Pastor's Points: A Time for Everything

Pastor's Points: A Time for Everything

Ecclesiastes 1: 1-2 reminds us: There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to give birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.

We have begun the month of November. We are into fall weather and clothing. The leaves are falling from the trees and mums and pumpkins adorn our porches. This time of year signals something. Things are changing. We are reminded during these months of the cycle of the year.  It gets colder. It gets darker. There is a time for everything.

The Church likewise marks the cycle of life during this month as we celebrate All Souls Day on November 2. Each year, Holy Mother Church places before us a day when we call to mind those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. Our “Day of the Dead” altar is set up in the narthex for the first few days of the month. ( Click here to learn more about this)

At St. Thomas More, we remember those from our parish who have died over the past year by having their names displayed on the pillars of the church throughout the month. In addition, we remember at the altar those whose names you have written on the All Souls envelopes. 

November reminds us of life and death. Leaves fall, but new ones will come in the spring.  The day gets darker earlier, but light will prevail once again in the spring.
  
As Christians, we look at death through the lens of Christ, the lens of resurrection. We believe that death does not have the final say. Death leads us to eternal life. The cross overcame sin and death. 

I know that this can be a particularly hard time of year for those of you who have lost a loved one, especially if it was a recent death. If the name of your loved one is one of those on the pillars of our church, it may be hard for you to see the name or listen it as it solemnly sung at the 7:00PM Mass on November 2. However, we are people of faith and people of hope.  We believe in resurrected life. We believe that we will see those who have gone before us again.

At St. Thomas More, we are working hard to make sure we care for the needs of those who have experienced the loss of a loved one and are bereaved. Recently, we merged all of our various ministries that in some way deal with funerals and the care of loved ones under one umbrella called “The St. Thomas More Bereavement Ministry.”  This allows us to make sure we have a well-organized and comprehensive approach to bereavement care.  This includes:

1. Gethsemane: Those who hold watch over open columbarium niches during engraving
2. Funeral Care Team: Those who provide pastoral support and guidance immediately after a death, help plan funeral, and attend funeral Mass.
3. Funeral Mass Coordinators: The people who set up and attend funeral Masses
4. Funeral Reception Ministry : Parishioners who provide refreshments and fellowship after funeral Mass
5. Sympathy cards: Volunteers who mail cards in first weeks after a death
6. Prayer Shawl Ministry: Those who make/deliver shawls for the bereaved
7. New Horizons: A group that comes together for monthly lunches with people who have lost a spouse
8. Seasons of Hope : A ministry where six-week group sessions are offered in order to experience God’s healing after a loss
9. Bereavement Letters: Monthly letters are mailed for the first year after a loss
10. Anniversary Mass cards:  Mass cards are mailed one year after death

I extend my thanks to all those who devote themselves to this important ministry in our parish.

As we walk through this month of remembrance and become witnesses to the changing of time and seasons, let us recall that there is indeed a time for everything.  Let us, too, remember our beloved dead and pray that they rest in the loving arms of the Savior.