Dear Friends,

Happy November!

   This month is a special one in the life of the Church. It is the month when we pray in a particular way for our beloved dead. Praying for the dead is one of the spiritual works of mercy, and the Church sets aside an entire month for this very purpose!

   On November 2nd, we commemorate All Souls’ Day, when we pray for all the souls in purgatory. The practice of praying for the dead is nothing new. In fact, it is quite ancient, dating back to the Old Testament, where we find it mentioned in the Second Book of Maccabees.

   As we pray for the souls in purgatory, we are also reminded that purgatory is indeed a reality. It is a state of purification for those who die in God’s friendship but are not yet fully prepared to enter Heaven. And let’s be honest, many of us may well need that purification! So, as we pray for those who have gone before us, perhaps we should also reflect on our own readiness for the end of our earthly lives. After all, Scripture reminds us that the Lord can come “like a thief in the night.” None of us knows when that moment will come.

   Sadly, our Jesuit friends experienced a sudden and unexpected loss this past week. One of the priests who has assisted us during the summer months, Fr. Stephen Molvarec, SJ, passed away at a very young age last Saturday.

   Many of you will remember Fr. Steve, who helped us over the past several summers. He is someone I had the privilege of coming to know quite well. Apparently, he suffered a cardiac event and went home to the Lord sometime during the night. His sudden passing is a powerful reminder of just how fragile life can be.

   Fr. Stephen is certainly among those for whom we will be praying during this month of November. Please keep him, his family, and the Jesuit community at Boston College in your prayers. He will be greatly missed by so many, including our own parish community.

   May this month of November remind us not only to pray for our beloved dead, but also to live each day with gratitude, faith, and the awareness that our ultimate home is with the Lord.

God bless you all!

Fr. John