We are in the process of ordering our church calendars for the year 2025, and will be passing them out by the time we come to the end of 2024. While I look at the calendar every day to see what we, as a Church, are celebrating whether it be a saint or in the case of November 1 (All Saints), I notice that the color of the print is different (red) for solemnities that are Holy Days in which ALL Catholics are obliged (like for the Lord's Day) to attend and participate in Mass. I continue to pray that those who were not coming to Mass during COVID and were instead watching (and hopefully participating) on television or through the internet and have not returned to church for Mass, will somehow be inspired to come back, as we, as Catholics, are obliged under pain of mortal sin to do. I would hope that many more (than not) are coming to Mass every weekend (Saturday evening or Sunday) primarily because it is the best spiritual help that we have from Jesus. We are blessed to be together to listen to HIS WORD that instructs us and inspires us to live purposeful, meaningful and blessed lives with and in His name, and partake of the food and drink that is HIS Body and Blood, the foretaste of the paschal Feast of Heaven! Those of us who recognize the blessings of participating in person every weekend in the Holy Eucharist need to be aware of a change in expectation and obligation when it comes to the Solemnities of All Saints Day, November 1, The Immaculate Conception of Mary (this year December 9 because December 8 falls on a Sunday and will be celebrated as the Second Sunday of Advent), The Nativity of the Lord (December 25), Mary the Mother of God (January 1) and the Assumption of Mary (August 15). The Holy See has declared that all of these solemnities are to be celebrated by ALL THE FAITHFUL no matter what day of the week they fall each year. To be clear, we are ALL obliged to participate in a Mass in person for these solemnities every year from this time onward. This replaces what has been the reality in our country and I'm sure in some others, for a long time, that removed the OBLIGATION to attend Mass when these solemnities fell on a Monday or Saturday. There were reasons for this practice, which I won't get into now. I just want to say I am pleased about this change as it is emphasizing that these solemnities are important for us to celebrate with Mass and in other ways EVERY YEAR! PLEASE mark these days on your personal calendar and look forward to growing in grace and holiness by participating in Mass on these special solemnities at the days and times they are offered!

In his presentation to about 90 parishioners last Saturday (October12), Steve Binz discussed among other things, the topic of " Eucharistic Reverence". There are those who believe sincerely that the Catholic Church, with the reformed liturgy that came out of Vatican Council II, lost the reverence that they believe was a key aspect and blessing of the pre-Vatican II Mass. He listed the following aspects of the Mass in those days that perhaps "promoted" to some or many people, the feeling of reverence on the part of the priest and the congregation. These are (or were) the separation of the altar and people (through the presence of the Communion or altar rail), the passive observance of the people during a great deal of the Mass; obscure gestures and speech by the priest throughout the Mass; desire for efficiency (on the part of the priest in strictly following the Church's direction when it came to gestures); inattentive listening by the congrega-tion (because so much of the Mass did not involve their participation); concern for minimal obligations (such as what was the latest someone could arrive at Mass for it ("to count"); emphasis on the vertical (that my experience at Mass was primarily OR ONLY about my connecting with God); and hidden sacred rituals (which the congregation could not see because the priest was far away and his back to the people for most of the Mass). I attended as a young child, only a very few Latin-rite Masses, so I can't really give an opinion about a congregant's feeling and disposition throughout the Mass as well as that of the priest Celebrant. The following are the aspects of the post-Vatican II Mass that are meant to edify the congregation during Mass. Firstly, the congregation's active participa-tion throughout the Mass. The congregation is engaged in most of the Mass through prayerful responses to what the priest initiates. We have bodily postures and gestures that everyone (and not just the priest) is invited to do at various times in the Mass. The singing of songs and responses is now done (for most of the liturgy) by every-one (instead of just the choir); There are periods of silence at various times during the Mass for everyone (including the priest) to use for personal prayer and/or private reflection. Active listening is promoted throughout the Mass, most importantly during the Liturgy of the Word and also during times of prayer led by the Celebrant. There is an emphasis not only on the vertical (the individual and God) but ALSO the horizontal (between the congregants especially during the "Sign of Peace"). Finally in the post-Vatican II Mass we are privileged to face the Body and Blood of Christ from the time of the consecration through the distribution of Holy Communion. I believe the reverence that now exists during the post-Vatican II Mass (as listed above) is something that we should all give thanks to God for having every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist. I pray we all reflect on all this and always come to participate in reverence of mind, heart and body turned firstly to the Lord and also toward one another at the time we are called to do so!

I am blessed in so many ways, including the opportunity to get to know people who are present both in Mass and outside of Mass in the various activities and ministries that are offered here at Sacred Heart Church. Our V.I.P. (Very Important Parishioner) for the month of October, Cathy Raney is one of those. In addition to being a regular daily and weekend Mass participant (including lector duties when scheduled) she comes early to participate with a few others and myself in morning prayer (starting around 8:35). She and I and others would be happy to have more people join us. Cathy and any of the others will sit with you and show you how to follow along on the "Shorter Book of Christian Prayer". I appreciate and benefit from Cathy's participation in the "Seven Sisters Ministry" as she is the "spiritual sister" who offers Holy Hour for me every Thursday (and has done so since May of 2021! Cathy is a strong member of our Eucharistic Adoration team of adorers. She has stepped up to now take more than one Holy Hour a week and appreciates the ongoing blessings and peace it brings to her life! She joins me in inviting those of you who are not involved in this ministry to consider doing so and those who are currently doing it to add an hour or hours to your commitment and life "in the Lord." Look to the right of this column to find hours that need adorers. Cathy has taken the lead to get some members of her guild (St. Monica's Guild) to take turns covering a particular hour each week. She's someone who thinks beyond what she is doing to encourage and welcome others to join her! Not surprisingly, Cathy stepped up at some point to help out with our liturgical ministry scheduler online, and eventually took it over. She is diligent in seeing that liturgical ministry positions are covered. She was recently responsible forinitiating an I-pad sign in for liturgical ministers who are scheduled to serve at one of our Masses. Cathy is on the liturgy commission and took over as chairperson for the commission from Renee Steinpreis. Through her participation in St. Monica's Guild and the Ladies of the Sacred Heart in general she has "enjoyed" volunteering at the Loan Closet, Jackson House, and delivering food baskets for needy families at holiday times. She is a regular at Linda Broome's 10:00 a.m. exercise class and would encourage more of you to join her and others who try to stay in shape through this and other exercise programs. Cathy is blessed to have the support and love of her husband, Ken and is a proud mother, who counts it a blessing that her son Bryce is now a Capuchin Monk. (Look for Bryce's picture on the "Religious" poster along the administration hallway wing of our building). Cathy has attended and grown through her participation in the religious study opportunities that our parish is blessed to offer (and once again would encourage all of you to do the same). To say Cathy is "fully invested" in the ministries and activities of our parish and community is obviously clear from what I've shared with you and it's just as clear (especially to me) that she deeply loves our Lord, Jesus Christ, his Church and her parish! God bless you, Cathy.