and death comfort us in our pain and strengthen us in our understanding that you never abandon us in your loving care for each of your creatures day by day.