Dear family of Holy Trinity Church.
I cannot believe that we are already in October. It looks like Christmas was the last week, and in less than two months we are going to celebrate Christmas again. Like many people say, “Time flies when we are having fun.” The Roman Catholic Church has different intentions for each month. October is not the exception. This month that we are starting has different intentions and celebrations.
First, October is Respect Life Month. Commonly, people believe that respect life corresponds only to work against abortion. This is true; however, it goes beyond that. Being pro-life means to respect and defend life in all its forms. Human life is very important; hence, we need to fight to preserve it always. Abortion is wrong, but euthanasia, capital punishment, murders, hungriness, social injustice, and so on, are wrong as well. Life is the most important gift that God gave us; therefore, we need to work and pray together to preserve life in all creation. Not only human lives are important, also animals and plants are too. Let us participate in the Eucharistic Adoration on October 21 through 25 from 9:30 am (after Mass) to 6:00 pm. We will finish with Benediction.
Second, October is the Month of the Missions. For this reason, the Roman Catholic Church emphasizes in the constant necessity to proclaim the Gospel for all peoples. There are many missionaries around the world announcing the Good News of Our Lord Jesus Christ in many difficult and dangerous places, following the great mission that the Lord gave the Church, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). In October we celebrate the life of two extraordinary missionaries: St. Therese of Liseux (Oct. 1st) who spent her life in prayer for the missions (she is the saint patron of missions), and St. Francis of Assisi (Oct. 4th), who responded with love to the Lord’s call to rebuild the Church. Let us pray as well for the Roman Catholic Church and all her faithful people who are preaching the Gospel of the Lord.
Third, October is also the month of the Rosary, which is one of the best known of all Catholic devotions. We celebrate the day of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7th. The Holy Rosary is one of the best ways to contemplate the life of Our Lord Jesus Christ by the hands of Our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Holy Rosary is not only to say 5 Lord’s prayers, 50 Hail Mary’s, and 5 Glory be to… The prayer of the Rosary means to enter and reflect on the life of Jesus and say to Him, “Thank you” for coming and saving all of us through His sacrifice on the Cross and of course, His resurrection. Let us come on the day of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7th at 6:00 pm to pray the rosary with our children who participate in the Faith Formation Program. Check the bulletin for more details.
Remember, The parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build.
God bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!
Fr. Jorge Ramirez
